Tuesday 2 October 2012

134) COMMON FOOT PROBLEMS


English: Red High Heel Pumps
Red High Heel Pumps (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Warning:

Please do not to read this article while you are enjoying a cup of coffee or a delicious meal.

Women who wear  high heels have the tendency to sustain injuries to their backs, knees, calves or end up with misaligned bones in their feet after years of wearing high strappy heels or tight fitting pointy pumps.  


Foot problems are not confined only to women who like to wear heels but can arise from  the following activities or profession.

  • Sports that involves running, kicking, jogging, jumping, gymnastics.  
  • Professional dancers of the various dance forms would also experience pulls, ligament tears, sprains, or strained tendons.  
  • A ballet dancer's feet are rigorously strained as they have to stand literary on their toes to execute some of the complicated steps. 
  • Acrobats too are at high risk of suffering injuries to their legs and feet.



Shoes!
Pointy Shoes! (Photo credit: Cynewulf)




Here are the most common foot problems that you should be aware of if you belong to any of the above group of people.  

Achilles Tendonitis


Symptoms include pain all along the back of the tendon, a close proximity with the heel.
Contact and friction from the shoe can cause redness or chaffing in the affected area.

One of the causes of Achilles pain is misalignment of the arches.  When the heel arch sideways, it stretches  the tendon which will cause tenderness and pain.




The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the a...
Location of the bursa sacs or the mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle. Medial aspect. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



Bones of the right foot (dorsal surface).
Bones of the right foot (dorsal surface). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)





Bunions 


There are two forms of bunions.

Bunions will usually form behind the point of the large toe.  Bunionettes will form behind the little toe on the outside of the foot.

When too much pressure is placed in the joint area, fluid and tissue inflammation will build up in the bursa sac.  Calcium build up will occur at the joint area.

A "bursa" is a flattened sac that acts as a cushion for your bones and muscles. The sacs are filled with fluid and relieve friction where bones and tendons or muscles rub together.

Bunions are due to wearing high heels and shoes with tight or pointed toe boxes.


Bunion Photo credit:Wikipedia




Bunionette Photo credit:Wikipedia

Calluses


Calluses are thickened skin that usually form on the soles of the foot.  Arches that are misaligned causes friction or rubbing against the skin. This will make the skin thicker and harder due to accumulated dead skin.

Calluses can also form on the ball of the foot when the metatarsal heads collapses.  The skin around the heel area will become thick and cracks.





Callus evolution.
Callus evolution. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



Corns

When you wear tight fitting shoes, your toe joints and bones may become misaligned due to the constant pressure.  



English: Painful corns at both feet of a 51-ye...
Painful corns at both feet of a 51-year-old woman with severe tranverse flat feet. Mycosis has affected some nails, and she also suffers from a very painful thick plantar wart at her right foot.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Corns will form at the top skin of a toe or toes with constant contact and friction with the tight shoes. 




Hammer Toe Photo credit: Wikipedia



Over time, hammer toes will also form because the toes will curl inward due to the lack of room to move.


    Deforming pressure of high heels on the foot b...
    Deforming pressure of high heels on the foot bone structure (Photo credit: Wikipedia)




    Diabetes



    People who suffer from diabetes generally have a poor blood circulation especially to the foot.  

    Medical attention and sometimes amputation of the lower leg, foot or toe are required to address the problems caused by the diabetic foot .

    Dropped Metatarsals

    Metatarsals are the bones in the ball of the foot. We use these bones to push off when we walk as well as the toes.


    Dropped Metatarsal Photo credit: Wikipedia

    A dropped metatarsal is caused by the misalignment of the arches and the bone structure can no longer support itself and the bone structure collapses. 

    Heel Spurs

    Accumulation of calcium in the heel area is caused by the tearing of the fascia from the heel (Plantar Fasciitis). The body can send calcium to the area of the tear to work like glue to help prevent more tearing. 


    Heel spur Photo credit: Wikipedia


    The heel spur don’t usually hurt. The discomfort or pain is caused by the inflammation of the microscopic tearing. This can come and go and last for years. Sometimes a small hook shape can be on the top of the spur.

    Tendinitis

    Sore tendons are strong fibers that connect muscle to the bone structure. Ligaments are attachments of bone to bone. Tendons can become inflamed or sore due to being over stressed  from misalignment.

    My conclusion

    Well,  I hoped that the pictures did not gross you out.  Some of the problems can be resolved by changing tight fitting shoes to sensible flat sandals or wider toe box shoes that have sufficient arch support such as padding and stability.  It will take time for the damage to be undone and there are non-invasive ways. b

    As far as possible, try not to resort to surgery for the following reasons:

    • It is costly.  
    • It has risks.  
    • It may weaken the foot or leg
    If you have to get surgery, please do a thorough research before embarking into any type of procedures that may have an adverse affect to your lifestyle.


    Avoidance and taking good care of your feet now will see you through your later years.

    My next topic for discussion is, "10 Ways To Feel Full, Not Fat."

    You may also like to read:




    MY POEM CORNER

    Why Women Wear Heels?

    Women wear heels,  fashion dictate.
    Women wear heels to imitate.
    Women wear heels to feel great.
    Women wear heels to look taller.
    Women wear heels,  feet look smaller.
    Sky high heels to look sexy.
    To walk on heels, one can't be lazy.
    To walk on heels, a balancing act.
    To walk on heels, risks the back.

    Thanks for looking and taking the time to read my blog.
    Until my next post,

    Here's To Your Health!

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