HEEL PAIN / PLANTAR FASCIITIS Heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis can be debilitating. As an acute pain, plantar fasciitis comes and goes due to inflammation. It can easily become chronic causing the pain to be persistent and daily (plantar fasciosis). There are many ways to treat this type of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is an acute inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a thin band of connective tissue on the bottom of the foot from the base of the toes to the heel. It is almost the width of the foot. It usually presents with pain in the heel and arch area of the foot. Pain is usually more noticeable with the first few steps in the morning and after sitting for long periods. The pain lessens after the initial "jolt" with the first few steps but is present throughout the day. For some people the pain occurs after excessive activities or sport. The usual precursor to plantar fasciitis is poor biomechanics of the foot. Other contributing factors include; excess body weight, unaccustomed exercise, muscle tightness (calves and Hamstrings) and inappropriate footwear. After pain is releived, poor foot posture must be addressed to avoid reoccurence. Conservative plantar fasciitis treatment: Rest, Ice , anti-inflammatory's, stretching of plantar fascia prior to weightbearing, stable supportive shoes (preferably athletic shoes) until pain is resolved, steroid injections, Orthotics.  |
ARTHRITIS / BUNIONS Joint stiffness, pain or tenderness, swelling and/or redness that persists for more than 2 weeks may signal arthritis. There are many forms of arthritis that can damage our bodies, especially the joints, gradually wearing away protective cartilage where bones meet to make a joint. The force our body weight generates on the toe and ankle joints makes them particularly susceptible to arthritis. As cartilage erodes and bone rubs against bone, the joint becomes painful. Movement may become limited as bone ends erode or thicken, sometimes developing painful outgrowths or spurs. If left untreated, damage to cartilage can seriously weaken the joints, often leading to pain and deformities. The most common joints in the foot affected by arthritis are the "big toe" joint (often associated with bunions) and the smaller joints within the middle section of the foot. Arthritis is frequently precipitated by poor foot function or flat feet.  CHILDREN'S COMPLAINTS Many children suffer from mild "torsional" imbalances, commonly known as in-toeing and out-toeing. Most children outgrow these imbalances without medical treatment. However, if a child has obvious torsional imbalances, he or she may be more susceptible to injury. it is important that children with these issues are asessed by a podiatrist for a program to encourage "straighter" walking, often involving stretching, strengthening and gait "re-training". In some cases orthotics may be warranted. The most common complaint of the active child is pain at the back of the heel. Sever's Disease, an inflammation of a growth plate of the heel, where excessive forces are transmitted from the achilles tendon to the back of the heel at its site if attachment. Rest, Ice and heel lift's are usually prescribed. Over pronation can also be a factor and needs to be adressed with appropriate footwear and possibly orthotics. Over pronation, or "rolling-in" of the ankles can occur in all age groups usually presenting itself in early childhood.This abnormal foot function does put the foot, ankles, knees and lower back at risk of injury. If there are concerns about your child's feet rolling in, you should have them asessed by your podiatrist. Even if no symptoms have been reported, early detection is crucial, as your child grows, increased body weight furthers the risk of injury, particularly with a vulnerable foot posture. Plantar warts and ingrown toe nails are common in the younger age groups, your podiatrist can effectively treat these coditions and offer advice on self management and prevention. |
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