5 Common Questions & Answers about Foot Problems

Foot Health Awareness Month rolls around every April - the perfect time for the board-certified podiatrists at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center to share our passion for keeping your feet healthy and pain-free.

Let’s start with a basic question: What causes foot pain? Well, some foot problems are genetic. Others are brought about by accident, overuse, or trauma. Finally, many foot problems can be traced back to shoes that don’t fit well. Ill-fitting or unsupportive shoes can contribute to bunions, arch and heel pain, blisters, blackened toenails, and toe deformities.

Here are five additional questions our Monmouth County patients frequently have about their feet:

1. What is the most common foot problem?

We treat a huge variety of foot issues. Some of the most common are plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and diabetes complications such as neuropathy and poor circulation.

2. Is foot pain genetic?

Pain itself isn’t genetic, but its underlying cause may be. For example, your foot shape may match Grandma’s. So, if Grandma had bunions, you’re more likely to develop them.

3. Is it normal to have flat feet?

Most people develop a healthy arch in their feet in the first few years of life. Those who don’t aren’t “abnormal,” but their flat feet may eventually begin to hurt. Bring your kids in to see us if their flat feet are giving them a problem.

4. Is there a difference between men’s and women’s feet?

A 2001 study by the National Institutes of Health showed significant differences in foot shape between men and women. As podiatrists, we find that the most significant difference lies in men’s and women’s shoes. Up to 90% of American women wear shoes that are too small.

5. Why do feet smell?

Feet smell because they sweat a lot. Each foot has an astonishing 125,000 sweat glands!
When your feet hurt, tingle, or feel numb, give us a call. If your toes look like claws and you have difficulty finding comfortable shoes, we can help. If your feet sweat like nobody’s business all the time, you may have a medical condition we can treat. In short, we can help with any foot problem that bothers you, using the latest technology. Make an appointment online with Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, or Dr. Joseph Saka, or call us at (732) 905-1110.