Improve Your Feet Health With 5 Simple Tips for Preventing Foot Pain

Feet are your body’s foundation, so keeping them healthy is vital to your overall health. Improve your feet health with five tips for preventing foot pain and learn how the specialists at Valleywise Health can help give your feet the support they’ve been giving you. 

Common Foot Problems

The foot and ankle specialists at Valleywise Health want to help you walk out of our clinic feeling stronger and healthier than when you came in. From injuries to inflammation, we treat several common foot problems such as: 

Athlete’s Foot

This is a fungal infection of the skin, typically found between the toes. However, the infection can spread and cause discomfort, itching and even pain if left untreated. The fungus tends to thrive in warm, damp areas like the gym, shower or pool where people walk around barefoot. The condition is highly contagious and can spread to other areas of the body, such as the hands, groin and scalp. 

Bunions

Bunions are abnormalities of the feet that cause a bump to develop on the large toe joint. Women are more likely to have bunions than men due to increased pressures from narrow footwear like high heels. Having a family history of bunions or certain conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, puts you at a higher risk of developing this common foot problem. 

Ingrown Toenails

When the toenail starts to grow into the nail groove, significant pain and discomfort may occur. Wearing shoes that don’t fit correctly can cause ingrown toenails. Other causes include toenails that aren’t trimmed properly or trauma to the feet due to activities like running. 

Plantar Fasciitis

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The condition occurs when the plantar fascia on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. While plantar fasciitis usually does not have a clear cause, risk factors include being obese, having a very high arch and activities that repetitively stress the heel. 

Corns 

Corns are patches of thickened skin, often found on the soles of the feet or toes. They are normally painless to start and form to protect the skin and stop the body from developing blisters. Corns can be caused by bunions, hammer toe or shoes that don’t fit. Over time, they may become painful and should be treated. 

How to Keep Your Feet Healthy

Your feet do a lot of work. Whether walking around or standing for long periods of time, your feet generally put in long hours. Here are five ways to support your feet, so they will continue to support you. 

• Maintain a healthy weight because a few extra pounds can change the way your foot functions and trigger pain. 
• Switch your shoes. Wearing shoes beyond their life span, the wrong type of shoe or an incorrect shoe size can impact the health of your feet. 
• Buy arch supports, or orthotics, to keep your feet stable and eliminate pain while standing or walking. 
• Cut your toenails straight across with clean, sharp nail scissors; don’t round the corners to match the shape of your toe. 
• Sit down during breaks if you are on your feet most of the day for your job. 

Your feet health is an essential part of your overall well-being. Talk with our foot and ankle specialists at your nearby Valleywise Community Health Center to learn more about how to keep your feet healthy or call 1 (833) VLLYWSE to schedule an appointment.  

Sources: 

1. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-athletes-foot-basics  
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/5-ways-to-keep-your-feet-healthy-for-better-mobility  
3. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/plantar-fasciitis-and-bone-spurs