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.