So I packed some trainers, and at the hour of one, slipped them on and headed out of the office, up towards the local park.  By the time I got to the park my feet were pretty hot, and when I got to the far end of the park my feet were so hot I took off the trainers and the socks.  I wasn’t sure which was causing the burn, but pulled the socks on tightly again and tied on the trainers.

As I walked I became more and more conscious of the movement of the socks inside the trainers. Just below the row of toes, I could feel the rubbing with every step and as my circuit of the park completed, the pain started to kick in.  By the time I approached the office, i was literally walking on the sides of my feet, as to put my foot flat on the ground was too painful.

I climbed the stairs to my office and took off the trainers and socks.  I was astonished to find not only two huge blisters which were almost the full width of my foot, but inside each was floating a pool of blood.  How could this happen by just walking?  The answer lay in the loose socks and to a lesser degree the cheap trainers.

Then came a dilemma – to lance or not to lance?  In the end I didn’t get a choice, as by the time I got home that evening, both had burst and the ill fitting, blood stain socks were commissioned to the garbage.  Some three weeks on, these blisters are still on the mend, the skin eventually falling off to reveal a tender spot underneath.

My get fit regime is on hold, but for once I seem to have a genuine excuse.

So what is athletes foot?  The medical term is tinea pedis, and it is a relatively harmless infection that lives in moist damp dark conditions, such as sweaty socks and smelly feet.  Athletes foot symptoms include peeling of the skin in between the toes and may sometimes appear as scaling or blistering on the sole of side of your feet.  It generally does not cause pain  or itching, but if left untreated it can lead to more serious problems.

So whats the cure for athletes foot?  You may have heard of a number of home remedies such as tea tree oil or vinegar as a treatment for athletes foot, but I would recommend you see your pharmacists for an over the counter cream or powder.  Remember it is important that you treat the area for a further week after the infection has cleared up.

Also, to help prevent athletes foot returning, make sure you always dry your feet thoroughly, taking care to dry between your toes.  Weat correctly fitted footwear, that allow for ventilation, or in warm weather wear sandals or go barefoot!  Change your socks at least once a day and alternate your shoes to allow them to dry out.

So what can be done to get rid of very sweaty feet?  Well before you run down to the pharmacy for some strong products, lets start with some basics.

Firstly what causes feet to smell?  Put simply, our feet are placed into small dark holes, often airtight, and then made work all day, often without a break.  All this hard labor will make them sweat.  That alone is is the root of the problem, but more so, it is compounded by other factors.

How many of you have removed your footwear during the day just to let you feet breathe?  When was the last time you took time to just wash your feet?  And answer honestly, how many of us have gone to the gym or the sports club, had a shower, but then put back on the smelly socks we wore on the way in?

Simple habits like wearing a good quality shoe, that allows breathability will reduce your foot odor problem.  Change your socks at least once a day, and try to wear a different pair of shoes each day, to allow one pair time to dry out.

There are those who despite having these good habits will need a little more help.  I am often asked for foot odor natural remedies, and I have come across people who use tea, or tea tree oil, or even vinegar for smelly feet, but honestly, which is better?  Either way your feet are going to smell bad.

If you have really bad smelly feet, then I would take the advice of your pharmacist, who can give you a deodorant foot spray or powder, such as Dr Scholl. But remember no spray on it’s own is the cure for smelly feet.  The good practices have to be followed also.

There is no remedy for smelly feet but with a little practice and persistence, you can significantly reduce how your feet smell.

There is no doubt that from birth to early teen sis when feet are most vunerable, as the many bones in the foot so not completetly solidify until around the age of eighteen.  Parents often bring their baby to a shoe fitting specialist fr their child’s first shoe, but it is equally important to have them measured and sized correctly until they reach adulthood.

So when does a child need their first pair of shoes?  The simple answer is when the child is walking most of the day and wants to alk outside.  This can be any time from seven months to two years.  Never push your child to walk and don’t give in just beacuse a friend’s child is walking.

Have feet measured by a qualified fitter.  Remember the fitting guague is merely a guide and diferent shoes depending on their sytle and where they were made, will fit differently.  A qualified fitter will assist you in ensureing the footwear you chose is the correct size for your child.

Look for shoes that are available in different width fittings, with good support, and made of natural materials, as these materials breathe and mould to the shape of the foot.  Man made materials make feet sweaty and keep their original shape, whhich can lead to fungal infections or abrasions and blisters. And never pass on second hand shoes.  They will have taken on the shape of the previous wearer and may be harbouring infection.

Never rely on the question “do they feel comfortable” when fitting very young children.  Children will often say they are if they like them! Your qualified shoe fitter will know best.  Children’s shoes should be checked for the correct fit every 4-6 weeks (up to 3 years of age) every 6-8 weeks (3-4 years of age) and 10-12 weeks thereafter.  This is not to say that they will need new shoes each time, but as childrens feet grow in fits and starts, it is important to check on a regular basis.

Well for most people the causes of cracked heels, or heel fissures as they are sometimes referred as, can be one or a combination of things. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, if your are overweight, this constant pressure on your heel pads.  Or poor fitting shoes or open back shoes will not cup the heel and give it proper support, allowing it to expand sideways, and eventually crack.

For others cracked heels can be symptomatic of their skin type.  Some medical conditions such as diabetes or eczema, lead to naturally dry skin, and the heel are prone to drying out resulting in dry cracked heels.

So what is the best treatment for cracked heels?  Well first lets look at some simple remedies that you can do yourself.   There are a number of cream moisturizers for available which will soften the heel callus.  A pumice stone can be used to wear away the hardened skin, but never attempt to cut the skin off with a sharp razor or knife.  It better to do a little at a time and gentle ease away the problem.  And of course correctly fitted footwear will always help, with a firm heel cup to ensure support.

For most people these remedies will work, but in some cases you may have to see your doctor who will refer you to Podiatrist or possibly a Dermatologist.  If your heels are very painful when standing, your physician wil strap your foot to hold the cracks together while they heal.  And they can advice on prescription moisturizers and alternative foot supports.

If you are already asking this question then you have already have experimented with non surgery bunion treatments like bunion pads, bunion splints or perhaps even orthotic inserts or orthopedic shoes.  However bunion surgery may be required when all else has failed.

It is important to remember that while modern medicine offers a safe procedure, is does not guarantee success.  Whilst 90% of all patients who undergo bunion surgery say they are satisfied with the improvement, this leaves 10% who were no better off before they went under the knife.

Before any surgery it will be normal for your physician to go over your medical history, and for you to have a physical examination.  Bunion surgery normally takes places under a local anesthetic, but occasionally spinal or general anesthesia will be used, so it is important that you are physically fit for this.

Your foot will be x-rayed to clearly show the surgeon your problem and allow him to evaluate fully which type of procedure will help solve your problem.  The procedure is normally done on an out-patient basis, and you will be home on the same day.

So what can you expect after bunion surgery? 

Well most patients experience a dramatic reduction in foot pain, and a noticeable realignment of their big toe with their foot.  It will allow you to wear smaller and or narrower shoes, but it is important to remember to always wear correctly fitting shoes to avoid future problems. 

Almost as important as the surgery procedure, is how you spend your bunion surgery recovery time.  Listen to your orthopedic surgeon, follow his advice and make regular checkups unit your foot heals as bandages and foot supports will need to be checked.  Your foot will need dressings and a brace for approximately six to eight weeks. 

Your foot will not be able to bear any weight initially and any walking should be restricted to a minimum in the following weeks.  Keep the foot elevated as much as possible and ice packs will help in keeping the swelling down, and you may find that shoes just don’t fit for a day or two. And although walking may be restricted, there is a range of motion exercises that will help strengthen your ankle and foot muscles.

Parents often take the time to have a baby’s first shoe professionally fitted but as the child develops, shoe fitting becomes less and less of importance.  the truth however, is that the bones in a child’s foot are developing right through up to adulthood, and properly fitting shoes are essential to reduce the likelihood of foot problems later in life.  Simple aids like heel grips and heel cups  as well as small lifts or arch supports, can give feet support as they develop.  And a good quality leather shoe helps the foot breath and reduces foot odur.  Often times, foot problems like fallen arches or flat feet, pronation and even bad foot odor can be traced back to poor footwear or bad early habits.

Almost everyone will at some time experience some disorder of the foot.  Smelly Feet, Athlethes Foot, Ingrown Toenails, or the dreaded Verruca are all very common, but are all very treatable.  Be it a simple Blister, Corn or Callus, to the more painful Hammer Toes (sometimes called claw toes) there are helpful tips and remedies here.  And if you were fit enough to cause yourself a sports injury, we will be discussing various supports and strappings and splints that are available.

We will cover a range of Medicimal Treatments, including Antifungus and Antiseptic creams and ointments, moisturisers for dry skin and cracked heels, and a variety of nail treatments.

Of course prevention is always better than cure, and, with the guidance of your local medical practicioner, a suitable foot orthotic or insole, together with good quality footwear,  can support your feet properly.  Of course insoles, are not just made for medicimal puposes, as there are a variety comfort insoles with extra cushioning, or fleece lined for warmth, or sports performance insoles, deigned to reduce heat and sweaty feet.