HOW TO AVOID PAINFUL FEET

One in every six persons has trouble with his or her feet, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Rosemont, Ill. Estimates show that foot problems There are two main causes of foot problems. One cause is mechanical instability to the foot. The spine has 24 movable bones and the foot has 26 movable bones. There are three arches to the foot and a misalignment of one or two of these bone can change the mechanical function of these arches which can lead to plantar fascitis, bunions, corns, calluses, hammer toes, etc. Proper evaluation of your feet at Tereo Chiropractic can determine if your foot pain is mechanical or due to another cause. Another major cause of foot pain is shoes that do not fit properly. Everyone can reduce their risk of foot woes by wearing shoes that conform to the natural shape of their feet, not the other way around. Shoes that do not fit cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other disabling disorders. The following check list will help you eliminate the potential of shoe related foot pain:

• Have your feet measured each time you buy new shoes. Turning 30, 40, or 70 or 80, for that matter, may result in a new shoe size. Foot width frequently increases with age.
• The upper part of the shoe should be made of a soft, flexible material to match the shape of your foot.
• Shoes made from leather can reduce the possibility of skin irritation.
• Thick soles lessen pressure on hard surfaces.
• Low-heeled shoes are more comfortable, safer and less damaging than high-heeled ones.

Other interesting foot facts include: 

• There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet; they excrete as much as a halfpint of moisture a day.
• Feet mirror general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet.
• Thanks to high heels, women have about four times as many foot problems as men.
• The average person takes eight to 10,000 steps a day, which add up to about 115,000 miles over a lifetime.
• Only a small percentage of Americans are born with foot problems. It is neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care — including ill-fitting shoes — that lead to difficulties.
• About 5 percent of the population have toenail problems in a given year.