Symptoms of foot disease and prevention

Leg diseases can go unnoticed. Therefore, it is important to recognize their symptoms in time. Then you can sound the alarm at the right moment and prevent the development of serious diseases.

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Skin on feet too hard

What is too hard skin on the feet? These are growths of dead cells that no longer perform their functions. They are found on the heels, the pads of the feet under the toes and especially under the big toe. These are not just cells, but growths that grow deeply into the skin of the foot, having roots as deep as mushrooms. Doctors call such a root a core.

When a person steps on a hard surface, the load is on the core, and the foot begins to hurt a lot.

The disease is called keratosis. It is characterized by pain in the feet with increased loads and active movement, such as long walks or jogging.

Why does the skin on my feet get hard?

This is how the body reacts to stress, friction that occurs with the skin, pressure when you put on tight shoes and walk in them.

Hardening of the skin on the feet and the formation of dead cells on it can also be a reaction to obesity or, conversely, too thin legs.

What to do about calluses on the feet?

Never grab the blade and cut the skin yourself. This can result in leg injuries and worsening of their condition. This method is especially dangerous for diabetics. These people have poor blood clotting, so if injured by a blade, there may be irreparable consequences.

To relieve pain from hardened skin, you need to buy special orthopedic shoes with arch supports. They will soften the pressure on the sole while walking, running or jumping.

Consult a doctor who will tell you what to do with calluses on the soles of your feet and how to remove them without resorting to surgical methods.

Claws on feet

We are not talking about birds, but about people for whom this can be a really big problem. A finger with a claw is a finger in which the second and third phalanges are bent. The joints of such a finger are sick, and therefore deformed.

Such a finger is called claw-like, it can cause pain to a person. When a person walks, the bent finger constantly rubs against the edge of the shoe and quickly begins to hurt, the skin on it becomes inflamed.

With such a deformation, the finger can be immobile (this is worse) and mobile (this means that the bent joints have not yet completely hardened in the incorrect position).

If the joint is still mobile, the finger can be straightened using manual methods. Then it will need to be fixed in a certain position so that the crooked joint can return to its previous shape and remain in it.

If the joint is immobile, unfortunately, surgical intervention will be required to correct the defect.

Fixed, crooked, claw-like toes cause pain, especially if the shoes are narrow, and with any physical activity too. Such a person does not even have the ability to walk properly, not to mention jumping and running. The help of a surgeon is needed.

Why do leg joints become deformed?

This may occur due to muscle imbalance or if the patient suffers from arthritis.

First of all, take care of comfortable shoes. They are needed to reduce the load on the foot and protect it from even greater damage. The toe in such shoes should be wide, comfortable, but not too much so that the foot does not dangle when walking. This approach will immediately make the friction of sore toes against each other much less, and this will reduce pain.

To help sore toes, you can use other devices in addition to orthopedic shoes. These can be splints, combs - devices that help sore toes stay in the right position. Bandages with a gel containing an analgesic are also good. This will significantly reduce pain and keep the person's nervous system healthier.

For a sore finger, you can also use a protective cap that will protect the claw-like finger from damage.

An orthopedist will help you make your choice.

Enlarged toe (second)

The second toe is called Morton's toe. This is a common condition in which this toe protrudes above the others and prevents you from choosing the right shoes, because it is difficult to guess the size with such a deformation. After all, the place of the big toe, which is shorter than Morton's toe, remains empty, and the place of the next toes is also empty. Because of this, the entire load when walking falls on the second toe. Of course, it reacts with pain and swelling.

Calluses can also appear on it even with well-chosen shoes and light loads. And cheap, low-quality shoes will certainly cause pain in the second toe, and then in the entire foot.

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What to do?

Buy soft leather shoes to reduce the pressure on Morton's toe. These shoes should be a half or even a full size larger. Then the pressure on the toe will not be as great. The toe box of these shoes should be roomy enough to accommodate the super-large second toe and give the other toes room to live.

Then the pain may be significantly reduced or go away completely.

To correct the foot, choose the right arch support with the help of an orthopedic doctor. If the toe is also deformed, you can buy a special protective cap for it. This will ease the condition.

Crooked toes (one or more)

This is a common problem. The joint with such a defect is curved, becomes painful, swells. Bumps can grow on the toes, especially the big ones. Then it becomes quite difficult to choose shoes.

With such a deformation, the foot becomes too wide, and narrow shoes aggravate the situation by pressing on the toes. Calluses can form on them, and corns on the soles. Then the joint becomes inflamed, the legs (toes) swell, hurt, and the person cannot walk normally.

If the first finger is sore, then the second and third fingers receive the same load due to swelling of the joints.

If you notice that your fingers are deformed, even if it is a slight curvature, immediately consult a doctor so that the process does not become irreversible. At the beginning of the disease, the situation can still be corrected. And return the joint to its previous shape. But if the disease is neglected, then only a surgeon can help.

In order for the fingers and joints to return to their previous shape, good orthopedic shoes with a small heel (even for men) are essential. Such shoes will reduce the load on the foot and fingers, especially those that are crooked.

For shoes to be professional, they must have an insert made of a special material - neoprene. This insert will fix the sore toe in the correct position. To these methods, you need to add a massage of the feet and toes - river or with a mechanical vibrator.

Leg exercises will also be useful. An orthopedic doctor will tell you which ones, because they are individual in each case.

If you pay attention to the curved joints in time, you can change the position and stop the destructive process within 3 months. Otherwise, only the intervention of a surgeon will help you.

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Exercises for healthy feet

These exercises are useful not only for those people who have deformed toes. They will be good for healthy people to prevent foot diseases. Gymnastics will help relieve tension in the feet and toes, strengthen the foot, restore its flexibility and prevent injuries due to an awkward position.

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Exercise 1

The legs should be extended. On the count of 1,2,3, tilt your feet, helping them with your hands, in the direction away from you. Then rest. Do the exercise 2-3 more times. It will make your feet more flexible.

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Exercise 2

Stretch your legs and tilt your feet again to the count of 1,2,3, but not away from you, but towards you. Then, when after a couple of minutes your feet warm up and become more elastic, start turning them left and right. This will unload your feet and make them more flexible.

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Exercise 3

Stretch your legs in a sitting position. Do not lift them, let your feet touch the floor. Rotate your feet clockwise and then counterclockwise with force. This will give your joints and feet flexibility and elasticity, increase their strength, and strengthen the joints and ligaments.

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Exercise 4

You can sit or stand. Stretch your legs and move your toes in different directions as much as you can. With age, the toes are no longer so flexible, and a person may not be able to spread the toes. Do not despair, repeat the exercise up to 5 times, and your joints will become more flexible and elastic over time.

Exercise 5

Sit down and stretch your legs. Now try to press your toes to the sole as tightly as possible, as if you were doing it with your hands. The exercise prevents joints from being deformed and relieves them. It should be repeated 4-5 times.

Do feet need vitamins?

Of course, they are necessary. This determines how quickly the skin will renew itself, joints will develop, nails will grow. It is important that there are enough vitamins for the development of legs. Then you will reduce the risk of developing blood clots, varicose veins, make blood flow more active, and blood vessels – stronger.

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Vitamin B6

This B vitamin helps your feet feel healthier by increasing blood flow.

A lack of vitamin B6 means heaviness in the legs, bruises at the slightest touch, cramps, increased irritability of the feet, an increased risk of infections and calluses from the most comfortable shoes.

Vitamin B6 is found in peanuts, walnuts, cabbage, especially broccoli, liver, bran, sprouted wheat, and white chicken meat.

To ensure that vitamin B6 really pleases you with improved leg health, try to get it from unprocessed foods – it tends to break down quickly.

Vitamin C

This is a vitamin that helps strengthen the blood vessels in the legs, it helps blood clot faster, wounds heal better, and the risk of developing infections in the body is reduced.

Vitamin C is easy to obtain from rose hips, lemon, rowan berries, tomatoes, green salads (including leafy ones), and there is also a lot of vitamin C in sea buckthorn, melon, currants, and sweet peppers.

Vitamin R

This vitamin is a friend and assistant of vitamin C. It helps blood vessels become more elastic, protects them from fragility, helps capillaries become stronger, and reduces the risk of blood clots.

Vitamin R can be taken from black currants, green tea (an excellent tonic!), rowan berries, and it is also found in beer and grapes.

Vitamin B1

This is a vitamin that helps to cope with muscle weakness, improves blood flow, increases the sensitivity of muscles and joints, helps to fight leg swelling. Vitamin B1 can be taken from legumes, such as beans, wheat grains are also an excellent source, this vitamin is also found in the liver and meat of animals. Vitamin B1 is an excellent remedy even for reducing pain.

To keep your feet healthy, vitamins should be taken in combination with other microelements. To calculate the correct dosage, consult your doctor for advice.