Heel Bone Spurs: Relief Using Orthotics to Treat Plantar Fasciitis

What are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?

Heel bone spurs are nail-like growths that form around the ligaments and tendons of the foot where they attach to the heel bone. The main heel spur symptoms are piercing pain in the heel on rising and constant throbbing in the foot. These calcified tissues can dig into the inflamed flesh of the foot, causing pain. At the onset, the pain can be very sharp and can be noticed the most when you stand. Over time, the pain can subside to a dull ache, but this can become a permanent cause for annoyance for the patient. Heel spurs cause pain by poking at flesh that has become very inflamed and irritated, a condition known as plantar fascia inflammation.

A Trigger for Heel Spurs

A common trigger of bone spurs in the heels is when the Plantar Fascia, the thick connective tissue that attaches the toes to the heel becomes inflamed. This unnatural pressure on the heel causes calcification of the soft tissue in the foot, creating plantar fasciitis. Factors that can lead to this condition include abnormal stress, excessive weight, age or poor foot function. When the tissue becomes tight, it is torn over and over by the recurring use of the foot. As the tissue becomes inflamed, it results in bone spurs in the heels.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Heel Spurs

The only way to receive a proper diagnosis is through a foot x-ray. With an x-ray, your doctor can confirm that a heel spur has developed. Treatments vary from elevating the foot to much more serious solutions like foot surgery. Many people find relief from inflammation by applying soothing heat to the area. This alleviates the pain by dilating the blood vessels in the foot and increasing blood circulation. Others discover that simply wearing orthotic arch supports can provide help. These devices provide additional arch support and can help correct over-pronation. By removing the strain on the Plantar Fascia, the tissues in the foot are allowed to heal properly. Many orthotics come with additional heel pads that act as shock absorbers for the heel which help to immediately relieve the pain. Also, there are physical therapy options such as diathermy that can also be helpful in reducing inflammation. This process makes use of an electrical current to produce heat that will ease plantar fascia inflammation.

Prevention of Heel Spurs

One way to help prevent heel spurs is to properly stretch the tissues in the foot and calf before any rigorous exercise. By stretching these tissues, you create more flexibility which lessens the likelihood of plantar fascia inflammation. Also, it is very important to wear shoes that fit properly and provide ample arch support and cushioning to the foot. Orthotic shoe inserts are a smart addition to any shoe to help eliminate any abnormal stress on the Plantar Fascia, which could lead to bone spurs in the heels. Paying attention to our feet is a very important step in staying healthy. Healthy feet are a critical component to our well-being.

Knee Pain and How It May Be Caused by Flat Feet Overpronation

What are the Symptoms for Lower Leg Pain?
Leg pain is a common complaint experienced by many and can have many different causes. A main cause of leg pain is a biomechanical disorder known as excessive pronation. This causes pain by creating an internal rotation of the lower leg and knee and can be easily diagnosed by noticing a rotation of the foot originating at the ankle. This can be seen most predominantly the outward curvature of the Achilles Tendon, the strip of tissue that connects the heel and the calf muscle. As this twisting becomes more and more pronounced, a person with excessive pronation can have symptoms such as heel spurs, frequent ankle sprains, shin splints, painful arches, lower back pain, and of course knee pain. Pain in the knees can also occur from normal wear and tear to the joint, but when excessive pronation is evident, it causes a joint that is meant to act as a hinge only, to rotate. This joint is not created to rotate, and it is this improper motion of the knee that leads to early signs of stress on the bone causing long-term damage and extreme pain in the knee joint.

Additional Causes of Excessive Pronation

The most common causes of this foot ailment are heredity and the location of the feet while a baby is in the mother’s womb. It will tend to get worse as a person develops because the parts of the knee become very slack. as the foot becomes used to the loosened state of these tissues, the inner ankle bone protrudes greatly. As the foot muscles accommodate this improper alignment, the person will find that they have an very flexible and flat foot. A number of external signs of this ailment can be extreme wear and tear on the inner soles of shoes, very short arch height and also Morton’s toe. Morton’s toe is a situation, where the big toe is shorter than the second toe and can cause the foot to rotate inward.

A Common Treatment for Lower Leg Pain

One of the ways to help correct this foot abnormality is by the use of orthotics. Orthotic inserts are built to relieve excessive pronation by providing support to the arch and offering increased strength to the compromised ankle joints. They can be inserted into countless types of shoes, however one should choose a shoe that has sufficient arch support and a firm midsole to begin with. The shoes you use with these types of inserts should be able to fit them. Frequently, you will find that adding this additional arch support will bring more help to your aching knees than using a knee brace. They work on your feet just as braces work to align your teeth. By creating the necessary arch they drive the ankle joint back into alignment, alleviating the twisting on the knee thus bringing relief to the knee joint. Determining the cause of your pain should be fairly easy and using orthotic inserts to reduce the pain is a simple remedy. Leading long, productive lives begins with the care of our joints. We must pay attention to their needs can bring us a comfortable and happy state of health for years to come.

Diagnostic And Treatment For Flat Feet In Youth Using Orthotic Shoe Insoles

Flat feet during the early years is commonly difficult to notice in the early months, since the true shape of the foot is often hidden by baby fat. With the passage of time and as the child starts walking, the condition becomes evident. As the child gets older, it is normal for an arch to appear between the ages of 4 and 6, as it is often developed by walking barefoot on uneven terrain. This develops tendons, muscles, and ligaments. If a normal arch does not appear during this stage of development, then it may be necessary to look into using foot arch supports to prevent lower body or back issues from emerging later in life.

A good way to test whether an arch is being developed is by using a wet blotter. With this method, you create a footprint of your child’s damp foot on colored paper. Then you check whether the foot arch leaves a noticeable gap. You can also do this at the beach, or in a sandbox by looking at the foot impression, though the blotter test is much more helpful. Another indication of flat feet is whether the child complains about his or her calf muscles or ankles ache after walking for a period of time, as flat feet in early life can cause additional strain on ankles and calves to counteract the deficiency of foot arches. In some cases, a child may walk on the outer edges of his feet, and this is often mistaken for bowleggedness, when in reality it is a consequence of over-pronation caused by flat feet.

Pronation –the excessive rolling inwards of the ankles and feet, and resulting collapse of the arches– is found in up to seventy percent of the population. Over a period of time, over-pronation will also cause back problems in addition to foot pain, and also leg problems. Many people fail to comprehend how correct foot, leg and back alignment are interrelated, and it is important to remedy any foot problems such as flat feet during childhood to prevent further damage to other lower body parts.

It is recommended to detect flat feet during childhood as soon as possible to prevent ensuing complications later in life. While sometimes it is a normal part of aging, it is possible for adults of any age to develop flat feet. Flat feet can be set off for reasons such as pregnancy, injury, or illness, and can be permanent or temporary, depending on the reason. Excess weight can also be a cause for flat feet in children or adults.

Foot conditions such as flat feet during childhood can be corrected to prevent serious complications like plantar fasciitis and avoid damage to ankles, calves, or lower back. A recommended measure of prevention is through the use of foot arch supports. A foot specialist (podiatrist) should be able to evaluate the symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment, which could include foot arch supports or foot exercises, according to your particular situation. In many cases, off-the-shelf foot arch supports products available on the Internet or at retail stores, can produce excellent results, without the need for expensive custom-made orthotic arch supports or other aids available via prescription.

It is important to remember when it comes to flat feet during childhood is that early detection can prevent many serious problems to other body parts such as the knees and lower back with aging. It is easy to treat flat feet during childhood through readily available and affordable foot arch supports.