- Common Sore Foot Culprits
By Jeff Foster
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- When it comes to sore feet,
many of us live with much of the pain and keep going. In fact,
the overwhelming number of us will experience some sort of foot
problem at one time or another in our lifetime.
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Of this great number of the population,
women are much more
likely to suffer from foot pain and problems than men. For any
of you gals that like to squeeze into pointed toed shoes and
high heels; you know why.
Although the numbers related
to foot pain are high… there is
good news… most causes of foot pain are both treatable and
preventable.
Let’s take a look at a few
of the more common foot ailments and
how to deal with them.
First… the two “C’s”
… corns and calluses.
These guys are layers of compacted
dead skin cells and aren’t
very pretty. If you leave corns and calluses on your feet
unattended they can become quite painful… even to the point
that
they will limit your mobility and activity.
Foot calluses and corns are caused
by friction and the rubbing
of your skin against your shoe. Calluses usually form on the
bottom of the foot and are very common in athletics, while corns
normally form on the top of the toe. Using a pumice stone and
a
warm soak to gently eradicate the dead skin is an effective
treatment. |
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Bunions are a condition in which
the joint at the base of the big toe becomes enlarged. Many times
bunions are caused by flat feet, and faulty foot structure. As
such you may see bunions more prevalent in one family tree as
opposed to another. With the natural structure of the foot many
times being the root cause, providing but temporary relief from
the pain via padding, supports, shoe inserts and or medications
are the only options short of surgery.
If you’ve ever had one,
you’ll know why ingrown toenails make the list. Ingrown
toenails occur when the toenail penetrates the skin. More often
than not this is a result of improper nail care and trimming.
Proper trimming means that the nail is cut straight across and
not tapered around the edges.
Heel and arch pain is generally
known as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is essentially
the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects the heel
to the toes. When this tissue becomes stressed or even torn,
inflammation and pain (even severe) will occur. The pain will
be the most intense early in the morning with your first few
steps. This is because overnight the plantar fascia tissue has
contracted a bit and is not warmed up. Self care to relieve this
pain includes contrasting baths on the painful area, stretching,
and exercising. As with all pain, if becomes chronic and is not
responding to home treatment, consult with your doctor.
By in large, most of these foot
ailments can be prevented by wearing properly fitted shoes. Give
your feet the room that they need, avoid prolonged use of high
heels and pointy toes. Practice good nail care and hygiene and
chances are you’ll keep your feet happy and pain free. |
Beauty Secrets of the World
