Denton County Living Well Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 11

Your Feet Should Be Your
Biggest Investment and #1 Priority

M

By Chantell Peterson

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. 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 affected 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