Foot

The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art - Leonardo da Vinci

"When people aren't feeling well, we wish them a speedy recovery – to  see them "back on their feet" again soon. And yet, we're often unaware of the intricate pedals so central to our mobility until they give out on us. And then – it's as if someone snatched away the car keys or the plane just grounded...

You  can guard against hurt feet by wearing shoes that fit the occasion, experts say. In other words, yes, you can still glam out in your Jimmy  Choos (if you can swing it ...) but, more to the point: Wear running shoes for running, spinning shoes for spinning and commute in something comfy.

Vary the shoes you wear and seek footwear that gives you arch support, shock absorption and cushioning, says Jacqueline Sutera, a podiatrist with practices in New York and New  Jersey and an American Podiatric Medical Association spokeswoman. Her no-no's: "Anything too thin, too flat, too high, too hard, too stiff."

So, put on your Goldilocks hat the next time you go shoe shopping, and pick out a pair that feels just right. While you're at it, throw away your worn-out shoes, whose lack of support can set you up for a sprained ankle and other injuries. And please be careful with pedicures – steer clear of cuticle cutting and razors, which can lead to infection and permanent damage.

Meanwhile, learn how to recognize and treat some of the most common foot ailments. Among them:

1. Heel Pain:  According to Sutera, heel pain typically results from plantar fasciitis  – inflammation of a ligament at the bottom of the foot. It can result from weight gain, unsupported arches or overactivity from exercise. You'll detect it by pain after periods of rest, like when you first step out of bed in the morning, or after intense activity. And it hurts because you're essentially walking on an injury, Sutera explains.

You can heal your heel with the following regimen: at night, alternate two or three 15-minute periods of icing with 15-minute periods of rest; when you wake up, extend your leg and use a towel or yoga  strap to stretch your toes back toward you. Meanwhile, wear supportive shoes and take anti-inflammatory medicine if needed. If you don't feel better after three weeks, see a doctor, she says. Untreated, plantar fasciitis can give way to other problems like tendenitis, a tightening of the achilles which can rupture and land you in a cast.

2. Bunions:  A dislocation of the joint in the big toe, bunions are genetic conditions that can worsen by wearing unsupportive shoes like pointy high heels or ballerina flats, Sutera says. Bunions can cause swelling, redness, pain and, if untreated, can develop into arthritis. You can manage a bunion by wearing wide shoes, she says, but the only fix is surgery.

3. Ingrown toenails:  These can be inherited (the so-called "pincer nail" that curves inward),  or they can be caused by tight shoes or pantyhose, but it's most often due to cutting too deeply into the corners of nails, says Hillary  Brenner, a New York podiatrist who also speaks for the APMA. As a result, skin grows over the nail, leaving you vulnerable to a bacterial  infection that can become very dangerous should the bacteria reach the bloodstream. You'll know it's a bacterial infection by signs of redness, heat and swelling. Also, it smells bad. (Gross-out alert) Bacteria  actually eat your sweat and excrete fumes, Brenner says. If you notice any red streaking from the infection site, she advises seeing a podiatrist immediately.

Otherwise, treat the infection by soaking your feet in a lukewarm bath of Epsom salt for 15 to 20 minutes and apply moisturizing cream to soften the nail. Then, use  sterile clippers to trim the nail, and apply Neosporin and a bandage to  the wound, Brenner says. "It should be almost instantaneous relief."

4. Fungal infections: Thick, yellowed, crumbling nails – that's fungus, Brenner says. And it's  caused by anything that lifts the nail plate from the nail bed like shoes that don't fit (notice a theme here?). Treat a fungal infection by soaking feet in a bath of Epsom salt and tea tree oil for 15 to 20  minutes followed by a topical antifungal medicine. Then, see your  podiatrist every two to three months to have the nail cut to remove the fungus.

5. Calluses:  Often caused by how someone walks, calluses can be treated with orthotics to correct a person's gait, Brenner says. Some people don't mind the extra padding on their feet, she says. For everyone else, she advises having the calluses shaved down by a podiatrist every two to  three months. Also, moisturize your feet with a good cream and seal it  into your skin by wearing a sock for 40 minutes to an hour, she says. "The more you moisturize your feet, the stronger the integrity of the skin is, so it's harder to break down." Finally, you can help to scrub away calluses twice a week with an exfoliant, especially one that contains pumice, she says.

The bottom line, so  to speak: When it comes to foot health, pain will alert you to a problem. Pay attention and, if pain persists, see a doctor." Source: Rachel Pomerance Berl, Foot Health 101: Learn How to Treat Your Feet, U.S News & World Report, October 7, 2013