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Foot care
6-minute read
Key facts
- Common foot injuries such as ligament sprains can occur from falls or sports injuries, causing pain and swelling.
- Common conditions, such as heel pain, bunions, warts, and toenail issues require regular foot care and professional advice.
- Diabetes, poor circulation, and arthritis can lead to symptoms, such as pain, tingling, and reduced sensation.
- Maintain foot health by washing, drying, and moisturising daily, as well as cutting toenails straight across, wearing well-fitted shoes, and seeking help for foot issues.
- Podiatrists treat foot and lower leg conditions, while orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists assist with muscle and bone issues.
What are the types of foot problems?
Foot injuries and conditions are common. Health conditions that affect other parts of your body can also affect your feet.
Common foot injuries
Ligament sprains, such as ankle sprains, are common and happen when joint ligaments stretch and tear. This leads to pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. Rest, ice and keeping the foot elevated (raised) can help mild sprains heal. Severe sprains need medical attention.
Broken bones in the feet can be caused by trauma from a fall or a sports injury.
Common foot conditions
- Heel pain, can result from conditions such as plantar fasciitis, as a result of poor shoe choice, having flat feet or walking on hard surfaces.
- Bunions form when your toes and feet change shape, causing pain when walking or wearing shoes.
- Plantar warts usually affect the soles of the feet (but can also affect the palms of the hands).
- Tinea, also known as athlete's foot, is an infection of the skin. It is a red, itchy or flaky rash and the skin may look cracked or peeling, especially between toes.
- Corns and calluses are caused by abnormalities in bone structure or from pressure from footwear or walking. They are often found on the tops of the toes, balls of the feet, and heels.
Other foot skin conditions and toenail problems, such as fungal or thickened toenails, ingrown toenails, discoloured skin or nails, need regular foot care and advice from a health professional.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What health conditions can affect the feet?
Some health conditions that affect the whole body can cause specific changes in your feet.
Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, reduce blood flow and increase the risk of infection. Damage to the nerves in your feet is also known as diabetic neuropathy. This condition may cause symptoms such as pain, tingling, and reduced sensation. Because you might not feel injuries, they can become ulcers. If ulcers don’t heal, this may, in severe cases, lead to amputation. This is why it is important to check your feet regularly for any signs of damage. Read more on diabetes and your feet.
Poor blood flow to the feet can cause blue- or purple-tinged skin, sores, numbness, pain or ‘pins and needles’ when walking or resting. Circulation problems in the legs and feet might also increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can damage the joints of the feet. This can lead to deformity and pain in affected areas.
How does ageing affect the feet?
As you get older, the cushioning and soft tissue under the heels and balls of your feet and near your toes gets thinner. Your skin loses its elasticity and strength. Toenails become more brittle, thicker and tougher, making them harder to cut. This increases the risk of ingrown toenails, fungal and other infections.
Bone deformities, such as bunions and arthritis, can lead to foot health conditions, such as pain, corns and calluses. They might also increase your risk of falls.
Foot care specialists
Podiatrists are university-trained health professionals who treat medical and surgical conditions of the feet and lower legs. They work in private clinics, community health services or public hospitals.
Other health professionals, such as orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists, can help with problems of the muscles and bones of your feet and ankles. You may need a referral from your GP to see these specialists.
To find a podiatrist, physiotherapist or orthopaedic surgeon near you, use the healthdirect service finder, or ask your GP.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Caring for your feet
A good daily foot health routine includes:
- washing and drying your feet
- checking for redness, swelling, bruising, cuts, pus, splinters, or blisters
- moisturising your skin
Cut toenails straight across, filing sharp edges. Avoid over-the-counter corn cures and tight socks or stockings, especially if you have diabetes.
If you notice a change or problem with your feet, seek help. If you can’t see clearly, ask a family member or carer to check your feet for you.
Make sure your shoes fit you well and suit the activity you are doing. Shoes should be the right length. You should leave around one thumb-with (1.5cm) of space between your longest toe and the front of your shoe.
Resources and support
The Australian Podiatry Association in your state can help you find a podiatrist with specialised knowledge.
Foot Forward is a National Diabetes Services Scheme program that has information, education, support, resources and activities for people with diabetes.
Read more on how to care for your baby or toddler's feet.
Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?
Read the article Looking After Feet.
Download the phone App that puts foot health in Aboriginal hands.