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 These
two terms are closely related. Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation
caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia (tissue
that extends the entire length of the bottom of the foot). Heel
Pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel
causes extreme discomfort.
Symptoms
With Plantar Fasciitis, the bottom of your foot usually hurts
near the inside of the foot where the heel and inside arch meet.
The pain is often acute (“hot poker” sensation)
either first thing in the morning or after a long rest, because
while you are resting, the plantar fascia contracts back to
its original shape. As the day progresses and the plantar fascia
is adequately stretched, the pain often subsides.
Causes/Risk Factors
Plantar Fasciitis often leads to heel pain, heel spurs, and/or
arch pain. The excessive stretching of the plantar fascia that
leads to inflammation and discomfort can be caused by the following:
• Additional or excessive weight on the foot, usually
attributed to weight gain or pregnancy
• Wearing shoes without any arch support or proper arch
support
• Over-pronation (flat feet) which results in the arch
collapsing when bearing weight
• A foot with an unusually high arch
• Tight calf muscles
• Ageing
• Exercise error of “too much, too soon, too fast”
Prevention & Treatment
The key for the proper treatment of plantar fasciitis and heel
pain is determining what is causing the excessive strain and
stretching of the plantar fascia, or heel discomfort. Ask your
health care professional to help you find the best solution
for your condition. Often, they suggest changing your footwear
or wearing an arch support as a first step toward recovery.
You can reduce the strain and stress on the plantar fascia by
following these simple instructions:
• Don't go barefoot – not even in the shower
• Try stretching exercises in bed before you get up, focusing
on your Achilles tendon, calf, and toes. Lay on your back with
legs outstretched. Move your toes toward your head and hold
for 30 seconds. Relax feet. Repeat 4-5 times.
• Ice your heels (or the painful area) to reduce inflammation.
Freeze a 12-16 oz plastic water bottle. Place the bottle on
the floor and gently roll your foot over bottle between heel
and toe for 5 minutes 3 times per day.
• Wear shoes or orthotics (arch supports) that support
your arch and heel and have proper shock absorption in the heel
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid running on hard or uneven ground
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most diagnosed foot ailments.
Please ask your health care professional how Birkenstock footwear
or arch supports may be part of your foot pain solution. Also,
feel free to contact your local Birkenstock retailer about their
healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products
that can help with Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain.
back to top
 Bunions
are a prominent bump on the inside of the foot on the big toe
joint. Corns are a localized tender, sharply defined area of
thickened skin over a bony prominence usually caused by trauma.
They sometimes have a central cone-shaped core whose point can
press on a nerve below causing pain. Calluses are an accumulation
of dead skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the
foot. They are the body's defense mechanism against excessive
pressure and friction. Calluses are normally found on the bottom
of the foot, the heel and the inside of the big toe.
Symptoms
Bunions are 10 times more common in women than men and often
“run in the family”. A person with a bunion may
have inflammation, swelling and soreness on the side surface
of the big toe. Numbness and tingling may occur from the pressure
created on the nerve in the big toe. Corns will most likely
be seen ion the top or sides of the toes and often will be tender
and cone shaped. Calluses will appear where the foot is subject
to high pressure and will be a thick hardened patch of skin.
Causes/Risk Factors
All can be caused by tight and/or poorly fitting footwear. Each
can also be caused by the following:
Bunions
• Flat feet or over-pronation can lead to increased pressure
on the big toe joint
• Footwear that is too narrow and/or too short
• Constrictive toe boxes (toe area)
• Footwear with a tapered toe box not only can cause bunions
but can cause them to worsen to the point of needing surgery
to repair
Corns
• Footwear with elevated heels or tight-fitting footwear,
stockings or socks
• The foot sliding forward in a loose-fitting shoe
• Bony prominences
• Toe deformities
Calluses
• Excessive pressure on a specific area of the foot
• Footwear with elevated heels and shoes that are too
small
• Flat feet, high-arched feet, excessive weight, and loss
of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot
Prevention & Treatment
Ask your health care professional (physician, physical therapist,
podiatrist) to help you find the best answers to what is causing
your pain. You can reduce the risk and discomfort of these conditions
by following these simple guidelines:
Bunions
• Wear footwear with wide toe box which will decrease
pressure on the big toe joint
• Avoid high heeled footwear which places more pressure
on the forefoot
• Wear footwear or arch supports with good medial and
metatarsal arch support to decrease pressure on the big toe
region
• Substitute activities such as walking or swimming (if
you are running now) to decrease symptoms and stress on the
forefoot
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If bunion is in early stage, soaking your feet in warm
water may provide temporary relief
Corns & Calluses
• Avoid high heeled footwear which places more pressure
on the forefoot
• Wear footwear or arch supports which provide proper
support and aid in weight distribution
• If soft corn between toes, wear toe separators
• If hard corn, wear a corn pad
• Gently use foot buffer after bathing to reduce the thickness
of calluses
Bunions, corns, and calluses are common foot ailments associated
with improperly-fitted footwear. Please contact your local Birkenstock
retailer for their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock
has many products that can help with bunions, corns, and calluses.
Bunion illustration furnished courtesy of FOOT.COM
back to top
 Metatarsalgia
is a general term used to denote a painful inflammatory foot
condition in the metatarsal region of the foot (the area just
before the toes, or the ball of the foot). This ball-of-the-foot
pain is often located under the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal
heads or occasionally at the 1st metatarsal head (near the big
toe). Morton's Neuroma is an abnormal function of the foot that
leads to metatarsal bones squeezing a nerve usually between
the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. A neuroma is an irritation
resulting from abnormal pressure or repetitive trauma.
Symptoms
Metatarsalgia is often described as “walking with a pebble
in my shoe”. Calluses may be present under the metatarsal
heads (ball of foot) and will be variable in location, size
and shape. A person suffering with Morton’s Neuroma will
feel extreme tenderness at the ball of the foot. Some will feel
a “red hot poker” burning sensation. Numbness may
also occur with a “pins and needles” sensation.
Metatarsalgia
• Often a result of an imbalance between the outside and
inside arches of the foot
• Usually due to excessive pressure on the metatarsal
heads (ball of the foot) over a long period of time
• Often caused by improper fitting footwear such as women's
dress shoes and other restrictive footwear. This condition occurs
5 times as often in women than men
• Footwear with a narrow toe box (toe area) causes the
ball-of-the-foot area to be forced into a minimal amount of
space
• Shoes with elevated heels
• Participating in high impact activities without proper
footwear or arch support
• As we get older, the fat pad in our foot tends to thin
out making us more susceptible to pain in the ball of the foot
• Osteoarthritis
Morton's Neuroma
• Often caused by pointed-toe footwear, high heels, and
footwear with a narrow toe box
• Constricting shoes can pinch the nerve between the toes
causing discomfort and extreme pain
• Over pronating while walking
• Having flat feet
• Tight Achilles tendon
• Obesity
• Loss of fat pad under foot
The first step in the treatment of Forefoot Conditions is determining
what is causing the problem. Check with your medical professional
(family doctor or Podiatrist to help you find the best solution
for your pain or discomfort. You can reduce the risk and discomfort
of Metatarsalgia and Morton's Neuroma by following these simple
guidelines:
Metatarsalgia
• Choose footwear with a higher, wider toe box (toe area)
to allow the foot to take on its natural shape
• Choose footwear with a deep heel cup, pronounced metatarsal
support, add additional padding if needed
• Avoid standing for long periods on hard surfaces
• Ice the ball of the foot which may reduce the inflammation
• Gently stretch the Achilles tendon and calf muscles
Morton's Neuroma
• Choose footwear with a higher and wider toe box (toe
area) to allow the foot to take on its natural shape
• Choose footwear with a pronounced metatarsal arch support
and add additional padding if necessary if needed to unload
pressure and relieve pain
Please contact your local Birkenstock retailer for their healthy
footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products that
can help with Metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma.
back to top
 Hammer
Toe can occur in all but the big toe and occurs in women nine
times more frequently than in men. It is a toe that is raised
and may cause pressure and pain. In claw toes, the toe curls
under so the tip (end) of the toe is pressed against the bottom
of the shoe. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toe. They
are a result of the nail growing downward into the skin and
nail bed.
Symptoms
If hammer or claw toes, the toes will be bent upward from the
middle joint. Claw toes may have tenderness on the tip of the
toe. With ingrown toenails, you may experience infection of
the skin around the nail, irritation, redness and sensation
of warmth from infection as well as skin swelling around the
nail.
Causes/Risk factors:
Hammer Toe, Claw Toe, and Ingrown Toenails are all common Toe
Ailments. The common causes are listed below.
Hammer/Claw Toe
• Muscle imbalance that causes the ligaments and tendons
to become unnaturally tight.
• With a hammer toe, the first toe joint curls downward
and the toe pad rests on the ground. With a claw toe, the tip
of the toe rests on the ground.
• Conditions such as Diabetes, Arthritis or chronic inflammation
• May be associated with neurological conditions such
as Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy
• Poorly fitting and constricting footwear
• Abnormally long toes
Ingrown Toenails
• Tight shoes can cause excessive pressure on the nail
bed
• People who have Arthritis or other conditions where
the toes are susceptible to ingrown toe nails
• Trauma to the toe from pounding while running, stubbing
the toe or having the toe stepped on
Prevention & Treatment
Check with your health care provider (family doctor or Podiatrist)
to find the best solution for you.
You can reduce the risk by following these simple guidelines:
Hammer/Claw Toe
• Avoid high heels
• Wear shoes with roomy toe box
• Perform foot muscle stretch and strengthening exercises
• Place metatarsal pads behind toes to reduce pressure
• Surgery if more conservative measures don’t significantly
reduce pain
Ingrown Toenails
• To prevent future ingrown toenails, cut nails straight
across so the toenail corners are visible
• Soak feet in warm salty water, dry, apply antiseptic
and bandage the toe
• Consult your health care provider if toe becomes infected
(red, warm, yellowish drainage)
These Toe Ailments are common and can usually be associated
with improperly-fitted footwear. Please contact your local Birkenstock
retailer about their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock
has many products that can help with Hammer Toe, Claw Toe, and
Ingrown Toenails.
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Images
provided by Foot.com. |
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