Athlete's foot is a common form of a fungal infection. It most commonly occurs between the toes and is medically known as tinea pedis. The most common cause are sweaty feet which when enclosed inside a tight-fitting shoe for a prolong time leads to this condition. The most common symptom of athlete's foot is a scaly rash which causes itching and burning on your foot. It is a contagious disease and is most commonly spread through towels or clothing of people who have that disease. It can also be spread through the floors which people with athlete's foot walk on. Here is everything you need to know about athlete's foot.

Causes
1. Dirty wet socks inside covered shoes
As mentioned earlier, athlete's foot is a contagious disease which originates from wearing dirty wet socks inside covered shoes. 
2. Infection
You may also get it by coming into contact with an infected person or their towels and/or clothing. Even walking on the same floor as they walk on may cause an infection.

Symptoms
1. Scaly red rash
There is usually a scaly red rash in between the toes when you have athlete's foot.
2. Itching
There will be severe itching throughout the persistence of this disease especially when you first take off your shoes.
3. Blisters and ulcers
This is not a very common symptom of athlete's foot. However, blisters and ulcers do occur on certain types of athlete's foot.
4. Chronic dryness and scaling
This occurs on the soles of the feet and then slowly starts spreading upwards. These symptoms only occur on the type of athlete's foot known as moccasin. Due to this, athlete's foot is often mistaken for eczema and sometimes even dry skin.
5. Spreading to the hand
Athlete's foot always starts in your legs and in some cases spread to your hands as well. The likelihood of athlete's foot spreading to your hand is increased if you scratch or pick at the areas of the foot infected.

Treatment
There are three stages of treatment and these depend on the severity of the infection.
1. Over-the-counter medicines
In the first stage of treatment, the doctor will simply prescribe over-the-counter antifungal ointments, sprays or powders.
2. Prescription medications
In the next stage of treatment, prescription medications need to be applied to your feet.
3. Antifungal pills
If nothing else works, only then should antifungal pills be prescribed.

All About Athlete's Foot

The metatarsal and tarsal bones form two different types of arches at the bottom of the foot. These are known as the transverse and longitudinal arches. These arches act as springs and help support the body. The arch of a foot influences the person s posture as well. Longitudinal arches can be further categorized as a medial arch, lateral arch, and fundamental longitudinal arch. The amount a person s foot arches, can also determines the type of injuries the person is susceptible to.

Low Arch
A person with minimal foot arch is also said to be flat-footed. Up to 20% of people across the world are flat-footed. Low arches make feet very flexible and also increase the risk of making the foot roll inwards. People with low arched feet have a high risk of heel pain, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bunions and arch pain. It can also increase the risk of medial knee problems. Arch support and rearfoot posting can help align the foot and control over-pronation.

Medium Arch
This is an example of a biomechanically efficient foot. It can be described as a defined arch and a moderately flexible foot. The most common foot problems such people are susceptible to are metatarsalgia and heel pain. This is triggered by wearing improper footwear. People with a medium arch in their feet should ensure that they wear footwear that fits them properly. The right footwear for a person with a medium arch has extra cushioning, good support and it absorbs shock well. This can help prevent injuries and align the body properly.

High Arch
A high arch is defined as a well-defined arch that sits higher from the ground than the average foot. This type of an arch makes the foot very rigid and puts extra pressure on the forefoot and rear foot. This can affect up to 20% of the worldwide population. People with high arches have a very little surface area to absorb impact while walking or running. This can make them very susceptible to heel pain, pain in the forefoot and plantar fasciitis. It can also increase the risk of calluses, arch strain, heel pain syndrome, and claw toes. The good news is that it can be treated. Wearing shoes with the right arch support, good cushioning, and metatarsal pads to provide forefoot relief can help disperse the shock and help you prevent injuries.


Arches Of Foot And Its Effect On Body!

Sitting or standing slouched does not only look bad but also has a bad effect on your spine. If not addressed in time, bad posture can become a person s second nature. Over time bad posture can change the natural curvature of your spine and lead to a number of health issues. Here are a few tips that could help:

1. Follow the structure of the chair
We spend a lot of time on office chairs. A well-designed chair will follow ergonomic guidelines to support your body. However, this can help only if you sit on the chair properly. Distribute your weight evenly on the chair. Try to align your body to the center of the chair. To do this try keeping your ears, shoulder, and hips in a straight line. Alternate between sitting at the edge of your seat and against the backrest to relieve your back muscles.

2. Change Positions
Though you can t change your desk every few hours, you can change how you sit. Tiredness is one of the leading causes for slumping and bad posture. Thus, to maintain a good posture try changing positions frequently. Stretch every half hour or so. Getting up from your table and walking over to a colleague to tell them something instead of calling them can give your muscles a break.

3. Use posture-friendly props
Along with ergonomic chairs, there are a number of other ergonomic props that could help maintain good posture. This includes footrests, pillows to support the lower back and lumbar back supports. These props can help ease the strain on the back muscles. Using a chair with an adjustable back is also a good idea. While walking, invest in bags and backpacks that are ergonomically designed to distribute their weight evenly over the entire back.

4. Exercise right
Improved posture is one of the many benefits of regular exercise. Cardiovascular exercises such as walking, running, and swimming help condition the body and maintain a good balance. Exercises that strengthen the back muscles are also great for posture. These exercises support the muscles of the upper body and relieve stress on the back muscles.

5. Wear the right footwear
Wear shoes that fit right and support the arches of your foot. This can help you maintain your balance and improve posture. Avoid wearing high heels for extended periods of time as they could have a negative effect on your center of gravity. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Tips For Improving Posture And Ergonomics!

Foot problems can occur due to a number of causes that, in most cases, are easily diagnosed. An orthopedic is a specialized doctor whose advice you should seek if you have any kind of discomfort in one or both of your feet. Discomfort may include chronic or regular pain, difficulty in movement and/or disfigurement. These are generally a result of arthritis, physical injury or a genetic or hereditary condition. In some of the cases, the pain and discomfort can be treated without any surgery, by using medications. However, in extreme cases, where medication, physical therapy, and other such non-surgical methods fail to have any impact, surgery is the only way to go.

These surgeries are less invasive and require a limited recovery time. They are also one of the most successful types of surgery. The surgical procedure is successful in dealing with the main complaints of a foot problem. It successfully treats a foot by,

Relieving pain: The pain in your feet interferes with your work, making it difficult to carry on with your daily life, affecting your personal and social relationships. Pain often indicates an underlying problem, and it is easier and effective to treat the problem with a surgery, as it relieves you from the chronic pain.
Restoring function: If your feet do not function properly, it will be impossible for you to move, as they are necessary for mobility. When a simple stride becomes a problem, your whole lifestyle is affected. Accepting defeat is not an option. A good orthopedic can help you to get back to your normal daily life by surgically treating your feet thus ensuring they function properly.
Improving appearances: Foot deformity, due to a number of reasons such as polio or bone spurs, can lead to a restricted lifestyle. Movement is hampered and so is freedom. Surgically it can be treated and the appearance of your feet can be improved.
Arthritis is also a cause of a number of foot problems. In more cases than not, surgery becomes a necessity to treat your foot. Here are some of the surgeries that cater to arthritis-related foot problems:

Repairing Fracture: If the fracture is beyond repair by non-surgical methods, surgery is the last refuge for an orthopedic surgeon. Surgery will include repositioning of the bone and the use of supports to keep them in position.
Arthroscopic debridement: This surgical procedure helps to remove inflamed tissues or spurs from the joint.
Arthrodesis: Also known as joint fusion, it involves the removal of the ends of the bones at the joint and replacing them with metal pins or screws.
Osteotomy: The surgical procedure involves realignment of a joint by cutting the bone.

Foot Problems - Can They Be Treated By Surgery?

A common form of skin inflammation brought about by the fungal infection is called as Athlete's Foot and is most commonly seen among the athletes. In medical terms, this condition is called "tinea pedis". This generally starts in between the toes and gradually moves towards the toe nails, if left untreated. In the later stages, this infection has the tendency to move towards the palm region of the hands and other body surfaces, if left unchecked. Most often, this condition is referred to as the ringworm of the moccasin feet. 

Statistics have shown that about 15% of the population is affected by this condition. It is important to note that men have a higher chance of contracting this contagious condition than women. Young adults or old children are most likely to take the hit for this condition.

After a serious research, the National Health Service has come out with the finding that, Athlete's foot can be transmitted from one person to another either by direct or indirect contact. Any environment that is warm and moist serves as the perfect breeding place for the fungal species to cause this condition.

Getting them treated before the condition spreads to other parts of the body is a very important step that has to be taken by the person who has been diagnosed with this disease. Instead of worrying about the condition after it has set in, a few remedial precautions can be taken to prevent the onset of this disease. 

Some preventive measures are:

1.  Clean shoes and socks: The socks have to be changed at least twice a day and these must be able to absorb the sweat from the feet.

2.  Using a medicated powder: Normal talcum powder or an anti-fungal powder can be applied to the skin where the irritation prevails and this kills the fungi that might form on the surface.

3. Precaution after swimming and going for walk: The region between the toes has to be wiped clean after swimming, bathing or going for a long walk. The basic idea is to remove the excessive moisture from the skin.

4.  Using socks and sandals: The sandals must allow some breathing space for the skin on the legs and when at home, socks without shoes can be worn. 

Preventive measures help a great deal in avoiding the complications that arise out of this Athlete's foot.

Athlete's Foot - How To Prevent It?

Tennis toe is also known as runner s toe since athletes are mostly runners; skiers and tennis players also get this injury often. Due to its ugly appearance, tennis toe is also known as a black toenail. This injury causes bleeding under the toe along with moderate to heavy pain. Although it is not considered to be type 1 serious injury, it can still force an athlete to abstain from participating in any events. The blood from the toenail might take its own sweet time to get out of the way. As a result, the recovery time for this injury can last for weeks together. This, unfortunately, is also an ideal condition for infection to set in.

How does it happen?
This condition may arise because of the friction between the toenail and the running shoes or constant downward pressure on the toe. In case if the shoe is tighter than normal, it can damage the toenail. If on the other hand, the shoe is very loose, it can result in similar condition due to heavy pressure on the nail. Tennis toe can also arise in a situation, if the toe constantly bangs the shoe from inside. Extreme hot weather may also result in toe swelling. Finally, one may encounter tennis toe if a blow is faced on the toe. Irrespective of the cause, the blood clots inside the nail resulting in swelling and pain. Too much damage might result in falling off of the toenail altogether.

Treatment plan:
1. If the tennis toe is minor, the injury resolves all by itself
2. The toenail should be clipped together to ensure that it does not result in any friction with the shoe.
3. During the injury, it is advised that a person wears bigger size shoes with wider toe space so that it does not result in any further irritation.
4. If the toenail is torn, make sure to tap it up so that adequate protection is there from outside forces.
5. In case the injury is serious a doctor might have to intervene and drain the blood with a surgical instrument.
6. Another medical solution is to remove the toenail surgically, drain the blood and tape it up for a good one week until new nail formation takes place.

Precautionary measure:
1. Running shoes should be at least half a size bigger than the normal size.
2. Toenails should be regularly trimmed in order to avoid any injury.
3. If a person has a tendency of sweating too much, it makes sense to wear a pair of socks at all times.
4. While running, shoe laces should be tightened to avoid sudden friction between the toe and the shoe resulting into tennis toe.

Tennis Toe - How it Should be Treated?

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