- Myth: Shoes cause
bunions.
Truth: Shoes that crowd the toes can make bunions more painful over time but shoes themselves do not cause bunions. Bunions are usually caused by a faulty mechanical structure of the foot that is inherited. The bunion itself is not inherited, but certain foot types that make people prone to developing a bunion. - Myth: Corns have
roots.
Truth: Corns, unlike calluses, have a central core of hard material, they do not, however, have roots. A corn is a build-up of skin caused by friction. In fact, many corns result from a hammertoe deformity where the toe knuckle rubs against your shoe. - Myth: Cutting a
notch in a toenail will ease the pain of ingrown toenails.
Truth: If a toenail is ingrown, the nail curves down and grows into the skin. Cutting a notch into the nail does nothing, and the new nail growth will continue to curve downwards. In fact, cutting a notch can potentially cause more problems. - Myth: It is
normal to experience foot pain as you get older.
Truth: It is not normal to experience foot pain at any age! - Myth: There is no
treatment for foot pain.
Truth: It There are many ways to treat foot pain, including foot orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications and surgery. - Myth: Doctors
cannot fix a broken toe.
Truth: There are steps you can take to make a broken toe heal better and prevent further problems like arthritis and toe deformities. When broken toes aren’t treated correctly, it can make walking and wearing shoes difficult. - Myth: All foot pain is
caused by poorly fitting shoes.
Truth: Foot pain can be caused by shoes that don’t fit correctly but there are a number of medical reasons your feet might hurt that go beyond blisters and calluses, including osteoarthritis, diabetes, foot injuries and gout. - Myth: Being overweight
doesn’t affect my feet.
Truth: Carrying even as few as 25 extra pounds does affect the health of your feet. Extra pounds put added pressure on your feet, contributing to the risk of developing osteoarthritis, tendon inflammation and inflammation of the plantar fascia. Also, being overweight increases your risk of developing diseases that can affect your feet, including diabetes, gout and peripheral arterial disease. - Myth: Plantar warts
are harmless.
Truth: While plantar warts are caused by a virus they can cause a lot of of pain depending on where they are on your foot. - Myth: You shouldn’t wear shoes if you have a foot sprain.
Truth: Going barefoot or wearing flip-flops can make a sprain worse because you need the added support of a stable and protective shoe in order for your foot to heal.
