Feet

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Many years ago, there was a funny character on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He recited a little poem about feet, which went something like this:

You need feet to walk about on.
You need feet to kick your friends.
You need feet to keep your socks on,
And to keep your legs from fraying on the ends.

(My apologies to the author, both for my poor memory of the poem and for failing to recall his name.)

Well, we do need feet, don’t we? And as grateful as we may be for the sturdy foundational rascals, sometimes they develop problems we don’t appreciate. Problems like bunions, calluses, corns, stress fractures (watch out for those high heels!), hammer toes, and so on.

Regardless of your height and weight, your feet bear more weight per square inch than any other part of your body. Even when you’re sitting down, your seat has more area than your feet—plus it doesn’t have the weight of your legs on it!

Add to standing and walking a few higher-impact activities like running, jogging, and aerobics, even climbing stairs, and your feet “stand up” to a lot of punishment. (Sorry, the topic is so ripe for puns. I’ll try to be more careful.)

How can we care for our footy friends who take such great care of us? For starters, according to www.feetforlife.org, you need to choose well-fitting shoes—and wear them! Barefooted-ness is great around the house or wandering in a well-tended yard, but protect your feet with shoes whenever you venture elsewhere.

Choosing good shoes can be tricky—my wife prefers “cute and fashionable” to “sensible.” Understandable, but then she really can’t complain if her feet hurt! Naturally, there are many types of shoes and you need to take especial care choosing shoes for activities such as sports and running. See www.feetforlife.org for fitting tips and remember that the wrong shoe can damage your foot!

Basic hygiene and nail cutting may be all that's needed to keep your feet in good health. But when previously happy feet turn into problem feet, it's time to seek professional help. Some problems are inherited, and some develop from illnesses in middle age, or from the pressure of ill-fitting shoes. Registered chiropodists (also known as podiatrists) are trained in all aspects of care for the feet and lower limbs. Seek treatment from one of these professionals if you develop serious foot problems.

I’ll just mention a couple of common problems here:

Athlete’s foot and other fungi: These can cause intense itching, cracked, blistered or peeling areas of skin, redness and scaling. Yuck, to say the least. Fortunately, while athlete’s foot is easily contracted, it can be easily treated. Self-help includes avoiding locations where you might get it (gym shower, for example), changing footwear frequently, keeping feet dry or moisturizing (depending on the type you have), and using over-the-counter treatments. See a podiatrist for professional help. And remember to continue treatment for several weeks after the condition improves.

Corns: Believe it or not, there are several different types of corns, but they are generally a thickened area of skin over a bony place, such as a joint. Don’t cut the corn, but you may use a pumice to reduce it somewhat. Professional treatment is indicated if you have a corn that is painful.

Ingrown toenails: More fun. This is a toenail that is curling as it grows, pressing into the surrounding skin. If the nail doesn’t break the skin, it actually doesn’t qualify as “in-growing,” but it can still cause pain and redness. Prevent ingrown toe nails by clipping your nails correctly. Use nail clippers, rather than scissors, and cut the nails straight across, leaving enough nail beyond the skin to avoid in-growth. Wearing natural-fiber socks or sandals may help also.

And what about the pedicure? This is certainly a popular procedure among women who like to put pretty feet into sandals. Many men also enjoy the treatment, to make their feet feel good and look nice at the same time. (Personally, I forgo the polish!) A professional pedicure feels great, but there is actually some controversy about whether we should indulge. Some podiatrists have seen a lot of infections from poorly-maintained pedicure facilities. Check around before you patronize a nail shop—make sure that they have clean, sterile facilities.

One more note about caring for your feet: foot massage and reflexology (which treats your whole health through your hands and feet) are wonderful treatments, especially if you work on your feet or stand a lot.

And finally, there are diseases, such as diabetes, that cause foot problems. Thus, I am going to make my usual disclaimer that you must see your doctor if you have severe problems with your feet—or any part of your body!

Happy Feet!

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