Foot Health

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• Toe Ailments
• Bunions, Corns and Calluses
• Forefoot
• Plantar Fasciitis

Toe Ailments

Hammer Toes, Claw Toes, Ingrown Toe Nails

Hammer Toe can occur in all but the big toe. It is a toe that is raised and causes severe pressure and pain. Like above, a Claw Toe is a toe that is raised and causes severe pressure and pain. The difference is that the toe curls under so the tip (end) of the toe is pressed against the bottom of the shoe. An Ingrown Toenail is a painful condition where the skin of the toe grows over the sides of the toenail, or the toenail itself grows into the skin.

Causes of Toe Ailments

Hammer Toe, Claw Toe, and Ingrown Toenails are all common Toe Ailments. The common causes are listed below:

Hammer Toe

• Muscle imbalance causing the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This results in the toe joint curling downward with the toe pad resting on the ground
• Arthritis can also lead to Hammer Toes as well as other foot ailments

Claw Toe

• Muscle imbalance causing the ligaments and tendons to become unnaturally tight. This results in the toe joint curling downward with the tip of the toe touching the ground
• Arthritis can also lead to Claw Toes as well as other foot ailments

Ingrown Toenails

• In some cases this condition is hereditary such as toenails that are simply too large
• Not cutting toenails straight across can cause ingrown toenails
• People whose toes curl from arthritis or other diseases are prone to ingrown toenails
• Trauma like stubbing a toe, having a toe stepped on, and repeated pounding of the toes from running can all cause ingrown toenails

Symptoms

If you’re barefoot, you can easily see if you have Hammer Toe and Claw Toe. Not only will the toe be bent upward from the middle joint, but you will have tenderness on the top of the toe. Claw Toe will cause additional tenderness on the tip (end) of the toe. With Ingrown Toenails you can experience repeated infection of the skin around the toenail, irritation, redness, an uncomfortable sensation of warmth, as well as swelling of the skin around the toenail.

Treatment & Prevention

The first step in the treatment of Foot Ailments is determining what is causing the problem. Check with your family doctor or Podiatrist (foot doctor) to find the best solution for your pain or discomfort.

You can reduce the risk of Hammer Toe, Claw Toe, and Ingrown Toenails by following these simple instructions:

Hammer Toe/Claw Toe

• Change to roomier footwear
• Choose footwear with a wider toe box (toe area) to allow the foot to take on its natural shape
• Choose footwear with a higher toe box to provide enough room in the forefoot so there is less friction against the toes

Ingrown Toenails

• Immediate relief can be gained from soaking the feet in warm salt water, drying them with a soft towel, applying a mild antiseptic, and bandaging the toe
• If you think the toe or toenail is infected, consult your doctor
• To prevent future ingrown toenails, cut nail properly (straight across so the toenail corners are visible)

These Toe Ailments are common and can usually be associated with improperly-fitted footwear. Please contact your family doctor or Podiatrist and ask them how Birkenstock footwear or arch supports can help treat your symptoms. Also, feel free to contact your local Birkenstock retailer about their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products that can help with Hammer Toe, Claw Toe, and Ingrown Toenails.

Medical information and illustrations furnished courtesy of FOOT.COM

Bunions, Corns and Calluses

Bunions are a prominent bump on the inside of the foot around the big toe joint. Corns are an accumulation of dead skin cells usually found on the toes, forming thick hardened areas. They contain a cone-shaped core whose point can press on a nerve below causing pain. Calluses are also an accumulation of dead skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the foot. They are the body’s defense mechanism against excessive pressure and friction. Calluses are normally found on the bottom of the foot, the heel, and/or the inside of the big toe.

Causes of Bunions, Corns, Calluses

Bunions, Corns, and Calluses are all related in that they can each be caused by tight and/or poor fitting footwear. Each can also be caused by the following:

Bunions

• Footwear that is too narrow and/or too small
• Constrictive toe boxes (toe area)
• Tapered toe boxes can cause bunions and cause them to worsen to the point of needing surgery

Corns

• Footwear with elevated heels or tight-fitting stockings or socks
• Deformed toes
• The foot sliding forward in a loose-fitting shoe

Calluses

• Excessive pressure on a specific area of the foot
• Footwear with elevated heels and shoes that are too small
• Flat feet, high-arch feet, excessive weight, and loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot

Symptoms

With Bunions, a person will have inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. Corns most commonly are tender cone-shaped patches of dry skin on the top or side of the toes. Calluses will appear on high-pressure points of the foot as thick hardened patches of skin.

Treatment & Prevention

The first step in the treatment of Bunions, Corns, and Calluses is determining what is causing the problem. Check with your family doctor or Podiatrist (foot doctor) to find the best solution for your ailment.

You can reduce the risk of Bunions, Corns, and Calluses by following these simple instructions:

• Wear properly-fitting footwear, socks, and stockings (not too tight or too loose)
• Wear footwear with a wide toe box (toe area)
• Wear footwear or arch supports which provide proper support, weight distribution, and shock absorption
• Maintain a healthy weight
• For early-stage Bunions, soaking your feet in warm water can provide temporary relief

Bunions, Corns, and Calluses are common foot ailments associated with improperly-fitted footwear. Please contact your family doctor or Podiatrist to ask them how Birkenstock footwear or arch supports can help treat your symptoms. Also, feel free to contact your local Birkenstock retailer about their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products that can help with Bunions, Corns, and Calluses.

Medical information and illustrations furnished courtesy of FOOT.COM

Forefoot Conditions

Metatarsalgia, Morton’s Neuroma

Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote a painful inflammatory foot condition in the metatarsal region of the foot (the area just before the toes, or the ball of the foot). This ball-of-the-foot pain is often located under the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal heads or more isolated at the 1st metatarsal head (near the big toe). Morton’s Neuroma is an abnormal function of the foot that leads to bones squeezing a nerve usually between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads.

Causes of Forefoot Conditions

Metatarsalgia and Neuromas are common Forefoot Conditions. The common causes are listed below:

Metatarsalgia

• Usually due to excessive pressure on the metatarsal heads (ball of the foot) over a long period of time
• Often caused by improper fitting footwear such as women’s dress shoes and other restrictive footwear
• Footwear with a narrow toe box (toe area) causes the ball-of-the-foot area to be forced into a minimal amount of space
• Shoes with elevated heels
• Participating in high impact activities without proper footwear or arch support
• As we get older, the fat pad in our foot tends to thin out making us more susceptible to pain in the ball of the foot

Morton’s Neuroma

• Often caused by pointed-toe footwear, high heels, and footwear with a narrow toe box
• Constricting shoes can pinch the nerve between the toes causing discomfort and extreme pain

Symptoms

With Metatarsalgia one or more of the metatarsal heads become painful and/or inflamed. Someone with this condition may experience acute, recurrent, or chronic pain on the ball of the foot. Pain from Morton’s Neuroma can often be felt during or after placing significant pressure on the forefoot area. This can be felt while walking, standing, jumping, and sprinting.

Treatment & Prevention

The first step in the treatment of Forefoot Conditions is determining what is causing the problem. Check with your family doctor or Podiatrist (foot doctor) to find the best solution for your pain or discomfort. You can reduce the risk and discomfort of Metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma by following these simple instructions:

Metatarsalgia

• Choose footwear with a higher, wider toe box (toe area) to allow the foot to take on its natural shape
• Choose footwear with a deep heel cup plus metatarsal support and padding
• Wear a professionally-made orthotic constructed with the pad placed behind the ball of the foot to relieve pressure and redistribute weight from the painful area
• Try placing a piece of moleskin (a thick adhesive type bandage) on top of a pronounced metatarsal support
• Icing the ball of the foot can help reduce the inflammation in the affected area

Morton’s Neuroma

• Choose footwear with a higher, wider toe box (toe area) to allow the foot to take on its natural shape
• Use a quality orthotic-designed metatarsal support. The metatarsal support will pad the ball-of-the-foot to unload pressure and relieve pain caused by the neuroma

These Forefoot Conditions are common and can usually be associated with improperly-fitted footwear. Please contact your family physician or Podiatrist and ask them how Birkenstock footwear or arch supports can help treat your symptoms. Also, feel free to contact local Birkenstock retailer about their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products that can help with Metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma.

Medical information and illustrations furnished courtesy of FOOT.COM

Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Pain

These two terms are closely related. Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia (tissue that extends the entire length of the bottom of the foot). Heel Pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel causes extreme discomfort.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Pain

Plantar Fasciitis often leads to heel pain, heel spurs, and/or arch pain. The excessive stretching of the plantar fascia that leads to the inflammation and discomfort can be caused by the following:

• Additional or excessive weight on the foot, usually attributed to weight gain or pregnancy
• Wearing shoes without any arch support or proper arch support
• Over-pronation (flat feet) which results in the arch collapsing when bearing weight
• A foot with an unusually high arch
• A sudden increase in physical activity

Symptoms

With Plantar Fasciitis, the bottom of your foot usually hurts near the inside of the foot where the heel and arch meet. The pain is often acute either first thing in the morning or after a long rest, because while you are resting, the plantar fascia contracts back to its original shape. As the day progresses and the plantar fascia is adequately stretched, the pain often subsides.

Treatment & Prevention

The key for the proper treatment of plantar fasciitis and heel pain is determining what is causing the excessive strain and stretching of the plantar fascia, or heel discomfort. Ask your family doctor or Podiatrist (foot doctor) to find the best solution for your ailment. Often times, they suggest changing your footwear as a first step toward recovery.

You can reduce the strain and stress on the plantar fascia by following these simple instructions:

• Don’t go barefoot
• Try stretching exercises in bed or before standing, focusing on your Achilles tendon, calf, and toes
• Ice your heels (or the painful area) 2-3 times a day to reduce inflammation
• Wear shoes or orthotics (arch supports) that support your arch and heel
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid running on hard or uneven ground
• Wear shoes and/or arch supports which have proper shock absorption in the heel

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most diagnosed foot ailments. Please contact your family doctor or Podiatrist to ask them how Birkenstock footwear or arch supports can help treat your symptoms. Also, feel free to contact your local Birkenstock retailer about their healthy footwear recommendations. Birkenstock has many products that can help with Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain.