Foot Problems

Your feet provide an important function for your body.

With more than 35 bones (the number can vary from person to person) and a complex framework of muscles, tendons and ligaments, your feet absorb the impact of your entire body weight with every step, keeping you balanced and upright in the process.

Other than carrying your body weight around, they provide the foundation of everyday life.

Statistical evidence highlights that many people suffer from foot problems, which may be caused due to injury, ill-fitted shoes, genetics, weak ligaments in the feet or inappropriate foot care. Let's take a look at a few of the problems that could be affecting you.

Common Foot Problems

One of the more frequent foot problems that people experience is corns and calluses. These are areas of skin that become thick and rough, which when left untreated, can cause localized pain. Often sighted near the joints of the toes, corns and calluses are caused when excessive pressure is placed on the feet.

Bunions are another commonly observed foot related problem. Bunion is a bone deformity or a prominent bump on the inner side (or less commonly the outside) of the foot at the base of the big toe. Women are more likely to develop them due to the confines of many fashionable  shoes. Caused by ill-fitted footwear, trauma or injury, arthritis, poor foot mechanics or genetic factors, bunions is characterized by deformation, pain, swelling and inflammation on the medial or inside surface of the big toe joint. The pain is often exacerbated by high heeled footwear, narrow or pointed footwear, long periods of standing/exercise or activities that excessively bend back the big toe joint such as squatting.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toe nails are caused by abnormal growth or shape of the toenail as well as the surrounding tissues. As nails grow they can become painfully embedded in the skin at the sides, causing swelling, pain and possible infection of the toe. Poorly fitted shoes that put excessive pressure on the toe, poor cutting technique and genetic factors/shape of the nail can be responsible for the formation of ingrown toe nails. To avoid further damage, ingrown toenails should be treated as quickly as possible.

Getting Treatment

Foot problems can affect day to day activities and hinder mobility. Sometimes, your foot problems can subside with time, rest, hot and cold treatment, wearing appropriate footwear and taking medication.

But, at times, these problems won’t go away and may cause complications. Therefore, it is advisable to see a medical professional, like a Podiatrist, so they can determine which foot problem is affecting your situation.

The well-timed intervention and expert advice of a Podiatrist can manage the foot problem without further complications.

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