How To Put Your Best Foot Forward

Even though feet are one of the most durable parts of the body, they're prone to a wide variety of injuries and ailments. And because we spend so much time on our feet, these injuries can become problematic if they go untreated.

So, in the third and final part of the The Early Show's series on foot care, Dr. Sean Kenniff of Miami's WFOR-TV discusses a few of the most common ailments and offers some advice on how to rid yourself of them so you can be back on your feet as soon as possible.

SPRAINS AND STRAINS
People who live an active lifestyle and do a lot of running and jumping will often experience the pain of an ankle strain or sprain because of the constant pressure they put on their feet. But it can happen to anyone who falls or comes down awkwardly. You'll often hear sprains and strains referred to as "twists" or "turning the ankle."

A sprain is a stretch or a tear of ligaments, which connect your bones together. Ligaments are like rubber bands in that they can stretch, but only so far. When you put too much pressure on them, ligaments stretch past their limit and tear, and that's called a sprained ankle. Sprains usually occur when you turn your foot inward, due to the pressure put on the ligaments of your outer ankle.

Strains are similar to sprains, but different in that they're a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon.

Your bones are supported by a combination of muscles and tendons. A strain is the result of an injury to either a muscle or a tendon, usually in your foot or leg. The strain may be anything from a simple stretch in your muscle or tendon, to a complete tear in the muscle-and-tendon combination.

Both should be treated the same way: with plenty of rest to keep the pressure off the injury and give it time to heal. You'll also notice some swelling, so it's usually a good idea to put some ice on it. A compression wrap and elevation are also good ideas. And that's basically just taking an ace bandage and wrapping it around your injury and keeping it elevated. This will also decrease the swelling. This should be followed by simple exercises to relieve pain and restore mobility. For a serious tear, you may need surgery.

You can prevent these injuries by stretching out before engaging in physical activities. And if you're starting to feel pain, that's usually a warning that it's time to stop.CORNS
Corns are basically hardened clumps of skin that usually form on the top or side of the toe. They often form when the bones in your feet are pushed up against your shoes. This causes the outer layer of skin to thicken and build up, causing irritation to the tissues underneath. Soft corns resemble open sores and develop between the toes as they rub against each other.

Because we spend so much time on our feet, we're often susceptible to getting corns if we're not wearing proper footwear. And they're often a result of friction. If shoes are too tight, they squeeze the foot, increasing pressure. If they are too loose, the foot may slide and rub against the shoe, creating friction. Women who wear high heels are also at risk because these types of shoes increase the pressure on the front part of their feet. Finally, a seam or anything inside your shoes that's repeatedly rubbing against your foot or toes can cause the skin to harden and a corn to form.

To get rid of corns at home, you should soak your feet in warm water and use a pumice stone to soften and reduce the size of the corn. Also, you can purchase a donut-shaped foam pad to cover the corn, to help relieve the pressure. The easiest, most sensible solution is to wear a better-fitting, more comfortable pair of shoes that reduces the amount of friction.

ATHLETE'S FOOT
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that causes a rash on the skin of the foot. Fungi grow best in warm, moist areas. Athlete's foot is easily spread: You can get it by touching the affected area of a person who has it. More commonly, you pick up the fungi by going barefoot in shared areas, such as swimming pools or locker rooms. The fungi then grow in the warm and moist environment of your footwear, especially if it is tight, with little air moving around your feet. Some people are more likely to develop athlete's foot than others. Experts don't know why. Once you have had athlete's foot, you are more likely to get it again.

The best treatment for athlete's foot is to avoid getting it in the first place, because it can be a real nuisance to get rid of, once you have it. So take extra precautions whenever you're in an environment where the fungus may be living. Protect your feet: Wear a pair of rubber sandals or flip-flops if you're showering in the locker-room at the gym, or walking around a public pool. Also, wear cotton socks and change them often. When you come back home after a trip to the gym, take your shoes and socks off right away, wash your feet off, and put on a fresh pair of socks. If your shoes are wet or sweaty, make sure you dry them before lacing up again. Finally, when you hit the shower, be sure to thoroughly wash your feet and dry them well. Since fungi from athlete's foot live in a warm, moist environment, keeping your feet clean and dry will make it harder for the fungi to form and flourish. For added dryness, you may want to apply some talc powder to keep your feet dry over the course of a day.

If you have athlete's foot already, the best treatment for a simple case is an over-the-counter medication. It usually comes in the form of a spray. Be sure to follow the instructions closely and be diligent about applying the medication. You'll have to do this for at least several weeks, twice a day, for the treatment to be effective.INGROWN TOENAILS
Ingrown toenails are quite common, and often the result of improperly trimming your nails. Any of your toenails can get ingrown, but it's most likely to happen to your big toes. If you trim down your toenail too much, and cut down the sides of your nails, there's a good chance that when the nail starts to grow back, it will grow into your skin. And the result often is some pain and swelling, maybe even some redness, right where your toenail meets the skin. An ingrown toenail may also develop if you wear shoes that are too tight or too short.

To treat an ingrown toenail, avoid trimming the corner of the nail. This can make the problem worse. Soak your foot in warm water a couple times a day and try to lift the edge of the nail a little bit and wedge a piece of cotton or dental floss between the nail and your skin. If after a week or two of home treatment, you're still in a lot of pain, or the ingrown toenail keeps coming back, make an appointment to see a doctor. Ingrown toenails can lead to infection, and you may need to take antibiotics. Also, your doctor may decide the only way to get rid of it is to remove part of it. Of course, you can prevent ingrown toenails by wearing shoes that fit, learning how trim your nails properly, and wearing clean socks.