Foot Care, Shoe Inserts, Arch Supports, Toe Guards

Foot Pain Treatment and Prevention

Foot pain is a common problem that many people suffer with on an occasional or frequent basis. Since the body places a lot of pressure on the feet, it is important to practice proper foot care, especially if a person has other health problems, such as diabetes. Years of wear and tear, disease, bad-fitting or poorly designed shoes, poor circulation to the feet, or improperly trimmed toenails can cause many common foot problems. Improper foot care can lead to chronic foot pain, surgery, or something more serious, such as foot amputation.

Some of the different types of foot care can include caring for calluses, bunions, heel spurs, bursitis, hammertoe, plantar fasciitis, and diabetes. Ways to take care of them are using shoe inserts, arch supports, and heel cups/cushions. Proper care and treatment typically will keep most feet healthy and keep pain to a minimum. If a person is having any issues or problems with their feet, such as swelling or chronic pain, they may need to see a podiatrist or physician for an evaluation.

What are Shoe Inserts?

Shoe inserts refer to orthotic devices that are placed in the sole of the shoe. They are used to treat pain and a variety of other conditions that are caused by sports injuries, malformed feet, bad shoes, or improperly balanced walking. They are designed to cushion the foot and even out the pressure on the walking surface. Shoe inserts can absorb the shock while running or walking, accommodate a malformed foot, or encourage more evenly balanced walking by supporting proper foot movement. They can come in a variety of shapes, depending on specific needs. Some shoe inserts are designed to cover only the heel or the ball of the foot, to give extra support or make shoes fit better. Orthotic shoe inserts cover the entire sole of the foot and give extra support to the arches that are too high or too flat.

What are Arch Supports?

Arch supports are physical supports for the arches of the feet. Wearing them can help the feet rebuild their natural strength in the arches, helping to prevent further injury and eventually repairing the damage. Supporting the arches can be done in a number of ways. Sometimes it is done with the help of shoe inserts, which can come in a range of designs and styles. Good arch supports are fairly rigid, to keep the arches up, with some flexibility so the arch can move up and down naturally as the feet move. Strapping or taping may also be used to create arch support. This type of support is worn nonstop and changed every few days, or more often as needed. Those with severely painful or fallen arches may benefit from this strapping type because it supports the arches while sleeping and barefoot, as well as when wearing shoes.

What are Some Common Foot Problems?

There are several conditions that can cause foot problems and pain. These issues encompass bunions, calluses, diabetes, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and hammertoe. Sometimes a simple product can help alleviate the pain in the foot, and sometimes surgery is needed.

What is a Bunion?

A bunion is a bump on the side of the big toe that can cause pain at the joint. It may also force the big toe against the second toe. This condition often affects women more than it does men. Bunions develop when the big toe joint is out of line and becomes tender and swollen. They may be caused by poor-fitted shoes that press on a deformity, or by an inherited weakness in the foot. If a bunion is not severe, wearing wide-toed shoes may provide relief and protective pads can cushion the painful area. Placing bunion spacers between the big and second toes at night can also help. Without proper care, bunions can lead to deformity, chronic foot pain, or bunion removal surgery.

What are Calluses?

Calluses are hard, thick layers of skin that can occur on the side or bottom of the foot. Normally, they are caused by something like a shoe placing pressure and friction against a bony area. One foot care recommendation is to determine the cause of the pressure and eliminate it. This might mean getting better fitting shoes or special pads. Most of the time, calluses are not a serious problem and often can heal within a couple of weeks. If there are any signs of infection from a callus, seeking treatment from a physician may be required.

What is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Those with diabetes may develop diabetic neuropathy, known as nerve damage to the feet. A person may not be able to feel any injuries or pressure to their feet as a result of the nerve damage. For foot care, a person with diabetes should examine their feet regularly, exercise frequently, wear comfortable shoes at all times, and keep their blood sugar level under control. A serious bacterial infection in the feet can be caused by complications from diabetes, which could lead to amputation.

What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a bony segment of calcium deposit that grows on the bottom of the heel. Sometimes, they can be completely painless, but other times the pain can be severe. The pain is caused by muscle strain in the plantar fascia ligament, which connects the muscles on the bottom of the foot. When this ligament stretches, it can become swollen. When the swollen ligament sets in, the bony protrusion of the heel spur pokes into it. This is why many believe heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are closely linked, but they are two separate conditions. A heel spur alone does not cause pain until the ligament becomes swollen. A heel spur is irritated by wearing badly fitting shoes, standing for long periods of time, or being overweight. Once the condition is resolved, shoes containing good arch supports and adding heel pads or heel cups to footwear can help prevent recurrence. Doing calf stretches before participating in activities, and losing excess weight can also help prevent heel spurs.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that creates pain in the foot, mainly in the heel. Burning sensations or pain is caused by inflammation of the supporting structures of the foot. This can be initiated from running too much or too hard, standing for long periods of time on a hard surface, wearing improperly fitted shoes, shoes with not enough arch support, or being overweight. The most common sign of plantar fasciitis is heel pain when getting up in the morning, or after an extended period of rest. Usually, the pain will decrease a little after a person has had time to loosen up and become active.

Changing to better quality, and better fitting shoes can help, as well as using orthotics, such as arch supports, heel cups, or shoe inserts. In rare cases, surgery can be performed to unbind the ligaments. Plantar fasciitis most commonly affects women, but it can be a problem for those with damaged or short Achilles tendons, low arch, high arch, or flat feet. This condition can create permanent damage and change the way a person walks, creating other problems in the body. Seek out a medical professional for an evaluation.

What is Bursitis?

Bursal sacs are fluid filled sacs that lubricate and reduce irritation which is caused by ligaments or muscles going over bone. Bursitis of the foot happens when these sacs become inflamed due to joint overuse, age, twisting, or repetitive movement. Typically there is one bursal sac in the foot which is located at the back of the heel. It is responsible for protecting the Achilles tendon from being rubbed by the heel bone while walking. If the sac goes through too much trauma, pain, swelling, and inflammation can occur with increased amounts of pain when waking up or after sitting for a while. The area that is inflamed may be hot to the touch and it may be less painful when not wearing shoes or socks. The shoes are often the reason that bursitis of the foot occurs. Changing to different shoes, increasing the size of the shoes, or an arch support or orthotic can help reduce the pressure from bursitis.

What is Hammertoe?

Hammertoe is caused by the shortening of the tendons that control toe movements. The toe knuckle usually becomes enlarged, causing the toe to draw back. Over time, the joint stiffens and enlarges as it rubs against shoes, and balance may be affected. Hammertoe is treated by wearing stockings and shoes with plenty of toe room, and in advanced cases, surgery may be recommended.

Rehabmart is proud to offer an extensive selection of foot care products from reputable vendors, such as Bauerfeind, Triple Crown Products, Bird & Cronin Inc., Medline, McKesson Medical-Surgical, Sammons Preston, North Coast, DeRoyal, BSN Medical, United Surgical, and others.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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