Your feet may suffer from different problems because of your daily use and abuse from walking, jumping, running and climbing. If you know about these problems, it will be easier for you to understand why you are having at pain or any other problem with your feet and you can take measures to rectify the problem.

Athlete’s foot

It's a fungal infection of the skin which is generally seen between the toes. This infection can cause itching, discomfort and pain. If you’re having itching, cracking, blistering and peeling of the feet, you may be suffering from athlete’s foot. If you are exposed to the fungus that causes this problem then you may suffer from this feet problem. This fungus is commonly found in a gym, pool or shower or anywhere else where people walk around barefoot. It is common in warm and damp areas. If you are wearing shoes that are warm and damp, it can help the fungus to spread easily and at a higher speed. The fungus can spread to other areas of your skin like groin, hands and scalp.

Bunions

It is an abnormality of the feet as a result of which a bump may develop on the large toe joint. When it happens, it can make the big toe to turn slightly inwards. Women are more likely to suffer from this problem because they wear narrow footwear which may put extra pressure on their feet. If you wear tight or narrow shoes, it can cause bunions. The tight shoes that you wear can put pressure on the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), which is the place where the bone of the foot meets the bone of the big toe. If you have a family history of bunions, it can increase the possibility of you developing this problem. Rheumatoid arthritis or polio can increase the possibility of bunion development.

Anyone who is suffering from bunions may see any of the following symptoms-

• Visible bump on the site of the foot
• Tenderness on or around the big toe
• Difficulty moving the big toe
• Callous or corn on the bone below the big toe
• Pain in the big toe when walking

Diabetic neuropathy

This is a common foot problem which is seen in case of people who have diabetes. These people are more prone to fluctuations in blood sugar. Even though diabetic neuropathy is not one condition, it is actually a group of conditions which can damage the feet due to diabetes. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include tingling, numbness and pain in the feet. It can increase the risk of a person who has suffered from cuts or injuries to the feet because of the lack of feeling or numbness. Continuous high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves which are present in the feet. History of smoking, diabetes neuropathy in the family or alcoholism can worsen the nerve damage.

Ingrown toenails

This is a foot problem that happens when the toenail starts to grow into the nail groove. It can cause significant pain and discomfort. If you are wearing badly fitting shoes, it can cause ingrown toenails. A shoe that is too narrow at the top or too tight can put extra pressure on the toes and it can result in such a foot problem. If you are not trimming your toenails properly then also it may happen. If you cut the toenails too short or cause trauma to the feet by performing any activity like running, then also grown toenails problem may happen.

References

1. Treat Your Feet: Exercises To Treat And Prevent Common Foot Ailments
2. Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime
3. Diabetic Foot