Women's Feet, part 2

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What About Stockings?

Women who always wear nylon pantyhose are also inviting foot problems.  Nylon is occlusive – it doesn’t breathe – and the heat that it generates and traps causes excessive perspiration.  A warm, damp area is an ideal place for the encouragement of fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.  (Pantyhose aren’t the only apparel that cause excessive perspiration; the dress boots many women don in cold weather shouldn’t be worn all day in an office.) Nylon, which tends to be abrasive, is even more so when it’s damp; in a tight shoe that’s already irritating, it offers little protection against blisters.  Support hose, because they’re so much tighter, can be the worst culprits of all.

Inexpensive nylon pantyhose can also cause forefoot problems, because the stretch mechanism constricts normal expansion of the foot when working, and may pull the toe backward when the pantyhose ride up.  The cramping and pressure of the hose can contribute to ingrown toenails and hammertoes.  A better quality nylon will provide a better fit, and the better the fit, the less likely cramping will be.  Women’s feet have grown larger because of improved health care and nutrition.  The one-size fits-all stocking no longer is the universal answer, if it ever was.  Attention to proper fit is essential.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women need to observe good foot health to prevent pain and discomfort.  Since the body undergoes changes and acquires a new weight-bearing stance, women should wear shoes with broad-based heels that provide support and absorb shock.  Additional body weight also calls for more support, to prevent foot “breakdown”.

The expectant mother often experiences more than ordinary swelling of her feet and ankles, which can aggravate existing foot conditions and promote inflammation or irritation.  Pregnancy also triggers the release of hormones, which enhance laxity in ligaments, which can contribute to foot strain.  If problems develop, she should see a podiatric physician. 

Women Over 65

Older women have more trouble with their feet than younger ones, for the simple reason that fat pads on the bottom of the feet tend to deteriorate in the aging process.  They call alleviate some foot problems by wearing properly fitted, well-constructed shoes - shoes which provide cushioning and have a soft, flexible upper that will conform to the shape of their feet.  They also need leather shoes which breathe and can reduce the possibility of skin irritation.  Soles should be lightweight, with enough flexibility and shock-absorbing quality to provide solid footing and not be slippery.  Low-heeled shoes provide greater stability, more protection for the feet, and greater comfort.  Because older women often have circulatory problems, they have a special need to keep their feet warm in cold weather, to prevent frostbite or chilblains. 

Women’s Foot Afflictions

Whether the sources are congenital problems, foot abuse, high heels, poorly fitting shoes, or other maltreatment of the feet, women are subject to a number of afflictions involving the feet (most of which can also occur to men):

Achilles tendonitis:  Inflammations of the Achilles tendon, the link between the calf muscle and heel bone.  Those who wear high heels regularly can expect to acquire shortened tendons; switching to low heels for strenuous physical activity without appropriate warm-up exercises creates an ideal scenario for Achilles tendonitis.

Bunions:  Misaligned big toe joints which become swollen and tender.  Bunions tend to be familial, but the tendency can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe.

Hammertoe:  a condition in which the toe is contracted in a claw-like position.  Although the condition usually stems from muscle imbalance, it is often aggravated by ill-fitting shoes, socks, or hosiery that cramp the toes.

Metatarsalgia:  General pain in the ball of the foot; often caused by wearing high heels.

Neuromas:  Enlarged, benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth toes.  They may stem, in part, from ill-fitting shoes, resulting in pain, burning, tingling or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.  Treatment includes orthotic devices and/or steroid injections, and sometimes surgery.

Plantar fasciitis/Heel pain:  Inflammation of the long band of  connective tissue running from the heel to the ball of the foot, a main cause of rear-foot pain.  This condition is sometimes caused by shoes that cramp the feet, especially in the arch area.

Pump bump (Haglund’s deformity):  A bone enlargement at the back of the heel bone, in the area where the Achilles tendon attaches to the bone.  The deformity generally is the result of faulty biomechanics causing increased motion of the heel bone against the shoe counter.