Small steps to healthy feet Think Feet! Small steps to healthy feet

Foot facts! You put one and a half times your body weight through your foot with each step you take A pair of feet have around 250,000 sweat glands In a lifetime the average person walks more than 100,000 miles = more than 4 times around the circumference of the globe

Common foot conditions Toenail problems: fungal infections Thickened In-growing

Common foot conditions Deformity – hammer toes, bunions

Common foot conditions Athletes foot Can be treated with antifungal cream, spray or gel such as Lamisil

Common foot conditions Corns and Callus Caused by pressure from shoes or high pressure on the soles of feet when walking

The aging foot Changes to the foot shape - toe deformities due to muscle wasting and ligament changes Some flattening of the foot leads to it lengthening, altering the size of shoe that fits Joint changes – arthritis

The aging foot… Skin changes Walking pattern alters Thinning of the skin Reduced flexibility Less fatty padding on the soles of the feet Walking pattern alters Shortened stride length Less flexible joints

Self foot care Good foot hygiene – washing in mild warm soapy water and drying well Skin care – applying a moisturizing cream daily avoiding between the toes Washing your feet with mild soap daily and carefully drying between the toes Applying moisturizing cream to dry skin ideally daily Smoothing rough dry skin with a foot file gently and regularly Cutting your nails following the shape of the end of the toes – if cutting is difficult a special toenail file can be safely used weekly, requires less accuracy and can be done by yourself or family member and avoids the need for cutting them altogether

Self foot care Nail care – cut inline with the end of the toe OR file them once a week to keep them short, especially if difficulty seeing or reaching them Daily foot inspection Supportive shoes

Footwear A supportive shoes should be worn for the majority of the time Limit the use of ‘fashion’ shoes which can cause problems by not fitting the foot shape causing high pressure on the toes and balls of the feet.

What to look for…. Breaks in the skin Bleeding or dark areas under hard skin Inflammation Weeping area of skin Unexplained colour changes Pain when you usually have loss of feeling TAKE ACTION: Cover with a dressing and seek medical advice from your GP surgery or Podiatrist

Common myths A corn has a root so if you don’t get the root out it will re-grow If you have diabetes you should not cut your own nails Cutting the corners of the nail help an in-growing toenail Soaking your feet softens the skin

How can diabetes can affect the feet? Raised levels of glucose in the blood stream can over time lead to damage to the long nerve fibers to the feet reducing the feeling in them. This nerve damage is called: Peripheral Neuropathy The blood vessels down the leg supplying the foot can become narrowed (furred up) leading to poor circulation: Peripheral Vascular Disease

How can nerve damage and poor circulation affect the feet? Lack of feeling can lead to unnoticed damage which can in turn if left untreated can lead to foot ulceration Lack of blood supply reduces healing of damaged skin Infection can be difficult to recognize and treat. If not controlled can cause severe damage to the tissues. This can lead to amputation

Diabetes and your feet This person has diabetes and can not feel pain from their feet Infection developed in an open wound under their toe which had to be amputated to stop it spreading further

Diabetes and your feet Diabetes If you someone has diabetes at their annual diabetes review both feet should be checked for signs of changes Testing the sensation with a nylon filament

Checking the blood supply to the feet by feeling for pulses Looking for deformities and skin changes Checking footwear suits your foot shape

What does a Podiatrist do? Assess, diagnose and treat disorders and diseases the affect the foot. The title ‘Podiatrist’ is protected and means that they have undertaken a university degree and are registered with the Health Professions Council which is a regulating body NHS Podiatry provide a service for people who are at high risk of developing foot problems

Think Feet! Basic foot care can maintain healthy feet Preventing foot problems and early recognition can reduce the risk of developing more severe conditions If you have diabetes and your annual foot check shows signs of a problem a podiatry assessment and agreed care plan is important