By the age of 50, your feet have logged about 75,000 miles according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. This mileage is equivalent to three trips around the earth. If you are someone whose profession or lifestyle involves using their feet more than the norm, then you may reach the 75,000 mile mark sooner.

The rigorous sports and fitness activities in which contemporary Americans now participate, while being beneficial to overall health and well-being, do accelerate wear and tear on the feet and ankles. During running activities particularly, pressure on each foot can be three to four times body weight. Even walking can be applying extra stress to the foot: a 150lb. person walking one mile exerts the equivalent of roughly 63 tons which is approximately 127,000 pounds of pressure on each foot.

Fortunately, the foot and ankle are well designed to handle this stress and to support us for a lifetime. But many conditions, if undetected or untreated can seriously sideline even the most fit. With proper podiatric detection, intervention and care, most of the foot and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented. To find out where you stand in the chase for 75,000 miles, go to the web site www.apma.org or call 1-800-FOOTCARE and take the 75,000 mile test.

If you find that your pace is getting you ahead of the average person with regard to wear and tear on your feet, or you have foot pain, several simple steps may be taken. First you need to evaluate your shoes for fit, function and support.

Fit is often overlooked when it comes to shoes. Most people think they wear the same size forever. Wrong! Shoe size can change with age, childbirth and / or medical problems, just to name a few possible causes. You need to seek out a shoe fit expert — someone who works at a shoe store who will accurately size your foot. By function I mean does the shoe work for you and is it appropriate for the type of activity you are using it for? Running shoes are generally not the best type of shoe for walking, I suggest either cross trainers or walking shoes just to get you started. The shoe should fit the purpose, such as soccer shoes for soccer and not walking, etc. By "working for you" I mean you need to evaluate the comfort of a shoe. Guaranteeing shoe comfort may entail making sure that the material doesn't make your foot hot or sweaty and that there are no seams which rub your toes. It is more than just the fit that factors into whether or not a shoe will be comfortable for you.

Last, but by no means least, check on the support of the shoe. Support is not just the arch, but includes the heel, sole, lacing and liner.

The other basic tip if you find your self in foot/ankle pain or fatigued is to consult a podiatric physician to see if orthotics may help you, Orthotics are custom made shoe inserts that control foot movement. Not everyone or every foot problem is solved by this treatment but this is often the best conservative approach to many foot/ankle problems.

Dr. Ravick is past president of the DC Podiatric Medical Association, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, in private practice at Capital Podiatry Associates since 1980 and often quoted in national and local media.

Founded in 1912, the American Podiatric Medical Association is the nation’s leading professional society for foot and ankle specialists, with membership of over 10,000 doctors of podiatric medicine. Visit APMA or call 1-800-FOOTCARE.