Listen to what your feet are telling you

The National Foot Health Assessment 2012, conducted for the Institute for Preventive Foot Health, results indicated that 78 percent of adults in the United States age 21 and older have experienced one or more foot problems in their lives. Among the most common complaints were ankle sprains, blisters, calluses and cracked skin.

The study also suggested that because foot health is negatively related to body mass index (BMI), individuals with weight issues who might want to be more active, don't engage physical activity because of their BMI and its effect on their feet.

People with diabetes also face problems because the disease poses potentially serious foot issues. Many of these at-risk people ignore their feet and don’t have them screened regularly. In 2007, the American Diabetes Association reported that the treatment of diabetes and its complications resulted in direct costs of $116 billion, with nearly one-third of those costs directed at foot ulcers.

Findings also showed that older adults (50+) with foot pain were more likely to see a physician than younger adults. In addition, they are more likely to admit that foot problems have an effect on their mobility and quality of life.

The study offers information foot care, shoe selection and gait analysis.