What are the dangers of rubber boots. The first signs and treatment of rheumatism of the legs Sores on the legs from rubber boots

Imperceptibly, crocs have entered the habitual everyday life of the inhabitants of North America, and now this unpretentious footwear is conquering the expanses of Europe. Even celebrities dare to wear these funny rubber sandals in public places. Everyone who wears crocs finds them surprisingly comfortable.

Two opposition camps

People are divided into two camps, with their own arguments for and against. Someone does not see any aesthetics in rubber sandals designed for swimming in the pool or gardening. Other people are quite happy with the comfort and fun looks. But orthopedic doctors are categorical. They argue that the friendship of legs with ugly plastic causes irreparable harm to health. They seem to have irrefutable evidence.

Disadvantages of this shoe

Experts say that the main problem of Crocs is the open heel, equipped with a loose strap. Thus, when walking, the leg remains unstable, and the connection between the heel and toe is broken. According to orthopedists, such shoes are not suitable for daily use. Therefore, if you have already fallen in love with the convenience of crocs, you will have to alternate wearing these shoes with other, more suitable models.

What causes insufficient heel fixation

The heel that is not fixed tightly transfers the load when walking to the toes. Wearing plastic sandals for a long time can cause serious health problems, including tendonitis (inflammation of tendon tissue), bunions, painful blisters, and corns. As you understand, shoes made of higher quality materials, such as leather sandals with a heel strap, can lead to the same problems.

The lack of a flexible sole is another minus.

Another disadvantage of Crocs orthopedists see the lack of a flexible sole. Monolithic rubber when walking does not allow the foot to bend and unbend correctly. That is why lovers of these shoes are more likely to get painful sensations in their feet. Orthopedists categorically do not recommend that their patients wear crocs for 8 to 10 hours a day.
An exception may be two categories of citizens: people with a high instep and people suffering from constant swelling of the legs. Also, according to experts, there is nothing comfortable in these shoes. They often notice how people, dressed in Crocs, stumble and lose their balance.

Wear high heels? We have no idea what it could turn into in the future! Researchers from the University of Boston have concluded that wearing "harmful", that is, uncomfortable, shoes is the most common cause of foot disease in old age.

Scientists studied a group of 3372 people over the age of 50 - 1472 men and 1900 women. For six years, they were regularly questioned about the appearance of uncomfortable and painful sensations in the legs.

In addition, participants were asked to describe in detail what kind of shoes they wore during their lifetime: at the age of 20-29 years, 30-44 years, 45-64 years, 65-75 years and over 75 years.

Shoes were classified into the most "healthy" (sports and casual sneakers), "average" (boots or shoes with rubber soles) and "harmful" (high-heeled shoes, street sandals and slippers).

According to the data received, about a quarter of the respondents (19 percent of men and 29 percent of women) suffered from pain in their legs almost constantly. At the same time, almost all women who experienced pain in the back of the foot admitted that they used to wear "harmful" shoes.

Of the men, however, only 2 percent complained about uncomfortable shoes. This is due to the fact that the representatives of the stronger sex are not inclined to sacrifice their comfort in order to look elegant.

So, what ailments can "harmful" shoes give you?

Arthritis, flat feet and varicose veins

They are the result of wearing high-heeled shoes. Unfortunately, our ladies in choosing shoes and boots are often guided by the principle: beauty requires sacrifice. "Yes, it's terribly uncomfortable to walk in them, but I feel like a queen!" many admit.

Meanwhile, from wearing such shoes, the foot deforms over time, the developing transverse flat feet weakens the ligaments and joints, problems arise with posture, gait ...

Heels also provoke a constant overstrain of the calf, thigh and pelvic muscles, leading to a deterioration in blood circulation. Hence the occurrence of edema, pain and.

Not so long ago, British unions calculated that high heels cost the national economy £300m. This money is used to pay for treatment and temporary disability payments to employees who fall ill due to wearing such shoes. Trade unionists demand to abolish the existing dress codes in many firms that require the wearing of "hairpins".

If you can't get rid of high heels, at least don't wear them all the time! And another valuable tip: it doesn’t hurt to do leg exercises regularly to neutralize the negative consequences.

Pain and swelling can also be the result of wearing shoes that are too tight. If possible, buy shoes not from leatherette, but from genuine leather, as it subsequently stretches over the leg.

Choose shoes according to size. It is better to buy autumn boots half a size, and winter boots a size larger, since you will also have to wear socks under it.

Calluses and corns

It is very easy to arise if you wear shoes that do not fit or, say, sandals on your bare feet. Wounds and calluses on the feet can be very painful and can restrict your movement.

It is better to purchase shoes with soft, rather than hard lasts, and from natural materials. It should not be too small or too big for you. In no case should you wear shoes on bare feet: be sure to use socks, stockings or footprints.

When you go to nature or hiking, wear sneakers or sneakers. If you have to wear rubber boots, don't forget cotton or wool socks, depending on the weather.

Frequent wearing of rubber boots can have a negative impact even on the health of those who do not suffer from any chronic diseases. First of all, this is due to what these shoes are made of.

Rubber is a completely airtight material. Cold air from the street and heat coming from the feet contribute to the formation of condensation. Thanks to this greenhouse effect, the feet in rubber boots are constantly in a humid environment. And such an environment is just a paradise for the development of various microorganisms. Therefore, abusing the wearing of rubber boots, there is a risk of earning fungal infections of the skin or nails.

Rubber boots are absolutely not warm. Therefore, wet feet, combined with cold, threaten the owner of such shoes with serious hypothermia, which in turn can cause the development of arthritis and diseases of the genitourinary system.

Despite the fact that the modern industry produces a wide variety of models of rubber boots, most consumers choose shoes with flat soles. And long-term wearing of such shoes, as a rule, entails the development of flat feet and the formation of a heel spur.

The expression "rheumatism of the legs" is more of a common origin. This disease has been known since antiquity, many famous people suffered from it, for example, the Roman emperor Nero, US presidents Adams and Jefferson, the composer Mozart, the Russian classic writer Saltykov-Shchedrin and many other celebrities. After all, earlier rheumatism of the joints of the legs was indeed very common, until antibiotics appeared, which opened up the possibility of curing the disease.

Modern medicine has long established that rheumatism is not an isolated lesion of the legs, but a systemic disease. In this case, the disease covers the entire body, heart and joints, but in different patients certain articular joints may be more affected. Why are the joints of the legs most susceptible to disease? Because they experience the greatest stress and are more likely to experience hypothermia..

Who develops rheumatoid arthritis and why?

information to read

Medical statistics show that more than 70% of patients with rheumatism are children and adolescents.. Although historical references and fiction mention rheumatism of the legs in adults more. So, for example, during the Second World War in the American army, which fought in Europe in the winter of 1944-45, more than 12,000 soldiers failed precisely because of rheumatism of the legs. They were shod in boots, in contrast to the Russian soldiers, shod in tarpaulin boots with footcloths, which did not let in moisture and retained heat.

It turns out that the legs were caused by prolonged hypothermia, a cold. But not only in an extreme situation, but also in ordinary life, the same cold is the main cause of rheumatism. That is why children who are most susceptible to colds get sick, besides, their immune system is not yet strong enough..

Important! If your work is associated with a long stay in the cold, in dampness, in rubber shoes, you should periodically consult a doctor for an examination. Rheumatism can also have a latent (latent) course up to a certain time.

The causative agent of the disease - B-hemolytic streptococcus, which enters mainly into the upper respiratory tract, causes various colds: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, and so on. A couple of weeks after the apparent recovery from a cold, the joints begin to ache.

The following factors play a role in the process of joint damage:

• toxins and enzymes produced by staphylococcus aureus;
• allergic reaction of the immune system;
• repetition of colds, their transition into a chronic form.

Rheumatism in adults also occurs, but is quite rare. Basically, it affects people who stay for a long time in conditions of low temperature and humidity, as well as having chronic foci of infection in the body (tonsillitis, sinusitis).

Chronic inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis) is the main cause of rheumatism.

What are the symptoms of rheumatism of the legs?

Signs of rheumatism of the legs are:

1. Pain in the joints.
2. Joint dysfunction.
3. External changes in the joints.
4. General symptoms.

Joint pain

Most often, the disease affects the knee joints, it is in them that pain initially appears. It is characteristic that the pains are of a “volatile” nature, that is, today the right knee joint hurts, tomorrow the left or ankle joint, but both can hurt at once. This suggests that the disease is not limited to one joint.

Note. Pain in the legs with rheumatism is more intense in adults, because children do not yet have age-related changes in the joints, as, for example, in people after 40-50 years. Also, pain often occurs in the calf muscles. Although in adults, especially in the elderly, the legs hurt not so much from rheumatism as from other diseases.

Knee pain is the most common symptom of rheumatism in the legs.

Joint dysfunction

Restrictions on movements in the initial stage of the disease are usually insignificant, mainly the patient limits volitional, active movements, while the volume of passive movements during the examination by a doctor is usually not limited. Only in severe and advanced stages of rheumatism, when destructive changes in the cartilage and bones have come, the function of the joints is sharply disturbed.

External changes in the joints

With rheumatism of the legs, the knee and ankle joints increase in volume, the joints of the feet are less often affected.. In the acute stage, the skin around the joint may be hot to the touch. With a long course of the disease and improper treatment, deformity of the joints develops.

Approximately 10-15% of patients develop so-called rheumatic nodules under the skin.. These are rounded or oval subcutaneous formations in the area of ​​the joints with a diameter of 0.5-3 cm, formed due to the proliferation (hypertrophy) of the connective tissue of the joint capsule.

Important: the onset of any manifestations of pathology in the joints may indicate the development of rheumatism, so a visit to a doctor and an examination are required.

General symptoms

Common manifestations of rheumatism include:

• increase in body temperature: in the acute stage up to 38-40°, in the chronic course - up to 37.2-37.8°;
• general weakness, increased sweating;
• headache, poor sleep;
• pallor of the skin;
• rashes on the skin in the form of pink rings and ovals;
• increased bleeding, vascular fragility: bleeding from the nose, from the gums when brushing your teeth, skin bruising without visible injury.

Unlike in adults, local manifestations are less pronounced, but more noticeable - pain, deformity of the joints of the legs.

What is the treatment for rheumatism?

Treatment of rheumatism of the joints is carried out according to the generally accepted antirheumatic program, which includes:

1. Antibiotic therapy.
2. Anti-inflammatory drugs.
3. Antiallergic drugs.
4. Hormonal agents.
5. Diet therapy, vitamin therapy.
6. Local treatment (physiotherapy, external means).
7. Sanitation of foci of inflammation (tonsillitis, sinusitis and other sources of infection).

Antibiotics are prescribed for any form and stage of the disease: bicillin, synthetic penicillins, broad-spectrum drugs (cephalosporins). In each case, the doctor selects the drug and dose individually. The duration of the course of antibiotic therapy is from 10 to 14 days.

Necessarily prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - Aspirin, Butadione, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Voltaren, Ibuprofen and their other analogues.

Antiallergic treatment (antihistamines, calcium salts) are prescribed to block the hyperimmune allergic reaction to the action of the pathogen. For the same purpose, steroid hormones (Prednisolone, Triamcinolone, Hydrocortisone) are used, they are also prescribed to relieve inflammation in protracted cases of the disease.

Movalis is one of the most widely used modern antirheumatic drugs.

Mandatory diet therapy, which includes a complete easily digestible protein, essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins. Additionally, increased doses of vitamin C are prescribed, which strengthens the connective tissue, rutin (vitamin P) to strengthen blood vessels, vitamins of group B to restore the nervous system and skin.

Locally, in the acute stage, various painkillers and anti-inflammatory ointments are used, and after the acute phenomena of the disease subside, physiotherapy (UVR, UHF, magnetic and pulsed currents, infrared and laser irradiation) is added to the treatment of leg rheumatism.

Important: you can not take antibiotics and other drugs, as well as all kinds of home remedies without the knowledge of a doctor. The question of how and how to treat rheumatism of the legs, only the doctor decides.

After the acute inflammation subsides and the body temperature normalizes, the source of infection is sanitized: treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, carious teeth.

Is it possible to treat rheumatism of the legs at home?

Treatment of rheumatism at home has been used for many centuries using traditional medicine. These are various drugs (ointments, tinctures, decoctions, rubbing) made on the basis of natural products, the effectiveness and harmlessness of which have been tested by time.

As folk antirheumatic drugs for internal use, the following are more often used:

• lemon juice;
• blueberries, cranberries;
• decoction of fruits and leaves of raspberries, currants;
• decoction of pine buds;
• infusion of lilac flowers,
• flower honey with lemon peel.

Important: as a rule, folk remedies for the treatment of rheumatism of the legs are not dangerous, but still their choice should be made after consulting a doctor.

The arsenal of external means is much wider. These include applications with mustard, horseradish, radish, turpentine, nettle, warming with quartz sand and salt, lotions with a decoction of aspen leaves, burdock root, birch buds and many other means.

Rheumatism of the legs is a disease that is successfully cured by modern medicine. The main condition that the patient must fulfill: the treatment of rheumatism of the joints of the legs should be started as early as possible and carried out by a specialist.