Top 3 Common Foot Problems In Women

Plantar Fasciitis is pain felt under the heel or arch of the foot. It is one of the most common foot issues in women of all ages. If you have experienced it before you know how painful it can be. What is actually happening is not yet fully understood. It does however come down to overuse. This means the fascia is overloaded somehow and will then become sore.

Treating it as early as possible really does help with healing time and getting back to normal. There are a number of treatments available. Taping, shoe changes, exercise therapies, foot orthoses, foot mobilisation, massage/dry needling and others.

An ingrown nail is caused by the nail piercing the skin or pushing up against the skin with a lot of pressure. Women will experience ingrown nails more frequently than men due a number of factors:

• Narrower footwear
• Swelling of the feet from hormonal cycle and pregnancy
• Use of nail polish

If left alone it can become infected which may need an Antibiotic prescription from the GP. Seeing a Podiatrist as soon as you notice it forming is the best way to prevent an infection. in some cases a procedure is needed to permanently remove a portion (usually 2-3mm) of nail from the side that causing the problem so it does not keep coming back. Wearing wider footwear and having a rest from nail polish can also prevent re-growth.

Corns and Callus are the hard areas of skin usually seen under the ball of the foot, top of toes and back of heels. There is a difference between corns and callus. They develop where the skin is under too much pressure or friction. It is very common in women predominantly from wearing narrower shoes. Corns and callus can also be caused by poor function of the foot leading to high pressure areas.

To manage them, a Podiatrist can remove the hard skin in the clinic. We can also look at why it is there in the first place. Changing or modifying shoes or offloading pressure areas with customised orthoses or insoles.