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Foot
Care
Disease, years of wear
and tear, ill fitting or poorly designed shoes, poor circulation
to the feet, or improperly trimmed toenails cause many common
foot problems.
To prevent foot
problems, check your feet regularly or, have them checked by
a member of the family-and practice good foot hygiene. Podiatrists
and primary care physicians (internists and family practitioners)
are qualified to treat most feet problems; sometimes the special
skills of an orthopedic surgeon or dermatologist are needed.
Preventing Foot
Trouble
Improving the circulation of blood to the feet can help prevent
problems. Exposure to cold temperatures or water, pressure from
shoes, long periods of sitting, or smoking can reduce blood
flow to the feet. Even sitting with your legs crossed or wearing
tight, elastic garters or socks can affect circulation. On the
other hand, raising the feet, standing up and stretching, walking,
and other forms of exercise promote good circulation. Gentle
massage and warm foot baths can also help increase circulation
to the feet.
Wearing comfortable
shoes that fit well can prevent many foot ailments. Foot width
may increase with age. Always have your feet measured before
buying shoes. 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 lessen pressure 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 the feet are usually enclosed in a dark, damp, warm
environment. These infections cause redness, blisters, peeling,
and itching. If not treated promptly, an infection may become
chronic and difficult to cure. To prevent these conditions,
keep the feet-especially the area between the toes-clean and
dry and expose the feet to air whenever possible. If you are
prone to fungal infections, you may want to dust your feet daily
with a fungicidal powder.
Dry skin
can cause itching and burning feet. Use mild soap sparingly
and a body lotion on your legs and feet every day. The best
moisturizers contain petroleum jelly or lanolin. Be cautious
about adding oils to bath water since they can make the feet
and bathtub very slippery.
Corns and calluses
are caused by the friction and pressure of bony areas rubbing
against shoes. A podiatrist or a physician can determine the
cause of this condition and can suggest treatment, which may
include getting better fitting shoes or special pads. Over-the-counter
medicines contain acids that destroy the tissue but do not treat
the cause. These medicines can sometimes reduce the need for
surgery. Treating corns or calluses yourself may be harmful,
especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation.
Warts are
skin growths caused by viruses. They are sometimes painful and
if untreated, may spread. Since over-the-counter preparations
rarely cure warts, get professional care. A doctor can apply
medicines, burn or freeze the wart off, or remove the wart surgically.
Bunions develop
when big toe joints are out of line and become swollen and tender.
Bunions may be caused by poor fitting shoes that press on a
deformity or an inherited weakness in the foot. If a bunion
is not severe, wearing shoes cut wide at the instep and toes
may provide relief. Protective pads can also cushion the painful
area. Bunions can be treated by applying or injecting certain
drugs, using whirlpool baths, or sometimes having surgery.
Ingrown toenails
occur when a piece of the nail breaks the skin. This is usually
caused by improperly trimmed nails. Ingrown toenails are especially
common in the large toes. A podiatrist or doctor can remove
the part of the nail that is cutting into the skin. This will
allow the area to heal. Ingrown toenails can usually be avoided
by cutting the toenail straight across and level with the top
of the toe.
Hammertoe
is caused by shortening 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. Hammertoe is treated by wearing
shoes and stockings with plenty of toe room. In advanced cases,
surgery may be recommended.
Spurs are
calcium growths that develop on bones of the feet. They are
caused by muscle strain in the feet and are irritated by standing
for long periods of time, wearing badly fitting shoes, or being
overweight. Sometimes they are completely painless, but at other
times the pain can be severe. Treatments for spurs include using
proper foot support, heel pads, heel cups, or other recommendations
by a podiatrist or surgeon.
Resources
For more information on foot care, write to either of the following:
American Podiatric
Medical Association
9312 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
American Orthopedic
Foot and Ankle Society
222 South Prospect
Park Ridge, IL 60068
The National
Institute on Aging offers a variety of information about
health and aging. For a list of publications, contact:
The National
Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
1-800-222-4225 (TTY)
National Institute
on Aging
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
1994
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