Simple Solutions to Common Walking Pains
It
is common knowledge that walking is the safest and easiest form of
exercise. According to a Fort Collins physical therapist Teresa
Schuemann, "Walkers can overwork the area when pounding the pavement,
especially when you wear hard shoes on concrete, because there's very
little give as the foot lands. Is this news to you?
According to reports, there are about 250,000 walkers who stop their routine as a result of a walking-induced pain. Most commonly, this is due to wearing improper footwear while walking. Another reason could be an old exercise injury that has got aggravated while walking. Walkers, if they want to stick to their exercise routine, need to make sure that they pay attention to any pain they might feel or walking injury that may have occurred earlier. Here are some common walking pains that may cause hindrance in your fitness regime. Being able to relate to what kind of pain there is and information on their prevention and care, can help you keep away from serious problems.
Athlete’s Foot
This
is among the better known foot maladies. Athlete’s foot is a skin
condition caused by fungus. You may feel that the area between the toes
itches, stings and sometime burns. These sensations may sometime be on
the soles of the feet. There may be blisters that itch, cracks and peels
on the feet. Do not walk barefoot. Ensure your feet are always dry,
change your socks often and let your shoes dry if you perspire a lot.
Remember, fungus needs warmth to grow and a moist environment to
incubate. Apply powder or corn starch on the inside your shoes and
socks. This helps to keep the fungus away. Minor cases can usually be
cured with a visit to the local drugstore or an over-the-counter powder,
spray, cream or gel. If the itching is severe, you may require a
prescription treatment.
Hammertoe
This
condition occurs when the joints of the middle and little toes contract
or bend from their original position. When the pressure on the toes
increases, abnormal bending takes place. This pressure could be due to
wearing shoes that cause muscle/tendon imbalance. The imbalance
initially leads to bending of the toe and then causes changes in the
structure of the toe. Some common symptoms of hammertoe are irritation,
pain, and the formation of corns and calluses. Changing
the type of footwear, avoiding short shoes, and avoiding footwear with
high and pointed heels are some ways to prevent hammertoe. You could
choose shoes that are comfortable, and have a roomy toe box. Wearing
shoes with that have less than two inch heels will also be helpful.
Nail In-growth
This
is a condition that is usually found on the big toe. In-growth happens
when the pressure from the growth of the nail edge falls into the skin
of the toe. Inflammation is caused when the edge of the nail breaks the
skin. Initially, it creates minor discomfort, but slowly
redness, pain, and swelling take place. Improper trimming of the
toenail, hereditary aspects, and improper shoes are the main causes of
an ingrown toenail. At first the infection may be on the nail border,
but it can progress to cellulites, a deeper soft-tissue infection. The
next stage would be osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Trimming the
toenail straight across the top and not allowing it to dig into the
corners is the best way to prevent in-growth.
These
common problems can be addressed with a bit of care and awareness.
Prevention is the best way to avoid walking pains and their resulting
problems.
Comments
Post a Comment