Bunions
Bunion is the most common foot problems. A bunion is an abnormal bulging of bony growth
that forms at the base of the big toe, causing it to push towards the other toes and cramping
them together. The bunion forms partly because of the new angle of the big toe, and partly
due to inflammation over the bunion surface. As the inflammation worsens, pain with shoe
wear and simple walking will be experienced.
Contrary to popular beliefs that bunions are only caused by bad footwear, bunions are
actually also a result of excessive rolling in of the foot. Towards the end of the gait cycle
when the foot has excessively pronated, there is a tendency to roll the inside of the big toe
pushing it towards the second toe. This forces the inner part of the foot, especially the big toe
joint, bear the body weight. This repetitive motion over time pushes the big toe to assume this
position permanently.
Flat-footed people can also suffer from bunion as the foot tends to pronate inward while
walking. This long term pronation will cause swelling and inflammation. The correct walking
pattern needs to be learnt in order to re-educate the foot muscles to function properly again.
Over-pronation does not only affect the feet and forms bunion, it also forces the lower leg to
rotate unwillingly, injuring the knee in the long run.
Foot Pain / Heel Pain / Ankle Pain
Heel pain is often felt during the start of an activity and the pain usually returns after a
long rest. This is why you will feel a stabbing pain when you take the first step out of the
bed when you wake up in the morning. Recent weight gain or a sudden change in exercise
patterns may also cause heel pain.
The plantar fascia is the thick connective tissue which supports the arch of the foot. The
plantar fascia provides support for the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Every time the
heel creates an impact on the ground, the plantar fascia is stretched and the arch flattens
slightly to absorb the impact. As the fascia is not very flexible, such repetitive stretching from
frequent impact can cause tears in the fascia. If left untreated, the pain can become severe and
interfere with every step you take, so much so that even walking will become a painful task
for you. With this scenario, you can now tell why it takes a toll on those who are flat-footed –
due to lack of arch support.
Ankle pain is usually the result of a sprain or an injury or it could be from years of weakness
and stiffness in the ankles because of lack of proper stretching and exercise. Reduced use of
the foot will not have the ankle healed completely. Moreover, doing that will cause much
hinrance to your lifestyle. If your ankle pain is a result of an old injury or weak ankles, it
generally takes a little longer to eliminate the ankle pain, because there will be more scar
tissue formation and a greater damage.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is considered a chronic injury rather than an acute injury. It describes an
inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia which runs under the base of the foot connecting
from your heel bone to the base of the toes. It is a chronic pain resulting from overly tight calf
muscles which inserts into the heel bone and restricts the movement of the foot.
Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of pain which occurs at the bottom of the heel and
usually defined by pain during the first few steps at the start of activity and often returns after
a long rest and then restarting activity. This is why you will feel a stabbing pain when you
take the first step out of the bed once you wake up in the morning. A history of recent weight
gain or a sudden change in exercise pattern may also cause plantar fasciitis.
What the plantar fascia does is that it provides support for the medial longitudinal arch of
the foot. Each time the heel creates an impact on the ground, the plantar fascia is stretched
and the arch flattens slightly to absorb the impact. As the fascia is not very flexible, such
repetitive stretching from frequent impacts can cause tears in the fascia. If left untreated, the
pain can become severe and interfere with every step you take so much that even walking
becomes a painful task for you.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles Tendon is the large tendon running from the calf muscles (the
gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) located in the back of the leg to the back of the heel.
Achilles Tendonitis is a condition of irritation and inflammation of the large tendon in the
back of the ankle. The complaint associated with Achilles tendonitis is pain behind the heel
and the lower calf.
You can have Achilles Tendonitis as a result of accumulated day-to-day irritations that
inflame the tendon over a period of time. For those who did not experience any trauma to
the calves and feet, Achilles Tendonitis is sometimes associated simply with long periods of
standing. Inadequate stretching before engaging in athletic or other physically-demanding
activities can also be the cause.
Improper shoe selection, particularly using high heels over many years, increases your odds
of developing the condition. This is because high-heeled shoes cause your calf muscles
to contract, leaving the tendon with a lot less slack in it, if no stretching is done. This
degeneration means that the Achilles Tendon does not possess its normal tensile strength and
may be liable to rupture with continued sporting activity.
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