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Dr. Alan Berman of Mahopac and the Putnam Hospital Center wants to help you take care of your foundation, your feet. MICHAeL BReNDAN DOUgHeRTY Sometimes the daily grind can knock you off your own two feet. That’s where Dr. Alan Berman comes in. “It’s like your house; if you have a crack in the basement, you’ll have a crack in the ceiling,” said Berman. “If other parts of your body are hurting, it could be related to the foot.”

The Mahopac podiatrist has been helping Putnam stay upright for twenty-five years. He established his first office in Brewster in July of 1985. Since then he has opened up in Mahopac on Route 6, and shifted his Brewster office to Putnam Hospital Center.

“There was a diabetic history in my family,” said Berman, “and diabetes can lead to problems of circulation in the foot; that’s probably why I became a podiatrist.” Berman graduated from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 1984.

“I’m very big into preventive care,” said Berman, “better shoes, better information on foot products to take care of problems before they require surgery.”

Dr. Berman has noticed that there are lots of footwear ads making incredible claims. Some shoes force the wearer to walk more on their toes, taking pressure of the heel. “People who studied the Masai tribe, who walk on their toes, have created shoes to elevate the heel,” said Berman, “but a day later you try to wear regular shoes and you can hurt yourself, since your muscles respond differently.”

Berman describes some of these health claims for newly engineered shoes and barefoot running gimmicks. A shoe should be built solidly. If you can depress the back of the heel all the way, you need a stronger shoe and stronger support,” said Berman.

For women, whose shoes may be cut more narrowly and lifted with heels, Berman asks that they take time to get off their stilettos. “If you have to wear stiletto heels for work or another event, try to wear sneakers at home.”

Who should come to a podiatrist? “If your family has a history of foot problems, or if you have a problem or are unsure,” said Berman. “People should treat their feet with the same care they would treat anything on their face. Don’t just cover up a sore or cut on your skin without thinking about it.”