Are you happy with your feet or do they cause problems walking or even standing? There are 26 bones, 33 joints, and 42 muscles in the human foot. All the parts together allow us to move from one place to another without any problem. Problems in our foot arise due to many reasons: hereditary problems, diabetes, accidents, injuries, tight shoes, etc. Let’s review some of the most common foot problems: their causes and what you can do to prevent them.

hammer toe

You will suffer from hammertoes if the ligaments in the toe are shortened and all the toes except the big toe are bent from the middle of the toe joint. This disorder arises mainly from the constant use of shoes that do not fit well. The toes are unable to rest properly due to little to no space in a tight fitting shoe which leads to this problem. Hammertoes cause chronic pain, and you may need surgery to fix the problem.

Bunions

You will suffer from inflammation or a bunion when the big toe develops a bulge at the base and droops sideways towards the second toe. Often an inherited disorder, bunions run in families for generations. The big toe joint becomes enlarged and swollen. Other causes of bunions are arthritis, congenital deformities, or trauma. If you notice bunions on one of your feet, you should see a podiatrist to find the reason for their development. In many cases, the cause is wearing shoes that are narrow at the front (toes). You should stop wearing narrow-toed shoes to avoid the onset of pain. You may need to have surgery if you have an extremely painful bunion.

Corns and Calluses

If your feet are constantly rubbing against your shoes, chances are you’ll develop calluses very soon! The causes of these disorders are the pressure of the bony parts of the feet against the shoe. Tight shoes are the main culprits, causing friction when walking, running, jumping, or even standing for a long period of time. Do not take any medicine to prevent painful corns and calluses or to cut or remove them. You should consult with a podiatrist who will give you the proper guidance to remove the pain. Your doctor may tell you to wear better fitting shoes or use special pads to solve the problem. In extreme cases, doctors suggest surgery.

Bacterial infections

You will get athlete’s foot if you don’t take proper care of your feet and allow them to stay in a warm, dark environment most of the time. For example, wearing tight shoes or socks does not give your feet enough air contact, leading to the formation of bacteria or fungi that grow between the toes or on the sole of the foot. You have athlete’s foot if you notice white, scaly rashes between your toes and also redness on the bottom of your foot. Such a condition causes itching, burning sensation and inflammation. You should start wearing comfortable shoes to keep your feet in more contact with fresh air. You should also change your socks regularly, as sweaty socks cause this problem. You should talk to your doctor about using antifungal creams or sprays to relieve athlete’s foot.

Dry Skin

Usually, we take care of our face, neck and hands, but we forget to take care of our feet. If you don’t apply a moisturizing cream to your feet every day, at least before you go to bed at night, you are likely to develop dry skin on your feet that will be itchy and red. Apply cream or lotion after cleaning your feet with a mild soap.

Ingrown toenails

You need to trim your nails properly, as failure to do so will lead to ingrown nails, a situation where your toenail will start to grow in instead of out. It will cause pain and fungal infection over time.

Spurs

When calcium is deposited in your foot, you get heel spurs. Standing for a long time in tight shoes causes heel dewclaws. Also, obese people develop this disorder because they put excessive pressure on the foot muscles.

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