| Foot Ailment |
Description |
Treatment |
| Achilles Tendinitis |
Irritation and inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the
back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis can be caused by improper
warm up or overtraining. |
Can be treated with ice, rest, aspirin or anti-inflammatory
medications. Chronic pain or any swelling should be professionally
evaluated. |
|
| Bunions |
Misaligned big toe joints which can become swollen and tender,
causing the first joint of the big toe to slant outward, and the
second joint to angle toward the other toes. Bunions tend to be
hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the
forefoot and toe. |
Surgery by a podiatric physician is frequently recommended to
correct the problem. |
|
| Hammertoe |
A condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance, in which the
toe is bent in a claw-like position. It occurs most frequently with
the second toe, often when a bunion slants the big toe toward and
under it, but any of the other three smaller toes can be affected. |
Selecting shoes and socks that do not cramp the toes will
alleviate aggravation. |
|
| Heel Spurs |
Growths of bone on the underside, forepart of the heel bone. Heel
spurs occur when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the
heel bone. This area of the heel can later calcify to form a spur. |
With proper warm-up and the use of appropriate athletic shoes,
strain to the ligament can be reduced. |
|
| Ingrown Toenails |
Nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin. Ingrown
toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by
shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity and poor foot
structure. Women are 50% more likely to have ingrown toenails than
men. |
Can be prevented by trimming toenails straight across, selecting
proper shoe style and size - not too tapered or shallow - and paying
special attention to foot pain. |
|
| Neuromas |
Enlarged benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the third
and fourth toes. They are caused by tissue rubbing against and
irritating the nerves. Pressure from ill-fitting shoes or abnormal
bone structure can create the condition as well. |
Treatments include orthoses (shoe inserts) and/or cortisone
injections, but surgical removal of the growth is sometimes necessary. |
|
| Plantar Fasciitis |
Plantar fasciitis (or heel pain) is commonly traced to an
inflammation on the bottom of the foot. |
A podiatric physician can evaluate arch pain, and may prescribe
customized shoe inserts called orthoses to help alleviate the pain. |
|
| Sesamoiditis |
Sometimes known as the "ball bearings of the foot," the sesamoids
are two small bones found beneath the first metatarsal bones. They can
inflame or rupture under the stress of exercise. |
Sesamoiditis can be relieved with proper shoe selection and
orthoses. |
|
| Shin Splints |
Pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon
inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation
(collapsing arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between
opposing muscle groups in the leg. |
Proper stretching and corrective orthoses (shoe inserts) for
pronation can help prevent shin splints. |
|
| Stress Fractures |
One of the various types of fractures, stress fractures require
vastly different treatment. Stress fractures are incomplete cracks in
bone caused by overuse. |
With complete rest, stress fractures heal quickly. Extra padding
in shoes helps prevent the condition. Note: Stress fractures left
untreated may become complete fractures, which require casting and
immobilization. |
|
