What are your feet telling you?
When our feet hurt or develop problems it's their way of sending us a message.....The most obvious signs of foot issues presently or to come are red spots, blisters, bruising, pain or swelling. But, foot care issues can also present throughout our bodies, often times, back, hip and knee pain can be signs of poor alignment or support under your feet. View your feet as the foundation of your home and your home is your body. Much like any structure, if the foundation is sinking on one side (imbalance and lack of support), has cracks (injuries), or was created poorly by no fault of the homeonwer(heredity or disease), the chances are that the house (your body) will not stand the test of time as compared to a home with a great foundation (a well balanced and suppoprted one). On the upside, any foundation can be fixed once you understand what the issue is, we're here to help.
PFA's past president and leading Certified Pedorthist, Shane Hayes says “It’s vital to pay close attention to our feet, as they are constantly working to give us clues about our health. A Pedorthist's job is to not only understand the complaint, injury or disease but also to know how best to solve the issues. Through proper footwear, modifications and sometimes orthotics most if not all problems can be solved and you can continue your life in both comfort and health.” Use the above 'Foot Problems' drop down menu to locate and learn more about common foot ailments and what may be ailing you. We can help you solve it! |
Plantar Fasciitis
Description: Pain on the bottom of the heel or in the arch. May be caused by a leg-length discrepancy, excessive activity or trauma, muscle imbalance, high or low arched feet, or improper shoe gear.
Treatment: Exercise and stretch feet daily and wear strong and supportive shoes that don’t put undue stress on the ball or heel. Visit our pedorthist who can examine and see if orthotics are necessary.
Metatarsalgia
Description: Metatarsalgia is any pain in the metatarsal region (ball of the foot) due to an abnormality or imbalance of the foot or to osteochondrosis of the heads of the metatarsal bones.
Cause:
The cause is indeterminate.
Treatment: If your pain is caused by pressure, then properly fitted footwear along with some type of orthotic device may solve your problem.
Bunions
Description: A bump at the base of the big toe that is swollen, tender or painful when in the shoe, often caused by misalign¬ment of the joints. Ill-fitting shoes, heredity, trauma, biomedical abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, inflammatory joint disease, congenital deformities or arthritis can also be culprits.
Treatment: Avoid pointy and narrow shoes or shoes with stitching or seams that rub bony areas of the foot. If painful, bunions can be surgically removed.
Tendonitis
Reason: Overuse due to increase in physical activity, such as an increase in walking time or distance. May also be caused by wearing worn out or improperly-fitted shoes.
Treatment: Rest and ice provide relief, however in some cases, over-the-counter supports and anti-inflammatories may need to be prescribed. APMA-approved Bio-Freeze is the industry’s most used topical pain relieving gel. Ask our pedorthist if this is an appropriate treatment.
Fungal Nail Description:Trauma or infection to the nail that makes it thickened, discolored, loose or deformed. Often caused by the spread of athlete’s foot, but may also be an indication of conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.
Treatment: Consult a podiatrist to prescribe the medication and treatment that will safely and effectively treat the problem. Keralac Gel and Lamasil tablets, both have the APMA Seal of Approval, have proved effective in combating this problem & can be prescribed by a podiatrist.
Blisters
Reason: Friction from shoes that don’t fit right or are too stiff.
Response: Keep feet dry and wear socks with properly-fitted shoes. Never pop a blister. If painful, carefully open a corner of the blister closest to the bottom of the foot with a sterilized instrument, like a sewing needle, drain and immediately apply antibiotic cream and a bandage.
Bromohidrosis (Foot Odor)
Reason: Increased perspiration from the more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot due to increased body temperature. Results in sweaty, smelly feet that do not itch or appear to have a rash.
Response: Rub cornstarch or spray antiperspirant directly onto the soles of the feet and spray Lysol into shoes. Keep shoes and socks dry and change shoes regularly. Wear socks that wick away moisture.
Ingrown Toenails
Description: Improper trimming or too much pressure on feet in tight-fitting shoes, resulting in redness, pain or swelling around the nail. Can also result from poor foot structure, heredity, trauma, or foot deformities.
Treatment: Do not use nail polish to cover discoloration. Instead, visit a podiatrist at the first sign of a problem to see what treatment may be necessary. Avoid tight-fitting shoes and socks and inspect nails daily. Be sure to trim nails straight across using toenail clipper, making sure not to round edges.
Description: Pain on the bottom of the heel or in the arch. May be caused by a leg-length discrepancy, excessive activity or trauma, muscle imbalance, high or low arched feet, or improper shoe gear.
Treatment: Exercise and stretch feet daily and wear strong and supportive shoes that don’t put undue stress on the ball or heel. Visit our pedorthist who can examine and see if orthotics are necessary.
Metatarsalgia
Description: Metatarsalgia is any pain in the metatarsal region (ball of the foot) due to an abnormality or imbalance of the foot or to osteochondrosis of the heads of the metatarsal bones.
Cause:
The cause is indeterminate.
Treatment: If your pain is caused by pressure, then properly fitted footwear along with some type of orthotic device may solve your problem.
Bunions
Description: A bump at the base of the big toe that is swollen, tender or painful when in the shoe, often caused by misalign¬ment of the joints. Ill-fitting shoes, heredity, trauma, biomedical abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, inflammatory joint disease, congenital deformities or arthritis can also be culprits.
Treatment: Avoid pointy and narrow shoes or shoes with stitching or seams that rub bony areas of the foot. If painful, bunions can be surgically removed.
Tendonitis
Reason: Overuse due to increase in physical activity, such as an increase in walking time or distance. May also be caused by wearing worn out or improperly-fitted shoes.
Treatment: Rest and ice provide relief, however in some cases, over-the-counter supports and anti-inflammatories may need to be prescribed. APMA-approved Bio-Freeze is the industry’s most used topical pain relieving gel. Ask our pedorthist if this is an appropriate treatment.
Fungal Nail Description:Trauma or infection to the nail that makes it thickened, discolored, loose or deformed. Often caused by the spread of athlete’s foot, but may also be an indication of conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.
Treatment: Consult a podiatrist to prescribe the medication and treatment that will safely and effectively treat the problem. Keralac Gel and Lamasil tablets, both have the APMA Seal of Approval, have proved effective in combating this problem & can be prescribed by a podiatrist.
Blisters
Reason: Friction from shoes that don’t fit right or are too stiff.
Response: Keep feet dry and wear socks with properly-fitted shoes. Never pop a blister. If painful, carefully open a corner of the blister closest to the bottom of the foot with a sterilized instrument, like a sewing needle, drain and immediately apply antibiotic cream and a bandage.
Bromohidrosis (Foot Odor)
Reason: Increased perspiration from the more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot due to increased body temperature. Results in sweaty, smelly feet that do not itch or appear to have a rash.
Response: Rub cornstarch or spray antiperspirant directly onto the soles of the feet and spray Lysol into shoes. Keep shoes and socks dry and change shoes regularly. Wear socks that wick away moisture.
Ingrown Toenails
Description: Improper trimming or too much pressure on feet in tight-fitting shoes, resulting in redness, pain or swelling around the nail. Can also result from poor foot structure, heredity, trauma, or foot deformities.
Treatment: Do not use nail polish to cover discoloration. Instead, visit a podiatrist at the first sign of a problem to see what treatment may be necessary. Avoid tight-fitting shoes and socks and inspect nails daily. Be sure to trim nails straight across using toenail clipper, making sure not to round edges.