Top 10 Foot Problems You Need to Beware of

On average, an adult walks more than 100,000 miles in his lifetime. With the human foot being such a complicated system of more than 50 bones (over 1/4 of human body bones), 60 joints and 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, it's very likely that most of us would face some kind of foot problems. Here are some of the most commons one we summarize from our users and research objects.

• Flat Feet: By genes, some people do not develop arches in their feet. Others would have their arches fall as tendons weaken over time, more easily if using improper footwear. Flat feet can sometimes contribute to problems in your ankles and knees.
• Plantar Fasciitis: A painful disorder in which the tissue (fascia) that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toe becomes inflamed or even torn. It usually causes a stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. Plantar fasciitis is often the result of overuse and is common among runners and other athletes of all levels.
• Heel Spurs: A calcium deposit causing a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel bone. Excess weight, overuse, or wearing shoes without a supporting arch can cause heel spurs, which can only be removed through surgery.
• Hammer Toe and Mallet Toe: Hammer toe is an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe while mallet toe affects the joint nearest the toenail. Relieving the pain and pressure of hammertoe and mallet toe may involve changing your footwear and wearing shoe inserts.
• Bunions: A painful bony bump that develops on the inside of the foot at the big toe joint. Bunions are more common for women as tight, narrow shoes that squeeze the toes together make it more likely for a bunion to develop.
• Corns and Calluses: Thick, rough and raised patches of dead skin and form by repeated rubbing against a bony area of the foot, usually by shoes that don't fit well.
• Blisters: Soft pockets of raised skin filled with clear fluid. "Most blisters are caused by friction between the skin on the foot and the inside of your shoes," says Allan M. Boike, dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University. Blisters on the feet can be prevented by wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes and socks.
• Ingrown Toenails: Usually on big toes where the nail cuts into the surrounding nail bed causing an infection and pain. Improper toenail clipping, shoes that press your toes together and unusually curved toenails can cause ingrown toenails.
• Ball of Foot Pain: Sharp, aching or burning pain in the ball of your foot. It can develop because of poor fitting shoes or overuse.
• Peripheral Neuropathy: A disorder that occurs when nerves malfunction because they're damaged or destroyed. Symptoms often include numbness, tingling, or burning sensations. It's often a complex condition with a variety of causes and treatment options, including a change in footwear.