Keeping Your Feet Healthy

Common Foot Problems and How You Can Manage Them

Made for you by:

Manchester Community College Nursing Students

Class of 2010

Daily Foot Care Checklist

What are corns and calluses?Corns and calluses are the most common conditions on the skin of the foot. A corn, which is thickening of the outer layer of skin, usually occurs on the tops of toes. Calluses, which are the same condition on the bottom of the feet, are caused by shearing pressure. Corns and calluses are the foot’s defense against friction and pressure. These conditions are usually painful but can respond to conservative treatment.

The first line of defense for this condition is a good supporting shoe that has a wide toe box and low heel. Over-the-counter items such as pads, lotions/creams, pumice stones, and callus removers are helpful. Orthotics, a device to realign the mechanical disturbance of the foot may be a useful treatment. Although you can purchase orthotics over-the-counter, this device is usually made from a cast of the foot and is prescribed by a Podiatrist (a doctor that specializes in feet). If corns and calluses persist then professional treatment by a podiatrist is indicated.

Wash feet daily with warm soap and water, then dry thoroughly – don’t forget between the toes.

Check feet every day for redness, blisters, open sores, any discolored areas – use a mirror to check the bottom of your feet.

Make sure shoes are not tight enough to leave red marks on your feet where a blister could develop.

Shake out shoes before putting on – if you have neuropathy you will not feel objects in your shoes and they could cause sores or blisters.

Wear shoes at all times – even in the house. Wear clean, dry socks that are changed daily – no tight elastic socks

that could interfere with circulation. Keep toenails trimmed – after a shower, when nails are their softest.

If nails are really thickened, have your doctor trim your nails. Dry, cracked skin should be moisturized daily. Do not put lotion

between your toes – warm, dark and moist areas can create infection.

My Foot Care Notes:

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What causes the skin on my feet to be red, itchy, cracked and sometimes scale?The most common cause of red, itchy feet is a fungus infection or athlete’s foot. Daily washing of feet with soap and water followed by thorough drying, especially between toes is important. Fungal infections can be stubborn and difficult to treat, and can become chronic. Treatments include prescription antifungal medications, either topical or oral, and continued attention to keeping feet clean and dry. If this is left untreated it will become severe and a bacterial infection may develop. Continue to consult your foot doctor until the problem is eradicated.

What are plantar warts? Are they contagious?Plantar warts (Verruca Plantaris) are caused by a virus and are contagious. They may grow singularly or in groups. They are painful and appear particularly on the bottom of the feet. Conservative treatments include topical medicines and patches. If these treatments fail, your podiatrist may use a series of freezing methods, or they may have to be removed surgically.

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My feet donʼt seem to be the same like when I was younger. Why did they change?With age, the foot widens and lengthens. This will mean you need a larger size show. Tendons and ligaments relax and become less elastic making the aging foot flat and decreasing their ability to provide support. Fat pads on the feet degenerate, therefore the forefoot and heel are less able to absorb shock. This change to the aging foot may cause pain with ambulation.

Why is it so important to wear proper fitting socks and shoes?The shape of the shoe needs to conform to the shape of the person’s foot with greater width at the forefoot, a deep and rounded toe box and a narrower heel. Fitting should take place in the afternoon when feet are likely to swell. One foot may be longer than the other, using the longer foot, there should be 1/2 inch of space between the end of your longest toe and the shoe. Look for shoes made of natural materials (canvas or leather) that permits evaporation of perspiration.

Socks that are made of natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, absorb moisture more easily than synthetic materials. Socks should fit smoothly with no bunching, folds, wrinkles, seams or mended areas that might cause irritation. Socks should be changed daily.

What is the proper way to clip my nails?Using a nail clipper, small pieces of the nail are clipped from the outside of the foot to the inside, straight across and even with the end of the toe. They may be rounded slightly at the tip. They should not be cut too short or angled so that they grow into the tissue. You may use an orangewood stick to remove debris from under the nail.

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What are bunions?Bunions are one of the most common forefoot problems. A bunion is a prominent bump on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint. This bump is actually a bone protruding towards the inside of the foot. With the continued movement of the big toe towards the smaller toes, it is common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe. This causes a common forefoot condition called overlapping toes. Some of the symptoms of bunions include inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. The discomfort commonly causes a patient to walk improperly.

Bunions are a common problem experienced mostly by women. The deformity can develop from an abnormality in foot function, or arthritis, but is more commonly caused by wearing improper fitting footwear. Tight, narrow dress shoes with a constrictive toe box (toe area) can cause the foot to begin to take the shape of the shoe, leading to the formation of a bunion. Women who have bunions normally wear dress shoes that are too small for their feet. Their toes are squeezed

together in their shoes causing the first metatarsal bone to protrude on the side of the foot. It is important for men and women to realize that wearing dress shoes and boots, which are tapered in the toe area, can cause the bunion to worsen to the point where surgery is necessary.

What is the treatment for bunions?In the early stages of the formation of a bunion, soaking feet in warm water can provide temporary relief. The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes. Shoes designed with a high, wide toe box (toe area) are recommended for people suffering from forefoot disorders, such as bunions. Shoes with rocker soles will unload pressure to the bunion area. Orthotics are also recommended for this condition to provide extra comfort, support, and protection. Other conservative treatments include using forefoot products designed to accommodate and relieve bunions such as bunion shields, bunion night splints, and bunion bandages. These conservative treatments can limit the progression of the bunion formation and relieve pain.

Foot Care ResourcesNH Orthopaedic Center Good Feet Store700 Lake Avenue 7 Colby Street, Unit 1Manchester, NH, 03103 Bedford, NH, 03110603-883-0091 603-627-1561

Granite State Podiatry Assoc. Home Health & Hospice Care424 Hanover Street 22 Prospect StreetManchester, NH, 03104 Nashua, NH, 03060603-668-3509 603-882-2941

Sources:Corns/Calluses - http://www.footcaredirect.com/corns.html

Bunions - http://www.foot.com/info/cond_bunions.jspPlantar Warts - http://feetplusllc.com/warts.html

Athletes Foot - http://www.clevelandfac.com/?pg=common-foot-problems Foot Care Checklist - www.nwrenalnetwork.org/news/diabeticfootcare.doc

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