One quarter of the bones in your body are located in your feet, and your feet are the foundation and support for the rest of your body. If you are experiencing foot, ankle, knee, lower back or shoulder pain, it very well may stem from a problem with your feet.

The possible cause of many of the discomforts/pains that people experience in various parts of their body can be directly or indirectly related to problems with their feet.

Supinated foot is too rigid… if it doesn’t go into pronation, you walk on a rigid foot and that causes a lack of shock absorption which is transferred into the ankle, knee, hip, low back and shoulders and neck.

The most common problem is pronation about 95% of the problem feet we see are pronated. This is a situation where the foot is not rigid enough. Therefore the foot structure is weakened and lacks the ability to offer proper biomechanical support.

NECK

The malfunction of the foot can cause the entire body to be out of alignment and balance. It is possible for the person to experience neck pain because of the poor postural alignment of the entire body.

SHOULDERS

BACK

Back pain is the leading cause of disability among Americans under the age of 45. Studies show that 80% of adults in America will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Is your back pain worse in different shoes? This may be an indication that your feet are contributing to your back pain. Here again, feet that are pronated or supinated could well be the cause or a contributing factor to some types of back pain.

-Causes: The causes of low back pain are as varied as the types of symptoms you may experience. Symptoms can be a result of poor muscle tone, muscle tension or spasms, ligament tears, degenerative arthritis, or nerve/disc problems. Because the feet are the foundation of your body, they absorb all the shock you place on your feet throughout the day. Problems with the function of your feet can have repercussions that may be felt in the low back.

-Prevention: By correcting the faulty or excessive motions in the foot, the postural alignment of the lower body can be normalized, greatly reducing stress to areas of your lower back.

HIPS

The hip is a ball and socket joint, and rotates as you walk. If there is a problem with the function of the foot, then the hip joint must compensate for the imbalance in the foot. Since the hip is a ball and socket joint and designed to work in a specific manner, the malfunction of the foot causes the normal smooth gliding rotation of the hip and can cause jamming, additional wear and tear to the soft tissue structures around the hip and to the ball and socket joint itself.

KNEES

Knee pain is very common and has many different causes. Some of the more common conditions include arthritis, ligament tear or injury, cartilage (meniscus) tear, patellar tendonitis, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and bursitis. Some of these conditions may be caused by direct trauma or injury, and some may involve pain that worsens from squatting, kneeling, sitting with your knees bent, and/or rising after long periods of sitting.

-Causes: Excessive pronation (flattening of the arches) is the biomechanical problem most often cited as being associated with a lower-limb injury. When your arches raise and lower while your walk, the bones of your legs rotate inward and outward. When there is a problem with your feet, this rotation of your leg bones can become excessive and lead to increased stress on your knees.

ANKLES

Twisted or sprained ankle is often caused by sudden severe lateral rotation at the ankle joint. To prevent ankle injuries, look for proper footwear with superior rear foot control.

FEET

Approximately 75-85% of the population experience foot pain at some point during their life’s journey. Foot injuries may include sprains, strains, fractures, blisters, cramping, edema (swelling), plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, etc. Most foot pain is caused by ill-fitted and inappropriate footwear, because the foot will take on the shape of its environment.

Solutions Start With Your Feet

A good shoe fitted properly by an experienced pedorthist is part of the whole solution as it is not only a supporter of the foot but also contains the arch support in the proper contact with the bottom of the foot. There are many types of shoes and the shoe itself must be fitted to the person taking into consideration their age, activity level, areas of discomfort, and other individual factors.

Over the counter arch supports: often, in minor problems, these devices work quite well. It would be wise to consult with a pedorthic professional as to the most effective support for you. In these minor problem cases, the over the counter device offers the type of support required to balance the foot function so that it is a more normal function.

Custom Arch Supports: custom arch supports are usually the best choice. They are custom formed to the individual foot and its needs. They are longer lasting and provide the type of biomechanical support necessary to aid the foot’s normal function.

ARCH PAIN/STRAIN

Arch pain refers to an inflammation and/or burning sensation in the arch of the foot.

A structural imbalance or injury to the foot can often be the direct cause of your arch pain, but often times the inflammation is caused by the plantar fascia being stretched away from the heel.
If the discomfort is left untreated and strain on the longitudinal arch continues, a painful bony protrusion may develop, known as a heel spur. It is important to treat the condition promptly before it worsens.

BUNIONS

A bunion is a prominent bump on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint. This bump is actually a bone protruding towards the inside of the foot and is one of the most common forefoot problems.
Bunions are a common problem experienced mostly by women, and can develop from an abnormality in foot function, or arthritis, but is more commonly caused by wearing improper fitting footwear. Tight, narrow dress shoes with a constrictive toe box (toe area) can cause the foot to take the shape of the shoe, leading to the formation of a bunion. It is important for men and women to realize that wearing improperly fitted dress shoes and boots can cause the bunion to worsen.

Soaking your feet in warm water can provide temporary relief in the early stages of bunion formation. The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes (both running and dress shoes). Shoes with rocker soles will unload pressure to the bunion area. Orthotics are also recommended to provide extra comfort, support, and protection.
Other treatments designed to accommodate and relieve bunions include bunion shields, bunion night splints, and bunion bandages. These treatments can limit the progression of the bunion formation, relieve pain and provide a healthy environment for the foot.

CALLUSES

Callus formation is our body’s defense mechanism to protect the foot against excessive pressure and friction.

Calluses are an accumulation of dead skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the foot. Some calluses have a deep seated core known as a nucleation. This particular type of callus can be painful to pressure and is often referred to as Intractable Plantar Keratosis.

Calluses develop due to excessive pressure at a specific area of the foot. Some common causes of callus formation are high-heeled dress shoes, shoes that are too small, obesity, abnormalities in the gait cycle (walking motion), flat feet, high arched feet, bony prominences, and the loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot.

In order to reduce callus formation, weight should be redistributed equally. An effective orthotic takes pressure off of the callused areas to allow healing. Women should also steer away from wearing high-heeled shoes.

CORNS

Corns are common ailments that usually form on the tops, sides and tips of the toes.

Causes include tight fitting footwear, high heels, tight fitting socks, deformed toes, or the foot sliding forward in a shoe that fits too loosely. Soft corns (corns between the toes) are result from bony prominences and become soft due to perspiration in the foot.

Treatments include wearing properly fitted footwear with extra room in the toe box (toe area). Avoid shoes that are too tight or too loose. Try to avoid using corn removing solutions and medicated pads. These solutions can sometimes increase irritation and discomfort.

FLAT FEET

Flat feet are a common biomechanical problem that occurs when a person’s arch collapses upon weight bearing.

There are many causes of flat feet. Obesity, pregnancy or repetitive pounding on a hard surface can weaken the arch leading to over-pronation. People with flat feet may not feel immediate pain, and some never suffer from any discomfort at all. However, when symptoms develop and become painful, walking becomes awkward and causes increased strain on the feet and calves.

If the arch isn’t supported as you walk, it begins to collapse causing the foot to flatten and add stress to other parts of the foot. This can lead to plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Metatarsalgia, Post-tib Tendonitis and/or bunions.

Over-Pronation can be treated with over-the-counter orthotics and properly fitting footwear. Footwear with a firm heel counter is often recommended for extra support and stability.

HEEL PAIN / PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Pain in the underside of your foot at the base of your heel may indicate an inflammation caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia (the broad band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, attaching at the bottom of the heel bone and extending to the forefoot). When the plantar fascia is excessively stretched, this can cause plantar fasciitis and can lead to heel pain, arch pain, and heel spurs.

Causes of plantar fasciitis/heel pain include:

Over-pronation (flat feet) contribute to the excessive stretching of the plantar fascia
A foot with a high arch
Sudden increase in physical activity
Improperly fitting footwear (shoes that are too small)
Excessive weight on the foot usually attributed to obesity or pregnancy.

To reduce strain and stress on the plantar fascia:

Avoid running on hard or uneven ground
Lose any excess weight
Wear shoes and orthotics that support your arch

RUNNERS TOE

Signs of runners toe include a black toe nail, and can be caused by too short a toe…

TURF TOE

Turf toe is an injury to the ligaments of the big toe joint when the joint is overstretched or hyper-extended. It is commonly associated with football injuries, but can occur with any sport prone to rapid changes in direction of running (like soccer or tennis).

Turf Toe was thought to be related to the unforgiving properties of artificial turf, but improper shoe selection and foot mechanics may also be risk factors. Worn out athletic shoes may also be a cause because lack of support as the shoe breaks down- allowing too much freedom of motion in the forefoot.

Proper shoe gear can reduce the risk of turf toe injury and at times, a carbon fiber foot plate with a Morton’s extension can be used to reduce joint strain.

MORTON’S NEUROMA

Pain is typically felt between the 3rd and 4th toes with symptoms including sharp pain, burning, tingling cramping or lack of feeling in the specific area. Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma often occur during or after you have been placing significant pressure on the forefoot area, while walking, standing, jumping, or sprinting.

Morton’s Neuroma is a common foot problem caused from an abnormal function of the foot where bones squeeze the nerve usually between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads. This condition can also be caused from footwear selection.

Footwear with pointed toes and/or high heels can often lead to a neuroma. Constricting shoes can pinch the nerve between the toes, causing discomfort and extreme pain.

Treatments include:

Selecting proper footwear. Footwear with a high and wide toe box (toe area) is ideal for treating and relieving the pain.
Use an orthotic designed with a metatarsal pad. This pad is located behind the ball-of-the-foot to unload pressure, and relieve the pain caused by the neuroma.