Our feet ground us, and are the foundation of our bodies. To provide necessary support they need properly fitted footwear. If shoes don’t fit properly, they can cause pain and discomfort and can also lead to nail and skin issues due to pressure and friction.
How can shoes affect the nails and skin of the feet?
Injury to the toenails and skin can occur if shoes are too narrow or shallow, too short or too long, or are simply not supportive enough.
Toenail conditions
Fungal toenails are common and can be unsightly and annoying! A fungal infection in the nail appears in the nail plate but resides in the nail bed underneath the nail itself. Toenail injury from shoes can also cause the nail plate to become more curved or misshapen and subsequently dig into the skin at the sides, also known as an ingrown toenail. Additionally, when shoes are too snug, pressure on toenails can cause bleeding under the toenail, referred to as a subungual hematoma. These conditions are all typically unwelcome but even more concerning is that toenail discomfort can force us to change the way we walk or move to protect the painful toe. This can have repercussions the extend further up the kinetic chain to knee and hip pain.
Skin conditions
Ill-fitting and unsupportive footwear can press on toes and can expose the bottoms of our feet and backs of our heels to friction, which can lead to painful blisters, calluses and corns. If left untreated, skin could breakdown becoming an ulcer or wound. For people with diabetes, this is particularly problematic as risk for infection increases significantly.
Is treatment available?
Yes! Medical footcare is offered by Registered Chiropodists and Advanced Footcare Nurses at most BioPed locations.
Foot care treatment for fungal toenails includes thinning or debulking of thick nails to increase comfort in footwear and enhance the results of over-the-counter or prescription treatments. There are a variety of treatment options for ingrown nails. Onyfix® is an innovative nail correction system that reduces the curvature of the nail plate over time and is described by many as a painless treatment with zero down time. BioPed’s Registered Chiropodists can also perform simple in-clinic nail procedures to remove part or all of the offending nail. Both treatments can effectively provide short-term and long-term relief.
BioPed’s Medical Footcare Clinicians reduce or pare down callus and corns during a foot care appointment, with the goal of increasing comfort and function. They will also provide advice on foot care treatments you can do at home, including regular application of a good quality skin softener.
It is important to consider the shoes you are wearing when dealing with thickened skin or hyperkeratosis. Shoes should fit properly in length and width and remember, not all footwear is created equal.
What are the basic features of shoes and why are they important?
- The last is what the shoe is made from, or the starting point of a it’s creation.
- The heel countercups and supports the heel. A firm heel counter will offer more support during gait as it controls the rotation and movement of the rearfoot/heel.
- The sole, usually made up of several layers, can vary in thickness depending on the activity for which the shoe is designed. Ensure that it bends where your toes bend but that you cannot twist the middle or arch support area, as it should be a more stiff foundation.
- The vamp cradles the midfoot and connects to the tongue.
- The tongueis a piece of material that sits under the laces (or the securing component of the shoe which could be velcro). It protects the top of the foot.
- The toe boxis the part of the shoe that covers, surrounds and protects the toes. It should be wide and deep enough to accommodate the toes and allow them to splay out naturally when weight-bearing.
Lastly, callus and corns are caused by the way the ground moves in relation to our feet. Custom made foot orthotics can correct our gait, making it more efficient and balanced, and off-the-shelf insoles can also help to support your feet and increase your comfort. Both can be modified in our on-site lab to offload high pressure areas, which in turn can help reduce callus build up.
If you are suffering from a nail or skin issue on your feet, visit your local BioPed today to be assessed. Our holistic approach to lower limb health involves problem-solving and discussion of treatment options to help you Do More in life!
