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When
we are in love we may be
"swept off our
feet." When we don't
want to do something, we are
said to have "cold
feet." A sensible
person "has both feet
on the ground."
Sometimes we even "vote
with our feet."
Years of wear and tear can
be hard on our feet. So can
disease, poor circulation,
improperly trimmed toenails,
and wearing shoes that don't
fit properly. Problems with
our feet can be the first
sign of more serious medical
conditions such as
arthritis, diabetes, and
nerve and circulatory
disorders.
Preventing Foot Trouble
Practice good foot care.
Check your feet regularly,
or have a member of your
family check them.
Podiatrists and primary care
doctors (internists and
family practitioners) are
qualified to treat most foot
problems. Sometimes the
special skills of an
orthopedic surgeon or
dermatologist are needed.
It also helps to keep blood
circulating to your feet as
much as possible. Do this by
putting your feet up when
you are sitting or lying
down, stretching if you've
had to sit for a long while,
walking, having a gentle
foot massage, or taking a
warm foot bath. Try to avoid
pressure from shoes that
don't fit right. Try not to
expose your feet to cold
temperatures. Don't sit for
long periods of time
(especially with your legs
crossed). Don't smoke.
Wearing comfortable shoes
that fit well can prevent
many foot ailments. Here are
some tips for getting a
proper shoe fit:
The size of your feet
changes as you grow older so
always have your feet
measured before buying
shoes. The best time to
measure your feet is at the
end of the day when your
feet are largest.
Most of us have one foot
that is larger than the
other, so fit your shoe to
your larger foot.
Don't select shoes by the
size marked inside the shoe
but by how the shoe fits
your foot.
Select a shoe that is shaped
like your foot.
During the fitting process,
make sure there is enough
space (3/8" to
1/2") for your longest
toe at the end of each shoe
when you are standing up.
Make sure the ball of your
foot fits comfortably into
the widest part of the shoe.
Don't buy shoes that feel
too tight and expect them to
stretch to fit.
Your heel should fit
comfortably in the shoe with
a minimum amount of slipping
- the shoes should not ride
up and down on your heel
when you walk.
Walk in the shoes to make
sure they fit and feel
right. Then take them home
and spend some time walking
on carpet to make sure the
fit is a good one.
The upper part of the shoes
should be made of a soft,
flexible material to match
the shape of your foot.
Shoes made of leather can
reduce the possibility of
skin irritations. Soles
should provide solid footing
and not be slippery. Thick
soles cushion your feet when
walking on hard surfaces.
Low-heeled shoes are more
comfortable, safer, and less
damaging than high-heeled
shoes.
Common Foot Problems
Fungal and Bacterial
Conditions, including
athlete's foot, occur
because our feet spend a lot
of time in shoes - a warm,
dark, humid place that is
perfect for fungus to grow.
Fungal and bacterial
conditions can cause dry
skin, redness, blisters,
itching, and peeling. If not
treated right away, an
infection may be hard to
cure. If not treated
properly, the infection may
reoccur. To prevent
infections, keep your feet -
especially the area between
your toes - clean and dry.
Change your shoes and socks
or stockings often to help
keep your feet dry. Try
dusting your feet daily with
foot powder. If your foot
condition does not get
better within 2 weeks, talk
to your doctor.
Dry skin can cause itching
and burning feet. Use mild
soap in small amounts and a
moisturizing cream or lotion
on your legs and feet every
day. Be careful about adding
oils to bath water since
they can make your feet and
bathtub very slippery.
Corns and calluses are
caused by friction and
pressure when the bony parts
of your feet rub against
your shoes. If you have
corns or calluses, see your
doctor. Sometimes wearing
shoes that fit better or
using special pads solves
the problem. Treating corns
and calluses yourself may be
harmful, especially if you
have diabetes or poor
circulation.
Over-the-counter medicines
contain acids that destroy
the tissue but do not treat
the cause. Sometimes these
medicines reduce the need
for surgery, but check with
your doctor before using
them.
Warts are skin growths
caused by viruses. They are
sometimes painful and, if
untreated, may spread. Since
over-the-counter
preparations rarely cure
warts, see your doctor. A
doctor can apply medicines,
burn or freeze the wart off,
or take the wart off with
surgery.
Bunions develop when the
joints in your big toe no
longer fit together as they
should and become swollen
and tender. Bunions tend to
run in families. If a bunion
is not severe, wearing shoes
cut wide at the instep and
toes, taping the foot, or
wearing pads that cushion
the bunion may help the
pain. Other treatments
include physical therapy and
wearing orthotic devices or
shoe inserts. A doctor can
also prescribe
anti-inflammatory drugs and
cortisone injections for
pain. Sometimes surgery is
needed to relieve the
pressure and repair the toe
joint.
Ingrown toenails occur when
a piece of the nail breaks
the skin - which can happen
if you don't cut your nails
properly. Ingrown toenails
are very common in the large
toes. A doctor can remove
the part of the nail that is
cutting into the skin. This
allows the area to heal.
Ingrown toenails can often
be avoided by cutting the
toenail straight across and
level with the top of the
toe.
Hammertoe is caused by a
shortening of the tendons
that control toe movements.
The toe knuckle is usually
enlarged, drawing the toe
back. Over time, the joint
enlarges and stiffens as it
rubs against shoes. Your
balance may be affected.
Wearing shoes and stockings
with plenty of toe room is a
treatment for hammertoe. In
very serious cases, surgery
may be needed.
Spurs are calcium growths
that develop on bones of
your feet. They are caused
by muscle strain in the
feet. Standing for long
periods of time, wearing
badly fitting shoes, or
being overweight can make
spurs worse. Sometimes spurs
are completely painless - at
other times they can be very
painful. Treatments for
spurs include using foot
supports, heel pads, and
heel cups. Sometimes surgery
is needed.
Resources
For more information on foot
care, contact:
American Podiatric Medical
Association
9312 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
1-800-FOOTCARE
http://www.apma.org
American Orthopaedic Foot
and Ankle Society
1216 Pine Street, Suite 201
Seattle, Washington 98101
206-223-1120
206-223-1178 (fax)
aofas@aofas.org
(email)
http://www.aofas.org
For more information on
health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging
Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, Maryland
20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
1-800-222-4225 (TTY)
http://www.nih.gov/nia
National Institute on Aging
U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
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