Foot pain. Heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, bursitis, arthritis…
I could write an entire series on this.
It is also where podiatrists, the foot and ankle and lower limb specialists, spend much of their time. As a profession, this is what we do.
This isn’t a weekend course. This is our lives.
And we do it so that we can:
1) Understand what you are feeling and how it impacts you
2) Identify what changes have taken place to cause the problem
3) Discuss the myriad of treatment options available that will suit your lifestyle and abilities
4) Maintain the positive changes and remain active and comfortable
I think (Elan authentically at the keyboard) in a fairly methodical way.
Broadly speaking, I look at:
1) The foot
a. Do the joints move correctly?
b. Do the muscles have the right balance of strength and stretch?
c. What happens to the structure of your foot standing versus resting?
2) The shoe
a. Is it the right fit?
b. Is it fit for purpose?
c. What condition are they in?
3) The ground
a. Soft or hard?
b. Open spaces or cramped (like commercial kitchens)?
c. Sitting or standing?
4) The gait
a. How are you walking?
b. People tend to walk differently when they know they’re being watched…
Medications and nutritional status play a part, too.
1) Statins, for example, can cause ligaments to tear
2) Low vitamin D can cause weakness and muscle pains and plantar fasciitis
Let me address a common podiatry expectation and raise the topic of orthotics, orthoses, innersoles and arch supports.
You may need them. But they make up only one part of the treatment.
At some point in the treatment, you may need a device with which we can modify your foots interaction with your shoes and the ground. These devices work well to spread your body weight (and pressures from walking and running) over the whole surface area of your foot, reducing high-pressure, pain-causing areas.
With your foot comfortably cupped, we can then alter the 3-dimensional angles to have your joints move in their best direction. This will reduce soft-tissue stress, and over time your pain should reduce, there's less wasted energy, greater stamina... all allowing you to enjoy life.
There is so much to discuss with a topic like this, and it is likely that I will refine this article over time, so please consider coming back to it. Better yet, please trust us to care for you and provide you with the support and experience that we have offered to so many for so long.
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