Clearly, the coronavirus is a respiratory condition and therefore not something you would think could be linked to our feet; however, the virus has had an impact on many other parts of our bodies.
Covid toes
The term has been coined by some doctors who have noticed a correlation between people who have contracted the virus and who have developed swollen feet and toes.
These patients have displayed swollen and reddened toes ‘for months at a time’, scientists have claimed. The condition has been likened to that of chilblains, where feet react to extreme cold temperatures.
Yet another symptom of this terrible disease, Covid toes, in most cases, works itself out as the patient recovers from the virus.
Lockdown foot
Another affliction linked to the coronavirus pandemic comes as a result of millions of us perpetually wearing slippers, flip-flops and other examples of unsupportive footwear when working from home.
Though comfy, wearing such loose-fitting slippers/shoes can see conditions such as plantar fasciitis develop, which is where the plantar fascia—the ligament that joins the heel and the rest of the foot—becomes inflamed and painful, due to a lack of support.
Sufferers of plantar fasciitis can find walking very painful; they have to regularly stretch their feet, in a bid to lengthen the ligament in question that has become too tight.
Home horrors
Also, due to the very same reason, there has been a rise in minor household injuries during the pandemic, according to studies involving remote workers. From burns and scalds to the stubbing of feet on furniture…you can actually break bones in your feet from a particularly bad ‘stub’.
Eating habits
Working from home in lockdowns, with only food outlets and supermarkets open, has seen many people put on a few pounds over the last year or so. Carrying extra weight can change a person’s gait, which could cause feet problems if the change is severe or prolonged.
Also, conditions such as diabetes will have developed in certain people due to poor diet, which can cause nerve damage in the feet—eventually, without treatment, this could result in permanent numbness of your lower appendages.
This may not sound much of a worry, but numbness would prevent you from feeling a stone in your shoe or the stub of your little toe on the corner of some furniture, for example—both of which could result in cuts and bruises.
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Covid has proved to be a truly terrible disease, and although many people have thankfully recovered after catching the virus, more longer-term side-effects and anomalies could still appear.
Treat Your Feet is open to treat all foot complaints and conditions. We don’t recommend ignoring any new symptom, pain or discomfort relating to your feet, as there’s still so much to understand about Covid and the effect it can have on the rest of the body.
If you’d like a professional opinion about the health of your feet (and any other conditions they may be pointing towards), make an appointment with the team at Treat Your Feet. Whilst we’re not GPs, we are qualified podiatrists and have a wide knowledge of feet and toes and the common signs they can sometimes give. Call 01226 492412 (Wombwell) or 0113 238 0330 (Morley).
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