Flat Fleet

Flat Feet

Flat Feet is more or less a condition of fallen arches. The instep, or arch, collapses and becomes flat against the ground. Hence the term flat foot. Flat feet are not always a result of a collapse, some arches never develop properly. When we are babies, our feet are flat and the arch normally over time. As long as there is no ball of foot pain or any other difficulties resulting from the condition there is no real need to seek treatment.

If you suspect you have flat feet, just take a look. In general flat feet do have a flat look to them and unusual wear of shoe soles can also indicate flat feet. If you suffer from lower leg pain, pain from the ankle into the instep of the of the foot or foot pain in general, this may be a result of flat feet.

If you suspect you have, and are suffering foot care issues you may wish to see a podiatrist for treatment.  Treatments are available and your podiatrist will prescribe them based on the cause of a particular case of flat feet. These treatments may include but are not limited to shoe inserts, arch supports, custom orthotics, braces, surgery or just anti inflammatory medication.

Living with minor pain from flat feet without treatment might seem normal but if the condition worsens it could lead to complications. Besides the expected swelling an pain in the soles of the feet, shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis and bunions can develop. Seek the advice of a podiatrist or a foot specialist who can help with preventative measures.

Bunions

Bunions

Bunions are one of those foot condition words that gets thrown around quite a bit yet many people claim they suffer from them without really understanding what a Bunion is. Because of this, many people suffering from Bunions and other more serious foot conditions may suffer for years without seeking proper treatment.
A Bunion, or Hallux Valgus, is basically a bump on the side of the foot. However, this bump results from a structural change in the foot. This structural change occurs when the Big Toe begins to lean toward the second toe instead of maintaining its natural position. As a result, the bones which maintain the position of the big to are pushed out of alignment and form a bump.

The condition may begin with the movement of the big toe toward the second to but Bunions are progressive meaning the condition will worsen and become more severe over time. so the bump associate with Bunions becomes larger and more painful as time goes on.

Bunions can occur due to trauma in the front section of the foot but are most often caused by a genetic structural malady of the foot. Certain types of foot structures are more likely to develop Bunions than others. It is a common misconception that wearing heels or improper fitting shoes cause Bunions but footwear seems to just take advantage of those whose feet are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Regardless of the cause, most symptoms are noticed by women who wear shoes with a tight toe box and/or high heals. Since mens shoes have wider toe boxes and lower heals, the pressure on the foot forces a structural shift in the big toe less often.

When treating Bunions early the focus is usually to reduce pain and slow the progression of the condition. This starts with changes in footwear, using padding in over the area where bunions occur, and changes in activity levels. The injection of corticosteroids can prove helpful in reducing inflammation in the joint and custom orthotic devices can be fabricated to relieve the tension on the foot.

If the pain and discomfort from Bunions inhibits normal daily activities surgical treatments are often recommended. Your podiatrist can best map out this course of treatment and while ultimately corrected, the recovery from Bunion surgery can be painful and slow.