Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-27
WEAK AND PAINFUL FEET
Toeing in and Run Over Shoes-Effects
of Improper Footwear.

The chief factor in the widespread com
plant known as weak or nat feet is i'm
proper shoes The Medical Journal SAYS
that if the physician would aote how
few women, whether they are complain
ing of their feet or not, can flex the foot
beyond a right angle he would get some
idea of how markedly shoes affect the
feet.
Sometimes patients may present them
selves wearing seemingly proper shoes.
but on questioning it will be found that
the harm was done in early life. They
are people who have been cursed with
small feet and through vanity worn as
small a shoe as was possible.
\ frequent cause of weak feet in boys
is found in the excessive exercise in
which they indulge, walking. running
and jumping often times with the feet
covered only by those apologies for foot
wear known as ''sneaks." ''Sneaks"
give absolutely no support to
the feet, but on the contrary
often force the front part of the
foot outward into an abducted position
favOring strain. The long, low type of
arch is found to be especially apt to give
trouble.
In small children a common symptom
of weak feet IS toeing in. This is the ex-
aggerated effect of nataro's effort t.
correct the trouble. Sometimes in the
effort to relieve the weakened foot the
child will even walk on it's toes Some
times very young children with weak feet
will not attempt to walk at all.
In later life the only symptom Of weak
feet may be weak ankles shown in roll
ing over of the ankles and inability to
skate. The ankles may roll over on the
inside or on the outside. When they
roll over on the inside it is the direct re-
suit of the weak foot, and when they
roll over on the outside it is due to
natures attempt to relieve the strain
by adducting the foot.
An example of this was the case of
man who noticed that his shoes ran
over on the outer side and in order to
stop it built up the outer side Of the heel
and sole Of his shoes. This stopped the
running over of his shoe, but in a short
time he began to have pain in the arches
of his sole and the use of proper arch
support quickly cleared up the trouble
a painful and enlarged big toe joint
is very common in weakened conditions
of the feet. This simply means that I'M
due weight is being thrown on that joint
and is usually the result of an improper
shoe adducting the front part of the foot
and shifting the line of body weight from
the middle Of the foot where it belongs
over the inner side.
Another result of this shifting of the
/ bouN weight IS the fOTmatlen OF CalluSes
at the points Of undue pressure. When
/ ever callus forms on a foot it means that
something is wrong. The reading of
/ the calluses on a mans foot would really
/ be a scientific study as compared with
reading the bumps on his head
1t is very important to observe chill.
/ drens feet and If weakness is found take
precautionary measures. A child with
weakened feet can consider itself very
/ fortunate if its trouble is recognized AZ
an early date and appropriate treatment
! instituted.
! Children do not mind the discomfort
1 Of u brace and a good result can almost
| certainly be guaranteed. Occasionally
massage and manipulation viii cure q
case Of weakened feet in a child.
/ In both children and adults the case.
easiest 20 cure are those in which tb,
arch has actually begun to give way
( Such feet are very painful and the
. patient can scarcely walk, but undcl
/ treatment with proper shoes, braces
/ massage and gymnastics relief is promp
and effective.
/ In The somewhat worse cases where III,
arches have actually fallen but can b.
forced back the prognOsis is also good
and even in cases Of seemingly rigid fla
foot the foot viii loosen up in q sur
prlsing manner and give a fairly goo.
pro2nosis as regards freedom from pair
| and discomfort.