There are many causes of flat feet. Obesity, pregnancy or repetitive pounding on a hard surface can weaken the arch leading to over-pronation. Often people with flat feet do not experience discomfort immediately, and some never suffer from any discomfort at all. However, when symptoms develop and become painful, walking becomes awkward and causes increased strain on the feet and calves. See a sports massage therapist who can give a deep massage. Depending on how bad it is they might need three or more treatments. It is important the gap between them is not too long as they will regress back to their original condition. A fracture in the first metatarsal bone, which leads to the big toe, is uncommon because of the thickness of this bone. If it occurs, however, it is more serious than a fracture in any of the other metatarsal bones because it dramatically changes your pattern of normal walking and weight-bearing. Stress fractures do occur in other foot bones but are much less common than in the metatarsals. Sesamoiditis The heel is the largest bone in the foot. Heel pain is the most common foot problem and affects two million Americans every year. It can occur in the front, back, or bottom of the heel. Plantar Fasciitis Flat feet (also known as pes planus or fallen arches) is a condition in which the arch of the foot collapses, causing the entire sole of the foot to make contact with the ground. Bone Spurs Bone spurs (also known as osteophytes) are bony projections that develop on the surface of the bone, often at joints or on the spine. Bone spurs are often the result osteoarthritis. Bone spurs often do no cause symptoms, but can cause swelling, pain, and tearing to the surrounding tissue or tendon. Corns or calluses may also build up over time to provide padding in the area of the bone spur. Plantar Fasciitis Acute ball-of-foot pain symptoms can indicate the presence of Metatarsalgia, a medical condition which involves inflammation to the nerves attached to the metatarsal bones. Metatarsalgia is a common occurrence among runners, basketball players, tennis players, and other athletes involved in high-impact sports. It is also frequent among women who wear high-heel shoes for long periods at a time. The metatarsal bones take the brunt of our weight when pushing-off while running or jumping, which can be the equivalent to several times your body weight. Among the frequent causes of metatarsal foot pain are extreme sports training, irregular foot anatomy, being overweight, improper footwear, and frequent wearing of high-heel shoes. Other problems can also cause pain in the ball of the foot. Two common ones are neuromas and stress fractures. If your foot pain is severe, long-lasting, or resistant to treatment, or you just want to make sure you are treating the correct problem, be sure to see your foot doctor. Terry's Shoes Foot Care Center has over 50 years of experience helping people to keep their feet healthy and to walk more comfortably. We are committed to working with you and your doctor and physical therapist to make sure that you receive the continued care necessary to keep your feet healthy. Doctors diagnose the condition by considering the history of the problem and examining the foot. X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonography cannot accurately identify this disorder but may be helpful in ruling out other disorders that can cause similar symptoms. Treatment Metatarsophalangeal joint pain can also result from osteoarthritis or stiffening of the joints of the ball of the foot, often at the big toe joint. Most people with these disorders have an abnormal motion of the foot when bearing weight and walking. Symptoms and Diagnosis Sesamoiditis is pain around a small bone (the sesamoid) below the metatarsal head where it adjoins the big toe (first metatarsal head). A temporary numbness in toe for a brief period of time is mostly triggered by some minor issue and it subsides on its own. However, toe numbness and pain occurring together is one such problem that you cannot afford to ignore. It can affect just one of the toes or all of them. The problem worsens further if the pain and numbness get extended to the feet and ankle and it happens quite often. Ill-fitting Shoes ? Wearing shoes that fit tightly in the toe area is a known cause of metatarsalgia. The condition also results from wearing high-heeled shoes that place pressure on the ball of the foot. Water has actually been utilized as a home treatment for sore feet due to the fact that it can relieve the pain from varicose veins and reduce the development of them. You can dip your feet in warm or cool water but keep in mind not to utilize water that is too hot or too cold. You can add Epsom salts or powders made for foot soaks to relax all the muscles and ligaments in them. Soak your feet for 15 minutes prior to patting dry. Because the word metatarsalgia simply describes the general symptom of pain in the ball of the foot, regardless of its cause, it is not
Surgery Patients with severe cases of hammertoe may need surgery. If the toe is still flexible, only a simple procedure that releases the tendon may be involved. Such procedures sometimes require only a single stitch and a Band-Aid. If the toe has become rigid, surgery on the bone is necessary, but it can still be performed in the doctor's office. A procedure called PIP arthroplasty involves releasing the ligaments at the joint and removing a small piece of toe bone, which restores the toe to its normal position. The toe is held in this position with a pin for about 3 weeks, and then the pin is removed. Metatarsalgia refers to pain felt under the ball of the foot. According to the Merck Manuals, it can be the result of nerve injury, poor circulation or a joint abnormality such as arthritis. The nerves may become irritated from repetitive stress or from the formation of Morton's neuroma, a benign nerve tumor. Nerve injury produces a burning pain in the toes and ball of the foot, followed by loss of sensation. Arthritis can affect any joints in the foot, causing a dull achy pain that is worse upon rising and improves throughout the day. Fracture and Stress Fracture Most (young) women like to look stylish and wear a shoe with a medium to high heel. The problem with high heels is that your bodyweight is not evenly distributed across the underside of the foot, but rather 80% of your weight pushes down on only one area of the foot, the forefoot area. i.e. the balls of your feet. This is totally unnatural and before long the entire forefoot structure collapses, leading to constant pressure and friction in the ball of the foot. The body reacts and builds up thick layers of callous in this area which in turn leads to a burning sensation under the foot. Diabetes related pain in the feet means that there is some nerve damage happening to cause these pains. It is an extremely serious warning that veins in the foot are closing up - the circulation of blood in foot is being closed off. If you suffer with diabetes and feel any tingling sensations at all in your feet, report it immediately. Did you know that 15% of all people with diabetes will suffer foot ulcers - the foot is being poisoned to the extent it can tear a hole open in the foot. 3% of these sufferers will lose their legs - FACT! Seeing a podiatrist for severe pain is always recommended, but for the average level of foot pain , basic foot care can be a successful solution. Working long days on your feet, hiking on rugged terrain, and abnormal pronation are all prime causes of pain in the feet. Being aware of how you step can help identify potential reasons for certain types of pain as many people experience over or under pronation in how their foot strikes the ground and rolls off the ankle. These kinds of problems can even lead to long term joint problems and should be addressed. About the Author Arthritis is one of the biggest problems faced by millions of people everyday. Severe pain and swelling of the foot are some of the symptoms associated with arthritis. This condition can be so severe at times that the person must be confined to bed. If you suffer from this condition you can apply the following treatments to get some relief for your foot pain. Avoid placing any weight on the suffering foot by providing it with support such as crutches or a cane. There are many non-prescription medications that can be used to provide temporary foot pain relief. These include Advil, Aleve and Tylenol. A hot and cold foot treatment can help in easing sudden foot pain To do this, fill a bucket with hot water and another bucket with cold water. Soak your feet in the cold water for a few minutes and then soak them in hot water. Alternate between hot and cold water soaks for a few times and finish with a cold water soak. The hot water dilates the blood vessels in your feet and the cold water constricts it. This compress will help in boosting the blood circulation, giving you relief from foot pain. Plantar Fasciitis is caused by small tears accompanied by inflammation along the ligaments and tendons stretching from the heel towards the ball of the foot. This region resembles a bow string and forms the arch of the foot, and it serves as one of our bodies' shock absorbers. Pain in the heel, particularly during the first steps as you start the day, is often associated with this type of foot pain The kind of footwear being worn often plays an important role in providing relief from foot pain Orthotic Insoles with proper arch support have been found to be helpful in relieving this condition in many people. Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs from small tears and inflammation in the wide band of tendons and ligaments - the connective tissue - which stretches from the heel to the ball of the foot. This band, much like the tensed string in a bow, forms the arch of the foot and helps to serve as a shock absorber for the body. (The term plantar means the sole of the foot and fascia refers to any fibrous connective tissue in the body.) Plantar fasciitis is usually a result of overuse from high-impact exercise and sports and accounts for up to 9% of all running injuries. Foot pain, more commonly known as arch pain takes place when an injury is caused to the structures that establish contact with the external environment. There are many reasons behind occurrence of such type of pain. Inadequate biochemical alignment, muscle sprain, ligament stretch and joint fractures are the common reasons behind aching feet. This requires immediate diagnosis. Top of foot usually pains due to excessive use while running or walking over uneven landscapes. Overuse induces fatigue in the muscles of foot. The clinical conditions that give rise to foot pain during activities are flat feet, bursitis, bunions or due to presence of calluses on feet. Buy shoes that fit. Always try on shoes before you purchase them. If the shoe is too tight across the toe box, it will be very unpleasant to wear and will make foot pain worse. Ill-fitting shoes also cause blisters or corns on your feet. You may want to get your feet measured each time you try on shoes, as some brands fit differently than others. Your feet swell as the day goes on, so it is usually best to wait until the evening to try on and purchase shoes. If you order shoes online and do not like the way they fit, return them. Seeing a podiatrist for severe pain is always recommended, but for the average level of foot pain , basic foot care can be a successful solution. Working long days on your feet, hiking on rugged terrain, and abnormal pronation are all prime causes of pain in the feet. Being aware of how you step can help identify potential reasons for certain types of pain as many people experience over or under pronation in how their foot strikes the ground and rolls off the ankle. These kinds of problems can even lead to long term joint problems and should be addressed. About the Author For this you need to go to a podiatrist a podiatrist is a foot specialist who gets the knowledge and experience after years of studies. A podiatrist can tell you about the problem of and the type of pain you are suffering from by checking your foot. The most common questions a podiatrist can ask you could be; what type of shoes you normally wear and what type of physical activities you perform that might be resulting in foot pain It is not necessary that the podiatrist can tell you about the problem just by looking at your foot sometimes several equipments utilize for this job to be done. If you had been standing all day or had walked around in high heels, then the foot pain that you might be experiencing could be due to overworked foot muscles.The best home remedy for tired and achy feet is to soak them in warm water. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. The warm water will help in soothing achy feet muscles and it will relax and rejuvenate you. This is one of the best natural remedies for foot pain and is useful for foot pain that is caused due to fatigue. Knee pain comes in as many types of conditions as the foot pain that we have thus far discussed. The causes of knee pain are also vastly different. Arthritis is one of those causes, but there are several others, such as bursitis, gout, or ligament injuries. In some cases, knee pain can be the result of improperly aligned feet. When this is the case, inadequate arch support provided by footwear can be a contributor. High-heeled footwear can also lead to knee pain because this type of footwear does not provide adequate balance of your body weight, thus contributing to an improper posture. If shoes do require breaking-in, moleskin pads should be placed next to areas on the skin where friction will occur. Shoes purchased for exercise should be specifically designed for a person's preferred sport. The heel area should be strong and supportive (but not too stiff) and the front of the shoe flexible. As soon as the heels show noticeable wear, the shoes or heels should be replaced. If a person insists on wearing high-heeled shoes, the heel should be wedge-shaped. (Even in these cases, the heel height should not be extreme.) People should avoid extreme variation between exercise footwear, street, and dress shoes. Shoes should be changed during the day. Another cause of Ball of Foot Pain is over-pronation. Over-pronation (or excess pronation) occurs in a lot of people, especially as they get older. The arches drop and feet and ankles tend to roll inwards. Excessive pronation is a major contributing cause to heel pain and heel spurs, but it also can lead to Metatarsalgia. As the longitidunal arch collapses so does the transverse arch. The transverse arch is the arch that runs across the forefoot and is formed by the 5 metatarsal bones. The bones in the foot drop and the structure of the foot is severely weakened. Foot pain is also caused by wearing the wrong type of shoes for the wrong type of activity. Really, there's a reason why athletic shoe makers sell billions of dollars of footwear each year. These shoes were designed to protect the feet while the user competes in his preferred sport. Sports or activities that are high-impact require more padding or support in certain areas. For instance, a marathon runner absorbs an incredible amount of force on his hindfoot, which is why professional running shoes are designed to absorb force. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can cause or even aggravate an existing injury. To get at the source of the problem, you have to give your arch some help and support. Try wearing an arch strapping This will add support to your arch. If the strapping does not provide enough relief, pick up some arch supports. You should be able to find them (probably by Dr. Scholls) at a drug store. They raise the arch and shift burden off the heel. By wearing these you also give the fascia a little slack - the arch doesn't have to stretch as far. If the strapping and the arch supports together are not enough, try adding heel pads. We have now entered a new era for the treatment of foot pain. Treatment methods now utilize minimally-invasive techniques which provide long-term relief, quick return to normal activities, and fast recovery time without any risky procedure. One such treatment method is the Cryosurgery procedure. This procedure is regarded as the best new advanced approach for foot and ankle pain relief. It is a minimally-invasive office technique that enables the patient to return to work quickly and has a high success rate in relieving heel and neuroma pain. By freezing the nerve to around -70 degrees Fahrenheit, long-term foot pain relief is achieved. Foot pain can be divided into three main categories. The most common one is the Biomechanical Pain which is caused by functionality disorder in the foot. In this type of pain, all increased activities may cause the foot condition to worsen over time. It may take other symptoms such as knee pain or body misalignment. There are many reasons why biomechanical pain happens such as foot misalignment. Foot misalignment is caused by excessive weights, which can put a lot of pressure on the foot; especially the heels. Wearing tight shoes or high heels is not recommended for those who suffer from foot pain. Calluses and corns are another common cause of foot pain They are actually patches of thickened skin caused by friction or pressure. Calluses appear on the balls of the feet or on the heels while corns will appear on the toes. Calluses are caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells. In severe cases, the callus has a deep seated core called a nucleation. This type of callus is exceptionally painful. Corns are similar to calluses as they are also thickened patches of dead skin cells which have formed as a protective mechanism against pressures on the foot. Corns however are found on the toes. Trauma whether acute or repeated on the foot is a great cause of foot pain The trauma is usually as a result of forces outside of the body either directly impacting the body or forcing the body into a position where a single or many forces result in damage of the body structure. Poor biomechanical bone alignment also causes pain in the foot. Tying shoes very tightly can also lead to the pain or even bruising at the top of the foot. Tendon injury known as Achilles tendonitis is also a cause of pain in feet. Long term effects could be corns, bunions and joint and nerve irritation. Foot pain, more commonly known as arch pain takes place when an injury is caused to the structures that establish contact with the external environment. There are many reasons behind occurrence of such type of pain. Inadequate biochemical alignment, muscle sprain, ligament stretch and joint fractures are the common reasons behind aching feet. This requires immediate diagnosis. Top of foot usually pains due to excessive use while running or walking over uneven landscapes. Overuse induces fatigue in the muscles of foot. The clinical conditions that give rise to foot pain during activities are flat feet, bursitis, bunions or due to presence of calluses on feet. Buy shoes that fit. Always try on shoes before you purchase them. If the shoe is too tight across the toe box, it will be very unpleasant to wear and will make foot pain worse. Ill-fitting shoes also cause blisters or corns on your feet. You may want to get your feet measured each time you try on shoes, as some brands fit differently than others. Your feet swell as the day goes on, so it is usually best to wait until the evening to try on and purchase shoes. If you order shoes online and do not like the way they fit, return them. If you are experiencing this foot pain at an alarming regularity, you need to take some curative measures. These remedies can be adopted at home or at a clinic as well. It really depends on the severity and the frequency of the pain. Some home remedies may provide you instant relief but do nothing in the long run, whereas, some remedies suggested or provided by a doctor will cure the problem in the long run, but do nothing to relieve you of temporary pain. As a result, you must adopt a plan that envelops both these forms of remedies, and carry out a suitable plan of physiotherapy for yourself. There are also many running and sports shoes on the market and quite often people choose the wrong style for their foot type. It is always a good idea to get your shoes fitted correctly and most professional sports stores are able to do this for you. A more serious cause of side of foot pain can be arthritis or even diabetes. There are also infections that can cause side of food pain such as Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis or cellulitis. This is why you should seek medical attention if your pain gets significantly worse doesn't go away. Achilles tendonitis can really put a damper on anyone's day. The shrinkage of this vital tendon can cause contracting in the lower leg. It can also be a major contributor to becoming so short that it eventually tears. The way to help the tendon relax and elongate in order to lessen pain is to administer gentle stretching to the area. Sit on the floor with both legs extended in a seated position. Then, slowly lean the upper body forward and the hamstring will begin to stretch out. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, rest for 60 seconds, and repeat 5 times. |
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July 2017
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