Common Foot Conditions
Below you’ll find a list of common foot conditions. Painful feet can affect your ability to enjoy the most basic of daily activities. Thankfully, many foot conditions can be easily prevented or treated by wearing properly-fitting footwear or using the right over-the-counter foot care products. Stop by any Sole Perfection Shoes store and see how easy it is to get you back to comfort. If your foot pain persists, we recommend that you see your doctor.
Achilles Tendonitis
Definition
Achilles tendonitis causes inflammation and degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon located in the back of the leg that inserts into the heel. You can feel a shooting pain, burning pain, or even an extremely piercing pain. In some cases even prolonged periods of simply standing can cause symptoms. Individuals who suffer from Achilles tendonitis often experience a “first step pain’ when they get out of bed in the morning. Another common complaint is getting pain after steps are taken after long periods of sitting, but that diminishes with activity.
Treatment and Prevention
Athletes, particularly runners, should incorporate a thorough stretching program to properly warm-up their muscles. They should decrease the distance of their walk or run, apply ice after the activity and avoid any uphill climbs. Athletes are encouraged to use an orthotic device, heel cup, or heel cradle for extra support. Sole Perfection Shoes carries a wide range of heel cups and arch supports to help treat Achilles tendonitis. A heel cup elevates the heel, resulting in less stress and pressure on the Achilles tendon. An orthotic device can be used to control over-pronation, support the longitudinal arch, and reduce stress on the Achilles tendon. Visit the Sole Perfection Shoes nearest you for a free foot analysis and foot scan.
Arthritis
Definition
Arthritis is inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints, generally accompanied by an increase in the fluid in the joints. Each foot has 33 joints that can be afflicted with arthritis. Inflammation causes redness, warmth, pain and swelling.
Treatment and Prevention
Conservative treatment of the arthritic foot starts with focusing on your shoes and feet. Treatment often includes OTC arch supports. Sole Perfection has a variety of shoes, sandals and arch supports to help you live with arthritis. Some key features in the shoes and arch supports to help arthritic feet are:
* High, wide toe box (high and wide space in the toe area)
• Removable insoles for fitting orthotics, if necessary
• Rocker Soles designed to reduce stress and pain at the ball-of-the-foot
• Arch supports from Superfeet, Powerstep, Lynco and more, designed to provide comfort, support and extra cushioning
Orthotics made with a material called Plastazote are often recommended because they mold to your feet to provide customized comfort. The proper arch support for your shoes and feet will reduce pressure to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for your foot. If the problem persists, consult your foot doctor.
Athlete’s foot
Definition
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that causes red, dry, flaking skin, sometimes accompanied by pain or itching. The condition usually occurs between the toes or on the soles or sides of the feet. In its acute stage, the infected foot exhibits blisters that itch or "weep". Athlete's Foot can spread to the toenails, causing chronic fungal infections.
Treatment and Prevention
Treating both your shoes and feet are key to treating athlete’s foot quickly. Daily washing of the feet with soap and water followed by thorough drying, especially between the toes, is important. Wearing dry, airy shoes and socks that wick moisture away, avoiding tight hosiery and using foot powder all help to keep the feet dry and infection-free. When using public showers or pool areas it is a good idea to wear water sandals or slippers. Sole Perfection has a full range of sock that help regulate both temperature and moisture. We also have replacement arch supports and insole cushions if your current shoes insides need refreshing.
Bunions
Definition
Bunions are one of the most common forefoot problems. 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. With the continued movement of the big toe towards the smaller toes, it is common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe. Some of the symptoms of bunions include inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. Another type of bunion which some individuals experience is called a Tailor's Bunion, also known as a Bunionette. This forms on the outside of the foot at the little toe.
Treatment and Prevention
The best way to alleviate the pain associated with bunions is to wear properly fitting shoes and or arch supports from Sole Perfection. Sole Perfection has many shoes designed with a high, wide toe box (toe area) and are recommended for people suffering from forefoot disorders, such as bunions. Sole Perfection also has shoes with rocker soles. Shoes with rocker soles will offload pressure on the bunion. OTC arch supports provide extra comfort, support, stability and protection. At Sole Perfection you can have a free foot scan and gait analysis by a certified fitting specialist, to help find the right shoes or sandals that keeps your bunion from hurting.Other conservative treatments include using forefoot products designed to accommodate and relieve bunions such as bunion shields, bunion night splints, and bunion bandages. Find the Sole Perfection store nearest you, in Everett, Shoreline, Seattle, Federal Way and Tacoma.
Diabetes
Definition
Diabetes is a serious disease that can develop from lack of insulin production in the body or due to the inability of the body's insulin to perform its normal everyday functions. Insulin is a substance produced by the pancreas gland that helps process the food we eat and turn it into energy. Type 1 is usually associated with juvenile diabetes and is often linked to heredity. Type 2, commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by elevated blood sugars, often in people who are overweight or have not attended to their diet properly. Diabetes disrupts the vascular system, affecting many areas of the body such as the eyes, kidneys, legs, and feet. People with diabetes should pay special attention to their shoes and feet.
Treatment and Prevention
Orthotics, shoes and feet protection play an important role in diabetic footcare. Sole Perfection has arch supports designed with Plastazote foam, the #1 material for protecting the insensitive diabetic foot. Plastazote is a material designed to accommodate pressure "hot spots" by conforming to heat and pressure. By customizing to the foot, Plastazote provides the comfort and protection needed in diabetic footcare. Footwear constructed with Plastazote is also recommended frequently for the diabetic patient. Diabetic footwear should also provide the following protective benefits:
• High, wide toe box (high and wide space in the toe area)
• Removable insoles for fitting flexibility and the option to insert orthotics if necessary.Rocker Soles designed to reduce pressure in the areas of the foot most susceptible to pain, most notably the ball-of-the-foot
• Firm Heel Counters for support and stability
If you are a diabetic, you should be particularly alert to any problems you may be having with your shoes and feet. It is very important for diabetics with neuropathy to take necessary precautions to prevent injury and keep their feet healthy. If you have diabetes you should consult your doctor and then visit the Sole Perfection store nearest you, in Everett, Shoreline, Seattle, Federal Way and Tacoma.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Definition
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves in your toes and fingertips. When the nerves are damaged you have decreased or abnormal sensation in their toes and fingers. Some people describe this feel as burning, tingling or numbness. Sometimes, they develop problems moving these parts of the body as well.The most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting or stabbing pain in the toes and/or fingertips. Any change in sensation in the fingers or toes may be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy. Be sure to report any abnormal sensations to your doctor. Those sensations may be the first sign of another problem, such as diabetes.aintain foot health.
Treatment and Prevention
The best thing you can do to prevent peripheral neuropathy is to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Peripheral neuropathy is common in people with diabetes; non-diabetic neuropathy is becoming more common as well. The degree of neuropathy generally corresponds to the degree of blood sugar control. Someone whose blood sugar is kept under tight control will usually have much better sensation in their fingers and toes than someone with poorly controlled diabetes. Everyone at Sole Perfection is required to study neuropathy and the complications associated with it. Sole Perfection carries a wide variety of shoes and arch supports if you’re suffering from neuropathy.
Treatment and Prevention
The key for the proper treatment of plantar fasciitis is determining what is causing the excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. Instability in your shoes and feet can be the root of the over stretching. All foot types and activity levels get plantar fasciitis so the right combination of cushion and support in your shoes and feet are key. Low arch (flat feet) need additional arch support from a proper fitting shoe and or arch support combination. High arch feet gain relief with the proper support and shock absorbing cushion of the heel. Sole Perfection Shoes has the area’s largest selection of over-the-counter arch supports, ranging from ridged to soft. We carry brands like Superfeet, Powerstep, Lynco and many more. Sole Perfection also offers free IStep foot scans by trained fitters to help you get the correct arch support for your foot type. Other common treatments include stretching exercises, night splints, and gel heel cups. Sole Perfection carries a full range of running and walking, dress and casual, shoes and sandals with every level of support, no matter your foot type. Let Sole Perfection Shoes analyze your foot type to determine the best shoes and arch supports for your feet.
Plantar Fasciitis
Definition
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue which runs along the bottom surface 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, which can also lead to heel pain, arch pain, and heel spurs.
