The first human being stood upright about 1 million years ago. When man's feet took up the weight of his load and freed his hands for other things, civilization was born. With it came shoes: first, simple skin sandals that protected feet from cold and injury. But since those early times, shoes have more often been worn for status and style than for comfort and function. Early Greek and Oriental actors used platform shoes to make the main character on state stand above the supporting players. In sixteenth-centry England, male dandies wore shoes with extremely pointed toes. Although it nearly crippled them, years ago upper-class Chinese women bound their feet so they could wear tiny shoes -- a sign of being well-bread! Today's high heels are almost as rough on modern women's feet, so it's no surprise that 80% of all foot problems occur in women. Men's feet haven't fared too well either. The stresses and inactivity of contemporary life often lead to obesity. If those extra poinds weren't enough to make a pair of feet ache, the out-of-shape weekend-athlete doesn't always wear the right shoes for the right activity. The result, as often as not, is a foot problem or two. Wearing improper footwear on the job is another problem, as it not only causes painful problems for the worker, but contributes to thousands of hours of downtime (which translates into the loss of millions of dollars) in industry every year. Fortunately, most foot problems can be prevented. Just follow the "golden rule": Be good to your feet, and they'll be good to you. Learn more facts about your feet. Irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis can be caused by improper warm up or overtraining. Misaligned big toe joints which can become swollen and tender, causing the first joint to angle toward the other toes. Bunions tend to be hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe. A condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance, in which the toe is bent in a claw-like position. It occurs most frequently with the second toe, often when a bunion slants the big toe toward and under it, but any of the other three smaller toes can be affected. Growths of bone on the underside, forepart of the heel bone. Heel spurs occur when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone. This area of the heel can later calcify to form a spur. Nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin. Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity and poor foot structure. Women are 50% more likely to have ingrown toenails than men. Enlarged benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth toes. They are caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the nerves. Pressure from ill-fitting shoes or abnormal bone structure can create the condition as well. Plantar fasciitis (or heel pain) is commonly traced to an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. Sometimes known as the "ball bearings of the foot," the sesamoids are two small bones found beneath the first metatarsal bones. They can inflame or rupture under stress of exercise. Pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation (collapsing arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between opposing muscle groups in the leg. One of the various types of fractures, stress fractures require vastly different treatment. Stress fractures are incomplete cracks in bone caused by overuse. When the foot is not functioning correctly, it will produce painful areas. The signs and symptoms of altered biomechanics of the foot are usually registered as pain. An orthotic can relieve that pain by supporting the ligaments and the osseous (bone) structures of the feet. Orthotics are devices that are used to control abnormal foot function. These devices are shoe inserts, and, although they are often refered to as "arch supports," orthotics are more than that. They perform functions that make standing, walking, and running more comfortable and efficient, by altering slightly the angles at which the foot strikes a walking or running surface.

You should try orthotics if:
• You experience painful feet
• You are on your feet all day
• You have knee, hip, or back pain
• You experience tired legs, cramping, or poor posture
• You suffer from calluses or blisters
• You are an athlete
• You have a weight problem
• You are a senior citizen
• You are a child