HEALTHY FEET ARE HAPPY FEET; AUGUST IS HEALTHY FEET MONTH

Elma Cook knows the importance of healthy feet, and she never misses an appointment to get her nails trimmed and feet massaged a little.

"It feels good," she said, after slipping her socks and tennis shoes back on.

Healthy feet are happy feet, explained Susan Farrow a foot care nurse with Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Both Southeast and St. Francis Medical Center offer foot care clinics on a routine basis. Appointments may be scheduled. In addition, most beauty shops offer pedicures, with many of the same therapeutic values.

August is foot health month.

By midlife, about age 50, scientists estimate the average person has logged some 75,000 miles on their feet.

After cramming toes into uncomfortable -- but stylish -- high-heeled pumps or steaming feet in sweaty gym socks and walking through fungus-laden locker-rooms, or running, jumping, walking and climbing those 75,000 miles often in ill-fitting shoes, it's no wonder people are looking for relief.

In the summer, foot care becomes especially important as more people expose a little foot skin in sandals or at the swimming pool.

Most of the clinics' clients are elderly. Some have arthritis or other conditions which make it difficult for them to trim their toenails and care for their feet.

When young people arrive at the clinics, most times the problem is foot pain caused by poorly fitting shoes or exercise-related injuries.

Farrow said choosing the right shoe is key to good foot health.

In the summer, for example, people should avoid thong-style sandals, which are bad for feet. Sandals with straps are OK as long as they have good arch support.

Toenails should be trimmed every six to eight weeks and should be trimmed straight across. Nail polish is O.K., but should be removed regularly to make sure the nails remain healthy.

Lotion should be applied on the soles and tops of feet but not between toes where athlete's foot often starts.

For patients at the clinics, poor foot care can be downright dangerous.

People with diabetes, for example, can develop serious complications from a nick with the toenail trimmers or an ingrown toenail.

Several ailments cause people to lose sensation in the soles of their feet. They could step on sharp objects or wear shoes with sharp objects inside and never know.

"It's always a good lesson to teach children and everyone else to check inside their shoes before putting them on," Farrow said. "We tell children to check for spiders, but you never know what will show up."

She has found money, business cards and lots of other unusual objects inside the shoes of her patients.

By paying attention to feet, Farrow said, people may feel a little better. "It's important to pay attention to your feet," she said.

CARING FOR YOUR FEET

Wash feet daily. rince soff all soap and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.

Trim nails straight across. Don't cut nails too short, and don't cut out or dig at corners.

Do not trim or shave corns or calluses. Do not use over-the-counter medicines to dissolve corns or calluses.

Wear clean cotton socks or stockings. Change them daily. Don't wear any that are too short in the toes or too tights.

Wear shoes that hit.

Some feet sweat more than others and are more prone to athlete's foot. Some tips:

*Wear shoes made of leather canvas, not synthetics.

*Switch shoes from day to day.

*Use over-the-counter antifungal treatments of foot powder.

*See your doctor if problem persists.

(Illustrations by Johnson & Johnson)

SELECTING SHOES

*Have your feet measured every time you buy shoes. Always buy for the largest foot.

*Shoes with leather uppers and crepe rubber soles proviude much comfort. Leather molds to foot and allows proper ventilation. Crepe rubber soles provide better shock absorption.

*When shoes are placed flat, heels should appear straight and not tilted.

*Lenth should be one finger's wideth from the longest toe of the larger foot.

*Toe box should be high enough that all toes can wriggle freely.

*Shoe should not be tight across instep or ball of foot.

*The heel counter of the shoe should fit snugly around the heel but not cause skin irritation.

*Heel height should be one to one and one-quarter inches.

*Shoes with heels should have steel shanks to provide arch support. Wedged heels do not need them. There should be no gap under the insteap.

*Sole should bend with minimal effort. Soles should be thick enough to prevent sharp objects from puncturing foot.

(Source: Southeast Missouri Hospital Foot Care Clinic)