Whether they swagger or skip, jog or jitterbug, feet take a pounding every day. The weight supported by the relatively small surface area of the sole is considerable. The Arthritis Foundation states that feet bear up to 300,000 pounds of stress for every mile a person walks. A number of factors can strain and cause injury to the foot. Proper care can help ensure that feet stay healthy.
Footwear Related Problems
Shoes with high heels and narrow toes mold the foot into an abnormal shape. If a shoe is relentlessly uncomfortable, chances are it doesn't fit right, or is simply not designed with health in mind. Failing to ignore the foot's painful protestations can result in a host of foot care related problems.
According to Harvard Medical School, bunions are one of the most common foot disorders inflicted upon those who wear ill-fitting shoes. Hammertoes, calluses, corns and nerve irritation can also beset those who teeter on stilettos or squeeze their tootsies into pointy-toed pumps. Harvard states that often the solution to foot problems is simply to switch to a more foot friendly pair. A bit of foam padding in the shoe can protect irritated areas. Corticosteroid injections and foot surgery may be necessary to relieve the more serious consequences of wearing cruel shoes.
Diabetic Foot Sores
The complications of diabetes extend all the way down to the toes, according to the American Diabetes Association. One effect of diabetes is loss of sensation in the appendages due to nerve damage. This can mean that small cuts or blisters go unnoticed, become infected and turn into big problems.
Diabetics who take proper measures to care for their feet can avoid the foot ulcers, gangrene and eventual amputation that can occur in worst care scenarios. The first step is to check the feet each day for cuts or ingrown toenails. Daily foot washing and the application of lotion to the tops and soles of the feet can help as well. Wearing proper fitting shoes, never going barefoot, and encouraging blood flow via exercise all help to keep feet in top form.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an unpleasant consequence of the inexorable turn of the calendar's page. The Arthritis Foundation states that 50 percent of all septuagenarians suffer from arthritis of the foot. Bone spurs can limit range of motion and cause pain, prompting the person to compensate by altering their posture and style of movement. This can prompt a vicious cycle of joint degeneration, leading to pain, leading to gait abnormality and further joint degeneration.
For those worried about the effects of arthritis on their feet, proper care can aid in keeping the spring in their step. Exercise, tendon stretches, sensible shoes and self-massage are helpful in alleviating the progression of arthritis of the foot.
