Guide To Foot Care And Foot Problems

Preventing Foot Trouble

Better foot care may prevent many foot problems.

Years of wear and tear can be hard on our feet. So can:

• disease
• poor circulation
• improperly trimmed toenails
• wearing shoes that do not fit properly

Problems with our feet can be the first sign of more serious medical conditions such as:

• arthritis
• diabetes
• nerve disorders
• circulatory disorders

Practice Good Foot Care

Check your feet regularly, or have a member of your family check them. Podiatrists and primary care doctors (internists and family practitioners) are qualified to treat most foot problems.

Sometimes the special skills of an orthopedic surgeon or dermatologist are needed.

Circulation

It also helps to keep blood circulating to your feet as much as possible. You can do this by:

• putting your feet up when you are sitting or lying down
• stretching if you've had to sit for a long while
• walking
• having a gentle foot massage
• taking a warm foot bath

Other Foot Care Tips

• Try to avoid pressure from shoes that do not fit right.
• Try not to expose your feet to cold temperatures.
• Do not sit for long periods of time (especially with your legs crossed).
• Do not smoke.
• Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well can prevent many foot ailments.

Proper Shoe Fit

Here are some tips for getting a proper shoe fit:

• The size of your feet changes as you grow older so always have your feet measured before buying shoes.
• The best time to measure your feet is at the end of the day when your feet are largest.
• Most of us have one foot that is larger than the other, so fit your shoe to your larger foot.
• Do not select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe but by how the shoe fits your foot.
• Select a shoe that is shaped like your foot.
• During the fitting process, make sure there is enough space (3/8" to 1/2") for your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you are standing up.
• Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.
• Do not buy shoes that feel too tight and expect them to stretch to fit.

Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a minimum amount of slipping - the shoes should not ride up and down on your heel when you walk.

Walk in the shoes to make sure they fit and feel right. Then take them home and spend some time walking on carpet to make sure the fit is a good one.

Other Shoe Fit Tips

Go On To Part 2 --- Foot Care: Common Foot Problems --->