Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668Start 2026 with Healthier Feet
December 30 2025
Step into 2026 with your best foot forward by ditching the pain and embracing the Florida sunshine! From the golf course to the beach, Dr. Lori DeBlasi at Family Foot & Leg Center is here to keep your foundation strong and healthy all year long!
Dr. Lori DeBlasi
Dr. Kevin Lam
As the calendar turns to January 2026, many of us are drafting resolutions centered on fitness, travel, or productivity. But as a podiatrist at Family Foot & Leg Center in Estero, I often remind my patients of a simple truth: your resolutions are only as mobile as your feet.
The human foot is a mechanical masterpiece, containing 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In Estero, our lifestyle demands a lot from this complex architecture. Whether you are planning to walk the scenic trails of Koreshan State Park, shave strokes off your golf game at West Bay, or simply keep up with your grandchildren at Coconut Point, your feet are the foundation of every move you make.
Unfortunately, feet are often the most neglected part of the body – until they hurt. This year, let’s change that narrative. Here is your professional roadmap to starting 2026 with your best foot forward.
1. The “Great Shoe Purge” of 2026
The start of a new year is the perfect time to audit your footwear. Most athletic shoes lose their structural integrity afte r300 to 500 miles of walking or running. Even miles of walking or running. Even if the tread on the bottom looks pristine, the internal support—the EVA foam midsole—compresses over time, losing its ability to absorb shock and protect your joints.
What to look for during your audit:
– The “Twist Test”: Hold a shoe at the heel and the toe. If you can easily twist it like a wet rag, it isn’t providing enough midfoot support.
– The Tabletop Test: Place your shoes on a flat surface at eye level. If they tilt inward or outward, or if the heel counter is collapsed, they are forcing your foot into an unnatural position.
– Uneven Wear: Look at the soles. If one side is significantly more worn than the other, it may indicate a gait abnormality like overpronation (rolling in) or supination (rolling out) that needs professional evaluation.
2. The Florida Dilemma: Support vs. Style
Living in Southwest Florida, we live in our flip-flops. However, the standard “dollar store” flip-flop is a podiatrist’s nightmare. These thin, flat sandals offer zero arch support and force your toes to “grip” the shoe with every step. This constant tension can lead to hammertoes, tendonitis, and a collapse of the plantar vault.
If you aren’t ready to give up the coastal lifestyle, I recommend transitioning to orthopedic-rade sandals that feature a contoured footbed. For your daily sneakers, consider high-quality over-the-counter inserts or, if you have chronic pain, custom functional orthotics. These are medical devices I prescribe to correct your specific biomechanical imbalances, much like a prescription for eyeglasses corrects vision. They align in the foot and ankle into the most efficient position, reducing strain on the entire kinetic chain – including your knees and hips.
3. Listen to the “Warning Shots”
Pain is not a natural part of aging; it is a signal that something is wrong. One of the most common complaints I hear in January is “Post-Static Dyskinesia.” this is that sharp, stabbing sensation in your heel when you first step out of bed in the morning.
This is the hallmark of plantar fasciitis – an inflammation of the thick band of tissue that supports your arch. When you sleep, that tissue contracts; when you stand, it stretches violently, causing micro-tears.
Ignoring these early signals often leads to compensatory pain. If your right foot hurts, you will naturally shift your weight to the left, which eventually causes left hip or lower back pain.
4. Skin, Nails, and the Humid Climate
Our humid Estero climate is a breeding ground for fungal infections. Onychomycosis (nail fungus) and Tinea Pedis (athlete’s foot) are more than just cosmetic issues; they can lead to secondary bacterial infections if the skin cracks.
Dry Thoroughly: This is my “Golden Rule.” Always dry between your toes after a shower, a dip in the
pool, or a day at the beach. Moisture trapped between the toes is an invitation for bacteria.
Moisture Strategically: Apply high-urea cream to your heels to prevent painful “fissures” or cracks, but never apply lotion between the toes.
The Diabetic Foot Check: For our patients with diabetes, a daily foot inspection is life-saving. Because diabetes can cause neuropathy (loss of feeling), a small pebble in a shoe or a minor blister can go unnoticed and quickly turn into a serious ulcer.
A Specialized Approach for 2026
At Family Foot & Leg Center, we utilize advanced diagnostics to get to the root of your discomfort. We don’t just treat the “where” it hurts; we find the “why” it hurts. From digital X-rays and ultrasound to gait analysis, our goal is to provide a personalized plan that fits your 2026 lifestyle.
The lifestyle we enjoy in Florida is active, vibrant, and outdoors. Don’t let a preventable foot injury keep you on the sidelines while everyone else is enjoying the sunshine.
Your First Step Toward a Pain-Free Year
If you are ending 2025 with a nagging heel pain, a suspicious skin lesion, or shoes that just don’t feel as comfortable as they used to, don’t wait for the pain to become debilitating.
Make your foot health a priority for 2026. I invite you to visit us at our Estero office to ensure your 
foundation is solid for the months and miles ahead.
Dr. DeBlasi is a board-certified podiatrist at Family Foot & Leg Center at the Estero office. She is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) or visit www.NaplesPodiatrist.com
Serving Southwest Florida Since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has multiple convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties. Offering pediatric to geriatric family care: Ingrown Toenails, Heel Pain, Bunions, Foot / Ankle Arthritis Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Foot / Ankle Surgery, Custom Orthotics, and Diabetic Wound Care. In office X-rays, ultrasounds, and minor surgical suite exam rooms. Practice powered by EMR and advanced technologies.
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