What Is Foot Care For Healthy Feet?

A health article about foot care for healthy feet from Your Health Online the A to Z directory of dealing with Health Problems & nutritional Self Care Strategies

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association estimates that the average person walks about 115,000 miles in a lifetime. That is over four times around the equator, if you are counting.

With all the walking, your feet experience a lot of wear and tear. For most people, the pain of a blister or cut is a signal to get off your feet and let them heal.

But if you have diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage in your feet, the pain signal is impaired or gone altogether, and you may not notice an inquiry until you actually see it.

Flat feet or high arches are foot ailments too. The Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome can affect not only the hands, but the foot as well.

Bunions, which are bumps or bulges developing on the inner side of the foot mostly near the base of the biggest toe, are another example of foot problems.

Signs & Symptoms of foot problems

Pain associated with the disease process, such as fractures, is frequently controlled by immobilization.

Pain due to edema that is associated with trauma, surgery, or bleeding into the tissues can frequently be controlled by elevation and, if prescribed, intermittent application of cold.

Pain may be indicative of complications. Pain associated with compartment syndrome is relentless and is controlled by modalities such as elevation, application of cold if prescribed, and usual dosages of analgesics.

Severe pain over a bony prominence warns of an impending pressure ulcer. Pain decreases when ulceration occurs.

Among the many causative factor of pain is the foot ailment. Many people may pay little attention to it, but it is one of the most extensive problems any person can experience.

If you do not have any idea about treating certain foot ailments such as shin splint, try to read on and see for yourself what type of treatment is applicable to your foot problem.

Foot Ailments and How to Treat Them

Disabilities of the foot are commonly caused by poorly fitting shoes. Fashion, vanity, and eye appeal, rather than function and physiology of the foot, are the determining factors in the design of footwear. Ill-fitting shoes distort normal anatomy while inducing deformity and pain.

Several systematic diseases affect the feet. Patients with diabetes are prone to develop corns and peripheral neuropathies with diminishing sensation, leading to ulcers at pressure points of the foot.

Patients with peripheral vascular disease and arteriosclerosis complain of burning and itching feet resulting in scratching and skin breakdown. Foot deformities may occur with rheumatoid arthritis. Dermatology problems commonly affect the feet in the form of fungal infection and plantar warts.

Symptoms of fungal infections

The symptoms and appearances of a fungal skin infection depend on the type of fungus causing it and the part of the body affected.

The rash may have a variety of appearances. Some are red, scaly and itchy, whereas others can produce a fine scale similar to dry skin. The site of infection may be just one area of the body, or there may be several infected areas.

Fungal infections of the scalp or beard can lead to hair loss. Fungal rashes can sometimes be confused with other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.

Types of Foot Ailments

Types of fungal rashes and infections summary:

1. TINEA CRURIS: Also known as jock itch, causes a reddened, inflamed, and itchy rash to an area of the groin or the buttock crease. Treatment will require an anti-fungal cream (i.e. Lotrimin, Micactin) which is available without a prescription. Apply the medication to only the affected area 3 times a day, keeping the area clean and dry. Clean all under clothing as well. If the condition does not clear within a week, consult your doctor.

2. TINEA VERSICOLOUR: These fungal skin rashes affect the trunk (back and chest are common) in sun exposed areas ("sun fungus"). The appearance of tinea is a brownish, flat, often scaly, rash that may cause areas of depigmentation in dark-skinned people. Treatment is with a special shampoo (Selsun shampoo) or a 2.5% selenium sulphide lotion that must be applied to the area daily for 2 weeks. Often these rashes require shampoo use over a long period of time (weeks) to prevent recurrence. The affected area will be harder to sun tan leading some to believe the treatment was not effective. Other medical treatment involves the use of 1% clotrimazole, 2% miconazole, or 1% ciclopirox olamine creams or lotions daily. Extensive infections may also require oral agents (ketoconazole).

3. RINGWORM: This infection is a commonly occurrence in children. It is identified by a red, circular, "ring like" eruption that can be successfully treated with a nonprescription, anti-fungal cream (see those listed above). Apply to the area 3 times a day, keeping the area clean and dry. See your doctor or paediatrician if there is no improvement within a week.

4. ATHLETE'S FOOT: This infection occurs mostly between the toes and in the web spaces. A red, itchy rash is common.

Treatment includes keeping the area clean an dry and using a nonprescription antifungal cream (3 times a day) such as (Micactin) or (Lotrimin). The infection may recur after the patient wears old tennis shoes and socks. New shoes may help in recurrent cases of athlete's foot.

5. Fungal scalp infections: This fungal infection is more difficult to eradicate and will require oral anti-fungal medications (griseofulvin, Ketoconazole) prescribed by your physician

. 6. Nail infections (onychomycosis) : Onychomycosis is the name for any fungal nail infection. Tinea unguium (ringworm of the nails) is a common one. The nails become malformed, thickened and crumbly. Not all nails affected like this are caused by fungal infections, but it is a common cause. Toenail infections are commonly linked with athlete's foot. Fingernails can be affected too.

Neuropathy

When a person is diagnosed to have neuropathy, this means that the individual has lost sensation in his feet. With neuropathy, your feet aren’t able to recognize when they’re being subjected to extreme heat or cold. The nerves in your feet aren’t even able to inform your brain when they’re in pain. Neuropathy is often related to diabetes.

Cause: Besides diabetes, peripheral neuropathy may also be attributed to alcoholism, nutritional problems, and even AIDS. When your feet are exposed to temperature extremities, it can also lead to peripheral neuropathy. Other lesser-known causes are wrong choice of medication, arthritis or other diseases common to aging, and scleroderma.

Treatment: Lifestyle Changes – Decreasing intake of alcohol and nicotine as well as regulating exercise in your life will greatly help in preventing you from experiencing peripheral neuropathy.

Footwear Choices – By simply choosing the right shoes to wear, you’re already lowering the risk of having peripheral neuropathy. We’re not saying that you should stay off those lovely stilettos forever, but rather, just limit use of them to special occasions.

Regulating Glucose Levels – Diabetics must take care not to have too low or too high glucose levels because this can lead to peripheral neuropathy.

Regular Check-Ups – Even if you are taking absolute care of your feet, visiting the doctor regularly still wouldn’t hurt.

Medication – At times, rather than loss of feeling, your feet may instead be subjected to extreme pain when it is suffering from peripheral neuropathy. In such cases, use of pain relievers and antidepressants are advisable.

Tailor’s Bunion

Also known as a bunionette, tailor’s bunion is a metatarsal disorder. More specifically, this condition is an enlargement of the fifth metatarsal bone in your tiny toe. Although tailor’s bunion is more often an inborn disorder, you can have a physician confirm your suspicions through X-rays.

Signs: If you happen to notice that your tiny toe has a slightly different appearance compared to other people’s tiny toes, that’s already a good indication you have tailor’s bunion.

Making It Worse: If you have tailor’s bunion, your condition will only worsen if you persist in wearing ill-fitting shoes that place constant pressure and friction on your toe.

Treatment: The Right Shoes: If you have tailor’s bunion, it automatically requires you to bid farewell to shoes with tight or pointy tips. Yes, it’s a definite fashion sacrifice, but if you love your feet, you need to do it.

Oral Medication: You can take pain relievers to keep the pain and inflammation at a tolerable level.

Injection: Your physician may also inject corticosteroid to your system to reduce inflammation.

Bunionette Pads – Use of these will help decrease the pain you feel in your feet and ankles.

Icing – For emergency situations, slapping a pack of ice will aid you in your quest to forget the pain that tailor’s bunion is causing you.

Surgery – If there’s chronic and persistent pain, the only possible recourse left to you may be undergoing surgery. You’ll be glad to know however that these surgeries have high success rates. Recovery time depends on the type of degree of seriousness of the surgery.

Foot Ulcers

Yes, stomachs are not the only ones that develop ulcers. Our feet are vulnerable to them, too…unfortunately. Diabetics are more prone to having foot ulcers than other individuals. Worse, if foot ulcers are not given immediate treatment, they may later on require amputation of a part of the foot or the whole leg itself.

When there’s a break in the skin, it can lead to a foot ulcer. This break is an opening that may allow bacteria and virus to enter your body.

Cause: If you like walking barefoot, favor ill-fitting shoes, or experience constant and extreme pressure or friction on your feet, such preferences or circumstances can lead to foot ulcers.

Symptoms of an Infected Foot Ulcer: Visible redness and swelling are common symptoms of this condition. Experiencing fevers, colds, abnormal increase in glucose levels, and becoming easily exhausted are other signs of an infected foot ulcer.

Treatment: Besides getting rid of circumstances that led to foot ulcers, you can also take medication and use dressings to treat them.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is an injury affecting the soles of the feet. If the doctor diagnosed that you have this kind of foot ailment, then what they mean is that you have an inflamed fascia. The fascia is the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes.

Women usually acquire this ailment, especially if they are overweight. People whose jobs require a lot of walking and standing up are at risk from this ailment too. Those who are flatfooted or have unusually high arches are prone to it as well. Too much running, walking, or exercising can also contribute to the problem.

Plantar Fasciitis is first felt with a gradual and a rather mild pain at the heel bone. This condition is often referred to as a stone bruise. This is commonly felt after a strenuous exercise, and it could recur if you stand up after being seated for an hour or so.

Have you ever felt a severe pain in the heel of your foot after making a few steps right out of bed in the morning? If you have, chances are, you have this particular problem. Check with your doctor. Plantar Fasciitis may become a chronic condition if left untreated.

To treat Plantar Fasciitis, here are the things you can do:

1. Take a rest. This is the very first treatment of this condition, and most of the other foot ailments for that matter. Rest would keep the foot muscles from contracting and more adding pain to the area. And if there is any inflammation, it is a must to keep weight off from that foot.

2. Apply ice on it. Apply ice for 20 minutes 4 times in a day. Usually, it is applied after two to three hours. Doing so will subsequently relieve the other symptoms.

3. Take anti-inflammatory medication. There are over-the-counter medicines available for this ailment. But to be sure, consult with your doctor first. Ibuprofen is the most recommended medication.

Hammertoes

Hammertoes are also called bone spurs. The condition is described as the bending of the toe’s joints. The bending is abnormal, and can arise from the pressure placed on the toes, most commonly to people who are fond of wearing tight-fitting shoes.

Hammertoes have different symptoms. It can include pain on the toe as the person wears tight-fitting shoes. There could also be a swelling of skin that is commonly known as corns. It can develop anywhere around the toes. Sometimes, it can even be found between toes. Sometimes it comes soft rather than the usual hard, depending upon its location. Calluses can also be seen either at the base of the toe or at the rounded edge of the foot.

The treatment of hammertoes can be one of the following:

1. Trimming of the corns and calluses. Do not do this yourself. This has to be done only by a healthcare professional. If you do this by yourself, you might just develop cuts and eventually, infection.

2. The padding of corns and calluses. A foot and ankle surgeon can give you pads that can shield corns from being irritated. You can also opt to buy these at drug stores.

3. Change your shoes. You should avoid wearing shoes with pointed tips, those that are too short for you, or those with high heels. These types of shoes would only force your toes against the front end of the shoes.

4. Injection therapy. There are some medications that can be injected which can ease the pain, as well as the inflammation as caused by

hammertoe.

5. Surgery. When the hammertoe becomes too rigid, a surgery may be the only other option. This would outwardly alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the condition.

Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)

The most common fungal skin infection, which is also called ringworm because of its characteristic appearance of ring or rounded tunnel under the skin, is the tinea. Tinea infections affect the head, body, groin, feet, and nails.

Let’s begin discussing this condition by dispensing with the rumor once and for all: no, it’s not true that only athletes have athlete’s foot. Also known as ringworm fungus and tinea pedis, Athlete’s Foot originates from fungus existing on floors and inside your socks and clothes.

The good news about athlete’s foot is that the fungus requires a certain type of environment before it can get its claws to your feet. The bad news: 70% of the population will have athlete’s foot at one point or another.

Athlete’s foot can become a painful condition, so it’s important to treat it immediately.

To obtain a specimen for diagnosis, the lesion is cleaned, and a scalpel or glass slide is used to remove scales from the margin of the lesion.

The scales are dropped onto a slide to which potassium hydroxide has been added. The diagnosis is made by examination of the infected scales microscopically for spores and hyphae or by isolating the organism in culture.

Symptoms: If your feet are feeling itchy, let that serve as your first warning that you’re on your way to having athlete’s foot. If your feet have this burning feeling as well, that’s the second sign. When the skin on your feet starts to peel and even bleed, it’s almost a sure sign of having athlete’s foot.

Tinea pedis, more popularly known as athlete’s foot, is the most common fungal infection. It is especially prevalent in those who use communal showers or swimming pools.

Tinea pedis may appear as an acute or chronic infection on the soles of the feet or between the toes. The toenail may also be involved. Lymphangitis and cellulites occur occasionally when bacterial “super infection” occurs. Sometimes, a mixed infection involving fungi, bacteria, and yeast occurs.

Treatment

During the acute, vesicular phase, soaks of Burrow’s solution or potassium permanganate solutions are used to remove the crusts, scales, and debris and to reduce the inflammation.

Topical anti-fungal agents, such as miconazole and clotrimazole, are applied to the infected areas. Topical therapy is continued for several weeks because of the high rate of recurrence.

Lifestyle Changes – Before asking the doctor to smell – rather, look at – your feet, you can get rid of athlete’s foot by wearing open-toed shoes more often and powdering your feet to prevent it from sweating.

Medication – You can also try using antifugal creams or an antibiotic for worse cases.

Medical Management

Footwear provides a favorable environment for fungi, and the causative fungus may be in the shoes or socks. Because moisture encourages the growth of fungi, the patient is instructed to keep the feet as dry as possible, including the areas between the toes.

Small pieces of cotton can be placed between the toes at night to absorb moisture. Socks should be made of cotton, and hosiery should have cotton feet, because cotton is an effective absorber of perspiration.

For people whose feet perspire excessively, perforated shoes permit better aeration of the feet. Plastic or rubber-soled footwear should be avoided. Talcum powder or anti-fungal applied twice daily helps to keep the feet dry. Several pairs of shoes should be alternated so that they can dry completely before being worn again.

Ugly Nail

It hardly seems fair, does it? How can little things like fingernails and toenails cause such big problems?

Broken nails are ugly. Hangnails are ugly and painful. Ingrown nails are ugly and painful and potentially harmful. And nail fungus is ugly and painful and potentially harmful and disgusting.

It is also unfair that some people are born with brittle, problem-prone nails. Others find that their nails start acting up when they get older. But everyone can avoid problems if they do things right.

Assessing the Nails

A brief inspection of the nails includes observation of configuration, color, and consistency. Many alterations in the nail or nail bed reflect local or systemic abnormalities in progress or resulting from past events.

Transverse depressions known as Beau’s lines in the nails may reflect retarded growth of the nail matrix because of severe illness or, more commonly, local trauma. Ridging, hypertrophy, and other changes may also be visible with local trauma.

Paronychia, an inflammation of the skin around the nail, is usually accompanied by tenderness and erythema. The angle between the normal nail and its base is 160 degrees. When palpated, the nail base is usually firm.

To treat ugly nails, you should try using innovative products such as “medicated” nail polish. It contains natural “antiseptic moisturizer” that facilitates the eradication of many classifications of bacterial organisms and fungus.

You can also use nail treatments with specially formulated anti-fungal solutions to help eliminate fungal infections.

Burning Feet

Burning feet is another type of foot ailment, wherein people experience a burning sensation, usually during the night. This particular foot ailment is common on people age 50 years and above. However, it can also happen to the younger generation.

There are many causes of burning feet, but the most common causative factors are overweight, neuropathy on diabetic patients, blood disorders, shoe and sock sizes, erythromelagia, and blood disorders, such as pernicious anemia.

There are no easy ways to treat burning feet. Hence, it is important for the patient to visit a rheumatologist, a podiatrist, or a neurologist. A series of tests and examinations will be conducted in order to come up with solid diagnostic findings about the disorder.

All of these things are boiled down to the fact that keeping your feet in good condition means proper protection against the elements.

An extra investment may be required, but in the end, the comfort and reduced risk of complications will be well worth the added expense.

Ingrown Nails

An ingrown nail is a condition in which the free edge of a nail plate penetrates the surrounding skin, either laterally or anteriorly. A secondary infection or granulation tissue may develop. This painful condition is caused by improper self-treatment, external pressure from tight shoes or stockings, internal pressure from deformed toes, growth under the nail, trauma, or infection.

Trimming the nails properly, such as clipping them straight across and filing the corners consistent with the contour of the toe, can prevent this problem.

Active treatment consists of washing the foot twice a day, followed by the application of a local antibiotic ointment, and relieving the pain by decreasing the pressure of the nail plate on the surrounding soft tissue.

Warm, wet soaks help to drain an infection. A toenail may need to be excised by the podiatrist if there is severe infection.

Gout

Your big toe is the South Pole of your body. Rather than being a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, it is a chilly 93 degrees Fahrenheit down there. So maybe it is not surprising that crystals sometimes form in this anatomically arctic region.

The crystals are not ice, though. They are composed of uric acid, a by-product of normal metabolism that is supposed to stay in liquid form but sometimes becomes a solid.

Since your body regards those crystals as intruders, white blood cells rush to the area and release enzymes that are like attack dogs, specially trained to chew up trespassers.

Unfortunately, those enzymes are indiscriminately vicious. Besides attacking the crystals, they also attack the joint of the toe, which becomes red, swollen, and tender. It is so painfully tender, in fact that even the weight of a bed sheet can be excruciating. And that is when you feel the effects of gout.

In treating gout, a comprehensive medication treatment is available. This includes colchicines, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colbenemid, corticosteroid, allopurinol, probenecid, fenofibrate, and losartan.

In most cases of gout, the reason for high uric acid levels is unknown. There are, however, certain avoidable risk factors that increase your chances of getting a first attack.

1. Keep the pounds down

If you are overweight, you are, basically, asking kidneys to process a lot of extra uric acid to deal with the waste from a lot of added-on body cells.

When someone is overweight, the kidneys have to struggle to deal with the overload. That is why you may end up with gout. A good rule of thumb to determine your ideal weight is 100 pounds plus 5 pounds for every inch over 5 feet tall for women. For men, it is 106 pounds plus 6 pounds for every inch over 5 feet.

2. Avoid thin soles

Walking in shoes with very thin soles can also traumatize the toe joint. To be certain the shoes you buy have padding that is thick enough, walk on noncarpeted areas when you are trying them on for the first time. The shoe should be comfortable and have a little cushioning when you push down with your toes.

3. Check your meds

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and your doctor has prescribed a thiazide diuretic to control the problem, you should talk to you physician about switching to another medication.

Nowadays, there are many other drugs to treat high blood pressure, including beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Health experts say that if you are able to switch to one of these medications, you might avoid ever having a first attack.

Cracked Heels

They flake. They peel. They crack. They hurt. Nobody wants cracked heels. But certain factors trigger the formation of cracked heels, such as obesity, overuse of heels, types of shoes, etc.

Cracked heels are brought about by “dry skin.” This particular foot ailment is made worse if the skin surrounding the edge of the heel is callus or bulky.

With cracked heels, the skin can be very flaky and may entail bulky callus. These calluses become visible as dark brown or yellow discolored portion of the skin, especially alongside the edges of the heel.

To treat cracked heels, it is best to keep them well moisturized. Using oils and other types of moisturizers are the best ways to keep your heels moist and prevent cracked heels.

Indeed, foot ailments like these cannot be easily avoided. However, with the available treatments, you can definitely ease the sore in a snap.

Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses are little pads of dead skin that build up after all those miles of fancy footwork. Painful and protuberant, these islands of dead skin are a signal from your feet that they have had enough. Excess pressure or friction causes them. Corns develop on the toes only, while calluses show up on the heels or on the bottom of the feet.

At the first sign, it is worth taking steps to stop them in their tracks. If the pressure is not eventually corrected, it can affect not only the skin but also the bones and joints underneath. And any foot pain can cause you to change your gait, which can, in turn, throw your posture out of whack and lead to a bad back.

Fortunately, for most people, preventing corns and calluses is just a matter of finding shoes that fit.

Treating Corns and Calluses on Diabetic Patients

In treating corns and calluses, it is best not to pop or break blisters, as it will increase your risk of infection. Keep a close eye on the wounds. If they start to get worse, exhibit signs of infection, such as pus, odor, redness, or warmth, or do not look as if they are healing within a day or so, call your doctor immediately for further instruction.

Keep your feet moisturized to avoid skin fissures or cracks caused by dryness. Try not to apply lotion between the toes, as it can breed fungal growth or infection. Instead, sprinkle baby or talcum powder to keep these areas dry.

If you develop corns and calluses, you are better off letting your podiatrist treat them. If you have peripheral neuropathy or PN, do not try to remove corns or calluses with cutting implements or chemical treatments on your own. A pumice stone may be used only with your doctor’s approval.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Most ulcers form on the bottom of the foot, although shoes that do not fit well can cause sores and subsequent ulcers on the top of the foot or the ankle. Usually, ulcers start as a callus, small sore, abrasion, or blister that would be “no big deal” in someone without diabetes.

However, high blood glucose levels, poor circulation, and nerve damage are a recipe for ulceration in people with diabetes.

There are two categories of foot ulcers—vascular and neuropathic, also known as pressure, ulcer. The former is caused by peripheral vascular disease; the latter is the result of the loss of sensation that accompanies PN.

Treatment

Infection is the primary risk with foot ulcers; so proper wound care is essential. Ulcers should remain moist and covered in a breathable dressing at all times. Oxygen is essential to the healing process. An antibiotic ointment may be applied if infection is present.

Oral antibiotic medication should also be prescribed. If you have a pressure ulcer, debridement or the removal of callused, dead skin, may also be performed at the podiatrist’s office.

Haglund’s Deformity

A heel can hurt for many reasons—arthritis, a fracture, or a sore heel pad, to name a few. But by far, the most common cause of heel and the most common foot problem seen by podiatrist is Haglund’s Deformity.

Haglund’s deformity is a painful and discomforting condition of the heel, specifically at the back portion at the region of the placing of the “Achilles tendon.”

Within this region, the plantar fascia is located. Plantar fascias are bands of ligaments that stretch from the ball of the foot to the heel bone, holding the muscles at the bottom of the foot in place.

If these ligaments are repeatedly stretched too far or twisted too much, such as when your shoes do not provide the right support or when you are exercising too hard, they tug at the heel bone, causing a bruise and inflammation that really hurts.

If that stretching or twisting continues, extra calcium can accumulate at the site of the bruise and cause additional pain, a problem called a heel spur. Do not be surprised if Haglund’s deformity gives you a wake-up call the moment you step of bed. Typically, the pain is most intense in the morning when the ligaments are tight.

Treatment

In treating Haglund’s deformity, there are two possible forms of cure: surgical and non-surgical treatment. Non-surgical treatment consists of complete rest and total eradication of heeled shoes. The best way to prevent Haglund’s deformity is to wear a stable shoe.

If all else fail, that is the time that podiatrists opt for surgical treatment. Usually, patients with Haglund’s deformity undergo bump removal or wedge osteotomy.

Bump removal simply refers to the process of removing “bump.” On the other hand, wedge osteotomy refers to the removal of a “wedge of bone” from the calcaneus,” thereby, reducing the size.

Foot Odor

Feet are faithful, if not entirely problem-free, servants. While happily performing their tasks, they may work up quite a sweat. And that can be a problem for another part of the human anatomy — the nose.

There are a tremendous number of sweat glands on the feet, and sometimes the combination of sweating and bacteria can cause an obnoxious odor.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to banish sweat and keep your feet odor-free in the bargain. Here is how to prevent and treat the malodorous march.

1. Cleanse your soles

The best way to deodorize smelly feet is to wash them with a regular soap and water. That may sound simple, but many people quickly step in and out of the shower, forgetting to bend over and scrub the tops and bottoms of their feet.

2. Dry them well, toes and all

Once your feet are clean, be sure to dry them well, even taking care to get between the toes. This removes the moist environment where smell-producing bacteria thrive.

Shin Splint

Shin splint is a painful condition located at the medial and frontal portions of the “lower leg.”

The main causative factor of shin splints is muscle abuse. This can either be a delayed-onset muscle soreness or a severe injury usually brought about by activities that entails jumping or running.

In treating shin splints, complete rest is highly recommended. Arduous activities, such as jumping and running should be shunned until the pain settled down.

Given all that, one can simply surmise that the most common factor in developing foot ailments is neglect. Hence, if people just know how to treat their feet right, they will never have to experience those painful and smelly encounters with Haglund’s deformity, foot odor, and shin splint.

Warts

Warts are common, benign skin tumors caused by infection with the human papillomavirus, which belongs to the DNA virus group. All age groups may be affected, but the condition occurs most frequently between ages 12 and 16 years.

As a rule, warts are asymptomatic, except when they occur on weight-bearing areas, such as the soles of their feet. They may be treated with locally applied laser therapy, liquid nitrogen, salicylic acid plasters, or electrodesiccation, such as the destruction of skin lesions by monopolar high-frequency electric current.

Warts occurring on the plantar surface are considered as “hyperkeratotic lesions.” Plantar warts usually grow on the “ball and heel” of the foot. This is the area where most pressure is applied.

As mentioned, warts are, generally, asymptomatic or without clear signs of the ailment. However, in the case of plantar warts, symptoms are present.

The main cause of plantar warts is the human papillomavirus or the HPV. The most common strains that cause plantar warts are 1, 2, and 4. These strains cause warty growth in the plantar surface.

Treatment

In treating plantar warts, cryotherapy, topical keratinolytic treatments, and surgery are the most common medical management techniques.

Applying dichloroacetic acid, cantharidin, and salicylic acid on the affected area can be very helpful. Oral medication may also expedite the healing process. Normally, the administration of zinc sulphate to patients with plantar surface is necessary.

Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma, or otherwise known as neurofibroma, or plantar digital neuroma, is a swelling of the third or lateral branch of the median plantar nerve. The third digital nerve, which is located in the third intermetatarsal space, is most commonly involved. Microscopically, digital artery changes cause an ischema of the nerve.

The result is a throbbing, burning pain in the foot that is usually relieved when the patient rests. Conservative treatment consists of inserting innersoles and metatarsal pads designed to spread the metatarsal heads and balance the foot posture.

Local injections of hydrocortisone and a local anesthetic may provide relief. If these fail, surgical excision of the neuroma is necessary. Pain relief and loss of sensation are immediate and permanent.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are small breaks in the continuity of bone. They occur when the bone is subject to stress greater than it can absorb. Stress fractures are caused by overuse and recurring stress.

When the bone is broken, adjacent structures are also affected, resulting in soft tissue edema, hemorrhage into the muscles and joints, joint dislocations, ruptured tendons, severed nerves, and damaged blood vessels.

In essence, stress fractures are considered as sports-related injuries because most overuse happens during a sports activity.

Stress fractures can be avoided by using proper equipments such as wrist guards for skaters or running shoes for joggers. Effective training and conditioning can also help prevent stress fractures.

Treatment

Generally, there are no special treatments with stress fractures. Health experts commonly recommend complete rest in cases of minor to tolerable stress fractures.

However, patients who have experienced a sports-related injury are often highly motivated to return to their previous level of activity. But this should be done slowly and should be increases as the body and the bones are able to cope up with the demands of the activity again.

Indeed, you should keep those feet moving to ward off foot ailments and steer clear from pain and suffering. Exercise, avoid sitting with your legs crossed for more than a few minutes at a time, and periodically stretch your legs and toes. Putting up your feet when you are at rest can also help blood flow.

Flat Feet and High Arches

Flat foot is actually an abnormal condition in the structure of the foot bones. The foot bones maintain a very low angle, thereby it gives an appearance of a low arch on the foot, and sometimes, it seems that the arch is absent altogether.

High arches, on the other hand, are the opposite of flat feet. The foot arch extending from the ball of the foot to the heels is abnormally high in this condition. High arched foot can either be inherited or acquired. It can develop due to another foot problem, such as hammertoes.

Flat footedness becomes a problem when it causes the ligaments, the muscles, and the tendons of the foot to improperly function or to be overworked easily that pain and cramping occurs often. For high arches, the problems won’t be felt until after the foot’s fatty pad begins to break down and will eventually cause some painful calluses to develop.

To treat flat feet, orthopaedic treatment is used. The shoes of the patient are also especially modified. Various support systems and devices are also employed to correct the problem. In some advanced cases, a surgery may be required to repair the tendon.

For the treatment of high arches, on the other hand, orthotics can be used. It is the process of using a wedge between the foot and the ground to improve the leg’s function. The other solutions to flat feet are also applicable when they are reversed. And just like the flat feet, surgery can sometimes solve the problem.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

The Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome occurs in the foot but it has a wrist counterpart. The condition arises when a nerve is strained within a cramped space. That space becomes too tight in the tunnel; and in this case, the tibial nerve is nipped.

People with this problem have a lack of sensation at the base of their foot. They also feel some burning and a tingling sensation at the underneath the foot and heel. This pain can even worsen as the day advances.

To treat the problem, arch supports can be used. These can successfully relieve the aches caused by the condition. Wider shoes are also recommended to people who have contracted the problem. NSAID medications are also prescribed by the doctors.

If all these fail, steroid injections can be done. Custom orthotics is also undertaken so that the foot’s natural arch will be restored. Surgical treatments may also come into play for the more advanced cases of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.

Bunions

These are foot ailments wherein the joint between the big toe and the foot becomes deformed. It is developed by the warping of the foot for a considerable amount of time, and in a gradual manner, as caused by the use of pointed shoes, especially during its growth phase.

To treat bunions, usually, the shift to use good shoes is the first step. A type of bunion appears only when tight-fitting shoes are used. For this case, the solution of wearing adaptive footwear is viable. Customized shoes or the wearing of orthopedic shoes may be the key to treatment.

But if that is not enough, or it did not bring about treatment at all, then a surgery may be in place. Foot surgeons will correct the problem by repairing the ligaments and the tendons around the big toe. Or they could remove the damaged joint surfaces altogether. Several other procedures can be undertaken by the healthcare professional as necessary.

These three foot ailments can all be painful as they develop. It is then a must that proper care of the feet should be carried out at all time. The process of selecting the shoes to use is really important. Invest on a good pair of shoes that gives the most comfort to your valuable feet.

Charcot Foot

Individuals who have been diagnosed with neuropathy are more likely to experience Charcot foot. With this disorder, the bones in our feet soften up and eventually lose form. If this disorder is not immediately treated, the feet can be deformed, become useless, or require amputation.

Symptoms - When one foot is warmer to the touch than the other, there’s visible redness or swelling, or you experience pain in your foot, those are already reliable indications that you do indeed have Charcot foot.

Treatment - When an X-ray check-up successfully determines confirms the presence of Charcot foot, your personal physician may afterwards suggest any of the following:

Immobilization – If the bones in your foot have completely softened, you might be required to refrain from placing any kind of weight on your foot for an indefinite period of time.

Orthotics – Your doctor may require you to use shoe inserts or braces to partially relieve pressure on your foot.

Change of Activity – It’s also possible that all you’ll have to do is to temporarily change certain daily activities in order to prevent recurrence and development of the disorder on the other foot.

Surgery – In worst cases, a surgery may be deemed necessary by your physician.

Poor Circulation

If you want the scientific name for it, it’s peripheral vascular disease. If you also want to know what causes poor circulation to feet and legs, it’s most probably artherosclerosis or diabetes.

Symptoms: When you exhaust yourself by walking too far and too long, your calves might start aching. Poor circulation may follow shortly. Numbness is another common symptom. Lastly, if you notice any changes in skin color or temperature, those are clear signs that you may soon be suffering from poor circulation.

Treatment: Diabetic Advice – If poor circulation to your feet is a direct result of your diabetes, treating your primary illness will consequently make any secondary disease better as well. So, whatever your physician orders you to do regarding your diabetes, know that following it is the only way to improve circulation to your feet.

Increased Exercise – As mentioned earlier, walking for a certain period of time and a certain distance may lead to poor circulation. The deeper reason behind that however is lack of exercise. Thus, to prevent poor circulation, exercise regularly!

Manage Blood Pressure – People with high blood pressure are more liable to experience poor circulation so making a conscious effort to manage your BP will greatly help in reducing risks of poor circulation.

Medication – There are medicines that you can take which can prevent blood from clotting, a condition which contribute to poor circulation.

Metatarsal Problems

The long bones of our feet are called metatarsals. Each metatarsal is assigned to bear an equal portion of the weight of our bodies as we walk, run, jump, dance and do other things. When the division of weight and pressure becomes unequal, that’s when the problems with the metatarsals start.

Cause: There are various reasons why people experience metatarsal pain. Firstly, it could be due to bone abnormalities. Secondly, diabetes can cause an individual to have metatarsal problems. Arthritis as well as other diseases common to the elderly can also lead to metatarsal problems.

Athletes are at a greater risk of having metatarsal problems because sports may force them to place undue pressure on their feet. Ill-fitting shoes can also cause metatarsal pain for similar reasons.

Symptoms: If the ball of your foot is aching, that’s one sure sign of having metatarsal problems. If wearing socks or shoes is suddenly a painful burden, that’s another sign of having metatarsal pain.

Treatment: Orthotics such as special shoe inserts and metatarsal pads can help you deal with the pain. If the pain gets worse, however, you may have to consult a physician about it, as metatarsal problems can also be symptoms of a more serious disease.

The Diabetic’s Way of Feet Care

Diabetics are unfortunately given the need to take care of the smallest details of their health because of their condition. Feet should be one of the important parts of their bodies that they should never neglect. When the feet become affected, everything else soon follows.

Diabetic Fashion – There are shoes, socks, and inserts for diabetics. Make sure you wear them.

Be Prepared – If you see a cut or any wound, make sure to treat them immediately. Diabetes sadly makes any type of wound worse than it should be.

Clean and Clear – Having great foot hygiene will not only make your feet look good, they can also lead you to better health. Since diabetes can cause the nerves in your feet to be a little desensitized, you may not feel that there’s something wrong with your feet already until it’s too late. You can also pamper yourself just by cleaning your feet. Both men and women will enjoy treating themselves with a foot spa.

Have You Seen Your Toenails? – Yes, even the look and the way you cut your toenails may indirectly affect your health. Diabetics are just more vulnerable than other individuals, so simply accept that as a fact of life and move on.

Athlete’s Foot – Fungus growing on your feet is bad news for anyone, but it’s especially worse for diabetics. Hence, make sure that those toes of yours not only look good but smell great as well.

A Visit a Day Will Keep Diabetes Away – You need to meet with your podiatrist regularly to ensure that nothing’s wrong with your feet…even if you can’t see anything wrong with it.

Endoscopic Surgery

While we can certainly hope that we will never face the risk of having endoscopic surgery in our lifetime, there’s no way for us to avoid it with absolute certainty. All we can do is learn what it is and why it’s needed.

Endoscopic surgery always has something to do with the PLANTAR FASCIA – which can of course be found in our foot, more specifically in front of it. The entry point for this operation is at the side and requires smaller cuts but more precision.

The healing period and pain are respectively shorter and lesser than usual. Anaesthesia is rarely applied to the whole body.

To reduce the chances of undergoing endoscopic surgery, make sure that you give your feet proper care.

Causes of fungal rashes and infections.

There are a number of situations make it more likely that a fungal infection will develop. People are more at risk of fungal infections if they have:

• recently taken a course of antibiotics
• an immune system weakened by cancer or HIV infection
• been taking oral steroids
• diabetes

Moist skin encourages fungal infections. This means fungal infections are more likely when skin is not dried properly after sweating heavily or bathing, or when it is covered with a material that does not allow sweat to evaporate.

Damage to the skin surface, such as a cut or graze, can also encourage fungi to grow.

Fungal infections inside the body can cause more serious health problems than those on the skin. These infections only affect people whose immune systems are not working properly as a result of another illness or treatments for cancer.

Risk Factors:

Gout Symptoms

Acute pain in the toe, swelling

The most common Gout symptom is acute pain in the big toe, which becomes tender, hot, and swollen in a few hours. It may also similarly affect other joints such as the knees and wrists, and sometimes more than one joint may be affected at a time. The attack, usually occurs at midnight or in the early hours of the morning when the patient is suddenly awakened.

The acute attack generally lasts for a week or so. During this period, the patient may run a slight fever, and feel disinclined to eat. A serious complication of gout is the presence of kidney stones containing uric acid. In some cases the kidneys get damaged and do not function properly.

Gout caused due to Uric Acid Crystals

One of main causes of gout is the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints, skin, and kidneys. Uric acid is an end product of the body's chemical processes. Those affected by gout have a higher level of uric acid in the blood than the normal, due either to formation of increased amounts or reduced amounts of acid being passed out by the kidneys in the urine. This uric acid usually remains dissolved in the blood. But when the blood becomes too full of it, the uric acid forms needle-shaped crystals in the joints which bring about attacks of gout.

Excessive alcohol, heredity, rich foods, lack of exercise also causes gout

Other causes of gout are heredity, alcoholic drinks, regular eating of foods rich in protein and carbohydrate, lack of proper exercise, and stress.

Gout Treatments

Treating gout using Cherry

The cherry, sweet or sour, is considered in effective treating gout. To start with, the patient should consume about fifteen to twenty five cherries a day. Thereafter, about ten cherries a day will keep the ailment under control. While fresh cherries are best, canned cherries can also be used occasionally.

Gout treatment using Vegetable Juices

Raw vegetable juices are used for gout treatment. Carrot juice, in combination with the juices of beet and cucumber, is especially valuable. Beet juice - 100 ml and cucumber juice - 100 ml should be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice to make 500 ml of combined juice and taken daily

Treating Gout using French Beans

The juice of French or string beans has also proved effective in treating gout. About 150 ml of this juice should be taken daily by the patient suffering from this disease.

Cure for Gout using Apple

Apples are regarded as an excellent source for curing gout. The malic acid contained in them is believed to neutralise the uric acid and afford relief to gout sufferers. The patient is advised to take one apple after each meal.

Gout relief using Banana

Bananas have been found beneficial in the treatment of gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advised for providing some relief from gout. A patient can take eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.

Treating gout using Lime

Lime is also used as a source in treating gout. Vitamin C is known to prevent and cure sore joints by strengthening the connective tissues of the body. The citric acid found in lime is a solvent of the uric acid which is the primary cause of this disease. The juice of half a lime, squeezed into a glass of water, should be taken twice daily.

Gout Diet

Fast of Orange juice and water

For an acute attack, there is no better remedy than a fast of orange juice and water. In severe cases, it is advisable to undertake a series of short fasts for three days or so rather than one long fast.

All fruit diet

After the acute symptoms subside, the patient may adopt an all fruit diet for another three or four days.

Natural food diet

Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits, raw vegetables, and sprouts.

Avoid purine and acid producing foods

The patient should avoid all purine and uric acid-producing foods such as all meats, eggs, and fish; tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and its products; and all canned, processed, and fried foods.

Other Gout Treatment

Warm water enema

A warm-water enema should be used daily during the period of fasting to cleanse the bowels.

Epsom salt bath

Epsom salts foot baths are advised twice daily. About 250 gm - 500gm of these salts may be added to tolerably hot water for this purpose. Full Epsom salt baths should also be taken three times a week. The baths may be reduced to two per week later.

Cold packs, fresh air, exercise, reduced stress

Cold packs, applied to the affected joints at night, will be beneficial. Fresh air and outdoor exercise are also essential. The patient should eliminate as much stress from his life as possible

Prevention of foot problems:

Footcare – Choosing shoes for healthy feet
The foot is certainly one of the most multifaceted parts of the body. It consists of a total of 38 bones connected by joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. And because the feet carry the entire body’s weight, they are very prone to a lot of stresses. These stresses cause foot pains or inflammation. If the feet are injured, the whole body becomes very limited in the way it moves.

If you have foot problems, chances are, you are not wearing the proper pair of shoes to match your feet’s needs for every activity. Shoes do make a difference. Wearing improperly fitting shoes can worsen, or even cause foot pains and problems.

But if your shoes fit well, on the other hand, it can prevent the onset of foot joint problems and skin irritations. Shoes that give superior arch support are ideal to keep your feet protected and healthy. Although some foot problems can be caused by certain medical conditions, the proper selection of shoes should still be of primary concern of everyone.
(To read the rest of this article click on the Title above here.)

Helping prevent fungal infections

Taking these steps may help to reduce the risk of getting a fungal rashes and infection:

1. people with diabetes need to keep good control of their blood sugar.
2. change socks or tights daily.
3. dry the skin carefully after bathing.
4. choose fabrics that allow the skin to "breathe" - natural fibres such as cotton are better than nylon or polyester for underwear.
5. wear loose fitting clothes and underwear

Tips on best foot posture

1. While standing, the arches in your feet should be supported.

2. Try to elevate one foot by resting it on a stool or box while standing. After several minutes, switch your foot position.

3. While working in the kitchen, open the cabinet under the sink and rest one foot on the inside of the cabinet. Change feet every 5 to 15 minutes.

4. While sitting, bend your knees at a right angle. Keep your knees even with or slightly higher than your hips. (use a foot rest or stool if necessary). Your legs should not be crossed. Keep your feet flat on the floor.

5. Before you lift a heavy object, make sure you have firm footing. Stand with a wide stance close to the object you are trying to pick up and keep your feet firm on the ground. Tighten your stomach muscles and lift the object using your leg muscles. Straighten your knees in a steady motion. Don't jerk the object up to your body.

6. To lower the object, place your feet as you did to lift, tighten stomach muscles and bend your hips and knees.

7. When driving, move the seat close to the steering wheel to support the curve of your back. The seat should be close enough to allow your knees to bend and your feet to reach the pedals.

8. Alignment work is the same for bad knee and foot posture. Learn how to hold your leg in healthy straight position by using your muscles, not just letting your weight sway and slump onto your knee joints.

9. To fix tire wear, you don't stop driving or change the tires, and you don't just keep driving that way. You check why they are crooked and fix that. Alignment work is the same for bad knee and foot posture - learn how to hold them straight by using your muscles, not just letting them sway and slump.

Following the Steps towards the Proper Way to Walk Routine

Yes indeed. There is a proper way to walk. Walking does not simply mean lifting your feet and taking one step after another. Walking and posture both start with the feet. It is safe to say that the feet are very important factors to consider here.

The way a person walks certainly tells a lot about him. It is a telltale sign if he has style, poise and grace within him. His confidence with himself and his abilities can also be seen from how he takes his step and what body posture he projects when he walks.

Walking is a form of body language. Although walking comes very naturally to a person, just like the way he speaks, eats, and hears, improving it would mean improving a lot about him too.

Walking is a skill mastered by fashion models from all the places around the world. These people are paid so much because they have exhibited talent in maintaining good body posture. Knowing the proper way to walk can certainly take you places.

If you wanted to walk the proper way, follow these tips:

1. Check your body frame. Are you tall or short? Are you fat or thin? Are you dark-skinned or fair? These are the things you should consider as you look at yourself in front of a full-length mirror. Answering these questions would make you appreciate your body more. Then you will be on your way to walking with confidence.

2. Project yourself. After feeling good about yourself, you have to make sure that you look that way. Relax. Be physically beautiful, clean, and healthy from within to the outside. Dress appropriately. Wear clothes that feel most comfortable to you. Here, your confidence will be boosted more.

3. Give your body a rhythm. Walking is a repeating activity. Since that kind of activity is rather boring and common, something has to be added to it to spice it up. And that will be nothing else but a harmonious rhythm of your body.

4. Involve your feet, legs, and your whole body when walking. Walking does not involve the feet alone. The rest of your body should pace with each other. That means as your feet are moving, your arms, shoulders, hips, and waist are all moving in harmony as well.

5. Straighten your body. Do this by standing up and keeping your chin pointed. Follow the military stance of putting your stomach in and taking your chest out. This is the proper walking posture. Now that your body is prepared, you are ready to take a few steps.

6. Imagine a straight line on the ground then walk within it. Walking in a crisscross pattern is never attractive. Do it the ramp model way. Walk as if you are in a catwalk and not on pavement. And do it with so much confidence emanating from within.

7. Keep your toes straight. Walking in a straight line is not going to be enough. Your toes and heels should both be parallel to that line too. If your toes are falling outside, either in the extreme left or the extreme right, you still are not doing it the right way. Or, if you have your toes coming to the center and the heels outside the extremities, that’s wrong too. Walk with your toes and heels facing each other at all times.

8. Make sure that your legs are not crossing as you walk. When one of your feet is coming in front of the other as you walk, you are not walking right. Still using your imaginary line, try to walk with your feet on each side of the line. The line serves as the boundaries of the foot. That means you are not to cross over it.

Practice the correct way of walking for at least 10 minutes every day. You should see many improvements to your body. You will have better grace and poise. And you will definitely have a more erect and firmer body.

Follow these simple steps and you are on your way to walking properly. There are so many elements that comprise good walking. The proper way to walk certainly involves your mind, your disposition, as well as the rest of your body in general.

Therapy - How to Mobilize Yourself with Orthotics:

Orthotics are devices used to treat numerous foot disorders and conditions. They range from improvised do-it-yourself equipment to commercially manufactured devices.

Four General Categories of Orthotic Devices

Functional – These devices basically allow individuals to walk or move better and more easily. Examples of functional orthotic devices are wedges that increase the comfort of wearing shoes when individuals either have flat feet or feet with too high arches.

Weight-Dispersive – With this type of orthotic devices, individuals are able to move without pain. These devices are commonly used to treat metatarsal problems, chronically inflamed toes, and sesamoid bones.

Supportive Orthotics – When an individual is diagnosed to have a problem with the plantar arch, supportive orthotics may be used to ease his movement.

Early Childhood Orthotics – Splints, gait plates, and night bars are just some examples of this type of orthotic device. Some children are born with biomechanical walking problems and these devices may help in correcting and eliminating the problem entirely.

If you’re experiencing simple discomfort from walking or wearing certain types of shoes then that could easily indicate a need for orthotics. Here are several instances that signify a need for orthotic devices:

Look at Your Toes – Do you notice anything wrong with them? If they’re not straight, you could do with a orthotic device.

Look at Your Feet – Is there something wrong with its appearance? If so, have the doctor check on it, and don’t be surprised if he tells you that you need an orthotic device.

Look at Your Shoes – If the heel of your shoes doesn’t wear at an equal rate, there’s definitely something wrong.

Is There Pain – If your feet, shins, heels, or your lower back hurt, such pain is sometimes an indication of a need for orthotics.

Types of People that Commonly Need Orthotics

Skiing or Skating Enthusiasts – Making all those double and triple axles can certainly put undue pressure on your feet. The pointed tip design of skates doesn’t help either.

Certain orthotic devices that are specially designed for skiers and skaters will provide them with proper foot protection and increase motion control for better sports performance. These orthotics may also give you a safer landing as they can absorb shock and lessen the landing impact for your feet.

Indoor Sports Enthusiasts – Whether you’re playing basketball, badminton, or volleyball, any indoor sport always increases your risks of developing a foot problem. The use of orthotics however will effectively counteract such risks.

Golfers – What’s the worst thing that can happen to the feet of golfers? It can be a great number of things: he can twist his foot the wrong way while hitting the ball, or he can exhaust his feet too much as he walks the whole length of the golf course. Naturally, orthotics will relieve golfers from extreme pain and pressure.

Runners – Blazing your way on the track might be emotionally fulfilling, but it’s dangerous for your feet at the same time, especially when you weigh heavily or you prefer long-distance running. An orthotic device can help runners perform better by alleviating the stress conditions on their feet.

Diabetics – Individuals with diabetes can benefit from orthotic devices in two primary ways:

Corrective: Some diabetics experience poor circulation or biomechanical problems with their feet. An orthotic device however will allow them to walk normally.

Accomodative: Diabetics heal more slowly than others. If wounds or blisters are located on the feet of a diabetic, these might require them to stay off their feet for a certain period of time. Orthotic devices such as extra depth shoes will however allow these individuals to regain control of their limbs sans the risk of having the shoes rub the wounds or lesions in the wrong way.

Arthritic Individuals – Aging more often than not contributes in people developing arthritis. This condition can sometimes make a person unable to work properly or for a long period of time as pain accompanies movement of their feet. With the use of orthotic devices however, arthritis need no longer restrict people’s movements and lifestyles.

As a last note, if you think you need to wear orthotics but you’re purely hesitating because of your fashion-conscious ways, you should be glad to know that orthotic companies have already figured that problem out. Now, orthotic devices can be comfortably used with mules and stilettos or match the pattern or color of your outfits!

Self Care strategies for Living with foot care for healthy feet

Quite often people seem to neglect their feet. Most of us do not give attention to our feet although they deserve care similar to your face. Foot Care in simple terms, means keeping your toe nails trimmed, removing rough skins and massaging feet & ankles regularly. This section will guide you all about how to keep your feet at the best.

Daily Foot Check

It only takes a minute to check your feet for signs of abrasions, blisters, or other foot ailments, and it could save you serious medical problems down the road.

Make it a part of your daily routine, either as you get dressed for the day, at shower time, or as you get ready for bed. Before you know it, it will become a healthy habit.

Tips for healthy foot

• Keep your toe nails trimmed.
• Tired feet should be soaked alternately in hot and cold water.
• Remove rough skin.
• The winter itch that cracks the skin of the heels due to excessive dryness or the use of an alkaline soap can be treated by washing the feet at night in warm water and mild soap and applying a lanolin rich cream or mixture of glycerine and rose water.
• Massage feet & ankle regularly.
• Pat feet dry. Don't forget between the toes.
• Using pumice stone, remove any rough areas from your heels.
• Apply foot lotion regurlarly and massage into each foot.
• Massage your feet with a nourishing cream by cupping your hands oneither side of your foot and using your thumbs, firmly pressing the upper part of your foot while pushing your thumbs outwards.
• Wipe off excess grease of your nails and place cotton wool tufts between your toes to keep them separate.
• The best exercise for the feet is to walk bare feet on the grass in your garden, if possible. • Don't buy tight shoes and expect them to stretch.
• One of your feet is likely to be larger than the other. Always try on both shoes and buy the size that feels comfortable on your larger foot.
• Roll your feet over a couple of chilled cans of drink straight from the fridge.

Pedicure

Modern shoe Fashion make pedicures a necessity due to extra pressure and exposure on the feet. The purpose of a pedicure is to care for the feet and toe nails. Pedicures provide comfort to the feet and improve their appearance.

Contra-indications to Pedicure

The Feet should be examined before the treatment because the skin and nail condition such as athlete's foot, watery blisters or thick white skin between the toes, nail fungi, inflammation of the nail-fold, warts, eczema and skin diseases prohibit pedicure treatment. Instead, medical guidance is required under such conditions.

Pedicure Material

In addition to manicure implements the following articles are required:

1. A large basin ( for feet immersion )
2. A nail cutter.
3. A hard skin foot- scraper.
4. A pumice stone.
5. A loofa or hoof stick.
Extra towels for feet.

Procedure of Pedicure

1. Sit comfortably and remove shoes and socks.
2. Place feet in a large basin filled with disinfectant soap solution for about five minutes. If the foot - bath is not possible, clean the feet with a cotton pad soaked in disinfectant soapy liquid to remove dirt and sweat.
3. Remove both feet from the basin and dry thoroughly.
4. Remove nail polish from toe-nail.
5. Trim the toe-nails to shorten their length and file them with a metal nail-file. Toe-nail should be given a gentle curve on the sides to prevent ingrown nails.
6. Soak feet in warm soapy water to which hydrogen peroxide is added to loosen hidden dirt and soften rough skin. Allow the feet to remain in water for 7-10 minutes.
7. Carry out brush cleaning of the toe-nails while scrubbing them well.
8. Remove hard skin of both feet with a foot scraper.
9. Remove both feet from water and dry them thoroughly.
10. Apply cream on the cuticles of the nails to make them soft.
11. Remove cuticle skin with the combined use of cuticle pusher, remove and clipper.
12. Feet and leg massage is done with nourishing cream to avail maximum benefit of the pedicure treatment.
13. Wipe feet with a hot towel to remove extra cream and make sure that you don't slip after the pedicure.
14. Buff nails with the buffer while giving downward strokes to make the toe-nails glossy and smooth.
15. Before beginning the nail-polish procedure, keep rolled cotton pieces between the toes and apply nail-polish on the toes in the same way as in a manicure.

Diabetic Foot Care

Regular care, foot hygiene, exercise and attention to a few details can go a long way in preventing problems and keeping your feet well-groomed. We put a great deal of burden on our feet. Not only do they bear the weight of the body , but walk on all kinds of surfaces, in all sorts of foot-wear, some of which may actually contributes to many foot problems.

Apart from nagging aches and pain, poor circulation , corns and callouses, fungal and bacterial infections can afflict the feet. In fact ,poor foot posture can excessive strain on the back , leading to back-aches.

Foot Posture and Exercise

1. When you stand, or walk , the toes should point almost straight ahead.
2. Lift the arches of the feet slightly, so that your body weight is supported by the outside edges of the soles of your feet.
3. Walk barefoot, on grass, whenever you can.
4. Stand straight, feet pointed ahead, rise up on the toes and then lower yourself . This strengthens the arches of the feet.
5. Curl your toes, as if you trying to pick something off the floor with your feet. This helps to strengthen the metatarsal arch.

Your Footwear

• Your shoes should not be too tight , the kind that squeeze the toes .This can interfere with blood circulation and also cause friction, leading to corns and callouses.
• The front of the shoes should be wide enough to allow enough space to move the toes.
• During hot and humid weather , avoid closed shoes . Wear open sandals for maximum ventilation , so that the feet are dry .
• A good foot massage is a real pleasure. Have a weekly pedicure that includes a foot massage. The rotating, kneading massage movements are most relaxing and also keep the skin in good condition , It helps to remove fatigue and ease tensions.

For aching feet and poor circulation Alternating hot and cold foot baths will help acting feet and improve circulation.

• Take two buckets. Fill one with hot water and the other with cold water. The water should reach up to your calves. Place your feet in hot water first for 2 to 3 minutes. Then place them in the cold water, for the same duration. Repeat this at least five times, starting and ending with hot water. Dry the feet thoroughly and massage with a Cream .
• Stretch the toes and move the front part of each foot in a circular motion.

Feet are very important part of our body. Some of the common problems of feet can be cured by little attention paid by yourself. Good care of your Feet results in Healthy body.

Vitamin & Nutrient Associations for Healthy Feet

We can recommend the natural skincare NouriFusion Skin Essentials products to help create great skin conditions on your feet, and especially recommend the use of Aloe vera gel on the feet. You can also read more about the benefits of the Aloe herb in use of antifungal and healing properties of the Aloe vera gel health miracle

And if you have bone and muscle pain or spurs, you may get benefit from incorporating Joint Support into your daily nutritional plan.

If you are Diabetic you especially require the total nutrition support to assist your entire body to combat the diabetes health problems, including your feet. You can visit our health food products page here: Herbalife Health Nutrition Supplements and learn more about our core nutrition program, the Cellular Nutrition Advanced Program and also check out these targeted products, Florafiber to replace your healthy flora and Aloe Vera Juice to help cleanse your system.

Further reading through our articles on foot care for healthy feet health issues will give you a body of information that will help you decide what options you have to deal with the underlying causes of your problem through giving your body the nutrition products that will assist you body to heal from the inside out.

We wish you well in your search for solutions to this foot care for healthy feet problem and your movement towards better health in all areas.

More Resources available about foot care for healthy feet :

Footcare – Choosing shoes for healthy feet
The foot is certainly one of the most multifaceted parts of the body. It consists of a total of 38 bones connected by joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. And because the feet carry the entire body’s weight, they are very prone to a lot of stresses. These stresses cause foot pains or inflammation. If the feet are injured, the whole body becomes very limited in the way it moves.

If you have foot problems, chances are, you are not wearing the proper pair of shoes to match your feet’s needs for every activity. Shoes do make a difference. Wearing improperly fitting shoes can worsen, or even cause foot pains and problems.

But if your shoes fit well, on the other hand, it can prevent the onset of foot joint problems and skin irritations. Shoes that give superior arch support are ideal to keep your feet protected and healthy. Although some foot problems can be caused by certain medical conditions, the proper selection of shoes should still be of primary concern of everyone.
(To read the rest of this article click on the Title above here.)

What is Athlete’s Foot ?
Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis is a fungal infection affecting the areas around toes and can spread to other areas of the foot. Some forms are mild, but most can cause flaking, itching, deep painful cracks and bleeding and can produce a foul odor.

The fungus thrives in warm and moist places and it can be easily transmitted, specially in places like public showers, swimming pools, locker rooms, etc.

If your feet are feeling itchy, let that serve as your first warning that you’re on your way to having athlete’s foot. If your feet have this burning feeling as well, that’s the second sign. When the skin on your feet starts to peel and even bleed, it’s almost a sure sign of having athlete’s foot.
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Watching Your Baby’s First Step
Parents of newborn babies won’t be able to hide their excitement when they see their child trying to carry out his/her first step ever. Babies trying to walk are a good indication that their bodies and mind are developing at a normal rate.

Some parents might become a worried if they see that other babies learning how to walk sooner than their own kids. That could happen. Children have their own calendar as to when they will be attempting that very first step.

Walking is considered a motor skill. Most of the time, it does not have anything to do with the intelligence of the child or their physical weight and size. And it certainly has nothing to do with one’s parenting skills as well.
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