Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote a painful foot condition in the 'metatarsal' region of the foot i.e. the area just before the toes, more commonly referred to as the Ball of the Foot. Metatarsalgia is a especially common with high heel wearers, causing a burning sensation in the ball of the foot often combined with excess callous forming. Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia) occurs when the metatarsals (forefoot bones) drop and the surrounding ligaments weaken. The entire forefoot structure collapses, in turn leading to excess pressure and friction under the ball of the foot. An estimated 85% of women who wear heels (young and old) suffer from pain in the ball of the foot!
With this common foot condition, one or more of the metatarsal heads become painful and/or inflamed, usually due to excessive pressure over a long period of time. It is common to experience acute, recurrent, or chronic pain with metatarsalgia. Ball-of-foot pain is often caused by wearing thigh-fitting, high heeled fashion footwear. Footwear with a narrow toe box (toe area) forces the ball-of-foot area to be forced into a minimal amount of space, squeezing the bones & ligaments in the forefoot. In addition, wearing high heels means most of our bodyweight concentrated in the forefoot, causing excessive pressure in the ball-of-foot area. (Please note that ball of foot pain can also occur in men, wearing normal flat footwear)
Successful treatment of pain the balls of the feet involves reducing the forces placed in the forefoot area. Unloading pressure in the ball of the foot can be accomplished by wearing a simple orthotic footbed with a in-built metatarsal support. For women's fashion shoes we recommend Footlogics Catwalk - a smartly designed thin, flexible footbed that restores the biomechanical balance in high heels, by supporting the arch, as well as the metatarsals. This means that bodyweight is distributed more evenly over the entire foot with less pressure and friction in the ball of the foot. As a result there's a reduction of pain and burning sensation - especially with longer periods of standing or walking. Catwalk insoles has made life easier for many thousands of women across Europe.
Heel pain (heel spurs) is by far the most common foot problem in Australia. An estimated half a million people per year suffer from heel pain. Heel pain is often experienced with your first steps when getting out of bed in the morning and presented by a sharp stabbing pain in the heel.
Plantar Fasciitis is most common in middle-aged to older people. In fact, 50% of the over 50s will develop Plantar Fasciitis! However, it also occurs in younger people who are on their feet a lot, like athletes or soldiers
Commonly heel pain is caused by a painful stretching or micro-tearing of the Plantar Fascia. The Plantar Fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. 'Plantar Fasciitis' is Latin for inflammation of the Plantar Fascia. During normal conditions, the fascia is flexible and strong. However due to factors such as abnormal stress, excessive weight, age, or poor foot function, the Fascia can become weakened, irritated or inflamed. If the foot flattens and rolls inwards (excessive pronation), the attachment of the plantar fascia onto the calcaneus (heel bone) may begin to stretch and pull away from the calcaneus. This painful condition is called Plantar Fasciitis. In addition to Plantar Fasciitis, after a while a 'heel spur' may develop at the bottom of the calcaneus.
During resting or non-weight bearing periods (eg when you're asleep), the plantar fascia shortens. When body weight is rapidly applied to the foot, the fascia must stretch and quickly lengthen, causing micro-tears in the fascia. Hence, the stabbing pain with your first steps in the morning.
Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The inflammation occurs at the point where the ligaments inserts into the heel bone.
Plantar Fasciitis, heel pain and calcaneal heel spurs, can be treated with simple, non-surgical methods. The development of Plantar Fasciitis takes a while, however. People only tend to pay attention to it when the pain has become significant. Generally, the longer the pain has been present, the longer it takes to resolve. Although soft heel materials (e.g. gel) appear to cushion the heel, they do not address the problem of foot support, which initially caused the problem. Therefore, with soft heel cushions, the painful heel tends to return.
Footlogics orthotics should be used to stabilise and re-align the foot. Orthotics help prevent over-pronation and stretching of the plantar fascia. The orthotics limit the micro-tearing of the plantar fascia, thereby decreasing the pain and treating the CAUSE of the problem. In addition to the use of foot orthotics, some simple stretching exercises are also helpful.
Visit this heel pain website for a complete overview of Heel Pain, Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis.
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Dry cracked heels (xeorosis) is a condition of thickening and cracking (fissuring) of the bottom part of the heels. For most people this is simply a nuisance and a cosmetic problem. However, when the problem persists, especially with diabetes, it can lead to more serious problems. If the cracks are bad enough there will be pain on weight bearing. The edges around the heel will generally have a thicker area of skin (callous). Wearing open or thin soled shoes usually make the symptoms worse.
Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin, and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick (callous). When the cracks are deep, they can be painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected. Some people tend to have a naturally dry skin that predisposes them to the cracks. The thickened dry skin (callous) around the heel that is more likely to crack is often due to mechanical factors that increase pressures in that area (e.g. the way you walk). Factors can cause cracked heels include:
• prolonged standing (at work or home, especially on hard floors)
• being overweight (this increases the pressure on the normal fat pad under the heel, causing it to expand sideways - if the skin is not supple and flexible, the pressures to 'crack' are high)
• open backed shoes, thongs (they allows the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increases the pressure to 'crack')
• some medical conditions predispose to a drying skin (e.g. autonomic neuropathy in those with diabetes leads to less sweating, leading to a dryness of the skin)
• skin conditions (e.g. psoriasis and eczema)
A way to look at this problem is to consider a tomato on a kitchen bench: when you push on it from above, it wants to expand out sideways and eventually the skin will crack. This is what happens to the normal fat pad under your heel: as your body weight pushes down, the fat wants to expand sideways and the pressure on the skin is increased, causing it to crack. With excessive weight, prolonged standing, dry skin and/or open footwear this problem will get worse.
Applying an oil based moisturizing cream twice daily is really important to get on top of this problem. A pumice stone can be used to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. It is important to avoid open backed shoes or thin soled shoes or thongs. Never try to cut the hard skin yourself with a razor blade or a pair of scissors. There is a risk of an infection developing and taking too much off.
Orthotic insoles can be used to alter the way you walk to prevent the thick skin from developing. Proper biomechanical alignment with orthotics results in less friction and pressure in the heel area. Also, an orthotic with a deep heel cup will hold the natural fat pad under the heel in place, without it 'spreading out'.
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Achilles Tendonitis is Latin for 'inflammation of the Achilles Tendon'. The Achilles Tendon is the longest tendon in the body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone just behind the ankle joint. When our calf muscles contract, they pull on the Achilles Tendon, causing your foot to point down and helping you rise on your toes. Hence, the Achilles plays an important role in walking.
Achilles Pain occurs just above the back of the heel and often one experiences tightness in the calf muscles at the same time. The Achilles Tendon in this area may be noticeably thickened and tender to the touch. Pain is present with walking, especially when pushing off on the toes.
Achilles Tendonitis pain can develop gradually without any history of trauma. The pain can be a shooting pain, burning pain, or even an extremely piercing pain. Achilles Tendonitis should not be left untreated due to the danger that the tendon can become weak and ruptured. Achilles pain is aggravated by activities that repeatedly stress the tendon, causing inflammation. In some cases even prolonged periods of standing can cause symptoms. It is a common problem often experienced by athletes, particularly distance runners. Achilles Tendonitis is a difficult injury to treat in athletes due to their high level of activity and reluctance to stop or slow down their training.
People who suffer from Achilles Tendonitis often notice that their first steps out of bed in the morning are very painful. Another common complaint is pain after steps are taken after long periods of sitting. This pain often lessens with activity.
Persistent strain on the Achilles Tendons causes irritation and inflammation. In severe cases this strain may even cause the tendon to rupture! Chronic overuse (particularly in runners) may contribute to changes in the Achilles tendon as well, leading to degeneration and thickening of the tendon. Tight calf muscles also contribute to Achilles Tendonitis (or Tendinopathy). As we age, our tendons can degenerate. Degeneration means that wear and tear occurs in the tendon over time and leading to weakness in the fibres of the tendon. There are several factors that can cause Achilles Tendonitis. The most common cause is over-pronation. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process, when the arch collapses upon weight bearing, adding stress on the achilles tendon. Other factors that lead to achilles tendonitis are improper shoe selection, inadequate stretching prior to engaging in athletics, a short achilles tendon, direct trauma (injury) to the tendon, and heel bone deformity.
Athletes, particularly runners, should incorporate a thorough stretching program to properly warm-up the muscles. They should decrease the distance of their walk or run, apply ice after the activity and avoid any uphill climbs. Athletes should use an orthotic device for extra support and to reduce stress and pressure on the achilles tendon. The device should be made with light-weight, shock absorbing materials. An orthotic device can be used to control over-pronation, support the longitudinal arch, and reduce stress on the achilles tendon. If the problem persists, consult a Podiatrist.
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A bunion is a (sometimes painful) enlargement of the joint at the side of the big toe. The big toe is bent inwards and a bony lump forms on the outside. This bump is actually a bone protruding towards the inside of the foot. Over time the lump becomes larger and the bunion can become painful. Arthritis and stiffness can eventually develop. Corns and callous may develop on the bunion. With the continued movement of the big toe towards the smaller toes, it is common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe. This causes a common forefoot condition called overlapping toes. Some of the symptoms of bunions include inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. The discomfort commonly causes a patient to walk improperly.
Another type of bunion which some individuals experience is called a Tailor's Bunion, also known as a Bunionette. This forms on the outside of the foot towards the joint at the little toe. It is a smaller bump that forms due to the little toe moving inwards, towards the big toe.
Bunions are a common problem experienced mostly by women. The deformity can develop from an abnormality in foot function, or arthritis, but is more commonly caused by wearing improper fitting footwear. Tight, narrow dress shoes with a constrictive toe box (toe area) can cause the foot to begin to take the shape of the shoe, leading to the formation of a bunion. Bunions can be a result of faulty foot mechanics - in particular excess pronation (rolling inwards of the foot and flattening of the arches). Also, wearing footwear that is too tight whereby the toes are squeezed together may be a contributing factor. Women who have bunions normally wear dress shoes that are too small for their feet. Their toes are squeezed together in their shoes causing the first metatarsal bone to protrude on the side of the foot.
In the early stages of the formation of a bunion, soaking feet in warm water can provide temporary relief. The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes. Orthotics are also recommended for this condition to provide extra comfort, support and protection.
For women's fashion footwear we recommend Footlogics Catwalk which can help prevent further formation of bunions by restoring normal foot function and controlling excess pronation. Also, the metatarsal support will help reduce pressure and friction, placed on the big toe joint. Other treatments include using forefoot products designed to accommodate and relieve bunions such as bunion shields, bunion night splints, and bunion bandages. These conservative treatments can limit the progression of the bunion formation, relieve pain and provide a healthy environment for the foot.
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A hammer toe is a toe that is contracted at the "PIP joint" (the middle joint in the toe), and may lead to severe pressure and pain. Tightened ligaments and tendons that will cause the toe's joints to curl downwards. Hammer toes can occur in any toe except the big toe. There is often discomfort at the top part of the toe due to rubbing against the shoe. There are two types of hammer toes: - flexible and rigid. In a flexible hammer toe, the joint has the ability to move. This type of hammer toe can be straightened manually. A rigid hammer toe does not have that same ability to move. Movement is very limited and can be extremely painful. This sometimes causes foot movement to become restricted leading to extra stress at the ball-of-the-foot, and possibly causing pain and the development of corns and calluses.
Hammer toes result from a muscle imbalance which causes the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This results in the joint curling downward. Arthritis can also lead to many different forefoot deformities, including hammer toes.
Wearing the right the type of footwear is very important in the treatment of hammer toes. When choosing a shoe, make sure the toe box (toe area) is high and broad, and can accommodate the hammer toe. A shoe with a high, broad toe box will provide enough room in the forefoot area so that there is less friction against the toes. Other treatments include using forefoot products designed to relieve hammer toes, such as hammer toe crests and hammer toe splints. Gel toe shields and gel toe caps are also recommended to eliminate friction between the shoe and the toe, while providing comfort and lubrication. If the problem persists, consult your podiatrist.
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Morton's Neuroma is a common foot problem associated with pain, swelling and/or an inflammation of a nerve, usually at the ball-of-the-foot between the 3rd and 4th toes. Symptoms of this condition include sharp pain, burning, and even a lack of feeling in the affected area. Morton's Neuroma may also cause numbness, tingling, or cramping in the forefoot.
Morton's Neuroma is a foot condition caused from an abnormal function of the foot that leads to bones squeezing a nerve usually between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. Symptoms of Morton's Neuroma often occur during or after you have been placing significant pressure on the forefoot area, while walking, standing, jumping, or sprinting. This condition can also be caused by footwear selection. Footwear with pointed toes and/or high heels can often lead to a neuroma. Constricting shoes can pinch the nerve between the toes, causing discomfort and extreme pain.
The first step in treating Morton's Neuroma is to select proper footwear. Footwear with a high and wide toe box is ideal for treating and relieving the pain. The next step in treatment is to use orthotic insoles which will help to unload pressure, and relieve the pain caused by the neuroma.
For women's fashion footwear we recommend Footlogics Catwalk which have an in-built metatarsal support.
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Arch Pain is caused by the same problem as heel pain: 'Plantar Fasciitis' or inflammation of the Plantar Fascia - the fibreous band of tissue running under the foot from the toes the the heel bone. For treatment of arch pain, please refer to the Heel Pain section.
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Callous and corns are a sign of constant friction and rubbing on the foot. Callous usually develops under the ball of the foot, under and around the heel area and under the big toe.
The formation of callouses is caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells that hardens and thickens over an area of the foot. This callous formation is the body's defense mechanism to protect the foot against excessive pressure and friction. Callouses are normally found on the ball-of-the-foot, the heel, and/or the inside of the big toe. Some callouses have a deep seated core known as a "nucleation". This particular type of callous can be especially painful to pressure.
Wearing shoes that are narrow, tight, ill-fitting or high-heeled often leads to the development of callous and corns. Also, foot conditions such as bunions and hammer toes or even arthrits can cause excess callous and corns. Callouses develop because of excessive pressure at a specific area of the foot. Some common causes of callous formation is abnormalities in the gait cycle (walking motion) such as 'over-pronation' - flattening of the arch and rolling inwards of the foot and ankle.
Callous and corns should be removed professionally (by a Podiatrist or Pedicurist). Many people try to cut or trim them with a razor blade or knife. This is not the way to properly treat callous formation. It can be dangerous and can worsen the condition resulting in unnecessary injuries. Diabetics especially should never try this type of treatment.
To relieve the excessive pressure that leads to callous formation, weight should be redistributed equally with the use of an orthotic. Orthotics can help reduce or prevent the formation of callous and corns by biomechanical re-alignment of the foot and reducing the exces pressure and friction. An effective orthotic transfers pressure away from the high pressure areas, allowing the callous to heal. Women should also steer away from wearing high-heeled shoes or try an orthotic for high heels.
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A corn is a form of callous with a hard central core and develops on top and between the toes. Corns like callouses develop from an accumulation of dead skin cells on the foot, forming thick, hardened areas. They contain a cone-shaped core with a point that can press on a nerve below, causing pain. Corns are a very common ailment that usually form on the tops, sides and tips of the toes. Corns can become inflamed due to constant friction and pressure from footwear. Corns that form between the toes are sometimes referred to as soft corns.
Some of the common causes of corn development are tight fitting footwear, high heeled footwear, tight fitting stockings and socks, deformed toes, or the foot sliding forward in a shoe that fits too loosely. Soft corns result from bony prominences and are located between the toes. They become soft due to perspiration in the forefoot area. Complications that can arise from corns include bursitis and the development of an ulcer.
Wear properly fitted footwear with extra room in the toe box. Avoid shoes that are too tight or too loose. Use an orthotic or shoe insert made with materials that will absorb shock and shear forces. Also avoid tight socks and stockings to provide a healthier environment for the foot. Try to steer away from corn removing solutions and medicated pads. These solutions can sometimes increase irritation and discomfort. Diabetics and all other individuals with poor circulation should never use any chemical agents to remove corns.
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For people with diabetes, proper foot care is very important. Diabetics often suffer from poor circulation and loss of sensation in their extremities - most commonly of the feet. As the diabetic process continues, neuropathy can lead to sensory difficulties, which often allows poor shoe fit, excessive pressure and friction, and even injuries to go undetected. The eventual result is skin ulcerations, infections, and finally amputation in some cases.
Proper shoe fit is absolutely critical to avoid stress, friction and pressure sores. The shoe must match foot length and width and the heel counter needs to provide proper support. No seams or stitching inside the shoe can be prominent as this will result in rubbing and chafing.
Orthotics can be very useful in avoiding friction and pressure sores.
Here's why:
Over-pronation leads to poor foot function, resulting in friction and pressure inside the shoe. Common places were excess friction will occur are under the Ball of the Foot and on the outside of the big toe joint. Also, on top of the toe joints.
Footlogics Comfort orthotics can assist because it is a 'full contact' orthotic insole, distributing body weight over the entire surface of the foot. The footbed also ensure proper biomechanical gait, reducing/preventing excess friction.
NOTE: Diabetes sufferers should always consult their GP or Podiatrist before wearing orthotics.
- inspect your feet every day for sores, swelling, discoloration, cuts, blisters. Use a mirror to inspect the bottom of your feet.
- keep your feet clean. Wash with warm (never hot) water with mild soap. Dry carefully, especially between the toes. Use lotion or foot cream on dry skin but don't use it between the toes. Foot powder can be used between the toes if desired.
- cut toenails straight across and keep them trimmed. Contact a podiatrist/pedicurist if you need help trimming your nails or need detailed instructions
- change socks or stockings every day. Seamless fitted socks are best. Avoid tight elastics.
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