Most painful foot conditions may be relieved or even avoided with some simple hygiene measures. People should wash and dry their feet every day and inspect them for any irregularities such as cuts or calluses. They should wear shower shoes in public showers, locker rooms or near swimming pools and avoid going barefoot in these areas.

Properly fitting shoes may alleviate many foot problems. Shoes should support the heel and arch and have adequate room for the toes without compressing them. Foot size can change even for adults, so people are advised to have their feet measured once a year. If the feet are different sizes, shoes should be bought to fit the bigger foot. A person should not wear the same shoes every day, but should alternate them to allow the shoes to air out. The use of high-heeled shoes should be minimized in duration and frequency.

Many foot injuries and sprains may be treated with the RICE principles:

• Rest the foot.
• Ice the foot.
• Compress the foot.
• Elevate the foot.

Other common treatments include:

• Medications. Minor foot pain from strain or arthritis may be treated with medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For more severe pain, prescription NSAIDs may be given. Antifungal medications are typically used for athlete’s foot and nail infections. Corticosteroids, either in pill form or injections, may help reduce inflammation associated with conditions such as with plantar fasciitis or arthritis. People with gout need to reduce the amount of uric acid in their systems, either by adjusting their diets or with prescription medication.
  
  
• Foot products. Over-the-counter products such as pads, inserts and moleskin can help painful conditions such as corns, calluses and plantar warts. Arch supports may help the pain of plantar fasciitis by redistributing the weight along the foot. Prescriptions are also used for more specialized shoe inserts called orthotics to alleviate some foot problems.
  
  
• Stretching before exercise. Proper stretching may also alleviate and prevent foot pain. People should warm up the feet and legs with stretching before exercise. People with plantar fasciitis may experience some relief if they stretch their foot muscles before getting out of bed in the morning, the time when their pain is most severe.
  
  
• Diabetic foot care. People with diabetes must be especially vigilant with foot care. They should regularly have their feet checked by a physician or podiatrist. They should also seek trained salespeople when buying shoes to obtain a proper fit. Diabetes patients with problems such as foot ulcers should seek treatment immediately. Physicians treat foot ulcers by removing dead skin and tissue (debriding) and applying medications or dressings. Left untreated, foot ulcers can worsen with an infection that may eventually require amputation. Diabetic patients are also more prone to infections because of impairment in the immune system.

• Immobilization. Sometimes foot fractures and sprains must be immobilized with a cast or splint. The cast immobilizes the foot and the person uses crutches to walk to keep weight off the foot, usually for several weeks or months. Achilles tendon sprains may require a cast.
  
  
• Surgery. Some tendon tears require surgery to reconnect the tendon, followed by casting. Bunions and hammertoes may also require surgery. Bunion surgery may involve removal of any protruding bone and realignment of the toe joint. For hammertoes, a surgeon may realign the toes to help rebalance the tendons and joints. Ankle joint replacement (arthroplasty) is sometimes performed in cases of severe arthritis. After any foot surgery, a patient may need physical therapy to help restore function.

A new approach to treating plantar fascitis, shockwave therapy, which has long been used for conditions such as kidney stones, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing heel pain.