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Summary
Each step you take involves a complex network of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This, combined with all of the weight they carry, explains why feet can have problems. To keep your feet healthy:
- Examine your feet regularly
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit
- Wash your feet daily with soap and lukewarm water
- Trim your toenails straight across and not too short
Your foot health can be a clue to your overall health. For example, joint stiffness could mean arthritis. Tingling or numbness could be a sign of diabetes. Swelling might indicate kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
Good foot care and regular foot checks are an important part of your health care. If you have foot problems, be sure to talk to your doctor.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
Diagnosis and Tests
- Foot Push-Up Test (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- How to Evaluate Your Feet (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Going Barefoot? Beware! (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
- How to Assess Changes in Feet (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- How to Keep Feet Flexible (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Taking Care of Your Feet (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
Learn More
-
Focus on Your Feet! Take Steps to Protect Foot Health
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- 10 Points of Proper Shoe Fit: How Do You Find the Right Shoes? (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Foot Health Facts for Athletes (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- How to Eat Right for Healthy Feet (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- How to Select Athletic Shoes (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Shoes
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A cross-sectional study of evaluating cervical spondylotic myelopathy based on gait...
- Article: Contribution of whole-body momentum regulation towards jump height differences in two-foot...
- Article: Mechanical properties of extrinsic foot muscles, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia...
- Foot Health -- see more articles
Children
- Why Do Feet Stink? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.