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Foot problems, footwear fixes

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Start HereExplore footwear, fit and common foot problems before choosing your next pair.

The Guide Library

27 Guides
Shoes & Orthotics8 Min Read

How do you measure heel height: A Practical Guide

To measure heel height, place the unworn shoe upright on a hard, level surface. Hold a rigid ruler vertically beside the heel and measure from the surface…

Toe & Forefoot Pain6 Min Read

Toe Swelling: Causes, Warning Signs, and Next Steps

Mild swelling with an obvious pressure or activity trigger may suit brief home care; severe, worsening or unexplained symptoms need assessment.

Shoes & Orthotics9 Min Read

School Shoes That Don’t Fit: Problems And Fit Checks

Use seven fit checks to catch tight, loose or oversized school shoes, assess hand-me-downs, and know when pain or gait changes need clinical care.

Shoes & Orthotics9 Min Read

Are Chanel Barefoot Shoes Bad for Your Feet?

Chanel's sole-less heel cap leaves the forefoot exposed. Compare risks on carpet, pavement, sand and club floors with flip-flops and minimalist shoes.

Shoes & Orthotics10 Min Read

Best Shoes for Ozempic Feet: Fit and Cushioning Guide

Remeasure feet after GLP-1 weight loss, compare symptom-specific shoe features, test heel cups and inserts, and know when pain needs clinical care.

Shoes & Orthotics8 Min Read

Can Super Shoes Cause Stress Fractures? The Evidence

New 2026 biomechanics data show small loading shifts, not proof of fractures. See when daily plated-shoe miles call for tapering or a medical check.

Toenails18 Min Read

Ingrown Toenail vs Fungus: How to Tell the Difference

An ingrown toenail is primarily mechanical: a corner or side of the nail presses or grows into the adjacent skin. Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is…

Toenails17 Min Read

Toe Nail Fell Off: What to Do Now and When to Get Help

If your toenail fell off, the immediate priorities are to stop active bleeding, protect the exposed nail bed, and prevent further tearing or pressure. A minor,…

Toe & Forefoot Pain17 Min Read

Signs of Pinched Nerve in Foot: Symptoms by Location

Possible signs of a pinched nerve affecting the foot include:

Toe & Forefoot Pain14 Min Read

How Many Bones Are in a Foot? What Changes the Count

One adult foot has 26 bones in the standard framework. Separately counted sesamoid or accessory bones can make an individual's literal total higher.

Injuries & Emergencies20 Min Read

Which Walking Boot Is Right for a Broken Metatarsal?

A boot can protect a healing foot, but it cannot make every metatarsal fracture safe to walk on or replace appropriate assessment and follow-up.

Injuries & Emergencies16 Min Read

Why Is My Foot Turning Black? Causes and Danger Signs

A cold, numb, weak, severely painful or rapidly changing foot requires emergency evaluation. Bruises, injured nails and venous staining can also look black.

Toenails15 Min Read

White Toenail After Polish Removal: Dryness or Fungus?

For a superficial-looking, stable and painless patch, leave the nail bare temporarily, moisturize for dryness, avoid abrasion and monitor its growth.

Shoes & Orthotics16 Min Read

How Long Do Orthotics Last? Type and Use Matter

Providers commonly cite 1-5 years for custom devices, but age is only a prompt to inspect. A sound shell may be refurbished instead of replaced.

Skin Conditions15 Min Read

Foot Wart vs Callus: Skin Lines and Pressure Clues

Skin lines often continue through a callus but may stop around a wart. If clues conflict, avoid acids, freezing, cutting or aggressive filing pending assessment.

Heel & Arch Pain20 Min Read

Foot Sleeves for Plantar Fasciitis Vary by Use

A correctly fitted sleeve may provide temporary comfort while worn. No universal maximum daily wear time is established, so follow product-specific directions.

Shoes & Orthotics20 Min Read

Best Shoes for Ball of Foot Pain by Fit and Activity

Hoka Bondi 9 is the most useful benchmark for walking and easy running. See when wide feet, orthotics or instability call for another shoe.

Toenails19 Min Read

Pain by the Big Toenail: Ingrown or Another Cause?

Pain near the nail can reflect an ingrown edge, infection, footwear pressure, trauma or trapped blood. Exact location and red flags help choose the next step.

Heel & Arch Pain20 Min Read

A Foot Arch Knot Has Several Possible Causes

A marble-like lump may be a plantar fibroma, but cysts, swollen tendons and infections are other possibilities. New or painful foot masses need an exam.

Heel & Arch Pain14 Min Read

Heel Spur vs Plantar Fasciitis: Symptoms and Diagnosis

First-step pain after rest raises suspicion for plantar fasciitis. An X-ray can show a heel spur, but cannot prove it causes the pain.

Skin Conditions14 Min Read

Hyperhidrosis Can Contribute to Peeling Feet

Non-itchy peeling does not identify sweat damage: athlete's foot may also occur without itching, so the absence of itch cannot settle the cause.

Toenails14 Min Read

Nail Fungus Can Spread, but Its Reach Has Limits

Body-wide fungal disease mainly involves unusual yeasts or molds and profound immune compromise. It is not a routine outcome of dermatophyte toenail fungus.

Toe & Forefoot Pain20 Min Read

Numb Toes After Heels: Self-Care vs Medical Care

Improvement after pressure is removed is reassuring, but another condition is still possible if numbness returns or feeling does not fully come back.

Toenails17 Min Read

Toenail Trauma vs Fungus: Onset, Growth and Spread

Repeated nail trauma can develop gradually, while fungus can stay limited to one nail. Persistent or unclear changes may warrant clinical assessment.

Bunions15 Min Read

8 Ways to Manage Bunions Without Surgery

An established bunion generally cannot be permanently straightened without surgery. Care is matched to pressure, rubbing, pain, swelling or reduced mobility.

Bunions2 Min Read

What Is the Earliest Sign of a Bunion Forming?

A big toe that no longer points forward but leans toward the second toe means the process has begun, even if a bump has not appeared yet.

Toe & Forefoot Pain19 Min Read

What Are Foot Parts Called?

The heel is an external region; the calcaneus is the bone beneath it. Everyday and anatomical names are organized by top, sole, side and skeletal views.