Examining Problems With the Human Foot

Where can you find over 25% of the bones in your body, 66 joints and a network of hundreds of muscles, tendons and ligaments?  Don’t look up; look down--at your feet!  We often take them for granted as we walk, run, kick and kick-up, but if we don’t take care of them, they will turn around and kick us back! 

Problems with your feet can affect your quality of life, and your ability to function normally.  Let’s learn some lessons from the American Podiatric Medical Association, which can be seen in detail at www.apma.org/MainMenu/Foot-Health/Foot-Health-Brochures-category/General-Foot-.aspx .

First, there are several foot health tips. Inspect them frequently, especially if you have diabetes or circulatory problems.  Check their color, temperature and skin integrity. Wash them with every bath or shower, especially between the toes, and dry them completely before putting on your socks. Trim toenails straight across, and not too short. Wear comfortable shoes, alternate daily, and wear shoes appropriate for the activity you are undertaking. Finally, painful feet are not normal feet, so you should consult your primary care physician, or a podiatrist (a foot specialist), for any symptoms which persist.

Common foot conditions include:

Athlete’s foot: a benign fungal infection, usually affecting the area between the toes. Caused by the moist and dark environment of the foot, athlete’s foot is usually associated with scaly, peeling skin and itching; it is not painful.

Blisters: common fluid-filled lesions usually caused by ill-fitting footwear and resultant friction. The temptation is to “pop” them, but that increases the risk of infection. Cover with moleskin or a bandage and let it drain and heal naturally.

Bunions: misaligned toe joints which lead to the big toes being angled towards the other four with associated pain. This usually needs the input of a podiatrist.

Corns and calluses: layers of thickened skin from chronic pressure.  Sometimes painful.

Hammertoes: the claw-like bending of toes, especially the second toe when there is an associated bunion.

Heel pain: multiple causes from fasciitis to spurs. Can be debilitating unless assessed and managed aggressively.

Ingrown toe nails: nails that dig into the surrounding skin, causing pain, irritation and/or infection.  Prevention based on proper nail clipping; straight across and slightly longer than the end of the toe.

Warts: a viral infection of the skin.  Harmless but can be painful, unsightly and sometimes difficult to eradicate.

So, follow the advice above to make sure you have happy feet.  For an appointment with a podiatric specialist and NUMC, please call 516-572-4848.