July 30, 2025 • 41 mins
Dr. Holly Thacker takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the often-overlooked world of women's foot health in this Speaking of Women's Health Podcast episode. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, she reveals why those 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 120 muscles in each foot deserve much more attention than they typically receive.
Did you know that one in three women over 65 experiences foot pain, and a staggering 87% of Americans will have painful feet at some point? Dr. Thacker doesn't just share statistics – she connects the dots between today's footwear choices and tomorrow's mobility issues. From her own collection of stilettos to practical advice on preventing common conditions like bunions, plantar fasciitis, and hammer toes, this episode delivers actionable insights without sacrificing style.
Subscribe to Speaking of Women's Health and share this episode with someone who deserves to stand comfortably on their own two feet. Because Being Strong, Healthy, and In Charge begins from the ground up.
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Episode Transcript
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Holly L. Thacker, MD (00:04):
Welcome to the Speaking of Women's Health
podcast.
I'm your host, dr Holly Thacker, and I am back in the Sunflower
House for a brand new episodeof Speaking of Women's Health
podcast and on this new episodeI'm talking all about the devil
(00:24):
wears Prada, meaning footwearand taking care of your feet.
Those tootsies are pretty darnimportant.
I had a good friend who justrecently had foot surgery and I
have lots of patients who haveto undergo foot surgery and it
really throws them back.
Our feet take a lot of abuse.
(00:47):
I'm going to take someinformation from one of our
columns that was publishedseveral years ago by Dr Anna
Camille Moreno, and she's agraduate of our Center for
Specialized Women's HealthFellowship.
She went on and practiced inspecialty women's health at Duke
(01:10):
Women's Health Associates andnow she is the director of the
University of Utah's MidlifeWomen's Health Program and she
has done guest lecturing on ourphysician and APP continuing
medical education program thatwe do through
(01:32):
menopauselearningcom, with anonprofit that I work with
advancing health afterhysterectomy Aha.
And Dr Moreno, when she was afellow, wrote a column on our
speakingofwomenshealthcomwebsite, the nonprofit dedicated
to empowering women to bestrong, be healthy and be in
(01:55):
charge, and she wrote it with aCleveland Clinic podiatrist, dr
Georgianne Botech of theCleveland Clinic, about really
common foot disorders in women.
And when I started speaking ofwomen's health in the Cleveland
(02:16):
area as an offshoot of thenonprofit before it was gifted
to us by the wonderful founderand our creative strategist,
diane Dunkelman, also known asLady Di, who's quite a stylish
dresser with great clothes andfootwear.
We had live events with healthscreenings and lots of breakout
(02:40):
sessions, and one of the popularsessions we had was called the
devil wears prada, after thatpopular book and movie titled
the devil wears prada.
So we don't want your shoes tobe the devil, but we women want
to wear stylish, stylish shoes,um, within reason, and some of
(03:03):
my favorite shoes, you know, doseem a bit devilish with, uh,
you know, such spikes, snakeskin.
Here's another one of myfavorite shoes open toe but also
pretty high heeled.
I wore these, uh, at stetson'swedding.
Um, by the time we got to mysecond son, emerson's wedding, I
wore a little bit moreresponsible shoes because I knew
(03:27):
I would be on the dance floorand of course, we had to
practice that mother son dance.
Um, but your feet take a lot ofabuse and I really wish that
when I was younger, I would haveworn better shoes.
Running up and down stairs andconcrete floors of the hospital,
(03:47):
running to codes, being up lateat night.
You know tracking miles andmiles a day Because it's
important not just for your feetbut your knees and your hips
and your back.
So if you're listening to thisand think you don't have foot
problems, you might not havethem now, but you could have
them in the future.
Our feet put on hundreds ofthousands of miles and we really
(04:13):
need to take good care of them.
And whether you're a walker ora runner or a dancer or just a
regular person who wants to walkcomfortably, it's important to
wear appropriate supportivefootwear, and it can be stylish
too.
Now, I did draw the line atChristian Louboutin shoes.
(04:36):
My husband bought me a pair andI just could not comfortably
wear them.
Now, each foot contains about 26bones, 33 joints and more than
a hundred and twenty muscles,ligaments, tendons and nerves,
and the feet has or the footeach foot we have two feet has
(05:00):
four important functionsSupports the weight of your body
, hence another reason not toeven be a pound or two
overweight Certainly not 10, 20,30 pounds, which a lot of women
gain at midlife.
Weight is our number one topicand we have had podcasts on
intermittent fasting, nutritionexercise, an interview with one
(05:24):
of our graduate fellows who alsohas her board certification in
obesity medicine, dr Tara Iyer,who is at Harvard running their
midlife women's health program.
So, people interested ingetting the weight down, after
you listen to this, go back andre-listen.
There's so many great nuggetsof information.
(05:45):
Our feet act as shock absorbers.
They flex and push us forwardwith each step and they help
with balance and help us fromfalling.
And balance and risk of fallinggoes up significantly,
especially after age 80, and soreally, once you're over 60, you
(06:06):
should be doing regular balanceexercises.
So how common are foot problems?
Well, they're very common inwomen of all ages, and many
times foot specialists like yourfriendly podiatrist, just like
Dr Georgian Botech is forseveral of our patients they
(06:31):
might recommend surgery on yourshoes before your feet and that
sounds a lot better to me.
And you do need two good feetto help keep you in good shape
and allow you to walk and alsopotentially run, and so these
(06:51):
feet take a lot of beating.
So one in three women over theage of 65 has foot pain, aching
or foot stiffness.
In the United States of America, up to 87% of people will have
painful feet at some point intheir lives.
Foot problems worsen with age,like most things, and the most
(07:17):
common complaint in women ispain in the ball of the foot or
their heel.
In the ball of the foot ortheir heel, most common foot
problems are triggered from poorfitting shoes, including these
pointy-toed, high-heeled shoesor those with slippery soles or
(07:37):
those that offer no support.
And, of course, if you'reoverweight, it's more prevalent
if you have diabetes, heartdisease, osteoporosis or known
osteoarthritis in other parts ofyour body.
For foot disorders in women,such as osteoarthritis also.
(07:57):
Other problems are plantarfasciitis fasciitis, and it's
important to stretch your feetlike do a, like wearing a
reverse high heel or like a clogwhere the front part is higher,
and that helps stretch thatplantar fascia.
Bunions the big big toe joint.
(08:19):
A lot of people start gettingosteoarthritis in their 20s in
that bunion joint.
A lot of people start gettingosteoarthritis in their 20s in
that bunion joint.
So most podiatrists willrecommend well-fitting shoes
that have some orthotic footsupport and that might include
shoes that have orthopedicsupportive arches.
(08:41):
I was just noticing mygrandson's feet.
He was running around barefootwhen I was there to see the new
baby, his sister Vivian Vera,and I noticed that he had fallen
arches, which aren't toouncommon in children and
sometimes do need treatment.
(09:01):
Other times will get betterover time, but we all need
adequate support of our archesand sometimes inserts called
orthotics may be prescribed.
Now there's different types ofathletic shoes.
Some have more or less archsupport and ankle support and
(09:23):
certainly, depending on whatsports you're doing, may dictate
the type of footwear.
I know that when my sons werein high school and playing three
sports, they had differentshoes for running versus soccer,
versus basketball versusbaseball, golf shoes, man, and
with their feet growing andgrowing.
(09:44):
So often with three of them, Idon't, I just we had so many
shoes.
I spent a lot of money on shoesand it's important that the
money that you spend is worth itand really takes good care of
your feet.
And when you go in to see yourphysician or your podiatrist, if
(10:04):
you've got any kind of foot orankle or gait or knee problems,
you should bring in severalpairs of your shoes that you
frequently wear, because thatwill tell them a lot.
They can look at how the wearof the shoe is, as well as what
type of shoe it is if it's notparticularly appropriate for the
design and the anatomy of yourfeet.
(10:26):
And there are some local footstores that sell shoes, local
shoe stores that can provideassistance, that have some
special expertise and that maybe very helpful for you.
With age we tend to lose the fatpads or the natural cushions on
(10:47):
our heels.
We seem to gain it in otherplaces but lose it in the heels,
and that can make a lot of footproblems worse.
So, to help prevent foot pain,generally wearing wider,
comfortable, low-heeled shoes,avoiding tight or ill-fitting
(11:07):
shoes, and if you're going towear these super duper, fancy
high-heeled shoes, spikesbasically limit the time that
you wear them.
And so I always pack a pair ofcomfortable shoes or sneakers
for when I'm walking around,getting ready, before I'm at
(11:29):
whatever event that I want, toput on a pair of high heels.
Then I slip into the high heelsand to not have to walk for a
longer distance.
So what are the most common footproblems in women?
Well, one of them is called atailor's bunion, also known as a
(11:51):
bunionette.
It's often a hereditary trait,commonly seen amongst family
members.
So take a look at your family'sfeet.
I remember when Artemis, herparents were expecting her
delivery.
Well, my son, stetson, has verylarge feet.
(12:11):
He can still buy them off theshelf, but he's just only one
size shy of having to have themspecially ordered.
And his wife, laura, has prettygood size feet as well, and I
thought for sure this child wasgoing to be born with flipper
feet.
They're a little bit biggerthan average, but it is a good
(12:33):
idea to look at your relative'sfeet.
Now, this bunionette can bedescribed as a bony lump that
forms on the outside surface ofthe foot near the little baby
toe, the little piggy.
It can increase in size and itcould cause skin irritation over
that bony lump due to, you know, friction from the footwear.
(12:56):
Now, a bunion is very similarto a tailor's bunion, but it's
always affecting the big toe.
When we say bunion, we mean thebig toe, and the medical term
for this that we physicians andpodiatrists call it is a bunion
hallux valgus, and it forms whenthe bone or the tissue at the
(13:22):
joint of the bottom of the bigtoe moves out of place.
So years of abnormal motion,pressure on the joint, forces
that big toe to bend forwardtowards the others, which can
cause oftentimes a very painfulbunion on the joint.
Tight shoes that compress thetoes can typically rub against
(13:44):
this protuberance and it cancause other issues like calluses
and corns and skin irritations.
Bunions can have a hereditarycomponent, so you may notice
this in your other familymembers.
Bunions are generally permanentunless you undergo surgery to
correct them.
But you can treat the bunion athome to slow the progression.
(14:08):
Wear shoes that fit well withplenty of space for the toes.
The toes are not meant to bepointed into just a pointy
single toe.
You might want to protect thebunion with bunion pad cushions.
You may need shoe inserts.
You might want to apply ice ifthe foot is injured, or later
(14:31):
heat to help with healing.
Sometimes wearing a splint atnight can hold the toes straight
while it's on.
Now, a neuroma is a thickeningof nerve tissue due to
continuous irritation of thenerves from compression.
Commonly affecting the footbetween the third and fourth toe
(14:54):
is called a Morton's neuromaand common symptoms include
tingling, burning, numbness,like there's something inside
the ball of the foot.
So women who wear tapered toe,box shoes or high heels, those
that have bunions and hammertoes which are crooked toes
(15:15):
pointing downward, and thosepeople with flat feet are
definitely at increased risk ofdeveloping a neuroma.
Plantar fasciitis is probablyone of the most common causes of
foot pain in women, and themost common symptom of this is
pain beneath the heel and thesole of the foot, and it
(15:36):
traditionally the pain occurs atthe bottom of the foot and it's
noticed when you get out of bedin the morning and first step
down and start walking, and it'sbecause you're stretching and
tearing some of the littlemicrofibers that have formed.
It's typically caused byrepetitive motions like running
(16:00):
long distances in improper orold shoes or excessive training
with a very steep increase inactivity level.
If you're a midlife woman, youneed to stretch.
Before and after exercise, youneed to have a warm-up period.
You need to make sure that themuscles are balanced, that
(16:20):
you're protecting your joints,that you have good footwear and
that you're not just a weekendwarrior like you're throwing
yourself into incredibleexercise to try to make up for
not exercising for the last fewweeks.
If you have flat feet or veryhigh arches, it can make the
(16:41):
situation worse.
So some of the ways plantarfasciitis is treated is
decreasing your activity level,icing, investing in new
supportive shoes and in general,you should avoid barefoot
walking or barefoot standing.
Now barefoot's primarily forbabies that have all that nice
(17:04):
baby fat cushioning around theirfeet.
Generally it's not for adults.
I know it's kind of popular tobe grounded, to go outside and
have your feet on the ground andmaybe if you're in soft grass
with a kind of sponginess to thesurface that you're standing on
, but certainly like running orwalking briskly on concrete, is
(17:29):
not a good thing to do in yourbare feet as an adult.
Now there are heel gel padsthat can be used, there's
orthotic arch supports, and theone thing that I recommend to my
patients who complain toplantar fasciitis is do plantar
foot stretches, stretch out yourcalf muscle.
(17:49):
You can put your toes at thetop of the stairs and then put
the bottom of your heel down todo that natural stretch of the
plantar fascia.
And there's several differentways you can stretch your calves
.
You can also pull your toeforward to lengthen your calf
(18:09):
muscles and your Achilles tendon.
You can stand with the ball ofyour foot on a step and drop
your heel on the floor.
You can sit on the floor withone leg extended and loop a
(18:30):
towel or a resistance bandaround the ball of your foot and
pull your toes towards you,keeping your leg and knee
straight.
You can roll your foot over atennis ball or a frozen water
bottle, and combining cold andmassage can be very helpful for
breaking up those microfibers.
(18:52):
Hallux rigidus is a common typeof arthritis in the great toe
and a lot of times this can bechanged simply by changing your
footwear specifically avoidingpressure on that joint line.
Now you may need an orthoticfoot support device, and
insurance may or may not pay forthese orthotic devices and
(19:14):
there may be some expenseassociated with it.
General arthritis so arthritisin general is one of the most
common causes of foot pain inwomen.
In one of our earlier podcastsin season three, it was all
about osteoarthritis and wetalked about practical tips on
(19:39):
low impact exercises that helpyour joint health, as well as
evidence-based advice onmanaging it with diet and
supplements.
Degenerative arthritis cancause inflammation, can cause
wear and tear of the joints andcartilage and ligaments and
tendons that connect to yourbones.
(20:00):
Severe types of arthritis canlead to degeneration of the arch
of your foot.
Osteophytes or bone spurs cancause pressure on the nerves of
your feet, which can causeburning, tingling or even
numbness and do need to beaddressed by a foot specialist,
(20:22):
like a podiatrist.
You have been listening to theSpeaking of Women's Health
podcast.
I'm your host, dr Holly Thacker, in the Sunflower House,
talking all things.
The devil wears Prada.
Foot problems, foot pain.
A serious foot problem that wedeal with in the field of
medicine is diabetic foot.
(20:43):
It's a complication from poorlycontrolled diabetes, and we've
had podcasts on diabetes, onbeing less sweet, on superfoods,
on foods that may be toxic,that should be avoided, that are
common in our american foodsupply but banned in other
(21:06):
countries.
So diabetes, diabesity too muchsugar really poisons the
peripheral nerves, and thenerves that are farthest away
from your spinal cord are thenerves in your feet, because
they have the farthest to traveland that's where usually we see
(21:27):
complications first.
Now, a diabetic foot maypresent with an ulcer, an
infection, a neuropathy thatmight be like a pins and needles
type sensation, and,unfortunately, people that have
metabolic conditions, abnormalblood sugar, type 1 or type 2
(21:49):
diabetes are definitely moreprone to getting foot ulcers due
to the reduced ability to feelpain because of their diabetic
neuropathy.
It's important to examine yourfeet every night, wear
protective shoes and examineyour feet regularly, as well as
(22:11):
keeping your blood sugar tightlycontrolled.
No-transcript, it's importantto see someone who specializes
(22:40):
in diabetes as well as apodiatrist that specializes in
diabetic foot problems.
There is a prescription,vitamin metanix, which is
methylated vitamins that mayhelp diabetic neuropathy.
It's very important if you'resomeone with sugar diabetes to
(23:01):
avoid going barefoot.
Going barefoot, ingrown toenailoh, that can be so painful and
it can cause a very painful toeinfection and it occurs when the
edges of the nail grow directlydeeply into the skin next to
the nail, causing redness andswelling, common among those
(23:25):
with diabetes and peripheralvascular disease, or those
people with circulatory problemsor anyone who has trauma to the
foot and the toenails.
If you're someone who likes togo to the spa to get a mani-pedi
okay, I'm confessing I do youdo have to be careful and there
(23:47):
can be infections bacterial andfungal that you can get,
depending on if things are notsterilized appropriately surgery
(24:09):
or cardiac surgery.
You'll probably be specificallyadvised to avoid having any of
these spa type services done onyour limbs at least a few weeks
in advance.
Now you can do your own littlespa treatment at home by soaking
your feet in Epsom salts, whichare basically magnesium salts,
which can be very relaxing tothe muscles and the legs and the
(24:30):
feet.
You generally always want toavoid cutting toenails too short
.
I'll never forget my husband.
He had the little baby clippersout and our son, emerson, was
kind of born with longfingernails and he wanted to
clip them right away so that hewouldn't scratch himself.
(24:51):
But he actually clipped them soclose that he took a little bit
of skin off and it was causingpoor Emerson to bleed and to cry
.
So anytime you're cutting yourown fingernails or toenails or a
squirming child, it's veryimportant that you don't get it
too close.
(25:11):
If you're going to be usingEpsom salts, particularly if
there's any breaks in the skin,it should be fragrance free,
which is less expensive.
If you just get the plain Epsomsalts, if you notice any signs
of infection, like redness orheat or swelling, you're not
(25:33):
feeling well.
If it's an older person, maybethey just are getting confused.
They may not even manifest afever.
It's very important to seekmedical attention.
Hammer toes Well, that's adeformity of one of the lesser
toes, meaning not the big toe,in which the knuckle becomes
bent.
(25:53):
The knuckle may be flexible andcorrectable or it might be
stiff and rigid.
What causes a hammer toe?
Well, they're caused by muscleimbalances in the toes.
They're caused by muscleimbalances in the toes.
Heredity plays a role.
Trauma, arthritis, wearing poorfootwear or tight shoes or very
(26:20):
tight stockings can all lead tohammer toe formation.
In fact it's kind of aninteresting fad, but not
necessarily a fad is.
You can get socks or stockingsthat have individual components
for each toe and if you happento have toes that might rub
together and you want to kind ofkeep them straightened, that
(26:42):
might be something to slip on atnight.
I frequently tell, tell womenjust to wear little white cotton
socks, like ankle socks, aroundtheir feet, just to keep the
feet warm, because a lot oftimes that will help with sleep.
By slightly warming up the feetyou lower the central body
temperature and you tend to getdeeper sleep.
So you might want to look forthose fun little stockings or
(27:08):
socks.
I have a pair that I use when Igolf because by spreading out
my toes a little bit I think ithelps my balance and my swing.
So what are the symptoms of ahammer toe?
Well, it's pain at the top ofthe knuckle.
From the shoes rubbing on it,you might see that you have a
(27:29):
corn which is thickening skin atthe top of the knuckle or the
tip of the toe.
There might be redness orswelling, there could be
restriction in the range ofmotion of the toe and you might
also have pain in the ball ofthe foot at the base of the
affected toe.
So you might wonder how ishammer toe treated?
Well, pads can relieve pressureover the knuckles.
(27:53):
Wearing the right shoes andsocks with a deep, wide toe box
helps alleviate irritation, andsometimes surgery can be
performed if non-surgicaltreatments fail, and the surgery
for a hammer toe aims tocorrect the deformity, alleviate
the pain and make wearing shoesmore comfortable.
(28:17):
Next up is Achilles tendonitis,which is an inflammation of the
tendon, and it can developbecause of activities that put a
lot of strain on the Achilles,which can include basketball,
running, cycling, even briskwalking.
Tendonitis can develop whenthere's been a change in the
person's usual activity, so itmight begin after you start a
(28:40):
new jogging program or after youstart a new fitness class.
What are the symptoms ofAchilles tendonitis?
Pain and stiffness in the backof the ankle and tendon,
particularly when stretching orbending the foot back.
You might even notice a littleswelling along the tendon and if
(29:01):
the tendonitis has been there along time, it might appear
enlarged because of scar tissueforming.
Orthotics, whether they'rewedges or heel lifts or stable
shoes.
They can help correct thebiomechanical imbalances that
might be contributing to yourAchilles tendonitis.
Sometimes braces orimmobilization boots need to be
(29:28):
done and it's very important toget the boot to be sized and
fitted correctly so you don'tdevelop other orthopedic
problems, which I've seen happenSometimes.
Prescription non-steroidalanti-inflammatory agents like
ibuprofen might be prescribed.
Generally, once the pain acutepain has subsided, stretching is
(29:51):
recommended to help preventrecurrence.
Stretching should be gentle andproceed only until tightness is
felt.
If stretching becomes painful,then you're just pushing a bit
too far.
You might want to lean againsta wall while trying to keep the
foot and heel flat on the ground.
That's an excellent stretch foryour Achilles.
(30:13):
Strengthening your calf muscleshelps strengthen your tendon in
the Achilles.
Particularly lowering down veryslowly after going up on your
tippy toes has been shown to bevery beneficial for treatment of
Achilles tendonitis.
Sometimes ultrasound is used tostimulate the formation of new
(30:36):
tissue, while phonophoresismight be used to reduce swelling
and promote healing.
Shockwave therapy may reducepain and promote healing of this
condition.
This type of energy wavetreatment strong sound waves
many times is tried before goingto surgery If the symptoms fail
(30:59):
to subside after six months ofconservative therapy, surgery to
repair the damaged tendonbecomes an option.
Surgery usually involvesremoval of the abnormal tendon
and in severe cases a nearbytendon is rerouted to help spot.
Because the Achilles tendontakes a lot of beating and
(31:34):
unfortunately is a weak spot forpeople, and rupture of the
Achilles tendon is a big problem, can be very painful and may
require surgical intervention.
The tendons are very slow toheal and as someone who's had
tendonitis of the wrist and theshoulder and the elbow from both
(32:01):
tennis and golf, I certainlyknow firsthand how frustratingly
slow a lot of the recovery canbe.
So it's better to try toprevent inflaming your tendons.
In some women the lack ofestrogen, like after
childbearing I had both of mywrists in splints because of D
(32:21):
corvain's tenosynovitis.
I see a lot of women referredto me by hand surgeons after
menopause.
They have so much swelling inthe tendons of their hands that
they can see that on MRI and alot of times this will resolve
with estrogen therapy.
The only protein that helpswith tendon repair is whey
(32:42):
protein.
Now, poorly healing footmetatarsal fractures can cause
persistent foot pain and there'sa condition called calcific
periarthritis andchondrocalcinosis associated
with osteomalacia or soft bonesand fractures, and usually
(33:03):
people who present with this topodiatrists have very poorly
healing healing metatarsalfractures.
And for the last decade therehas been asphotase alpha, also
(33:24):
known as strenzic, which is arecombinant alkaline phosphatase
that's been actually approvedto treat this condition.
Now, before having to deal withthings like medications and
surgery and orthotics andphysical therapy, just taking
good care of your feet with goodfootwear, paying attention to
(33:45):
early pain, getting excellentnutrition and adequate vitamin
D3 with K2 is very important formusculoskeletal health as well
as several other conditions.
So some of the take-home pointson foot care Take good care of
those tootsies, wash andmoisturize your feet regularly
(34:09):
and moisturize your feetregularly.
Please avoid tight-fitting orill-fitting shoes or at least
significantly limit the timethat you're wearing those fancy
high heels and always have abackup of comfortable shoes or
sneakers to slip into whenyou're wearing those stilettos,
especially if you have to walkfor any distance.
(34:30):
And the one thing I've alwaysthought about is what if there's
a fire that breaks out?
Or what if there's an emergencywhere you have to run?
And so I think every day thatyou're putting on your shoes,
you know you should be ready forthat kind of a situation.
It's generally good to wearshoes that have good supportive
arches or get a orthotic, whichis an arch support insert, to
(34:55):
help improve your foot alignment.
Generally speaking, wide,low-heeled shoes with good
support and cushioning tend tobe the most comfortable.
You can stretch and or mobilizeor manipulate your feet to
improve joint mobility and or totreat and prevent plantar
(35:16):
fasciitis.
You should use bunion or calluspads to prevent constant
irritation.
Lamb's wool can be used toseparate the toes.
There can be little toe padsthat you can apply if you have a
corn between the toes.
There can be little toe padsthat you can apply if you have a
corn between the toes.
Icing use of either topical or,occasionally oral NSAIDs like
(35:41):
ibuprofen or aspir cream.
Read the label.
Just because it'sover-the-counter doesn't mean
you can use it excessively ormore than what is recommended.
If you're using oralacetaminophen or Tylenol, it
doesn't take very much to causeliver damage.
So again, you must be veryspecific on what you're taking,
(36:04):
based on your age and bodyweight, and it's important to
keep these over-the-countermedications or liniments or
ointment out of the reach ofchildren.
And if you're having pain orproblems that you need treatment
and relief, it's best to do itunder the supervision of your
(36:27):
health care team.
You should schedule anappointment with your primary
care physician, or specificallya podiatrist, for foot
examinations, particularly ifyou have other complicating
medical conditions that canaffect your feet.
So now we're going to move on tosome tips for long distance
(36:48):
runners and high enduranceathletes.
Distance runners and highendurance athletes yes, I have
to say that I started to runwhen I was 16 and that running
career ended by the time I was16.
I decided that running was forthe birds or actually I'd rather
just fly like a bird than run.
But there are people that arereally well designed for running
(37:12):
.
They get the runners high andthey're very distressed when
they can't run.
But there are people that arereally well designed for running
.
They get the runners high andthey're very distressed when
they can't run.
So if you're a long distancerunner or a very high endurance
athlete, you need adequatehydration.
You may need to apply somesoftener or hydration like tiger
balm to your feet.
Afterwards you might need apumice stone to rid your feet of
(37:36):
accumulated calluses.
You might want to considergetting a professional pedicure
a week or two before your race,although there can be some
infection risk with manicuresand pedicures.
So beware, and if you'reimmunocompromised or have sugar
diabetes, this may not be thebest option.
You do need to change yourrunning shoes regularly after so
(37:59):
many miles.
I always ask my running patientsthat Tips for finding the best
fitting shoes for kids 18 andunder.
A lot of adult foot problemsstart because of ill-fitting
shoes or poor foot experiencesin childhood.
A child's foot can continue togrow until at least age 18,
(38:19):
sometimes in males a littlelonger and it's important to
measure the feet and get theright, proper fitting.
Proper fitting and foot shoesthat don't fit correctly can
cause pain, calluses, bruisingcorns, blisters and the dreaded
(38:44):
ingrown toenail.
In the long run, more seriousissues like foot and toe
deformities can develop.
And if a child wearsill-fitting shoes throughout his
or her development years,especially before age five, it
can lead to other problems withposture walking, even causing
low back pain later in life.
So get your child's footmeasured in a shoe store instead
(39:04):
of trying to do it at homeyourself.
Usually, foot stores have thespecial equipment to measure
both the length and the width.
So we all deserve to look goodand feel good, but remember to
be sensible with your footwear.
Seek medical attention foraching feet that don't respond
(39:25):
to just common sense foot careand foot pain can be a sign of a
more serious condition, andfoot pain can be a sign of a
more serious condition.
So talk to your physician ifthe pain is severe, sharp or not
improving, and also if you haveany issues with standing or
walking or any discolorationlike redness or bruising, any
(39:46):
numbness or tingling, any opensore that doesn't heal or any
severe swelling, or if you justhave swelling in one foot alone.
A tip from podiatrist Dr Botechif you're seeing a physician or
a podiatrist for a foot problem, bring in those shoes so they
can examine your footwear aswell.
(40:10):
Examine your footwear as well.
Thank you for listening to ourSpeaking of Women's Health
podcast.
Don't miss a future episode.
Subscribe.
Hit that follow or subscribebutton on Apple Podcasts,
(40:31):
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On speakingonwomenshealthcomyou can leave a five-star rating
.
Thanks again and I'll see younext time in the Sunflower House
.
Remember, be strong, be healthyand be in charge.
Welcome to the Speaking of Women's Health
podcast.
I'm your host, dr Holly Thacker, and I am back in the Sunflower
House for a brand new episodeof Speaking of Women's Health
podcast and on this new episodeI'm talking all about the devil
(00:24):
wears Prada, meaning footwearand taking care of your feet.
Those tootsies are pretty darnimportant.
I had a good friend who justrecently had foot surgery and I
have lots of patients who haveto undergo foot surgery and it
really throws them back.
Our feet take a lot of abuse.
(00:47):
I'm going to take someinformation from one of our
columns that was publishedseveral years ago by Dr Anna
Camille Moreno, and she's agraduate of our Center for
Specialized Women's HealthFellowship.
She went on and practiced inspecialty women's health at Duke
(01:10):
Women's Health Associates andnow she is the director of the
University of Utah's MidlifeWomen's Health Program and she
has done guest lecturing on ourphysician and APP continuing
medical education program thatwe do through
(01:32):
menopauselearningcom, with anonprofit that I work with
advancing health afterhysterectomy Aha.
And Dr Moreno, when she was afellow, wrote a column on our
speakingofwomenshealthcomwebsite, the nonprofit dedicated
to empowering women to bestrong, be healthy and be in
(01:55):
charge, and she wrote it with aCleveland Clinic podiatrist, dr
Georgianne Botech of theCleveland Clinic, about really
common foot disorders in women.
And when I started speaking ofwomen's health in the Cleveland
(02:16):
area as an offshoot of thenonprofit before it was gifted
to us by the wonderful founderand our creative strategist,
diane Dunkelman, also known asLady Di, who's quite a stylish
dresser with great clothes andfootwear.
We had live events with healthscreenings and lots of breakout
(02:40):
sessions, and one of the popularsessions we had was called the
devil wears prada, after thatpopular book and movie titled
the devil wears prada.
So we don't want your shoes tobe the devil, but we women want
to wear stylish, stylish shoes,um, within reason, and some of
(03:03):
my favorite shoes, you know, doseem a bit devilish with, uh,
you know, such spikes, snakeskin.
Here's another one of myfavorite shoes open toe but also
pretty high heeled.
I wore these, uh, at stetson'swedding.
Um, by the time we got to mysecond son, emerson's wedding, I
wore a little bit moreresponsible shoes because I knew
(03:27):
I would be on the dance floorand of course, we had to
practice that mother son dance.
Um, but your feet take a lot ofabuse and I really wish that
when I was younger, I would haveworn better shoes.
Running up and down stairs andconcrete floors of the hospital,
(03:47):
running to codes, being up lateat night.
You know tracking miles andmiles a day Because it's
important not just for your feetbut your knees and your hips
and your back.
So if you're listening to thisand think you don't have foot
problems, you might not havethem now, but you could have
them in the future.
Our feet put on hundreds ofthousands of miles and we really
(04:13):
need to take good care of them.
And whether you're a walker ora runner or a dancer or just a
regular person who wants to walkcomfortably, it's important to
wear appropriate supportivefootwear, and it can be stylish
too.
Now, I did draw the line atChristian Louboutin shoes.
(04:36):
My husband bought me a pair andI just could not comfortably
wear them.
Now, each foot contains about 26bones, 33 joints and more than
a hundred and twenty muscles,ligaments, tendons and nerves,
and the feet has or the footeach foot we have two feet has
(05:00):
four important functionsSupports the weight of your body
, hence another reason not toeven be a pound or two
overweight Certainly not 10, 20,30 pounds, which a lot of women
gain at midlife.
Weight is our number one topicand we have had podcasts on
intermittent fasting, nutritionexercise, an interview with one
(05:24):
of our graduate fellows who alsohas her board certification in
obesity medicine, dr Tara Iyer,who is at Harvard running their
midlife women's health program.
So, people interested ingetting the weight down, after
you listen to this, go back andre-listen.
There's so many great nuggetsof information.
(05:45):
Our feet act as shock absorbers.
They flex and push us forwardwith each step and they help
with balance and help us fromfalling.
And balance and risk of fallinggoes up significantly,
especially after age 80, and soreally, once you're over 60, you
(06:06):
should be doing regular balanceexercises.
So how common are foot problems?
Well, they're very common inwomen of all ages, and many
times foot specialists like yourfriendly podiatrist, just like
Dr Georgian Botech is forseveral of our patients they
(06:31):
might recommend surgery on yourshoes before your feet and that
sounds a lot better to me.
And you do need two good feetto help keep you in good shape
and allow you to walk and alsopotentially run, and so these
(06:51):
feet take a lot of beating.
So one in three women over theage of 65 has foot pain, aching
or foot stiffness.
In the United States of America, up to 87% of people will have
painful feet at some point intheir lives.
Foot problems worsen with age,like most things, and the most
(07:17):
common complaint in women ispain in the ball of the foot or
their heel.
In the ball of the foot ortheir heel, most common foot
problems are triggered from poorfitting shoes, including these
pointy-toed, high-heeled shoesor those with slippery soles or
(07:37):
those that offer no support.
And, of course, if you'reoverweight, it's more prevalent
if you have diabetes, heartdisease, osteoporosis or known
osteoarthritis in other parts ofyour body.
For foot disorders in women,such as osteoarthritis also.
(07:57):
Other problems are plantarfasciitis fasciitis, and it's
important to stretch your feetlike do a, like wearing a
reverse high heel or like a clogwhere the front part is higher,
and that helps stretch thatplantar fascia.
Bunions the big big toe joint.
(08:19):
A lot of people start gettingosteoarthritis in their 20s in
that bunion joint.
A lot of people start gettingosteoarthritis in their 20s in
that bunion joint.
So most podiatrists willrecommend well-fitting shoes
that have some orthotic footsupport and that might include
shoes that have orthopedicsupportive arches.
(08:41):
I was just noticing mygrandson's feet.
He was running around barefootwhen I was there to see the new
baby, his sister Vivian Vera,and I noticed that he had fallen
arches, which aren't toouncommon in children and
sometimes do need treatment.
(09:01):
Other times will get betterover time, but we all need
adequate support of our archesand sometimes inserts called
orthotics may be prescribed.
Now there's different types ofathletic shoes.
Some have more or less archsupport and ankle support and
(09:23):
certainly, depending on whatsports you're doing, may dictate
the type of footwear.
I know that when my sons werein high school and playing three
sports, they had differentshoes for running versus soccer,
versus basketball versusbaseball, golf shoes, man, and
with their feet growing andgrowing.
(09:44):
So often with three of them, Idon't, I just we had so many
shoes.
I spent a lot of money on shoesand it's important that the
money that you spend is worth itand really takes good care of
your feet.
And when you go in to see yourphysician or your podiatrist, if
(10:04):
you've got any kind of foot orankle or gait or knee problems,
you should bring in severalpairs of your shoes that you
frequently wear, because thatwill tell them a lot.
They can look at how the wearof the shoe is, as well as what
type of shoe it is if it's notparticularly appropriate for the
design and the anatomy of yourfeet.
(10:26):
And there are some local footstores that sell shoes, local
shoe stores that can provideassistance, that have some
special expertise and that maybe very helpful for you.
With age we tend to lose the fatpads or the natural cushions on
(10:47):
our heels.
We seem to gain it in otherplaces but lose it in the heels,
and that can make a lot of footproblems worse.
So, to help prevent foot pain,generally wearing wider,
comfortable, low-heeled shoes,avoiding tight or ill-fitting
(11:07):
shoes, and if you're going towear these super duper, fancy
high-heeled shoes, spikesbasically limit the time that
you wear them.
And so I always pack a pair ofcomfortable shoes or sneakers
for when I'm walking around,getting ready, before I'm at
(11:29):
whatever event that I want, toput on a pair of high heels.
Then I slip into the high heelsand to not have to walk for a
longer distance.
So what are the most common footproblems in women?
Well, one of them is called atailor's bunion, also known as a
(11:51):
bunionette.
It's often a hereditary trait,commonly seen amongst family
members.
So take a look at your family'sfeet.
I remember when Artemis, herparents were expecting her
delivery.
Well, my son, stetson, has verylarge feet.
(12:11):
He can still buy them off theshelf, but he's just only one
size shy of having to have themspecially ordered.
And his wife, laura, has prettygood size feet as well, and I
thought for sure this child wasgoing to be born with flipper
feet.
They're a little bit biggerthan average, but it is a good
(12:33):
idea to look at your relative'sfeet.
Now, this bunionette can bedescribed as a bony lump that
forms on the outside surface ofthe foot near the little baby
toe, the little piggy.
It can increase in size and itcould cause skin irritation over
that bony lump due to, you know, friction from the footwear.
(12:56):
Now, a bunion is very similarto a tailor's bunion, but it's
always affecting the big toe.
When we say bunion, we mean thebig toe, and the medical term
for this that we physicians andpodiatrists call it is a bunion
hallux valgus, and it forms whenthe bone or the tissue at the
(13:22):
joint of the bottom of the bigtoe moves out of place.
So years of abnormal motion,pressure on the joint, forces
that big toe to bend forwardtowards the others, which can
cause oftentimes a very painfulbunion on the joint.
Tight shoes that compress thetoes can typically rub against
(13:44):
this protuberance and it cancause other issues like calluses
and corns and skin irritations.
Bunions can have a hereditarycomponent, so you may notice
this in your other familymembers.
Bunions are generally permanentunless you undergo surgery to
correct them.
But you can treat the bunion athome to slow the progression.
(14:08):
Wear shoes that fit well withplenty of space for the toes.
The toes are not meant to bepointed into just a pointy
single toe.
You might want to protect thebunion with bunion pad cushions.
You may need shoe inserts.
You might want to apply ice ifthe foot is injured, or later
(14:31):
heat to help with healing.
Sometimes wearing a splint atnight can hold the toes straight
while it's on.
Now, a neuroma is a thickeningof nerve tissue due to
continuous irritation of thenerves from compression.
Commonly affecting the footbetween the third and fourth toe
(14:54):
is called a Morton's neuromaand common symptoms include
tingling, burning, numbness,like there's something inside
the ball of the foot.
So women who wear tapered toe,box shoes or high heels, those
that have bunions and hammertoes which are crooked toes
(15:15):
pointing downward, and thosepeople with flat feet are
definitely at increased risk ofdeveloping a neuroma.
Plantar fasciitis is probablyone of the most common causes of
foot pain in women, and themost common symptom of this is
pain beneath the heel and thesole of the foot, and it
(15:36):
traditionally the pain occurs atthe bottom of the foot and it's
noticed when you get out of bedin the morning and first step
down and start walking, and it'sbecause you're stretching and
tearing some of the littlemicrofibers that have formed.
It's typically caused byrepetitive motions like running
(16:00):
long distances in improper orold shoes or excessive training
with a very steep increase inactivity level.
If you're a midlife woman, youneed to stretch.
Before and after exercise, youneed to have a warm-up period.
You need to make sure that themuscles are balanced, that
(16:20):
you're protecting your joints,that you have good footwear and
that you're not just a weekendwarrior like you're throwing
yourself into incredibleexercise to try to make up for
not exercising for the last fewweeks.
If you have flat feet or veryhigh arches, it can make the
(16:41):
situation worse.
So some of the ways plantarfasciitis is treated is
decreasing your activity level,icing, investing in new
supportive shoes and in general,you should avoid barefoot
walking or barefoot standing.
Now barefoot's primarily forbabies that have all that nice
(17:04):
baby fat cushioning around theirfeet.
Generally it's not for adults.
I know it's kind of popular tobe grounded, to go outside and
have your feet on the ground andmaybe if you're in soft grass
with a kind of sponginess to thesurface that you're standing on
, but certainly like running orwalking briskly on concrete, is
(17:29):
not a good thing to do in yourbare feet as an adult.
Now there are heel gel padsthat can be used, there's
orthotic arch supports, and theone thing that I recommend to my
patients who complain toplantar fasciitis is do plantar
foot stretches, stretch out yourcalf muscle.
(17:49):
You can put your toes at thetop of the stairs and then put
the bottom of your heel down todo that natural stretch of the
plantar fascia.
And there's several differentways you can stretch your calves
.
You can also pull your toeforward to lengthen your calf
(18:09):
muscles and your Achilles tendon.
You can stand with the ball ofyour foot on a step and drop
your heel on the floor.
You can sit on the floor withone leg extended and loop a
(18:30):
towel or a resistance bandaround the ball of your foot and
pull your toes towards you,keeping your leg and knee
straight.
You can roll your foot over atennis ball or a frozen water
bottle, and combining cold andmassage can be very helpful for
breaking up those microfibers.
(18:52):
Hallux rigidus is a common typeof arthritis in the great toe
and a lot of times this can bechanged simply by changing your
footwear specifically avoidingpressure on that joint line.
Now you may need an orthoticfoot support device, and
insurance may or may not pay forthese orthotic devices and
(19:14):
there may be some expenseassociated with it.
General arthritis so arthritisin general is one of the most
common causes of foot pain inwomen.
In one of our earlier podcastsin season three, it was all
about osteoarthritis and wetalked about practical tips on
(19:39):
low impact exercises that helpyour joint health, as well as
evidence-based advice onmanaging it with diet and
supplements.
Degenerative arthritis cancause inflammation, can cause
wear and tear of the joints andcartilage and ligaments and
tendons that connect to yourbones.
(20:00):
Severe types of arthritis canlead to degeneration of the arch
of your foot.
Osteophytes or bone spurs cancause pressure on the nerves of
your feet, which can causeburning, tingling or even
numbness and do need to beaddressed by a foot specialist,
(20:22):
like a podiatrist.
You have been listening to theSpeaking of Women's Health
podcast.
I'm your host, dr Holly Thacker, in the Sunflower House,
talking all things.
The devil wears Prada.
Foot problems, foot pain.
A serious foot problem that wedeal with in the field of
medicine is diabetic foot.
(20:43):
It's a complication from poorlycontrolled diabetes, and we've
had podcasts on diabetes, onbeing less sweet, on superfoods,
on foods that may be toxic,that should be avoided, that are
common in our american foodsupply but banned in other
(21:06):
countries.
So diabetes, diabesity too muchsugar really poisons the
peripheral nerves, and thenerves that are farthest away
from your spinal cord are thenerves in your feet, because
they have the farthest to traveland that's where usually we see
(21:27):
complications first.
Now, a diabetic foot maypresent with an ulcer, an
infection, a neuropathy thatmight be like a pins and needles
type sensation, and,unfortunately, people that have
metabolic conditions, abnormalblood sugar, type 1 or type 2
(21:49):
diabetes are definitely moreprone to getting foot ulcers due
to the reduced ability to feelpain because of their diabetic
neuropathy.
It's important to examine yourfeet every night, wear
protective shoes and examineyour feet regularly, as well as
(22:11):
keeping your blood sugar tightlycontrolled.
No-transcript, it's importantto see someone who specializes
(22:40):
in diabetes as well as apodiatrist that specializes in
diabetic foot problems.
There is a prescription,vitamin metanix, which is
methylated vitamins that mayhelp diabetic neuropathy.
It's very important if you'resomeone with sugar diabetes to
(23:01):
avoid going barefoot.
Going barefoot, ingrown toenailoh, that can be so painful and
it can cause a very painful toeinfection and it occurs when the
edges of the nail grow directlydeeply into the skin next to
the nail, causing redness andswelling, common among those
(23:25):
with diabetes and peripheralvascular disease, or those
people with circulatory problemsor anyone who has trauma to the
foot and the toenails.
If you're someone who likes togo to the spa to get a mani-pedi
okay, I'm confessing I do youdo have to be careful and there
(23:47):
can be infections bacterial andfungal that you can get,
depending on if things are notsterilized appropriately surgery
(24:09):
or cardiac surgery.
You'll probably be specificallyadvised to avoid having any of
these spa type services done onyour limbs at least a few weeks
in advance.
Now you can do your own littlespa treatment at home by soaking
your feet in Epsom salts, whichare basically magnesium salts,
which can be very relaxing tothe muscles and the legs and the
(24:30):
feet.
You generally always want toavoid cutting toenails too short
.
I'll never forget my husband.
He had the little baby clippersout and our son, emerson, was
kind of born with longfingernails and he wanted to
clip them right away so that hewouldn't scratch himself.
(24:51):
But he actually clipped them soclose that he took a little bit
of skin off and it was causingpoor Emerson to bleed and to cry
.
So anytime you're cutting yourown fingernails or toenails or a
squirming child, it's veryimportant that you don't get it
too close.
(25:11):
If you're going to be usingEpsom salts, particularly if
there's any breaks in the skin,it should be fragrance free,
which is less expensive.
If you just get the plain Epsomsalts, if you notice any signs
of infection, like redness orheat or swelling, you're not
(25:33):
feeling well.
If it's an older person, maybethey just are getting confused.
They may not even manifest afever.
It's very important to seekmedical attention.
Hammer toes Well, that's adeformity of one of the lesser
toes, meaning not the big toe,in which the knuckle becomes
bent.
(25:53):
The knuckle may be flexible andcorrectable or it might be
stiff and rigid.
What causes a hammer toe?
Well, they're caused by muscleimbalances in the toes.
They're caused by muscleimbalances in the toes.
Heredity plays a role.
Trauma, arthritis, wearing poorfootwear or tight shoes or very
(26:20):
tight stockings can all lead tohammer toe formation.
In fact it's kind of aninteresting fad, but not
necessarily a fad is.
You can get socks or stockingsthat have individual components
for each toe and if you happento have toes that might rub
together and you want to kind ofkeep them straightened, that
(26:42):
might be something to slip on atnight.
I frequently tell, tell womenjust to wear little white cotton
socks, like ankle socks, aroundtheir feet, just to keep the
feet warm, because a lot oftimes that will help with sleep.
By slightly warming up the feetyou lower the central body
temperature and you tend to getdeeper sleep.
So you might want to look forthose fun little stockings or
(27:08):
socks.
I have a pair that I use when Igolf because by spreading out
my toes a little bit I think ithelps my balance and my swing.
So what are the symptoms of ahammer toe?
Well, it's pain at the top ofthe knuckle.
From the shoes rubbing on it,you might see that you have a
(27:29):
corn which is thickening skin atthe top of the knuckle or the
tip of the toe.
There might be redness orswelling, there could be
restriction in the range ofmotion of the toe and you might
also have pain in the ball ofthe foot at the base of the
affected toe.
So you might wonder how ishammer toe treated?
Well, pads can relieve pressureover the knuckles.
(27:53):
Wearing the right shoes andsocks with a deep, wide toe box
helps alleviate irritation, andsometimes surgery can be
performed if non-surgicaltreatments fail, and the surgery
for a hammer toe aims tocorrect the deformity, alleviate
the pain and make wearing shoesmore comfortable.
(28:17):
Next up is Achilles tendonitis,which is an inflammation of the
tendon, and it can developbecause of activities that put a
lot of strain on the Achilles,which can include basketball,
running, cycling, even briskwalking.
Tendonitis can develop whenthere's been a change in the
person's usual activity, so itmight begin after you start a
(28:40):
new jogging program or after youstart a new fitness class.
What are the symptoms ofAchilles tendonitis?
Pain and stiffness in the backof the ankle and tendon,
particularly when stretching orbending the foot back.
You might even notice a littleswelling along the tendon and if
(29:01):
the tendonitis has been there along time, it might appear
enlarged because of scar tissueforming.
Orthotics, whether they'rewedges or heel lifts or stable
shoes.
They can help correct thebiomechanical imbalances that
might be contributing to yourAchilles tendonitis.
Sometimes braces orimmobilization boots need to be
(29:28):
done and it's very important toget the boot to be sized and
fitted correctly so you don'tdevelop other orthopedic
problems, which I've seen happenSometimes.
Prescription non-steroidalanti-inflammatory agents like
ibuprofen might be prescribed.
Generally, once the pain acutepain has subsided, stretching is
(29:51):
recommended to help preventrecurrence.
Stretching should be gentle andproceed only until tightness is
felt.
If stretching becomes painful,then you're just pushing a bit
too far.
You might want to lean againsta wall while trying to keep the
foot and heel flat on the ground.
That's an excellent stretch foryour Achilles.
(30:13):
Strengthening your calf muscleshelps strengthen your tendon in
the Achilles.
Particularly lowering down veryslowly after going up on your
tippy toes has been shown to bevery beneficial for treatment of
Achilles tendonitis.
Sometimes ultrasound is used tostimulate the formation of new
(30:36):
tissue, while phonophoresismight be used to reduce swelling
and promote healing.
Shockwave therapy may reducepain and promote healing of this
condition.
This type of energy wavetreatment strong sound waves
many times is tried before goingto surgery If the symptoms fail
(30:59):
to subside after six months ofconservative therapy, surgery to
repair the damaged tendonbecomes an option.
Surgery usually involvesremoval of the abnormal tendon
and in severe cases a nearbytendon is rerouted to help spot.
Because the Achilles tendontakes a lot of beating and
(31:34):
unfortunately is a weak spot forpeople, and rupture of the
Achilles tendon is a big problem, can be very painful and may
require surgical intervention.
The tendons are very slow toheal and as someone who's had
tendonitis of the wrist and theshoulder and the elbow from both
(32:01):
tennis and golf, I certainlyknow firsthand how frustratingly
slow a lot of the recovery canbe.
So it's better to try toprevent inflaming your tendons.
In some women the lack ofestrogen, like after
childbearing I had both of mywrists in splints because of D
(32:21):
corvain's tenosynovitis.
I see a lot of women referredto me by hand surgeons after
menopause.
They have so much swelling inthe tendons of their hands that
they can see that on MRI and alot of times this will resolve
with estrogen therapy.
The only protein that helpswith tendon repair is whey
(32:42):
protein.
Now, poorly healing footmetatarsal fractures can cause
persistent foot pain and there'sa condition called calcific
periarthritis andchondrocalcinosis associated
with osteomalacia or soft bonesand fractures, and usually
(33:03):
people who present with this topodiatrists have very poorly
healing healing metatarsalfractures.
And for the last decade therehas been asphotase alpha, also
(33:24):
known as strenzic, which is arecombinant alkaline phosphatase
that's been actually approvedto treat this condition.
Now, before having to deal withthings like medications and
surgery and orthotics andphysical therapy, just taking
good care of your feet with goodfootwear, paying attention to
(33:45):
early pain, getting excellentnutrition and adequate vitamin
D3 with K2 is very important formusculoskeletal health as well
as several other conditions.
So some of the take-home pointson foot care Take good care of
those tootsies, wash andmoisturize your feet regularly
(34:09):
and moisturize your feetregularly.
Please avoid tight-fitting orill-fitting shoes or at least
significantly limit the timethat you're wearing those fancy
high heels and always have abackup of comfortable shoes or
sneakers to slip into whenyou're wearing those stilettos,
especially if you have to walkfor any distance.
(34:30):
And the one thing I've alwaysthought about is what if there's
a fire that breaks out?
Or what if there's an emergencywhere you have to run?
And so I think every day thatyou're putting on your shoes,
you know you should be ready forthat kind of a situation.
It's generally good to wearshoes that have good supportive
arches or get a orthotic, whichis an arch support insert, to
(34:55):
help improve your foot alignment.
Generally speaking, wide,low-heeled shoes with good
support and cushioning tend tobe the most comfortable.
You can stretch and or mobilizeor manipulate your feet to
improve joint mobility and or totreat and prevent plantar
(35:16):
fasciitis.
You should use bunion or calluspads to prevent constant
irritation.
Lamb's wool can be used toseparate the toes.
There can be little toe padsthat you can apply if you have a
corn between the toes.
There can be little toe padsthat you can apply if you have a
corn between the toes.
Icing use of either topical or,occasionally oral NSAIDs like
(35:41):
ibuprofen or aspir cream.
Read the label.
Just because it'sover-the-counter doesn't mean
you can use it excessively ormore than what is recommended.
If you're using oralacetaminophen or Tylenol, it
doesn't take very much to causeliver damage.
So again, you must be veryspecific on what you're taking,
(36:04):
based on your age and bodyweight, and it's important to
keep these over-the-countermedications or liniments or
ointment out of the reach ofchildren.
And if you're having pain orproblems that you need treatment
and relief, it's best to do itunder the supervision of your
(36:27):
health care team.
You should schedule anappointment with your primary
care physician, or specificallya podiatrist, for foot
examinations, particularly ifyou have other complicating
medical conditions that canaffect your feet.
So now we're going to move on tosome tips for long distance
(36:48):
runners and high enduranceathletes.
Distance runners and highendurance athletes yes, I have
to say that I started to runwhen I was 16 and that running
career ended by the time I was16.
I decided that running was forthe birds or actually I'd rather
just fly like a bird than run.
But there are people that arereally well designed for running
(37:12):
.
They get the runners high andthey're very distressed when
they can't run.
But there are people that arereally well designed for running
.
They get the runners high andthey're very distressed when
they can't run.
So if you're a long distancerunner or a very high endurance
athlete, you need adequatehydration.
You may need to apply somesoftener or hydration like tiger
balm to your feet.
Afterwards you might need apumice stone to rid your feet of
(37:36):
accumulated calluses.
You might want to considergetting a professional pedicure
a week or two before your race,although there can be some
infection risk with manicuresand pedicures.
So beware, and if you'reimmunocompromised or have sugar
diabetes, this may not be thebest option.
You do need to change yourrunning shoes regularly after so
(37:59):
many miles.
I always ask my running patientsthat Tips for finding the best
fitting shoes for kids 18 andunder.
A lot of adult foot problemsstart because of ill-fitting
shoes or poor foot experiencesin childhood.
A child's foot can continue togrow until at least age 18,
(38:19):
sometimes in males a littlelonger and it's important to
measure the feet and get theright, proper fitting.
Proper fitting and foot shoesthat don't fit correctly can
cause pain, calluses, bruisingcorns, blisters and the dreaded
(38:44):
ingrown toenail.
In the long run, more seriousissues like foot and toe
deformities can develop.
And if a child wearsill-fitting shoes throughout his
or her development years,especially before age five, it
can lead to other problems withposture walking, even causing
low back pain later in life.
So get your child's footmeasured in a shoe store instead
(39:04):
of trying to do it at homeyourself.
Usually, foot stores have thespecial equipment to measure
both the length and the width.
So we all deserve to look goodand feel good, but remember to
be sensible with your footwear.
Seek medical attention foraching feet that don't respond
(39:25):
to just common sense foot careand foot pain can be a sign of a
more serious condition, andfoot pain can be a sign of a
more serious condition.
So talk to your physician ifthe pain is severe, sharp or not
improving, and also if you haveany issues with standing or
walking or any discolorationlike redness or bruising, any
(39:46):
numbness or tingling, any opensore that doesn't heal or any
severe swelling, or if you justhave swelling in one foot alone.
A tip from podiatrist Dr Botechif you're seeing a physician or
a podiatrist for a foot problem, bring in those shoes so they
can examine your footwear aswell.
(40:10):
Examine your footwear as well.
Thank you for listening to ourSpeaking of Women's Health
podcast.
Don't miss a future episode.
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Thanks again and I'll see younext time in the Sunflower House
.
Remember, be strong, be healthyand be in charge.
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