Common Foot Issues

Here are some common foot issues that our comfort brands can and have helped customers to get back on their feet.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS 

An inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes.The inflamed tissue runs across the bottom of the foot.

HAMMER TOE

A foot condition in which the toe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint. A hammer toe is usually caused by wearing shoes with high heels or narrow toe boxes. It often affects the toe next to the big toe. The affected toe may be painful or hard to move, and may develop corns or calluses.

BUNION

A bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe. It is formed when the big toe pushes against the next toe. Tight shoes, foot stress, and arthritis are causes.

CALLUSES 

Skin condition which consist of thickenings in skin caused by  friction and repeated pressure. Symptoms include hard, thick bump or patch on skin, flaky or dry area of skin, and pain and tenderness in affected area.

Pain Areas: bottom of feet, outside of small toe (‘pinky” toe),   between fourth and fifth toes

Common Issues:  pain and redness

*Suggested Brands: Mephisto, SAS, Wolky, Naot

PES CAVUS (HIGH ARCHES)

Pes cavus (in medical terminology, also high instep,high arch, talipes cavus, cavoid foot, and supinated foot type) is a human foot type in which the sole of the foot is distinctly hollow when bearing weight.  A high arch is the opposite of a flat foot and is somewhat less common.

Pain Areas: arch,  forefoot and heel

Common Issues: inflexibility and stiffness in arch, development of corns and calluses on ball, side or heel of foot

*Suggested Brands: Finn Comfort, New Balance, SAS

PES PLANUS (FLAT FOOT)

A condition in which the entire sole of the foot touches the floor when standing. Pes Planus  can occur when the arches don’t develop during childhood. Flat feet can also develop due to an injury or Simply from daily stress on feet. Most people have no symptoms associated with flat feet.

Pain Areas: arch and heel

Common Issues:  foot fatigue,  aching feet, particularly in the heel and arches,  leg and back pain

*Suggested Brands: Naot, SAS, New Balance

ANKLE VALGUS (PRONATION)

Is an insidious deformity which causes the ankles roll inward. The condition causes pronation of the foot as well as medial malleolus which is the bump on the inner side of the ankle joint.

Pain Areas: feet, lower legs, hips, ankles                                              

Common Issues: ankle sprains and progressive weakening of the ligaments, Achilles tendinitis

*Suggested Brands: Finn Comfort, New Balance, Mephisto, Drew

ANKLE VARUS (SUPINATION)

A deformity which cause ankles to roll outward which reduces the the overall alignment to the body.  The excessive rolling of ankles places stress on the muscles and tendons that stabilize the ankle, and can eventually cause ankle to completely roll over.

Pain Areas: feet, lower legs, ankles                                                                         

Common Issues: ankle sprains, arch pain, shin splints, knee pain, back pain, Achilles tendinitis

*Suggested Brands: Finn Comfort, New Balance, Fidelio, Naot

DIABETES

A syndrome in which the basic defect or lack thereof the pancreatic hormone insulin. This deficiency disrupts the vascular system thus affecting the eyes, kidneys, legs and feet.  Diabetic foot problems arise from a series of circumstances, however peripheral neuropathy (lack of feeling) and peripheral vascular disease (poor blood circulation) are two factors that predominate.

Pain Area: feet, legs

Common Issues:  swelling, athlete’s foot, fungal infection of nails

*Suggested Brands, SAS, Fidelio, Drew

MORTON’S NEUROMA

Caused by a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves that leads out to your toes, it usually happens between the third and forth toes, and can sometimes feel like a pebble stuck in your sock.

Pain Areas:  ball of foot

Common Issues: bunions, hammertoes, or arch problems

*Suggested Brands: SAS, Mephisto, Calou, Naot, Vital, Famolare

*Suggested brands have styles that can help alleviate pain that individuals may experience. The information above are just  suggestions and not meant to diagnose any foot issues. Visit a podiatrist for diagnosis. Call or visit Bodell’s Comfort Footwear to find out what style or brand may work for you.