FitSugar

A Pain in the Toe: Ingrown Toenails

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT

In my experience, not being able to run because of an ingrown toenail is so uncool. There is absolutely zero glamour to it, not that any injury is glamorous, and ingrown toenails can be easily avoided. If you have never experienced this annoying problem let me explain - an ingrown toenail occurs when the corners of one of your toenails grows into the soft skin of your toe. This unorthodox nail growth pattern, usually on the big toe, causes the skin to become red, swollen, and can cause an infection. Aside from just plain hurting, if left untreated, an ingrown toenail can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious bone infection. Yikes!

To find out how to prevent an ingrown toenail

Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight.
When trimming your toenails, cut them straight across - no rounded edges. Also avoid trimming the nails too short.
Keep your feet clean and dry.

To treat an ingrown toenail, soak your foot in warm salt water for 15 to 20 minutes. This will reduce swelling and sensitivity. Then use a nail file to lift the nail away from your skin and place a small piece of cotton under the nail. Do this twice a day until your toenail begins to grow out. Use a topical antibiotic in case there's an infection. If the pain doesn't go away or your symptoms get worse, make an appointment with a podiatrist. The doctor may need to cut away part of your skin or nail to encourage healing. If you have an infection, the podiatrist will prescribe antibiotics. Once your toe is back to normal, remember to take care of your feet to ensure this never happens again.

Source

5 Ways to Show Your Running Feet Some Love

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:35:45 PST

A runner's feet take quite the beating with all the repetitive pounding, sweating, and muscle exertion. Here are five ways to help ease soreness and prevent foot injuries that could sideline your running routine.

Grab a tennis ball: If you have a loving friend who's offering to rub your feet regularly, that's great, but most of us don't have that luxury. Instead, perform a little self-massage with a tennis ball or racquetball. Sit or stand and place the ball under the arch of your foot, roll it along your arch, and shift to whatever part of your foot needs attention. You'll be surprised at how sore your feet really are.
Trim your toenails: Seems like a simple task that doesn't need mentioning, but since feet are covered most of the time, you may not pay as much attention to your toenails as you do your fingernails. Long toenails can rub against the inside of your shoe or cut the adjacent toes, making it painful to run. When giving yourself a minipedicure, cut or file nails straight since rounded edges can cause ingrown toenails.

Keep reading for more ways to care for your runner's feet.

Start Now to Prevent Achy, Tired, and Sore Feet This Summer

FitSugar — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:23:55 PDT

Whether your feet are sore from a long run or a night on the dance floor, there's one thing for certain - achy, throbbing feet can put a damper on your day, not to mention your workout. With Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, chances are you'll be using your feet more and more, whether it's a steady stream of weekend hiking or enjoying the outdoors with longer runs. But before you break out the sandals, check out these tips for making sure you are taking care of those oft-neglected body parts.

Roll with it. Use an ice-cold water bottle or a fuzzy tennis ball (or buy a Rubz ball) to roll on the bottoms of your feet for the perfect remedy after a long hike or run, or even just from standing for too long. Doing this along with a regular stretching routine will help prevent any overuse injuries.
Stop the flop. With the weather warming up, you may find yourself reaching for your flip-flops, but reserve them for the gym shower. Flip-flops lack support for your arches and Achilles tendon, and they also cause your muscles to work overtime in an awkward way. Toes need some air? Check out these feet-friendly sandal options.
Heal your heels. Dry heels can lead to painful heel fissures, which can prevent you from being able to exercise the way you want to (no one wants to endure painful cracked heels while they run!). Summer is prime time for cracked heels since our feet are more exposed to the dry air, so take time and develop your heel healing routine before it's sandal weather.
Groom correctly. Long toenails aren't just gross to look at, they can cause problems while you're running by cutting into skin around it, but short nails can be a hassle too - they can become ingrown and painful, which also limits your exercising capabilities. Make sure you groom your nails carefully before you have to deal with these issues.

Do You Wear High Heels?

FitSugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:30:01 PDT

An outfit often isn't complete without a stunning pair of high heels. They're feminine, fun, and sexy, but the dazzle they add to your ensemble also comes with a price. High heels are linked to many health issues including shortened Achilles tendons and calf muscles, hammertoes, bunions, corns, ingrown toenails, posture issues, back and neck pain.

This doesn't stop me from donning a pair every so often, but heels are definitely not a regular thing for me. What about you?