Ì첩ÌåÓý

Foot Care Archive

Articles

Dealing with thick, discolored toenails

Nail fungal infections affect up to 14% of the adult population. While completely curing these infections is difficult, the right treatments can discourage the problem from spreading and make your nails look better.

Putting your best feet forward

Most older adults can expect to walk more than 100,000 miles during their lifetime, which can take a toll on their feet. With regular foot care, people can address most everyday foot issues like calluses, blisters, and fungus infections. But older adults also need to be mindful about certain problems that can impede their foot health and make mobility difficult, such as heel pain, flat feet, and osteoarthritis.

Gout Diagnosis

If you experience gout symptoms, it's important to visit a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Preparing your feet for summer

Summertime activities often trigger foot pain from overuse or the lack of support in shoes. To prepare feet for summer, it helps to get shoes or sandals with good support and seek physical therapy to strengthen foot muscles. People who expect to be walking on a beach barefoot can give their feet a little practice and time to adapt by wearing slightly less supportive shoes at home, and then shoes with even less support. It's also a good idea to learn about ways to relieve foot pain if it strikes, such as foot baths, topical medications, and foot massage.

When the first step is the hardest

Women are twice as likely as men to develop plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of chronic heel pain. Pain is worst in the morning and eases over the course of the day. Older adults, some athletes, and people who are overweight or obese are likelier to develop plantar fasciitis. Mainstay treatments include stretches, medication, night splints, and supportive shoes. Emerging treatments include injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), platelet-rich plasma, or fat.

Healthy feet, happy life

Healthy feet are the foundation of an active lifestyle, but many people don't give their feet proper attention. Regular foot maintenance can help prevent pain and injuries and protect against infections. Helpful steps include maintaining basic foot hygiene, performing regular foot exercises, and wearing properly fitting shoes.

Tips for choosing walking shoes

Experts suggest people replace their walking shoes every 300 to 500 miles. For the best selection and advice, people should consider shopping at a specialty running store that also sells walking shoes. Other tips for choosing comfortable, supportive shoes include looking for low-heeled shoes that bend easily at the ball of the foot and have wiggle room at the toes.

Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus

Toenail fungus is difficult to cure without resorting to oral treatments that can affect liver function. Topical treatment can improve nails' appearance.

5 common foot problems and how to cope with them

Many conditions affect the feet and can cause pain. Five common problems are bunions, fallen arches, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, there's a wide range of treatments for relief. New approaches include stretching the calf muscles to improve the way feet fit into orthotic insoles; shock-wave treatment for plantar fasciitis; and minimally invasive surgeries for bunions and hammertoes that involve small instruments and incisions. Tried-and-true therapies include soaking feet when an ingrown toenail causes pain, or wearing a splint at night for plantar fascitis.

Free Healthbeat Signup

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!

Sign Up
Ì첩ÌåÓý Publishing Logo

Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift.

The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School

Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

Ì첩ÌåÓý Publishing Logo

Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.

Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.

Ì첩ÌåÓý Publishing Logo

Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.

Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.