Good Foot Health
on True/False to Learn the Answer
1. People with diabetes should inspect their feet daily.
2. If your toes always burn or are numb your shoes are just
too tight. TRUE FALSE
3. Bunions may be inherited. TRUE
4. A bunion is a dislocation of the big toe joint. TRUE
5. Swelling, redness, and pain around
a toenail are signs of an ingrown nail. TRUE
6. Toenails should be rounded when cut
to avoid snagging socks and stockings. TRUE
If you have pain and swelling in your feet it may indicate
a stress fracture and should be treated medically. TRUE
Experiencing heel pain first thing in the morning is normal.
Ankle sprains should heal within one week. TRUE
Women suffer four times as much foot trouble as do men.
Shoes must be broken in to be comfortable. TRUE
Foot pain is natural, and everyone should expect to experience
it at one time or another in his or her life. TRUE
TRUE - People with diabetes can develop numbness in
their feet that they are unaware of. When the eet are numb,
the patient can have injuries that go undetected which could
develop into serious problems unless daily foot inspections
are performed. Early diagnosis greatly improves the chances
of successful treatment.
FALSE - Burning pain or numbness in the toes or the
ball of the foot could indicate a nerve inflammation such
as a neuroma and should be evaluated by a podiatrist.
TRUE - A bunion is a bone deformity of the foot that
is genetically related. High-heeled, pointy-toed shoes tend
to aggravate the area and encourage bunions to form sooner.
Some forms of trauma may also cause bunions. If a bunion
is painful or is growing larger you should consult a podiatrist.
TRUE - A bunion is an enlargement at the base of the
big toe caused by a misalignment of the joint that may become
swollen, tender, and painful when wearing shoes. The big
toe bends toward the other toes and may become stiff and
sore, making wearing shoes difficult or impossible.
TRUE - Toenails should not be painful. Pain or redness
surrounding the nail is frequently a sign of infection caused
by an ingrown toenail and should be inspected by a podiatrist.
6. FALSE - The corners of toenails
should be visible after cutting or trimming. Improper nail
trimming causes most ingrown toenails.
- Stress fractures can occur without any specific injury
being identified as the cause. Pain can arrive suddenly
or slowly develop over time. Pain and swelling should be
evaluated by a podiatrist.
- Heel pain when first arising in the morning is not a sign
of old age that should be accepted as being normal. Evaluate
your shoes for proper support and reduce activity for at
least a week. If pain persists, you should be evaluated
by a podiatrist.
- Ankle sprains can result from ligament damage, which if
ignored, can cause chronic pain or arthritis. Proper evaluation
by a podiatrist should be done to rule out fractures and
avoid permanent injury.
- Studies show that women suffer more frequently from foot
trouble because of improper shoe selection and heredity.
Women should receive annual foot exams from a podiatrist
in an effort to avoid injury.
FALSE - A shoe that is properly constructed and fitted correctly
should be comfortable when it is first worn. A shoe that
causes discomfort or pain when first purchased is most likely
to remain painful and could cause damage to your feet.
- Foot pain is not normal and should be evaluated whenever
it is severe or persistent. If the source of the pain is
not easily identified or resolved, it should be treated
by a podiatrist before permanent damage occurs.