10 Common Foot Disorders and How to Treat Them
Our feet are complex structures that bear the brunt of our daily movement, comprising 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Studies suggest the average person walks about 100,000 miles in a lifetime. This makes it no surprise that nearly everyone will experience foot issues at some point. In this post, we’ll cover 10 of the most common foot disorders, their causes, symptoms, and effective treatments. Here are 10 Common foot disorders and how to treat them.
Fractures or Stress Fractures
Causes of Fractures or Stress Fractures: Traumatic injuries can cause fractures, from sports to simple accidents. Overuse or repetitive loading of the bones can also cause bone stress injuries and stress fractures. There are risk factors for fractures. This includes low bone density, improper training practices, and untreated deficits in range of motion, strength, muscle length, and balance. High-risk activities can also increase your risk of fracture.
Symptoms of Fractures or Stress Fractures: Fractures are painful with weight bearing and with any movement of the involved bone(s). Pain is a very localized, sharp sensation. Stress fractures are dull, throbbing/aching, very localized, painful with movements or loading, and can be more painful at night.
Treatments for Fractures and Stress Fractures: Surgery and/or immobilization is indicated for a fracture. Stress fractures likely require a period of immobilization as well as reduced activity. A physical therapist will guide you through rehab to improve comfort and work on deficits that are present.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is a thick band of connective tissue that lives under the bones of the feet and acts as a structural support (like a truss). It supports the longitudinal arch of the foot, along with other structures.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis: To simplify this matter, the plantar fascia can become aggravated when it is loaded at a level that is higher than its capacity. High-impact or repetitive activities are more likely to achieve this level of loading.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis: Sharp heel pain, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity. Pain may lessen after moving around but can return after prolonged standing.
Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis: Short-term rest, ice, and gentle stretching can help. Over-the-counter pain relievers, orthotics (over-the-counter or custom), and physical therapy are effective. In severe cases, corticosteroid injections or surgery may be used.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy – a disease characterized by chronic nerve damage, usually within the foot and lower leg, leading to a loss of sensation and possibly strength in the affected areas.
Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy: Long-term high blood sugar levels in people can damage nerves. For people with well-managed diabetes, this disease is much less likely to occur.
Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy: Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the feet, along with sensitivity to touch and muscle weakness.
Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy: Management of the condition is the best approach. Ways to limit symptoms include controlling your blood sugar, regular foot checks, and wearing diabetic-friendly, well-fitting shoes are essential. Medications can help manage pain, and physical therapy may improve strength and balance, deterring falls and other subsequent impairments or adverse events.
Bunions
Bunions are a structural deformation, also known as hallux abductovalgus, where the great toe migrates medially and the first metatarsal migrates laterally relatives to one another.
Causes of Bunions: Foot shape, genetics, and certain types of footwear, such as high heels or tight shoes, can contribute to bunion formation.
Symptoms of Bunions: A bump on the inside of the foot, often causing pain, swelling, and limited movement of the big toe.
Treatments for Bunions: Wearing wider shoes and using bunion pads can help relieve discomfort. Severe cases may require surgery to realign the joint. A physical therapist can improve the range of motion, strength, control, and comfort of the foot.
Hallux Rigidus
Hallux Rigidus – a presentation caused by arthritis in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, or where the big toe meets the first metatarsal in the foot.
Causes of Ingrown Hallux Rigidus: Genetics, previous injury to the foot, ill-fitting shoes, repetitive use of the joint above its current capacity.
Symptoms of Hallux Rigidus: Some of the symptoms include loss of first toe range of motion (especially into extension). People can also have pain with weight bearing or walking, swelling in the affected joint, and discoloration of the skin in the affected area.
Treatments for Hallux Rigidus: orthotics, properly fitting footwear, footwear with a rocker sole, and steroid injections can be used to treat symptoms. Working with a physical therapist to restore comfort, range of motion, strength, and control of the foot can provide longer-term, more effective solutions.
Lateral Ankle Sprain
Lateral Ankle Sprain – a sprain refers to a traumatic overstretching of the involved ligaments. A lateral ankle sprain is the most common type and the anterior talofibular ligament is most commonly involved. Chronic ankle sprains can become an issue with repetitive reinjury and loss of function in the involved ankle.
Causes of Lateral Ankle Sprains: Some accidents that lead to an ankle sprain cannot be avoided. However, there are usually underlying deficits with balance and control that make us more likely to sprain an ankle. High-impact or high-velocity activities increase our risk.
Symptoms of Lateral Ankle Sprains: Pain, swelling, and tenderness on the outside of the ankle, pain with weight bearing, and an aching/throbbing sensation.
Treatments for Lateral Ankle Sprain: Reducing pain and swelling is the first goal of treatment. Physical therapists will also guide you back to health using exercise and challenging your balance and control, to reduce the risk of recurring sprains. Ankle braces may be used as an external support to restrict motion and prevent a sprain from occurring.
Hammertoe
Hammertoe – a condition where the proximal phalangeal joint in the toes (typically the second toe) migrates into a flexed position, causing the distal phalangeal joint in the toe to migrate into an extended position.
Causes of Hammertoe: Genetics, arthritis, or wearing shoes that crowd the toes can cause a hammertoe, where a toe (usually the second) bends downward instead of pointing forward.
Symptoms of Hammertoe: A visible bend in the toes, pain, and calluses forming around the affected joints.
Treatments for Hammertoe: Wearing properly fitting shoes that do not crowd the toes, toe exercises, and padding can help. Severe cases may benefit from surgery.
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma – a neuroma a a cyst-like formation on a nerve, and a Morton’s neuroma is typically located on the interdigital nerve located between the third and fourth metatarsals of the foot.
Causes of Morton’s Neuroma: The reason is generally unknown, but repetitive trauma, overuse, ill-fitting shoes, and other foot deformations are thought to contribute to their formation.
Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma: Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the foot or toes, loss of sensation and strength, and pain with weight bearing or walking.
Treatments for Morton’s Neuroma: A physical therapist will restore comfort within the foot and address deficits such as range of motion or biomechanics that can relieve symptoms even with your usual activities.
Flat Feet
Flat Feet – a deformation characterized by a flattening of the medial arch of the foot. This deformity usually comes about over time.
Causes of Flat Feet: There tends to be insufficient support from the plantar fascia, medial muscles, and tendons that support the arch. This can be due to genetics, previous injury, or other underlying conditions/deficits that force your body to assume this flat foot position.
Symptoms of Flat Feet: Pain and swelling along the inner side of the feet, especially after long periods of standing or physical activity.
Treatments for Flat Feet: Supportive, well-cushioned shoes, orthotics, and exercises to strengthen the feet can Improve comfort. Improving balance and control of the foot, as well as addressing biomechanics with movements will teach you to move in a way that loads the irritated structures less. Surgery is rare but may be beneficial if severe pain persists.
Gout
Gout – This condition is a type of arthritis that is characterized by a buildup of uric acid, a metabolite of protein breakdown, within the first metatarsophalangeal joint. It is most common in males who have a family history of this condition. Flare-ups and remission are very common.
Causes of Gout: Genetics, excessive alcohol and purine consumption, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity are known risk factors. Flare-ups may come about without warning.
Symptoms of Gout: Intense pain in the big toe joint, commonly described as sharp or burning, accompanied by redness, warmth, and swelling in that joint are the most common symptoms. It makes weight-bearing painful and walking difficult.
Treatments for Gout: Medication to reduce uric acid levels, pain relievers, and dietary changes can help. A physical therapist will help protect your joints and improve comfort during flare-ups, as well as teach strategies for remaining healthy and reducing your risk or severity of future flare-ups.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help Keep You On Your Feet?
Physical therapy can play a crucial role in managing and preventing foot disorders. Through personalized manual therapy, exercises, and education, physical therapists can help improve mobility, and control, reduce pain, strengthen foot muscles, and improve biomechanics. Many patients find that physical therapy helps alleviate symptoms without invasive treatments. A physical therapist can also provide guidance on proper footwear, orthotics, and lifestyle modifications.
Schedule an Appointment
Don’t let foot pain slow you down. Schedule an appointment with a Freedom Physical Therapist to discuss your foot health and develop a treatment plan that keeps you on your feet and moving comfortably. Don’t suffer another day with foot pain.