FOOT/ANKLE PAIN
Why Is It Crucial To Land On A Stable Foot?
The foot is the most complex joint in the body comprised of 26 bones, 33 ligaments and a number of tendons and ligaments. It is also considered the strongest complex structure. The foot/ankle joint is the stepping stone of your body. It is crucial that we land on a stable foot complex when walking otherwise our entire gait pattern becomes thrown off leading to increased pressure on our knees, hips and back. Unfortunately, while this is such an important joint in the human body, many diseases may affect your feet causing pain and in turn affecting one’s balance and stability.
Plantar Fasciitis
This is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue connecting your heel bone to your toes, creating the arch of your foot. When this thick band of tissue constantly gets pulled on due to over use or simply not walking with proper foot support in your shoes, the tissue becomes inflamed causing excruciating pain. Plantar fasciitis can often lead to developing heel spurs due to the nature of the tissue being strained at the base of the heel. The typical complaint of plantar fasciitis is pain first thing in the morning when standing or walking. Typical treatment would include rest and ice to help reduce the inflammation along with stretching the tissue to reduce pressure on the tissue.
Psoriatic Arthritis
One of the main complaints of Psoriatic arthritis is joint pain and swelling. The foot is typically a joint that become affected with this condition. Symptoms will often cause substantial pain and swelling throughout the feet and toes making it very difficult to stand or walk. It is important to seek treatment with a physical therapist to help maintain movement and prevent further joint injury. It is equally as important to work with a nutritionist and rheumatologist to help slow the progression of the condition and help protect the joints.
Diabetes
Diabetes has become a tremendous epidemic in our society due to the staggering number of obese adults and adolescents. Increased blood sugar levels can cause damage to nerves throughout the body. The peripheral nerves of the legs and feet are the most commonly affected with this disease. Symptoms will include severe burning pain and numbness in the legs and feet as well as other problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Diabetic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes. But you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.
