Common Foot Injuries And Their Treatments

The feet although very strong take a lot of abuse daily caused by walking, running, jumping, and climbing. So naturally, they are subjected to many different types of problems as well. So let us talk about the common foot injuries and their treatments. There can be many contributing factors to this like Improper footwear, diabetes, and aging.

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin, which is usually found between the toes. However, the infection may spread causing significant discomfort, itching, and even pain.

Causes

Athlete’s foot usually occurs in a gym, shower, or pool where people walk around barefoot. Fungus tends to thrive in warm, damp areas. It is commonly caused by wearing shoes that are too warm and damp. This condition is highly contagious and can be spread to other areas of the skin as well including the hands, groin, and scalp.

Treatment

Apart from antifungal treatments which are available in most drugstores as sprays, powders, or lotions to apply to the feet. A simple solution is the person should keep their feet clean and dry, and dry them with a separate towel. If the fungus is spreading or worsening after treatment, the best option is to go see your doctor who can prescribe oral antifungal medicines for the condition.

Bunions

Bunions are caused on the feet. This condition causes a bump to develop on the large toe joint. This in turn makes the big toe turn slightly inward.

Causes

There are some conditions which may be the cause for bunions to develop but the most common cause is wearing tight or narrow shoes. This is because tight shoes put pressure on the metatarsophalangeal joint, which is where the bone of the foot meets the bone of the big toe. If you have a family history of bunions this may also be a risk factor. Additionally, there are some conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or polio that increase the likelihood of developing a bunion.

Treatment

A simple conservative treatment should improve the condition of the symptoms of a bunion. A simple countermeasure would be that the person wears shoes that properly fit. You can also buy bunion pads at a store so there is no extra pressure on the bunion. To relieve any pain and inflammation just apply some ice at a 10-minute increment. Here are the common foot injuries and their treatments which come along with this.

Ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails are simply when the nail starts to grow into the nail groove. This causes a lot of pain and discomfort.

Causes

Ingrown toenails usually occur when you wear shoes that aren’t good for your feet. Since the pressure from the shoes is too narrow at the top making it too tight. There are many other causes that could be the reasons like not properly trimming your toenails. This is basically cutting your nails too short. It can also occur if you have a family history of ingrown toenails. 

Treatment

There are many different ways to treat and prevent ingrown toenails, such as:

• Washing the feet regularly with antibacterial soap to keep them clean and dry.
• Cutting your toenails straight across after you take a bath and the nails are soft.
• Avoid cutting your nails in a rounded pattern, as this can increase the risk of inward growth.
• Wearing shoes that fit well so as not to force your foot in and do not have a pointy tip.

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that usually occurs when the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed. Which is the ligament that is responsible for supporting your foot’s arch.

Causes

This is an inflammatory condition which is usually of an unknown cause. It is referred to as idiopathic plantar fasciitis by the doctors. There are a few risk factors that are involved such as being obese, a very high arch, tight calf muscles or participating in activities that repetitively stress the heel like running.

Treatment

In most cases, plantar fasciitis can be treated at home without any serious complications. You must however rest your foot and apply ice at intervals to reduce inflammation. For dealing with the pain you can take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Having some physical exercise to stretch your foot thoroughly before and after physical activity would help reduce heel pain. However, if you feel additional pain that doesn’t go away contact your podiatrist near you for some help.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is not one single condition but is multiple conditions that cause damage to the foot because of diabetes. It is common for people with diabetes to be more prone to fluctuations in blood sugar which cause such effects. 

Causes

This condition is not caused at a particular time is cause over time due to the high blood sugar levels which slowly damage the nerves. However, there are other factors involved as well the make the nerve-damaged worse like smoking, alcohol or a family history of diabetes.

Treatment

Doctors cannot reverse any of the nerve damage that has happened to your foot all they can do is provide you with treatments so it does not get any worse than it already is. A good idea would be to maintain good health and blood sugar control. There are many common foot injuries and their treatments that come along with it.