metatarsal foot pain
Posted on June 12, 2009. Filed under: flat foot, foot heel pain, Foot Stretching Exercises, high heel orthotics, metatarsal foot pain, plantar fasciitis | Tags: arch supports, fallen arches, flat feet, flat foot, foot pain, insoles, orthotic insoles, orthotics, overpronation, pronation, shin pain, shin splints, sports insoles |
Shin Splints and Flat Feet: The Ways that Sports Can Damage Your Feet
If you love to run or taking part in team sports, you’re at risk for shin splints, knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower extremity injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is referred to by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that runs down the length of the shin bone and is caused by too much pressure on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower part of the leg. This stress can be made possible by running activities in any setting and can be exacerbated by flat feet and insufficient arch support.
Many sports therapy experts suggest using ice, taking a break from running or sports, and using more comfortable shoes, preferably together with sports orthotics. Applying ice to the shin and supporting structures of the lower leg help ease pain while decreasing the amount of inflammation promptly after an injury. Rest is always advised because it allows for the repair of tendons, muscles, and bones. Finally, wearing more comfortable shoes can drastically help avoid re-injury to the lower legs and feet by providing better cushioning and arch support. This encourages proper foot position and resists shock. Sports orthotics can significantly enhance endurance and performance because they supply support for the foot arches and additional cushioning. For people with flat feet, these special sports orthotics raise the arch properly and realign the lower body.
Over-pronation caused by flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee, and lower back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can all be brought on by flat feet. If sports orthotics are not utilized during physically stressful activities, reinjury and major foot pain can ensue. The workings involved in these problems are linked to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the main structure supporting the arch of the foot. It is a band-like structure that stretches to absorb the shock caused when the foot carries our body weight during sports activity. In people with flat feet, this tendon is too long and has lost its ability to elongate. Its ability to absorb shock has been severely diminished. This condition also causes overpronation of the foot, or the inclination for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. As a result, the weight of the bdy is abnormally concentrated on one region rather than being uniformly distributed over the entire area of the foot. This is how sport insoles can make all the difference in cases of flat feet and other foot problems; they provide stability and softness in all the right areas.
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Posted on April 13, 2009. Filed under: high heel orthotics, metatarsal foot pain, plantar fasciitis | Tags: foot pain, heel pain, high heel orthotics, insoles, metatarsal foot pain, orthotics, plantar fasciitis, podiatry, shoe inserts |
A common complaint from women is that their feet hurt after wearing high heels all day. Nevertheless, they keep on wearing these uncomfortable and painful shoes for the sake of beauty and fashion. The primary reason why wearing high heels can cause sharp foot pain is that human feet were not designed for high heels. Looking at the other perspective, high heels were not designed for comfort and pain-free walking either. People’s feet were created to provide us with balance and strength while we walk or run. However, wearing high heels can put excessive wear and tear on our feet, which can not only cause improper foot function, but also cause severe pain.
Women experience pain when they wear high heels because their feet slide forward into the shoes, this forces the body to redistribute its weight in an unnatural way, which changes the optimal alignment of the body. At this point it is beneficial to start wearing high heel orthotics. Orthotics help by supporting the foot and keeping it from sliding down.
Wearing high heels can cause many different foot problems. Some of the most common conditions include metatarsal foot pain, Achilles Tendonitis, hammertoe, calluses, corns, bunions, and many others.
Metatarsalgia ( ball of foot pain), most commonly caused by wearing high heels continuously, happens when one or more of the metatarsal heads become inflamed due to too much pressure. This condition causes sharp pain below the toes, known as the metatarsal area. Wearing high heel insoles can help to alleviate the pain caused by wearing high-heeled shoes.
Symptoms of ball of foot pain are usually a tingling and/or burning sensation in the ball of the foot. Many people also complain of extensive callusing in the same region.
Advice to Minimize Foot Pain After Wearing High-Heeled Shoes
- See a podiatrist if you feel constant pain in any part of your feet.
- Improving circulation with regular foot massages can help reduce pain.
- Make sure that your feet and toenails are clean always.
- Remember that leather shoes are better than synthetic materials.
- Refrain from wearing high heels every day.
- Have comfortable shoes available to you at all times.
- Make sure to stretch before walking or strenuous exercise.
- Buying shoes in the afternoon or at night allows a better fit.
- Opt for high heels that have chunkier heels than stilettos.
- Stick to one heel height. Using shoes of several different heights could cause irritation of the Achilles tendon.
- Wear orthotic arch supports to correct foot mechanics and walk more comfortably.
- Hold back from purchasing pointed and extremely high heeled shoes}.
- Go for wider shoes instead of narrow ones.
We should always remember that keeping our feet in optimal health is much more important than keeping up with fashion.
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Posted on January 7, 2009. Filed under: Foot Stretching Exercises, high heel orthotics, metatarsal foot pain, plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciitis exercises | Tags: arch supports, foot pain, insoles, jogging, leg pain, orthotic insoles, orthotics, running, running shoes, shin pain, shin splints, shoe inserts, sports shoes |
Shin Splints refers to a painful condition in the front leg area below the knee caused by damage to the posterior peroneal tendon. The resulting soreness arises in the front or inside section of the tibia. In many cases, shin pain in athletes is a product of intense physical activity like jumping, running or playing active sports; shin pain in athletes is a condition that can often take a long time to heal.
Common Symptoms of Shin Splints
Common shin splint symptoms include inflammation and/or soreness around the shin area, particularly after running, walking, or participating in sports activities. The pain typically presents itself at the beginning of the workout, then lessens slightly, and reappears when settling into rest. It is common for shin pain to occur in people who have just started to get involved in running, walking, or sports activities.
What Causes Shin Splints?
The main cause of shin pain in athletes is undue stretching of the muscles and tendons that run along the shin bones (tibia and fibula). Excessive use of these muscles by runners and other athletes is the most common reason for this condition. Other causes for shin pain in athletes can also be due to overuse of the anterior tibialis muscle in the front of the leg, along the outside front of the shin bones.
Excessive pronation of the feet is often a significant contributor to shin pain in athletes. Excessive pronation causes internal tibial rotation and intensifies the tractional forces on the ligaments and muscles in the lower leg.
Treating Shin Pain
For the short term, rest is required to help alleviate shin pain in athletes. Running and other strenuous activities should be minimized until the condition is controlled. Shin splints can frequently be prevented by going through a warm-up period before strong physical activity. It is important for athletes and runners to gradually increase their level of activity, and always go through a proper warm-up before abrupt or excessive exercise. Changing your running style to reduce stride length and softening your heel strike can also reduce shin splints in the long term.
Using suitable footwear is also an effective way to prevent and reduce the effect of shin splints, particularly for runners who strike heavily with the heel. It is important that running shoes with proper rear foot stability be used whenever possible. Additionally, insoles for sports are useful by helping to correct excessive pronation and cushioning the heels, thus reducing the impact while assisting with heel stability.
In general, athletes and runners need to continuously practice proper foot health care in order to stay in top performance shape.
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Posted on December 19, 2008. Filed under: high heel orthotics, metatarsal foot pain, plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciitis exercises | Tags: arch supports, ball of foot pain, flat feet, foot care, foot pain, orthodics, orthotic insoles, orthotics, plantar fasciitis, pronation |
An acute pain in the balls of your feet is a symptom 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.
Common Symptoms of Metatarsalgia
People afflicted by metatarsal pain often feel intense pain in one or both of the balls of their feet, the area right behind the toes The footache can be acute, burning, or dull, and is most often felt near the big toe, though it can also occur under the middle toes. These are the most recurrent symptoms linked with metatarsal foot pain:
- The pain worsens when dorsiflexing the feet.
- You feel like you’re walking on pebbles
- Intense pain around the toes.
- The ache gets worse when you run, walk, or stand, and improves after resting.
- The pain intensifies when walking barefoot, especially on hard surfaces.
- Lack of sensation or tingling of the toes
Causes of Metatarsalgia
When we run or jump, the metatarsal bones absorb the full impact of the equivalent of several times our body weight. Among the common causes of metatarsal foot pain are intense physical activities, biomechanical foot imbalances, excess weight, poorly fitting shoes, and frequent wearing of high-heel shoes.
Possible Complications
If the symptoms of metatarsal foot pain are not treated in a timely manner, this condition can likely deteriorate to more critical disorders such as loss of range of motion, ligament injuries, toe problems, and chronic stiffness. In extreme cases, necrosis can develop and collapse the entire bone structure.
Treating Metatarsal Pain
Healing metatarsal foot pain in most cases does not demand aggressive measures. The most recommended treatments for metatarsal foot pain are:
Get plenty of rest – Avoid stressing your feet by getting some rest. In short time you may get involved in low-impact activities such as rowing, cycling, or swimming.
Ice It – Use ice packs on the area of pain for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
Wear proper footwear – Shoes need to fit properly and be of the appropriate for the type of activity that you plan to practice.
Wear arch support insoles – The use of appropriate orthotic insoles can provide the needed sustainment to reduce pressure on the ball-of-foot area.
Wearing arch support insoles is a vital component of of most treatments for metatarsal foot pain. Wearing metatarsal pads can also help to reduce the pressure around the metatarsal area.
Most of the cases concerning metatarsal foot pain do not require medical care. It is not uncommon for our feet to ache after a long day of standing or intense physical activity. Talk to your doctor if the pain or burning sensation if the metatarsal foot pain does not improve after altering your activities and wearing arch support insoles.
Having pain in the metatarsals can be a dreadful condition, but by taking the proper care of your feet with the treatment options recommended above you can return to your normal activities in a short amount of time.
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Posted on December 8, 2008. Filed under: Foot Stretching Exercises, high heel orthotics, metatarsal foot pain, plantar fasciitis | Tags: arch supports, ball of foot pain, flat feet, foot care, foot pain, insoles, orthodics, orthotic insoles, orthotics, plantar fasciitis, pronation |
It is a fact that foot pain conditions are very common; about 70% of people will suffer foot pain at some time in their lives. With every step we take, a force of 2-3 times our body weight is placed on our feet. Considering that during a typical day we take 8,000-10,000 steps, it comes as no surprise that at some time in our lives we will all suffer from foot pain disorders.
Human feet are constituted of twenty-six bones and thirty-three joints layered with an intricate network of more than 120 muscles, ligaments, and nerves. As such, our feet are extremely complex anatomical structures . We aim to provide a brief overview of the most common types of foot pain conditions, why they occur, and what you can do to alleviate these conditions.
Most Common Types of Foot Pain Symptoms
Plantar Fasciitis
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 (called the Plantar Fascia) resembles a bow string, and forms the arch of the foot, serving 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 type of shoes we wear is very important to providing proper arch support and relief from foot pain. Many podiatrists advocate the use of orthotics as plantar fascitis treatment to provide relieve this condition in many people.
Ball of Foot Pain
Ball of Foot Pain is also referred to as Metatarsalgia, and takes place when the forefoot bones (metatarsals) drop and the ligaments which surround them weaken. As a result, the forefoot structure collapses, leading to excessive friction and pressure under the ball of the foot. Podiatrists often recommend orthotic insoles with metatarsal support to provide needed relief.
Achilles Tendonitis
The tendon joining the calf muscle and the heel bone is called the Achilles Tendon, and is the largest tendon in our bodies. This tendon also supports most of the weight of our entire body. Intense or excessive sports activities involving the feet, and in certain cases, arthritis may cause this type of foot pain. In cases where over-pronation contributes to the problem, orthotics are recommended to help relieve these types of foot pain conditions. Adequate rest and exercises to strengthen the calf muscles are often helpful in the healing process.
Heel Spurs
Heel spurs consist of bony growths that can cause sharp pain and discomfort around the heel bone (calcaneus). Heel spurs are typically a consequence of having plantar fasciitis. Continuous pulling of the fascia resulting from over-pronation at the heel bone eventually leads to the development of this painful bony growth on the heel. The usual plantar fasciitis treatment involving the use of orthotics can prevent and relieve these types of foot pain conditions.
Shin Pain
It is not uncommon for runners to experience pain in the shin area, also known as Shin Splints. This condition involves inflammation in the front or inside section of the shin bone. In many cases, shin splints are the result of intense physical activity such as running or jumping, and is a condition that can often take a long time to heal. Another cause of shin pain is tight leg muscles. Muscle imbalances caused by improper running posture can also lead to shin pain. Over-pronation is frequently a contributing factor in shin pain. Excessive foot pronation typically results in rotation of te tibial bone, increasing pressures on the ligaments and muscles of the lower leg. Podiatrists often recommend orthotics to provide relief in these types of foot pain conditions.
If your foot pain conditions worsen or become chronic despite the use of orthotics, it is recommended that you consult with a podiatrist.
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