Collin County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 31

YOUR FEET SHOULD BE YOUR BIGGEST

INVESTMENT AND #1 PRIORITY
By Chantell Peterson

M

ost people take their
feet for granted and
don’t realize what a
vital role they play in
their everyday functions. Feet are made up of bones,
joints, muscles and soft tissues which
make them flexible so that the human
body can not only stand upright but
also perform activities such as walking, running and jumping. The soft tissues and bones were created to work
together to form a healthy, functioning and pain-free foot. But, let’s face
it, people do not take very good care
of their feet. Most foot problems are
due to neglect and improper care.
Feet are delicate entities that support the whole body, and have thousands of nerves at the bottom that
correspond to every organ and every
part of the body. Improper care and
use of the feet can have a negative
impact on the body’s organs and
posture and cause other issues such
as knee, ankle or hip pain and even
worse low back pain. So why are the
feet one of the most neglected parts
of the body?
Seventy-five percent of people will
experience some sort of foot pain or
foot issue during their lifetime. For this
reason, it is important that people become educated on these issues and
learn how to properly care for their
feet. There are a multiple number of

foot issues and below are a few of
them for your information. If you feel
you are experiencing any of these
issues, contact Southwest Foot and
Ankle Center for a consultation to ensure you receive proper care for your
feet.

HEEL PAIN

The heel is the largest bone in the foot
and heel pain is the most common
foot problem that affects two million
people every year. It can occur in the
front, back, or bottom of the heel.
One of the most common causes
of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Other
frequent causes of heel pain include
bursitis, pinched nerves, tendonitis,
heel spurs, fractures, gout, fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. In children, heel pain
can be caused by strain on the heel
bone’s growth plate. If heel pain goes
untreated, it will continue to worsen
and can possibly contribute to other
issues over time.

BUNIONS

A bunion is a painful swelling that usually occurs
at the head
of one of the
long bones
(metatarsal
bone) of the
big or little
toe, which extends from the arch of
the foot and connects to the toes. A
bunion begins to form when the big
or little toe is forced in toward the rest
of the toes. This causes the head of
the metatarsal bone to jut out and
rub against the side of the shoe. The
underlying tissue becomes inflamed,
and a painful swelling forms. Bone
growth may occur at the site of irritation. The toe grows towards the rest of
the toes at an increasing angle. Bunions can be caused by a number of
conditions such as injury in the joint,
genetics, flat feet, gout, arthritis or
narrow high-heeled shoes with pointed toes, which can put enormous
pressure on the front of the foot.

INGROWN TOENAIL

An ingrown toenail occurs when the
edge of a toenail grows or is pressed
into the soft tissue of the toe. It usually

occurs at the edge of the big toenail
as a result of shoe pressure. Even the
smallest amount of ingrowing can
be very painful. Other signs of an ingrown toenail include red swollen
skin, bleeding, oozing pus and overgrowth of skin around the toe, which
are all signs of infection. The ingrown
piece of nail is often unseen because

it is buried beneath the skin. Incorrect
toenail trimming can also contribute
to the risk of developing an ingrown
toenail. Other conditions that can
lead to ingrown toenails include fungal infections, injury to the toe, abnormalities in the structure of the foot or
repeated impact on the toenail from
the shoe during high-impact exercise.
The best way to treat ingrown toenails
is to see a foot specialist for proper removal and care.

PEOPLE NEED TO
STOP TAKING

walking
FOR
GRANTED

and start thinking of it like any other
physical activity, as something they
can learn to do better, protect and
take care of. If your feet or ankles
aren’t working properly or you are
experiencing pain, don’t ignore it!
Contact Southwest Foot and Ankle
Center at 972-316-0902 for an evaluation. With our knowledge, patients
can expect the best treatment with
the most technological equipment
and advances offered to them.
Remember, Your Feet Should Be Your
Biggest Investment and #1 Priority!
Call today!!

Contact Southwest Foot and Ankle Center at 972-316-0902 for an evaluation.
COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | WINTER 2014
31