FOOT CARE...PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD!

The Saint Mary's College campus is not unlike most college campuses in that students can be seen with exposed feet; Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Pity our poor feet; we abuse them and ignore them, and then we are schocked when something goes wrong. Feet are subject to a wide variety of woes, including aches, pains, sweating, odor, fungal infections, warts, ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, bunions, and blisters.

For women, years of wearing high heels and nylon panty hose have had a toll. In fact, women have about four times as many foot problems as men. When it comes to foot coverings, women have a lengthy record of foot abuse. Throughout history, numerous attempts have been made to deform the female foot in interest of heightening sexual attractiveness. Myths and customs linking shoes to romance are abundant throughout the world - ranging from Cinderella's glass slipper, to the wedding custom of tying old shoes to the newlywed couple's car, to the practice of young Sicilian women who put shoes under their pillows to help them find a husband or to French brides who will keep their wedding shoes to ensure a lifetime of physical union. From a physical perspective, the shape of the modern female shoe can well explain why women so frequently develop painful growth and deformities on the feet and toes. The type of foot problems you may encounter depend on many factors, including the individual shape of your foot, the type of shoes you wear, and how you stand, walk and run.

How to keep your feet as healthy as possible:

• Wash your feet daily with soap and water. Be sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
• Change your socks daily and don't wear the same pair of hose everyday.
• If you've been plagues with athlete's foot or toenail fungus, spray your shoes with a disinfectant such as Lysol and powder then daily with an anti-fungal foot powder.
• Use foot powders and spray to keep your feet dry.
• Don't expect to wear the same size shoe your entire adult life.
• Wear shoes that provide plenty of room and support.
• If you can't give up your high heels, try the shoe lines that offer "walking" or "comfort" pumps. Limit the amount of time you wear them.
• Wear shoes and socks that breathe - no nylon socks, no rubber or plastic shoes. Don't wear nylon hosiery any longer than you have to.
• Wear clean, dry socks when you exercise.
• If you have diabetes or another chronic disease, inspect your feet daily. Call your doctor at the first sign of a problem.
• Toenails, which grom much more slowly than fingernails, need to be trimmed about once a month. They should be clipped straight across and not too short. This helps prevent ingrown toenails, which form when the edge of the nail tip, which grows faster than the center, curls under and grows into the soft nail bed underneath. Wearing low-heeled, wide-toed shoes that fit properly also help prevent ingrown toenails, since these can keep toes from being pinched or from sliding into the front of the shoe.

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