Causes of Foot Pain
We use our feet daily to walk and transport us from place to place, yet often they are one of the most forgotten and least tended to parts of the body.
Our feet are subjected to hard work every day, and in accordance with this we often choose unsuitable shoes that can hurt our feet and even cause problems in mobility.
Made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 19 muscles, numerous nerves and more than 100 tendons, feet serve the function of maintaining necessary support throughout the body, making our movements and one of their best qualities: They can adapt to all types of terrain.
Foot pain, usually has several causes, but some of the most common are:
Plantar fasciitis
This is an inflammation of the thick tissue on the floor or bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia and connects the heel to the toes creating the arch of the foot. This inflammation is manifested by pain and is more common in obese women and those who suffer from flat feet whose lifestyles require a lot of walking or standing for long time. Treatment options include proper footwear, physiotherapy, rest, application of ice packs, anti-inflammatories and stretching exercises of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon is located at the back of the skin on the foot and attaches the heel with the calf muscle. It is the longest tendon in the human body. It is the Achilles heel that generally has more tendon ruptures and inflammation.
Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis may include mild pain increasing after performing exercise, inflammation and stiffness until relieved by heating the tendon.
Treatment options are very similar to plantar fasciitis, you must choose appropriate footwear and in some cases you may require bandages, reinforcing devices or sometimes surgery.
Bunions
Referred medically as Hallux Valgus, bunions are deformations that occur in the big toe or can also can be a chronic inflammation. The use of pointed shoes can influence the occurrence of bunions, or likewise people who are born with abnormal bones in the feet may be more likely to develop them.
In this case, treatment involves the use of proper footwear, orthotics, exercises that can slow the effects, and silicone and/or orthotic devices. However, the ultimate solution is surgery.
Ingrown Toenails
These are usually very annoying and may require an outpatient surgical procedure to cut part of the nail that has turned in its growth. To prevent this from happening or repeating, try to keep your toenails short and straight.
Calluses
Calluses are another common problem in the feet which are caused by continuous friction in the affected area, causing it to form a keratin accumulation. This can often be annoying and cause pain when walking on them.
To address calluses, you can use a pumice stone when you take a shower. We also recommend the use of pads on the calluses to relieve discomfort. You can prevent their onset by using comfortable, soft and wide shoes.
Heel spurs
These are boney growths on the heel bone, usually due to abnormal stretching of the plantar fascia, being overweight or by wearing improper footwear. They are usually quite painful and treatment includes cold compresses, anti-inflammatory medication, stretching well before exercise, the use of proper footwear and, in some case,surgery.
Hammer toes
A condition where the toes curl down like a claw, hammer toe is something you can be born with or develop due to the use of short, narrow shoes.
The symptoms are usually pain and callus formations on the top of the affected toe. The treatment involves the manipulation of the foot and splints for affected toes, especially in mild cases or when children are involved. In more severe cases, they may require surgery.