Transforming Mobility and Mental Health Through Foot Care and Cultural Awareness - Dr. Roberto de Los Santos

Discover the underestimated world of foot health with our special guest, Dr. Roberto de Los Santos from the Foot and Ankle Center of North Houston. Dr. Roberto, a renowned podiatric specialist, shares his expertise on why we often neglect our feet until problems arise and unveils remarkable stories of recovery from conditions like plantar fasciitis. By highlighting the crucial role of mobility not just physically, but also emotionally and psychologically, he reveals how regaining mobility can dramatically improve one's quality of life. Dr. Roberto’s dedication to limb salvage offers hope to those facing amputation, underscoring the deep impact of mobility on mental health and self-esteem.

Explore the cultural significance of foot wellness with us, as we discuss practical tips for those standing or sitting for long hours. Learn about the importance of regular foot care, especially for individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, and the need to monitor nerve sensation, circulation, and sugar levels. We also compare foot health practices across different cultures, delving into differences between the US, Europe, and Asia. Emphasizing early education and professional consultation, we encourage listeners to prioritize their foot health and seek medical advice when needed. Connect with the Foot and Ankle Center of North Houston for more insights or to book an appointment.

Automate Social Media Posts with Marky
Marky.ai an AI marketing platform that automates campaigns and optimizes strategies for better ROI.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Chapters

• 0:04 The Importance of Foot Health
• 13:18 Foot Wellness and Cultural Perspectives

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

Hey everyone, welcome back to Pleasure Principles, the podcast where we explore the many ways we can enhance our well-being, pleasure and fulfillment. I'm your host, avik, and today's topic will have you thinking about something that you use every single day without giving it much attention your feet, yes. So whether you are a runner, a weekend warrior or someone just trying to move without pain. So today's conversation is going to be a game changer. Joining us today is Dr Roberto de Los Santos, so welcome to the show, dr Roberto.

Speaker 2: 0:45

Thank you for having me so very happy to be here and looking forward to our discussion today.

Speaker 1: 0:51

Lovely, lovely. So before we start, I'll quickly love to introduce you to all of our listeners. Dear listeners, dr Roberto is the youngest partner at the Food and Ankle Center of North, is the youngest partner at the Foot and Ankle Center of North Houston and a key voice in podiatric medicine. So he brings not just expertise but also passion for helping people stay mobile and pain-free. So he's also a bit of a car enthusiast. So who knows, like maybe we will learn how foot mechanics relate to the pedal tool. So, roborio, thank you so much for stepping into the studio and I'm totally curious about this topic. Welcome to the show thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2: 1:41

So thank you for introducing me. Yes, I'm here in houston, texas. Uh, here in the US. I studied in San Antonio, texas, did a medical school or podiatry school in San Francisco, on the West Coast in California, and full circle I'm back in my own hometown, in my community, where I grew up trying to help everybody. So very much education. About 11 years of training so very much education about, uh, 11 years of training, lovely, lovely.

Speaker 1: 2:08

So I mean, um, why do we take our fit for granted, I mean until something goes wrong, like is there a common issue or misconception that you see patients struggling with because they ignored their feet for too long?

Speaker 2: 2:25

So it is very common, especially in the elderly patients.

Speaker 2: 2:31

They're so used to, in their mind, feeling young, feeling active, but their bodies and their bones, their muscles, they're slowly shrinking, withering away. You got to remember that muscles and tendons are composed of water and when you age you have less water in your whole system. Your bones get thinner, they get weaker and overall it limits you, even though you have the will, the mental capacity, little things like climbing up the stairs, going down a hill, taking a walk, running or jogging, as much as your will to push through your body isn't there anymore. And that's kind of a realization when they have an injury or a fracture, a sprain, and then they come to see me when I have to slowly tell them hey, this is how you look, this is what you want, want, I know how to get you to the, your destination, your goal, but it's going to take some time. So, yes, people take their feet for granted, until a small injury, fracture or even stepping on something they shouldn't have causes a lot of issues yeah, I mean, I mean, it's my perspective.

Speaker 1: 3:44

Definitely, it's really funny when you think about it, because our feet supports everything that we do, from standing to dancing to running marathons, and I imagine like when people finally come to you, they are almost in shock. Like wait, my feet matter this much. So, anand, what's the most dramatic turnaround you have seen after treating someone?

Speaker 2: 4:11

Somebody who had severe pain for two years. Very common is called plantar fasciitis or pain in the heel. There's a fascia connected right to the heel bone that just pretty much tugs and it's in a chronic inflammation. I give them always three options and once I get them healed, something that they have for two years all of a sudden is gone and they're very happy. But that's been the quickest turnaround where they're in shock that yes, we have medicine. Yes, not everything is surgery, there's other ways to treat foot pain.

Speaker 1: 4:52

So, as a surgeon and someone passionate about limb salvage, what does mobility mean to you? Not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically, not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically.

Speaker 2: 5:07

So mobility is the freedom to get from point A to point B by any means necessary. So as a reconstructive surgeon, I cannot promise the patient, hey, when I'm done with surgery it's going to look identical when you were 21 years old. When I'm done with surgery, it's going to look identical when you were 21 years old. I'm going to have to be honest and say I'm going to do my best, but I'm going to make it into what's called I plant your gray foot, a 90 degree foot, so you can walk, you can push, you can still keep moving.

Speaker 2: 5:40

I try my best, but surgery is a tricky business because not every person is the same, not every situation is the same.

Speaker 2: 5:49

I study a lot, I read a lot and look at my own past surgeries and say to the patient this is what I have, plans and goals for you, and as long as we can eventually keep you moving moving, which sometimes it takes six months or maybe a full year, and I've had those patients, I've had a handful, a close to about a dozen. Now I've only been doing this for three years, but I giving somebody hope in their mind they have a goal versus a lot of patients, a lot of doctors, I would say, in different parts of the country. They would say no, it's, we have to amputate, we have to remove it and uh, it's a quick surgery and procedure. But that takes a piece of them away, that gives them not the freedom to get up and walk to the kitchen or to the restroom anymore. Um, majority of these people are in wheelchairs, so psychologically they're always looking up, they feel less, um, something simple as just standing is taken for granted, and I'm trying to, long term, avoid that.

Speaker 1: 6:54

That is my goal, that is my passion I understand and, uh, do you think we underestimate the link between movement and mental health?

Speaker 2: 7:07

Yes, yes, yes, and something as recent as COVID, when we were all cooched up in our houses. Without movement, you don't burn energy or use energy. You naturally gain weight. But we know now that by contracting muscle it pushes different chemicals into our body to help us decrease anxiety, decrease depression, just by being moving and by being active. So we know that that is a fact.

Speaker 1: 7:42

Understood, okay, and so let's talk about anatomy. Understood, okay, and so let's talk about anatomy, like what's something fascinating about the foot's structure that most people don't know, okay?

Speaker 2: 7:56

So most fascinating thing is that research and studies have been going for years, since Egyptian times. One of my favorite I guess philosophers quoted it was Leonardo da Vinci is a beautiful mechanic in a work of art, and that's because he himself was studying cadavers. And when you see what is a philosopher or somebody, psychology or somebody that's trying to gain wisdom, has to do with the human anatomy. Well, eventually we all want to understand ourselves, how we function, why we understand ourselves how we function, why we function how we do, how can we grow what's deteriorate, deteriorated us? And, um, fun fact, there's uh 27 bones in the in the foot, uh, but a lot of people have 26, 27 or 28 uh, based on two little bones called sesamoid bones. So this all mechanics has been going on for years and even though we live here in 2025, we still don't have all the answers. So that's mine Pretty well to me.

Speaker 1: 9:13

Understood, understood and like. I read somewhere that Leonardo da Vinci once said that the human foot is a masterpiece of engineering. So do you ever have moments, even as a surgeon, where you are just amazed by how the foot works?

Speaker 2: 9:36

Yes, yes, constantly reminded, especially through athletes when I see them on television how, for example, lebron James is going down the basketball court and he's going to jump into the air flawlessly, effortlessly, and do a dunk. All his weight in his body is going against gravity by putting all that power and energy into the big toe and the second toe, essentially so for a split second.

Speaker 1: 10:08

everything is based off of that small amount of surface area in the whole body so shoes are definitely a huge part of food health, but the fashion industry doesn't always care. So what's the biggest mistake people make when it comes to choosing the footwear?

Speaker 2: 10:30

um, going with trends, um, so there's always going to be a new shoe. There's always going to be a new style. Uh, shoes, sandals, slip-ons have been going since, uh, before ancient times. We weren't born with shoes, we were born barefooted, so we were meant to be connected to the earth. However, the reason for shoes is because we have to adapt to our terrain. Not everything is soft as dirt. Some things are sharp, hard, um quick cuts can cause lifelong injuries. So the main thing is that you have a specific foot just for you. Your left foot is not even the same as your right foot.

Speaker 2: 11:11

Choosing the proper shoe. Once you find your type of shoe that fits you, you will know what it is and you'll probably never go back. I always recommend tennis shoes or running shoes because we're in an active, moving lifestyle. If you're standing for long periods of time, that's going to be a different shoe. If you're hiking up the mountains, it's going to be a different shoe. The most common mistake is that they use the improper shoe for the day-to-day or for a certain activity. You shouldn't wear flip-flops if you're going to walk five miles, so Okay, okay.

Speaker 1: 11:49

And speaking of prevention, how important is food and ankle strength in the overall fitness routines? I mean, should we be incorporating specific exercises into our daily lives?

Speaker 2: 12:06

um, stretching, icing, compression. So I think we all naturally want to be healthier, fitter and doing day-to-day um. If you incorporate compression, such as compression socks that can get you to do so, at the end of the day your legs aren't painful or heavy Resting. It's okay to not work out one or two days of the week or not be super active. The body needs to rest in order to heal itself. In order to heal itself, icing if it hurts is a great first method, because swelling essentially increases any pain against tendons, arteries, ligaments that cause a lot of the long-term issues. So a quick five-minute icing after a long day of work can definitely help you long term. But um, overall strength of tendons and ligaments, no, just stretching, stretching before, stretching after, are sufficient, and you'd be surprised how many people don't stretch anymore wow and uh like.

Speaker 1: 13:18

Is there a simple exercise that you would recommend to people who spend long hours on their feet or sitting at a desk?

Speaker 2: 13:26

Yes, if they're long hours on their feet, if they're standing, you can definitely stretch your calf muscles by pulling with a towel or rope you want to stretch your Achilles tendon. Second, massage massages to the heel of your bone, the plantar fascia. You can do a golf ball or you can get a frozen water bottle and just roll it. Any rolling motion on the bottom of your arch and heel can help you with spreading inflammation. Third, just with the toes, exercising extension and flexion. Pretend like you're grabbing something and you only need to do this about five, seven minutes a day, but if it becomes consistent, it helps you long-term to be more active. As for people who are sitting down, I would recommend to do the opposite. Do stretches standing up, so against the wall, stretching your Achilles Against the wall, stretching your big toe against the wall, flattened out on stretching the heel and arch supports.

Speaker 1: 14:26

So those are my recommendations okay, and and also like, for those who are dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes, how critical is regular foot care?

Speaker 2: 14:47

It's very important. So in my practice, that is a majority of my patients. As soon as I have a new patient and I know that they're diabetic type 1 or type 2, I have to check how are their nerves? Do they have poor nerve sensation? Do they have neuropathy? Second, how is their circulation? Are their arteries good? Do they have varicose veins? Are their toes cold? Is their foot cold? Those are the two main ones. And then, finally, how good is your sugar levels? Do you keep them maintained? Do you check them weekly, daily?

Speaker 2: 15:18

If you have high sugar levels, then we have to implement a plan with your primary care doctor or your family doctor. Do we need to add medications? Do we need to change your diet? Do you need to be more active? It's all together with diabetics is that in the hospital, in the emergency, I see them for the first time with a severe infection because they stepped on a nail, they stepped on a glass, something dropped on their foot and they didn't feel it. So they drop this heavy item on their big toe. They don't feel anything because they have what's called neuropathy, meaning their nerves aren't as good as they once were. So it's a superpower they can step on grass, step on nails, step on fire. They don't feel anything, but that doesn't mean it's not going to cause infection. So when I see them in the ER, I have to be the one. Hey, besides you having a foot infection, you're also diabetic. Nobody told you this. So now we have to get a proper team to educate you so this doesn't happen again.

Speaker 1: 16:23

Okay, and so have you seen any cultural differences in how other countries prioritize foot wellness compared to the us?

Speaker 2: 16:37

yes, so I I am blessed to say that I'm well traveled. I've been to europe and also asia, china, thailand and very and very, very different. Here in the US everything is more about branding and fashion. Over overseas, I realize a lot of people don't even wear shoes. It's more of a cultural thing, it's more of a religious thing, it's more of how they grew up in their environment.

Speaker 2: 17:09

Some people are happy being barefooted and at first I was worried. First I was worried as like, oh man, some they're going to get a cut, they're going to hit themselves, they're going to get an injury. And no, that's not the case. So I've had to learn to accept that there's multiple ways of living and walking and and doing day-to-day. Uh, it's okay not to have shoes. Your foot will adapt. But if you're doing strenuous, difficult jobs, it's always good to protect your foot. So here in the US, for example, a lot of people handle machinery and metal. So we have what's called non-slip shoes. We don't want people to slip and fall. The second is called steel toe boots, meaning they have a piece of steel covering their toes so they don't get injured. Even though they're helping to protect one thing, those type of shoes still cause damage and cause other things. So it's a balance. Like I said, we haven't had the 100% answer, but um multiple ways that I've seen here and overseas understood, understood, yeah, and uh also.

Speaker 1: 18:22

Uh, I mean, it's really great. So what one advice you would like to share with the listeners today?

Speaker 2: 18:27

um, the earlier you educate yourself and maintain your feet and always check daily, the better. You'd be surprised after one week. Hey, you have fungus on your foot or in your nail. Or wow, there's this new little mole I've never seen before. Should I get tested to make sure it's not something more severe? If something hurts, people tend to wait two, three weeks. I would say wait a week and then come see a doctor. Don't wait too long. It can be more severe than what you think. It's okay not to have all the answers. Even if you try to look online, that answer might scare you or be the incorrect one. So always go with somebody who's educated, who's got the training, because just because you see one thing, us professionals we can see 12 different things. So it's up to us to essentially figure out what is causing your issue. So, early education, try not to go down the rabbit hole of the Internet and try to seek a professional after within a week. I would recommend.

Speaker 1: 19:36

Perfect, that's really lovely. Great so, roberto, this conversation has been so insightful, and I'm sure that our listeners are now rethinking everything from their shoe choices to their workout routines. And for those who want to learn more about, or maybe even book an appointment with you, where's the best place to connect?

Speaker 2: 20:00

So our office in Houston, texas, is the Foot and Ankle Center of North Houston. I go to four locations, all different cities within North Houston area. I'm also on my own website, drdevilsantoscom, which we just launched. Essentially any elective surgery. I'm welcome to people from all different states and countries here to do it. And finally, on my Instagram, drdevilsantos.

Speaker 1: 20:27

Wow, perfect. So to all the listeners, remember that your feet carry you through life and they deserve just as much love and attention as the rest of your body. So if you are feeling inspired today, take a moment to stretch your feet, toss out those painful shoes and just walk barefoot on some grass. So until next time, take care of yourself and, as always, find pleasure in every step. So this is Avik signing off from Pleasure Principles. Thank you so much.

Speaker 2: 21:02

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.