It is only when you care for your shoes will you be able to take care of your feet. Different kinds of shoes need proper care so that they last long. Shoes come in patent leather, suede, canvas, plastic and fibre material. Sometimes a combination is also available. For example some designs include calf skin leather with animal print in cloth. Expensive shoes have to be taken care of. Since men wear shoes for longer periods they should have al least two pairs. One pair can be kept in the sun for airing while the other is in use. Regular polishing and dusting also help the shoes to remain in a good working condition. Leather shoes are sturdy and last longer if they are kept with great care. They should not be used during the rainy season.

Water spoils the leather and shoes get fungus and are not wearable after repeated contact with rain water. In fact leather shoes should be kept away packed in cardboard boxes and removed only after the rains have stopped. Sometimes dirt sticks to the soles of the shoes. They should be scrapped out so that the soles remain well balanced. For very good quality leather shoes protective spray is available that can be applied every few months. Waxing and using past-base polish also are recommended. It gives a longer shelf life to the shoes. The use of shoe trees is also good as it helps in retaining the original shape of the shoes. Leather shoes can be resoled or re-heeled also. Don’t hesitate to revamp the shoes. The older the shoes, more comfortable they will be. Don’t forget that if you buy one pair, you may not get another pair easily.

Apart from leather shoes the next pair that needs caring is canvas shoes. Those who are fitness freaks know what it is to keep the body in the good running condition. The same also applies for the shoes. Running or jogging shoes also need good care. Working out in the gym is easy as apart from sweating noting else happens. Good airing at the end of a gruelling exercise regime is recommended. Canvas is a common material that is used for shoes, tents, artist boards, sails of boats etc. Apart from simple canvas shoes there are high absorption jogging shoes that protect feet.

Every shoe should have good pair of laces, soles and toe space. Canvas spray is available to keep these shoes clean. These shoes can be washed and kept to dry in the sun also. Just because canvas shoes are cheap and can be thrown away they need not be used roughly. If they are taken care of the feet are snug and do not get hurt. Excessive mud can be removed after a hike, stones can be removed and they can look spick and span. Wearing socks can also be helpful. As one perspires, the soles start smelling. Socks absorb the sweat and keep soles free and shoes less smelly.

Referenced from bizhat.com

Ankle sprains are one of the most common joint injuries, and you don’t even have to be participating in a sport-related activity to have one. A sprain can happen during the simplest movements, such as during a walk or missing a stair step.

Ankle sprains are extremely common, affecting more than 25,000 children and adults every day, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

In its normal state, the ankle joint and bones are held in place by ligaments, an elastic structure that, together with the muscles, secures and protects the joint. A sprained ankle — also known as a twisted ankle — happens when these ligaments are stretched beyond normal range or are torn. This happens when the foot twists, rolls or turns beyond its normal range of motion.

An ankle strain is a different injury, involving injury to the muscle tissue (also called a pulled muscle), as opposed to a ligament.

Ankle injuries affect all ages, whether you’re playing dodge ball in the park or just taking a walk with friends. They happen most often in sports that involve a good deal of running, jumping or sudden changes in weight distribution.

If you’ve ever taken an exercise class or participated on a sports team, you’ve been told by a coach or instructor about the necessity of warming up and stretching before exercising. Inadequate warm-up or insufficient stretching are major causes of ankle injuries.

You don’t even have to be exercising to get an ankle sprain. Other common causes include lack of conditioning (weaker muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the ankle joint), footwear that doesn’t offer adequate support, walking or standing on uneven ground, and a previous history of ankle sprains.

The AAOS ranks ankle sprains from mild to severe, according to symptoms. The degree of pain and symptoms you experience will vary according to the severity of the sprain. In the case of a severe sprain, some patients will initially experience intense pain, followed by lesser or no pain — a result of damage to nerves in the area.

You can care for a mild or moderate sprained ankle at home, but it’s important to discuss symptoms with your doctor to see if an office visit is necessary. While caring for your sprain at home, remember the RICE technique: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory medication to help with swelling and discomfort and, depending on the severity of the sprain, immobilization in a cast or brace, and physical therapy.

If you have a severe sprain, it’s important to have a doctor examine it to rule out a more serious injury, such as a broken bone. Untreated ankle injuries can result in chronic pain, instability and repeat injuries.

A May 2009 article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that approximately 40 percent of people who experience an ankle sprain will have chronic ankle pain, even after treatment for their initial injury, because the condition is untreated or overlooked.

In rare cases, surgery is needed, generally for those cases that do not respond to non-surgical treatment.

With proper care, a mild sprain may take about a week to heal, with rest and protection of the ankle. A moderate sprain takes one to two weeks to restore range of motion, strength and flexibility. For a severe strain, the AAOS recommends a gradual return to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle and doing maintenance exercises.

Once the ankle has regained strength and flexibility — which can take a few weeks to months — activities that require sharp twists and turns, such as sports, can be resumed.

The best course of action is prevention: achieving good strength, balance and flexibility through regular exercise; and maintaining a healthy weight to avoid undue stress on joints and ligaments.

Referenced from pottstownmercury.com

You can do several things at home to treat an ingrown toenail. However, if you suspect an infection, or if you have diabetes, circulation problems, or numbness in the toes, skip the home remedies and see your clinician or a foot specialist immediately.

What causes an ingrown toenail? There are many possible causes. One is trauma; for example, you stub the toe or drop something on it, or someone steps on it. Loss of the toenail, repetitive pressure from certain sports, a fungal infection, or psoriasis may be to blame. Thick or curved toenails (nails tend to curve more with age) are particularly susceptible, and some people have an inherited tendency to develop nail problems. Improper nail trimming — cutting the nail too short at the corners — may be implicated.

The risk of ingrown toenails is raised by wearing shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or too short. According to Dr. James Ioli, Chief of Podiatry at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, women’s high heels are a common source of trouble.

HOME CARE: KEEP IT SIMPLE

If your symptoms are minor (the toe is irritated and red but not infected or very painful) and you don’t have a complicating medical condition such as diabetes, you can start at home with conservative measures.

Soak the foot in lukewarm water two or three times a day for 15 minutes (count a shower as a soak). You can add Epsom salts if you wish, although there’s no scientific evidence that this will improve pain relief or healing. Massage the skin at the side of the toenail (the nail fold), gently pushing it away from the nail. After each soak, dry your foot thoroughly; apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, bacitracin, or Polysporin to the affected area; and cover the area with a Band-Aid.

Wear sandals or other low-heeled open-toed shoes whenever possible. When you wear close-toed shoes, make sure the toe box (the front of the shoe) allows room for the toes to move freely. When the toenail grows out, cut it across in a line that mimics the curving line of the toe tip; do not round the corners down.

You may have read or heard about other measures. One approach is to relieve pressure by lifting the ingrown nail edge and placing a small piece of cotton or dental floss or a splint underneath it. According to Dr. Ioli, this is more likely to harm than help; for example, cotton under the nail could trap bacteria and other infectious organisms. Another risky practice strongly opposed by experts is “bathroom surgery” — trying to dig out and trim the corner of the ingrown toenail yourself.

PREVENTING INGROWN TOENAILS

–Wear low-heeled shoes that provide enough room at the toes, with stockings or moisture-wicking socks that allow your toes to move freely.

–Keep your feet clean and dry.

–Use a toenail clipper (not a fingernail clipper). If your toenails are especially thick, try a spring-handled tool called a toenail nipper.

–Cut your toenails across, going with the curve of the toe; don’t round the corners down as you might a fingernail. And don’t cut toenails too short. You should be able to get your fingernail under the end of the toenail.

Sourced from baltimoresun.com

– Flip-flops may feel great to wear during summer, but your feet might not agree. Many flip-flops offer no or little protection for the feet, and can lead to pain or injury.

The American Podiatric Medical Association has these suggestions to help protect your feet while wearing flip-flops:

• Invest in better quality flip-flops, made of a soft leather.
• Try to bend the flip-flop gently. While it should give at the ball of the foot, never purchase any flip-flop that completely bends in half.
• Opt for flip-flops instead of walking barefoot in areas such as public pools, beaches, locker rooms and hotel rooms.
• Make sure the flip-flops fit, and your feet don’t extend beyond the edge.
• Protect your feet with a sturdier shoe (never a flip-flop) when playing sports, doing a lot of walking, or working in the yard.
• Throw out old, worn flip-flops.
• Take care of any sores or irritated skin between the toes.

Sourced from Drugs.com