• On Feb, 25, 2016
•  Jayne Hembruff
•  Uncategorized

Are you living with foot pain?

Did you know the foot is?a complex ?structure?

It is made up of?26 bones, 33 joints, multiple muscles, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.?The bones of the foot are primarily held together by their fit with each other forming joints surrounded by joint capsules and connected by fibrous tissues known as ligaments. The muscles of the foot, along with a tough, sinewy tissue known as the plantar fascia, provide secondary support to the foot. The foot has internal muscles that originate and insert in the foot and external muscles that begin in the lower leg and attach in various places on the bones of the foot. There are also fat pads in the foot to help with?weight-bearing and absorbing impact.

Like all body part, the foot can?be affected by disease within the body or the foot itself. Overuse or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the foot can cause foot pain. Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain. Injury to the nerves of the feet may result in intense burning pain, numbness or tingling (peripheral neuropathy).If the?pain due to foot pain interferes with your normal activities, you should seek medical advice.

Treatment of foot pain will depend on the cause of the pain and may involve ?improving alignment, blood flow, range of motion, strengthening, stretching. If so, gentle yoga may?help. ?However, medication and/or surgery may also be required.

Some common causes of foot pain include:

• Achilles tendinitis
  Achilles tendon rupture
  Avulsion fracture: How is it treated?
  Bone spurs
  Broken ankle/broken foot
  Broken toe
  Bunions
  Bursitis
  Corns and calluses
  Diabetic neuropathy
  Flatfeet
  Gout
  Haglund’s deformity
  Hammertoe and mallet toe
  High heels or poorly fitting shoes
  Ingrown toenails
  Metatarsalgia
  Morton’s neuroma
  Osteoarthritis
  Osteomyelitis
  Paget’s disease of bone
  Peripheral neuropathy
  Plantar fasciitis
  Plantar warts
  Psoriatic arthritis
  Raynaud’s disease
  Reactive arthritis
  Retrocalcaneal bursitis
  Rheumatoid arthritis
  Septic arthritis
  Stress fractures
  Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  Tendinitis
  Tumors

Plantar fasciitis

The sole of the foot is referred to as the plantar area. Plantar fasciitis is a chronic local inflammation of the “bowstring-like” ligament stretching underneath the sole, also referred to as the plantar fascia, that attaches at the heel.

Most common?cause:? repetitive strain injury to the ligament of the sole of the foot. Such strain injury can be from excessive running or walking, inadequate foot gear, and jumping injury from landing. Plantar fasciitis can also be caused by certain diseases, including reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Treatment:

1. Rest.Avoid reinjury ?by resting.

2. Ice. Decrease the associated inflammation. Try ice massage (helps to?reduce pain and inflammation). Consult with a doctor about the about a anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or cortisone injections.

2 . ?Once rested, discuss with you doctor the benefits of?gentle somatic movement and yoga, range of motion exercises, gentle ball massage to help improve the blood flow and avoid re injury. However, I caution you to be sure to avoid over stretching. ?Be gentle!! If you are unsure,??work with a certified and registered yoga teacher.

3. Soft, cushioned soles can be helpful in reducing irritation of inflamed tissues from plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotic shoe inserts may?reduce the excess motion of the foot and decrease strain to the plantar fascia –but talk to your Dr.

Subtle cavovarus deformity. I had never heard of this condition prior to this week, but one of my clients shared a friend?was diagnosed. ??I found a great article?that explained it?http://www.podiatrytoday.com/assessing-and-treating-subtle-cavus-foot-deformity? Warning, it is a?bit technical.

However, with my yoga teacher hat on, it just reminded the importance of proper alignment, improving blood flow and improving range of motion within?a safe range all the muscles and strengthening to maintain correct alignment.