1. Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in the heel, arch or along the sole of your foot. It’s the cause of 15% of foot problems. It’s the result of irritation, swelling and tightness in the band of tissues, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot. The pain from plantar fasciitis is usually worse when you get out of bed in the morning and after walking or running.
2. Flat Feet (Fallen Arches)
Flat feet is a condition where one or both of your feet have little to no arch. When you stand the pads of your feet press into the ground.
Flat feet can cause symptoms such as leg cramps, muscle pain in your foot or leg, pain in your arch, ankle, shin, heel or outside of your foot or pain when walking.
3. Arthritis
Arthritis is a common problem that can affect the joints throughout your foot, especially your big toe. It can cause deterioration in the protective cushioning in the bones of your feet which can lead to stiffness.
This stiffness and swelling in your joints can eventually lead to permanent damage. Arthritis can affect different parts of your feet, including your toes, ankles, ball of the feet and heels. It can cause pain, and stiffness, which will affect the way you walk or stand.
4. Heel Spur
A heel spur is a bony protrusion on your heel that is most commonly made up of a calcium build-up. This abnormal bone growth is not painful themselves but can pull the tissues in the heel and can cause pain, swelling and redness.
You typically feel pain in your heel, usually when you’re walking, jogging, running or participating in other types of physical activity.
5. Tendonitis or Tendinopathy (Tibialis Posterior Tendon)
Tendinitis occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed, resulting in swelling and pain, especially with movement of the affected area.
The posterior tibial tendon runs down your inner ankle, along the inner arch of your foot and attaches to the bottom of your foot near the inside of your arch. This tendon helps support your foot’s natural arch.
Tendonitis will occur when the posterior tibial tendon becomes inflamed or torn. This can be due to an acute injury such as a fall, or from overuse often related to the strain from abnormal foot mechanics (ie. overpronation, fallen arches or flat feet)
Common symptoms include pain along the inside of your foot and ankle, pain that worsens with activity and pain on the outside of your ankle. This condition is more common in women and people older than 40 years of age.
6. Bunions
A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toes, on the inside of your foot. It is caused by a misalignment, and can cause your big toes to point inward and potentially overlap with your second toe.
This lump can be painful, make the shoes you normally wear uncomfortable and change the way you walk. Other common symptoms include swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint, corns or calluses in between the first and second toes, and limited movement in your big toe.
7. High Arches
High arch feet may be caused by genetics or by a number of underlying conditions. A normal arch is raised slightly off of the ground when you are standing, but people with high arches have much more space between the floor and their arch.
High arches cause more stress on your feet, which can lead to symptoms including corns or calluses, an inward tilting heel, trouble finding shoes that fit well, foot pain while walking, standing or playing sports or toes that are bent while standing.
8. Hammertoes
Like bunions, hammertoes are caused by a misaligned joint in your toes that pushes tissues from the ball of your foot forward underneath your toes. It can eventually cause your toes to take on a claw or hammer-like shape. It is most common in the second, third or fourth toes.
A hammertoe is painful, especially when you are moving it or wearing close-toed shoes. You will also likely notice swelling or redness around the toe, the inability to straighten your toe, difficulty walking and a corn or callus on the top or tip of your toe.
9. Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is a condition that occurs when the nerves in your foot start to thicken, which places pressure on your toes. This typically occurs between your third and fourth toes.
You may experience things such as feeling like you always have something in your shoe like a rock, tingling, numbness or burning in your foot. At first, symptoms may only be occasional but they may become more common or even constant as the condition develops.
10. Strains and Sprains
Sprains and strains occur frequently and are often confused with one another! A sprain happens when a ligament is overstretched or torn, whereas a strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched.
These types of injuries are typically the result of stepping awkwardly or landing funny. In both cases, these injuries should be evaluated by a physiotherapist to ensure quick resolution and no long-term damage occurs.
11. Neuropathy
Neuropathy refers to a diseased state of nerves typically associated with diabetes, medication toxicity (i.e., chemotherapy), or circulation issues like peripheral vascular disease. This alters the sensation in your feet and can be especially problematic when cuts or injuries are not noticed. Sensation changes can also make you more susceptible to balance issues and falls.
No matter what type of pain you are experiencing in your feet, getting help sooner than later will help you in the long run. Our physiotherapists at PhysioPlus Health Group in Toronto will help you reduce your pain and get you moving comfortably once again!
12. Bursitis
Bursae are closed, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and help create a smooth gliding surface to reduce friction between body tissues. These sacs of fluid protect tendons from the bone.
An injury or overuse can cause inflammation in the bursae which prevents tendons from smoothly gliding over the joint and can be painful or even debilitating. This condition commonly affects your foot and heel.