The Curse Of The Overlapping Toe
Unlike many medical conditions, foot pain is not something restricted
to
only one section of the population. That is to say, it's not overly
prevalent in any one particular age group or sex. Children and
adults, men
and women alike all experience, at some point, the debilitating
effects of
foot pain. The good news, however, is that oftentimes these problems
are
easily treatable via conservative means (non-surgical procedures).
Ignoring
the symptoms can exacerbate the condition though, so although initially
little more than a nuisance, due consideration should be given to
any foot
problems. An overlapping toe for instance, can occur in any one
of the toes
and while initially the discomfort is minimal, in time it will lead
to
inflammation, pain and eventually even become too painful to walk
on.
While not necessarily the case, overlapping toes can be a congenital
(hereditary or inherent) problem. That's not to say that it's a
difficult
condition to correct. Not at all. Wearing shoes with a high, wide
toe box is
a simple way to ensure the condition does not worsen as it allows
the toes
room to maneuver, ensuring that they do not squash against one another.
Additionally, toe separators and toe straighteners can be used to
alleviate
the irritation toes rubbing against one another provides.
Inexpensive devices that cost less than ten dollars, toe straighteners
come
in single, double or triple variants all of which are designed to
align
crooked toes, overlapped toes or hammertoes. They do this by applying
constant, yet gentle pressure and the soft foam pad that fits snugly
to the
underside of your foot is held in place by simple loops that fit
over the
toes.
Toe Separators, meanwhile are designed not to straighten the toes,
but to
reduce friction and irritation and thereby provide relief caused
by chafing
and rubbing. Many such products contain a time-release oil enriched
with
minerals to comfortably relieve the abovementioned symptoms. The
shape and
design of these vary considerably – you'll find anything from
hourglass
shapes that fit vertically between the toes to tooth-shaped wedges
that run
the length of the toe.
Of course, all this information should be taken at face value.
While we want
nothing more than to help, the above is intended merely as a guide
and
certainly not as a replacement for professional medical advice.
If you feel
your case requires special treatment, or if you simply want a second
opinion
(go on, you won't hurt our feelings. Much.) by all means visit your
local
podiatrist.
As you've by now no doubt come to expect, we've linked a dazzling
array of
products to the right-side of this article. From toe
separators to toe
straighteners (get those nasty overlap toes!) to toe rings,
footcare
products of every conceivable nature can be found quickly and easily
and
delivered right to your door! You know, so that you can keep your
feet up
and let everyone else do the work.
|
