Solutions and exercises to address common foot problems

One of the most momentous sports injuries of all time wasn't a gruesome knee tear or a blown-out shoulder. It was Joe DiMaggio's heel spur, a painful bony protrusion said to have

ended the New York Yankee's career in 1951. But DiMaggio's foot troubles didn't end there. In 1990, nearly 40 years after he hung up his cleats, the athlete sought treatment

again: He couldn't play golf or even walk. "Foot and ankle problems are not life-threatening, but they're lifestyle-threatening,” explains podiatrist Rock Positano, director

of the nonsurgical foot and ankle service at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery. Foot pain often is the triggering event that leads to musculoskeletal problems like knee, hip

and back pain and ultimately to falls, loss of mobility or worse. About 24 percent of people over 45 suffer from foot pain. By 70, that number's more like 50 percent. But foot pain is

not a normal part of aging, says New Jersey-based podiatrist Alan Bass. “I never say to my patients, ‘You're getting older and these are just things that are happening.’ “

DiMaggio's injury and a failed surgery during his playing career were the big impetuses for nonsurgical musculoskeletal foot and ankle interventions in this country, says Positano, who

successfully treated the retired player with a specialized brace. Today, thanks in part to Joltin’ Joe, it's easier than ever to resolve foot pain, often with orthopedics rather than by

going under the knife. Here are some common places it may strike, and how to strike back. THE PROBLEMS 1. VASCULAR Blood flow to the feet diminishes with age, which can make any foot

problem worse. For example, less blood flow to a tendon could contribute to issues like tendinitis, Positano says. 2. ORTHOPEDICS Generally speaking, muscle or skeletal issues such as

plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bunions and arthritic changes in joints of the foot start to crop up after age 40, especially in active people. If you're a runner, you might notice

tightness in your Achilles tendon all of a sudden.