May is World Foot Awareness Month. The California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) together with the International Federation of Podiatrists, wants to make sure you’re looking after a crucial part of the body many of us overlook.

After all, the average person takes about 8,000 to 10,000 steps every day. Add that up over the course of a lifetime and it’s the equivalent of walking four times around the world!

And while you’re walking, your feet are taking a pounding; often enduring more than your body weight with each step. The pressure can be three or four times your weight when you run. A child’s feet may absorb two million pounds over the course of a single day.

That’s why it’s so important to have your podiatrist check your feet regularly, the same way a dentist regularly checks your teeth. Podiatrists are doctors trained to diagnose and treat foot and ankle ailments who look after patients ranging in age from children to seniors.

Podiatrists treat common ailments such as athletes’ foot and plantar warts. They also treat bone deformities and can recognize the initial symptoms of serious diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and circulatory disorders, which often appear first in the feet.

Studies show that 75 per cent of people experience foot ailments at some point in their lives, but many don’t seek medical attention until the problem becomes more severe.

Our feet are complex instruments, containing one -quarter of the bones in our bodies. With regular checkups, you and your podiatrist can keep them running like well-tuned race cars.