General
Foot Health |
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A
Biological
Masterpiece,
But
Subject
to
Many
Ills
The
human
foot
is a
biological
masterpiece.
Its
strong,
flexible,
and
functional
design
enables
it
to
do
its
job
well
and
without
complaint—if
you
take
care
of
it
and
don’t
take
it
for
granted.
The
foot
can
be
compared
to a
finely
tuned
race
car,
or a
space
shuttle,
vehicles
whose
function
dictates
their
design
and
structure.
And
like
them,
the
human
foot
is
complex,
containing
within
its
relatively
small
size
26
bones
(the
two
feet
contain
a
quarter
of
all
the
bones
in
the
body),
33
joints,
and
a
network
of
more
than
100
tendons,
muscles,
and
ligaments,
to
say
nothing
of
blood
vessels
and
nerves.
Tons
of
Pressure
The
components
of
your
feet
work
together,
sharing
the
tremendous
pressures
of
daily
living.
An
average
day
of
walking,
for
example,
brings
a
force
equal
to
several
hundred
tons
to
bear
on
the
feet.
This
helps
explain
why
your
feet
are
more
subject
to
injury
than
any
other
part
of
your
body.
Foot
ailments
are
among
the
most
common
of
our
health
problems.
Although
some
can
be
traced
to
heredity,
many
stem
from
the
cumulative
impact
of a
lifetime
of
abuse
and
neglect.
Studies
show
that
75
percent
of
Americans
experience
foot
problems
of a
greater
or
lesser
degree
of
seriousness
at
some
time
in
their
lives;
nowhere
near
that
many
seek
medical
treatment,
apparently
because
they
mistakenly
believe
that
discomfort
and
pain
are
normal
and
expectable.
There
are
a
number
of
systemic
diseases
that
are
sometimes
first
detected
in
the
feet,
such
as
diabetes,
circulatory
disorders,
anemia,
and
kidney
problems.
Arthritis,
including
gout,
often
attacks
foot
joints
first.
Specialized
Care
Your
feet,
like
other
specialized
structures,
require
specialized
care.
A
doctor
of
podiatric
medicine
can
make
an
important
contribution
to
your
total
health,
whether
it
is
regular
preventive
care
or
surgery
to
correct
a
deformity.
In
order
to
keep
your
feet
healthy,
you
should
be
familiar
with
the
most
common
ills
that
affect
them.
Remember,
though,
that
self-treatment
can
often
turn
a
minor
problem
into
a
major
one
and
is
generally
not
advisable.
You
should
see
a
podiatric
physician
when
any
of
the
following
conditions
occur
or
persist.
Athlete’s
foot
is a
skin
disease,
usually
starting
between
the
toes
or
on
the
bottom
of
the
feet,
which
can
spread
to
other
parts
of
the
body.
It
is
caused
by a
fungus
that
commonly
attacks
the
feet,
because
the
wearing
of
shoes
and
hosiery
fosters
fungus
growth.
The
signs
of
athlete’s
foot
are
dry
scaly
skin,
itching,
inflammation,
and
blisters.
You
can
help
prevent
infection
by
washing
your
feet
daily
with
soap
and
warm
water;
drying
carefully,
especially
between
the
toes;
and
changing
shoes
and
hose
regularly
to
decrease
moisture.
Athlete’s
foot
is
not
the
only
infection,
fungal
or
otherwise,
which
afflicts
the
foot,
and
other
dry
skin/dermatitis
conditions
can
be
good
reasons
to
see
a
doctor
of
podiatric
medicine
if a
suspicious
condition
persists.
Blisters
are
caused
by
skin
friction.
Don’t
pop
them.
Apply
moleskin
or
an
adhesive
bandage
over
a
blister,
and
leave
it
on
until
it
falls
off
naturally
in
the
bath
or
shower.
Keep
your
feet
dry
and
always
wear
socks
as a
cushion
between
your
feet
and
shoes.
If a
blister
breaks
on
its
own,
wash
the
area,
apply
an
antiseptic,
and
cover
with
a
sterile
bandage.
Bunions
are
misaligned
big
toe
joints
which
can
become
swollen
and
tender.
The
deformity
causes
the
first
joint
of
the
big
toe
to
slant
outward,
and
the
big
toe
to
angle
toward
the
other
toes.
Bunions
tend
to
run
in
families,
but
the
tendency
can
be
aggravated
by
shoes
that
are
too
narrow
in
the
forefoot
and
toe.
There
are
conservative
and
preventive
steps
that
can
minimize
the
discomfort
of a
bunion,
but
surgery
is
frequently
recommended
to
correct
the
problem.
Corns
and
calluses
are
protective
layers
of
compacted,
dead
skin
cells.
They
are
caused
by
repeated
friction
and
pressure
from
skin
rubbing
against
bony
areas
or
against
an
irregularity
in a
shoe.
Corns
ordinarily
form
on
the
toes
and
calluses
on
the
soles
of
the
feet.
The
friction
and
pressure
can
burn
or
otherwise
be
painful
and
may
be
relieved
by
moleskin
or
padding
on
the
affected
areas.
Never
cut
corns
or
calluses
with
any
instrument,
and
never
apply
home
remedies,
except
under
a
podiatrist’s
instructions.
Foot
odor
results
from
excessive
perspiration
from
the
more
than
250,000
sweat
glands
in
the
foot.
Daily
hygiene
is
essential.
Change
your
shoes
daily
to
let
each
pair
air
out,
and
change
your
socks,
perhaps
even
more
frequently
than
daily.
Foot
powders
and
antiperspirants,
and
soaking
your
feet
in
vinegar
and
water,
can
help
lessen
odor.
Hammertoe
is a
condition
in
which
any
of
the
toes
are
bent
in a
claw-like
position.
It
occurs
most
frequently
with
the
second
toe,
often
when
a
bunion
slants
the
big
toe
toward
and
under
it,
but
any
of
the
other
three
smaller
toes
can
be
affected.
Although
the
condition
usually
stems
from
muscle
imbalance,
it
is
often
aggravated
by
ill-fitting
shoes
or
socks
that
cramp
the
toes.
Avoid
pressure
on
the
toes
as
much
as
possible.
Surgery
may
be
necessary
to
realign
the
toes
to
their
proper
position.
Heel
pain
can
generally
be
traced
to
faulty
biomechanics
which
place
too
much
stress
on
the
heel
bone,
ligaments,
or
nerves
in
the
area.
Stress
could
result
while
walking
or
jumping
on
hard
surfaces,
or
from
poorly
made
footwear.
Overweight
is
also
a
major
contributing
factor.
Some
general
health
conditions—arthritis,
gout,
and
circulatory
problems,
for
example—also
cause
heel
pain.
Heel
spurs
are
growths
of
bone
on
the
underside
of
the
heel
bone.
They
can
occur
without
pain;
pain
may
result
when
inflammation
develops
at
the
point
where
the
spur
forms.
Both
heel
pain
and
heel
spurs
are
often
associated
with
plantar
fasciitis,
an
inflammation
of
the
long
band
of
connective
tissue
running
from
the
heel
to
the
ball
of
the
foot.
Treatments
may
range
from
exercise
and
custom-made
orthotics
to
anti-inflammatory
medication
or
cortisone
injections.
Ingrown
nails
are
nails
whose
corners
or
sides
dig
painfully
into
the
skin,
often
causing
infection.
They
are
frequently
caused
by
improper
nail
trimming
but
also
by
shoe
pressure,
injury,
fungus
infection,
heredity,
and
poor
foot
structure.
Toenails
should
be
trimmed
straight
across,
slightly
longer
than
the
end
of
the
toe,
with
toenail
clippers.
If
the
ingrown
portion
of
the
nail
is
painful
or
infected,
your
podiatric
physician
may
remove
the
affected
portion;
if
the
condition
reoccurs
frequently,
your
podiatrist
may
permanently
remove
the
nail.
Neuromas
are
enlarged,
benign
growths
of
nerves,
most
commonly
between
the
third
and
fourth
toes.
They
are
caused
by
bones
and
other
tissue
rubbing
against
and
irritating
the
nerves.
Abnormal
bone
structure
or
pressure
from
ill-fitting
shoes
also
can
create
the
condition,
which
can
result
in
pain,
burning,
tingling,
or
numbness
between
the
toes
and
in
the
ball
of
the
foot.
Conservative
treatment
can
include
padding,
taping,
orthotic
devices,
and
cortisone
injections,
but
surgical
removal
of
the
growth
is
sometimes
necessary.
Warts
are
caused
by a
virus,
which
enters
the
skin
through
small
cuts
and
infects
the
skin.
Children,
especially
teenagers,
tend
to
be
more
susceptible
to
warts
than
adults.
Most
warts
are
harmless
and
benign,
even
though
painful
and
unsightly.
Warts
often
come
from
walking
barefooted
on
dirty
surfaces
or
littered
ground.
There
are
several
simple
procedures
which
your
podiatric
physician
might
use
to
remove
warts.
Top Ten Foot
Health Tips
Diseases,
disorders
and
disabilities
of the
foot or
ankle
affect
the
quality
of life
and
mobility
of
millions
of
Americans.
However,
the
general
public
and even
many
physicians
are
unaware
of the
important
relationship
between
foot
health
and
overall
health
and
well-being.
With
this in
mind,
the
American
Podiatric
Medical
Association
(APMA)
would
like to
share a
few tips
to help
keep
feet
healthy.
1.
Don't
ignore
foot
pain—it's
not
normal.
If
the
pain
persists,
see
a
podiatric
physician.
2.
Inspect
your
feet
regularly.
Pay
attention
to
changes
in
color
and
temperature
of
your
feet.
Look
for
thick
or
discolored
nails
(a
sign
of
developing
fungus),
and
check
for
cracks
or
cuts
in
the
skin.
Peeling
or
scaling
on
the
soles
of
feet
could
indicate
athlete's
foot.
Any
growth
on
the
foot
is
not
considered
normal.
3.
Wash
your
feet
regularly,
especially
between
the
toes,
and
be
sure
to
dry
them
completely.
4.
Trim
toenails
straight
across,
but
not
too
short.
Be
careful
not
to
cut
nails
in
corners
or
on
the
sides;
it
can
lead
to
ingrown
toenails.
Persons
with
diabetes,
poor
circulation,
or
heart
problems
should
not
treat
their
own
feet
because
they
are
more
prone
to
infection.
5.
Make
sure
that
your
shoes
fit
properly.
Purchase
new
shoes
later
in
the
day
when
feet
tend
to
be
at
their
largest
and
replace
worn
out
shoes
as
soon
as
possible.
6.
Select
and
wear
the
right
shoe
for
the
activity
that
you
are
engaged
in
(i.e.,
running
shoes
for
running).
7.
Alternate
shoes—don't
wear
the
same
pair
of
shoes
every
day.
8.
Avoid
walking
barefooted—your
feet
will
be
more
prone
to
injury
and
infection.
At
the
beach
or
when
wearing
sandals,
always
use
sunblock
on
your
feet
just
as
on
the
rest
of
your
body.
9.
Be
cautious
when
using
home
remedies
for
foot
ailments;
self-treatment
can
often
turn
a
minor
problem
into
a
major
one.
10.
If
you
are
a
person
with
diabetes,
it
is
vital
that
you
see
a
podiatric
physician
at
least
once
a
year
for
a
check-up.
Dr.
Robinson
has been
trained
specifically
and
extensively
in the
diagnosis
and
treatment
of all
manner
of foot
conditions.
This
training
encompasses
all of
the
intricately
related
systems
and
structures
of the
foot and
lower
leg
including
neurological,
circulatory,
skin,
and the
musculoskeletal
system,
which
includes
bones,
joints,
ligaments,
tendons,
muscles,
and
nerves
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