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Hammertoe Can Be Lessened By Wearing Proper Footwear

By Dave Stringham

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 15Mar2010 Word count: 479 Viewed: 432 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Though it isn't very often talked about, there are very many common problems that people have with their feet. Some of the most common problems include shin splints, flat feet, and ingrown toenails.

Shin splints are the pains that a person feels in the front of their lower legs that are caused by exercise. This will typically happen after a period of relative inactivity. Shin splints are most often caused by any of the four types of problems, none of which are serious. All types of shin splints are capable of being treated with rest. Tibial shin splints are very common and affect both trained and recreational athletes. Runners are most often affected. Tibial periostitis occurs further toward the front of the leg than posterior tibial shin splints. Also, the bone itself will be tender. Anterior compartment syndrome affects the outer side of the front of a person's leg. Stress fractures will usually produce a localized, sharp pain with tenderness one or two inches below a person's knee. A stress fracture is most likely to occur two or three weeks into a new training program or after the beginning of a more strenuous training regimen.

Roughly twenty percent of adults have flat feet. The problem of flat feet won't cause any disabilities or any other problems as long as the foot is supple and the achillies tendon, or heel cord, isn't too tight. This is referred to as flexible flat foot. A supple foot will look flat when the person stands on the whole foot, which is referred to as the "loaded" position, but an arch will develop when the person gets off of their foot, referred to as the "unloaded" position. When he or she stands on their toes this will also occur. If a person's heel is capable of bending up to their ankle at more than fifteen degrees from the perpendicular line to the leg, it will not be considered as tight. Some people suffer from rigid flat foot. This is when a person's foot is flat in all positions, regardless of whether it is "loaded" or "unloaded." Also it will be flat when a person stands on his or her toes. Another problem that people can suffer from is flat foot with a tight heel cord. This is when a person's foot is incapable of being bent back at an angle of more than fifteen degrees due to the calf muscles (which form the achillies tendon) being contracted. Symptoms of these problems will include pain, redness, or calluses.

An ingrown toenail will occur when a portion of a person's toenail on either side of the toe turns downward and begins to press into the skin. Nails will normally be nearly flat, with just a slight arching downward toward their borders. When the border of one's nail is turned downward, it starts to injure the skin.

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