Shoes To Soothe The Sole
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, nearly half of Americans suffer from some type of foot and ankle pain. In the latest segment of her What A Pain series, CBS News Health Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay looks at how people can prevent foot discomfort by choosing the right shoes.
Toenail pain, corns, and calluses are the most common complaints overall. However, some problems tend to plague women more, while other foot problems are seen most often in men.
Dr. Suzanne Levine, a podiatrist, says that women who have foot problems usually suffer from bunions - a thickening and inflammation of the joint of the big toe -- and burning soles, a painful sensation on the bottom of the feet.
Levine says that bunions are usually due to genetic factors.
"Nine out of ten times, if you have a bunion, your mother or somebody else in your family will have a bunion," Levine explains.
Levine says that men tend to suffer from heel spurs.
"Usually in men, they've gained a lot of weight over a short period of time and all of a sudden they put their foot down on the ground and lo and behold, that heel just starts to ache," Dr. Levine says. "Usually that goes away with some walking and some exercise and a comfortable pair of shoes."
Men also get ingrown toenails, and fungus. Because men perspire more than women, they provide a better breeding ground for foot fungus. Levine suggests that men who have this problem change their socks twice a day and rotate the use of their tennis shoes.
While Levine says most people have a genetic predisposition to getting foot problems, over 60 percent of the patients she sees wear inappropriate shoes that aggravate those conditions.
Levine explains that the problems plaguing men and women can be prevented by choosing better shoewear.
For men, bad shoes are narrowed in the toe area, or toe box, and provide little cushioning. Also, wearing hiking boots in warm weather can make feet sweat more, encouraging fungus to grow. A good shoe for men has a squared-off, wide toe box with enough room for toes and a well-padded insole.
For women, bad shoes include stiletto heels with pointy toes, which can cause heel problems, ankle sprains, knee problems and hip problems. Platform shoes can also be bad for feet, causing lateral ankle sprains, Levine says. When women go to the other extreme and wear very flat shoes with no arch support, that places pressure on the heel and will eventually cause problems, too.
A good shoe for women has a wide toe box with support for the arch. Heels are acceptable, says Levine, but she advises that they don't exceed one-and-a-half inches. The heels also should be thick enough so that they are stable.
In addition, Levine cautions people to check their shoe size before assuming that their foot hasn't change over time. A person's foot can get bigger over time, even if he or she has stopped growing.