Club Feet

‘Club feet’ is used to refer to a range of congenital birth deformities wherein an infant’s foot is twisted into an unnatural position or shape. The medical terminology for this condition is talipes or talipes equinovarus, but because the sharp angle of the foot in relation to the ankle resembles a golf club the term ‘clubfoot’ became the common reference for this condition.

Although there are several sub-types of deformities that may occur with club feet the majority of cases involve the top of the baby’s foot twisting down and inward. Not only is the affected foot often shorter than the other foot but the calf muscles in the affected leg are usually underdeveloped as well. While condition may look quite painful it rarely actually is, though it does make arthritis more of a risk later in life.

Clubfoot is a fairly common birth defect that is not usually indicative of underlying problems; most babies born with this condition are otherwise perfectly healthy. Club feet can range in severity and can affect one or both feet, but in all cases immediate intervention is recommended as this condition will hinder the child’s ability to walk. Treatment efforts are usually highly successful and in most cases the foot takes on a normalized appearance and function.

Scientists do not know what causes clubfoot in most cases except when the condition is caused by other congenital deformities such as spina bifida. Studies have, however, linked the occurrence of club feet to cigarette smoking during pregnancy, and it often runs in families as well. Males tend to be affected more than females.

Newborn babies have extremely flexible and malleable bones and joints, making early treatment very desirable as the position of the foot can be much more easily corrected. There are several ways that this goal can be accomplished:

The Ponseti method: This treatment uses a cast to maintain correct positioning of the foot and ankle for several weeks, with adjustments being made along the way until the foot is realigned. Once the cast is removed the position is maintained through stretching, orthotic shoes, or the use of a splint or brace while sleeping for up to three years.

The French Method: This particular treatment involves manipulating the feet into correct position then stabilizing the position with tape on a daily basis for two months. After two months treatment then occurs thrice weekly until the infant is aged six months, at which point caregivers perform exercises daily and apply night splints until the child is ready to walk.

Surgery: In severe cases, or when club feet fail to respond to conservative treatments, surgery is performed to lengthen the tendons in the lower limb to more easily allow the foot to fall into a natural position. A brace must be worn for up to a year post surgery.

Even with early treatment there is no guarantee that the condition will be completely corrected, but early intervention usually enables children born with club feet to eventually wear normal shoes and lead physically active lives. 

Suzy Pickhall, who has been a foot care expert over the past thirty years has written a viable guide on how to combat insolesfeet.com, and a guide on orthoticsfeet.com.

Knee Pain

Knee pain is a complicated issue simply because this particular joint is complex and contains many components that can be injured, and this means there are many potential reasons for this condition to develop in the first place.

The knee joint is comprised of three bones that are supported by four different ligaments, all of which can become irritated and injured, which further opens the door to the development of knee pain. Irritation and injury can affect not only the bones, joints, tendons and ligaments of the knee but the cartilage and menisci as well. The muscles surrounding the entire structure of the knee also affect the level of functioning and injury that occur in the knee joint.

Problems with the knee can be acute, which means they have developed due to sudden injury such as force of impact, which can cause tears in the cartilage, dislocation of bones, tearing of joints, and swelling in the cartilage, for example. Knee pain can also be chronic, which means that problems have developed gradually over time without notable injury. This type of discomfort includes generalized knee pain, impaired use of the joint, and osteoarthritis.

Tendonitis, or inflammation of the knee, is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Discomfort is usually felt beneath the knee cap though it often develops behind the knee as well.

Swelling at the joint is a common indicator of acute injury and due to the size of the mass that can develop it can look like a much more severe injury than is actually the case. The swelling and pain may occur not only in the knee proper but extend into the muscles of the thigh, though this does not always occur. Injuries to the ligaments are felt on the inside or outside of the knee, though they can also occur within the knee itself and may or may not be accompanied by a ‘popping’ sensation with the initial injury.

Knee pain is most often in found in older populations, athletes, as a result of traumatic injury, and in both sedentary and extremely active populations as well. Sedentary populations are vulnerable to knee pain due to muscle weakness, muscular imbalances, poor flexibility and an increased risk of obesity. Extremely active populations are at increased risk for both acute and chronic injuries and often experience complex ‘secondary’ reasons for knee pain, such as foot pain, overpronation or supination of the feet, or other foot problems that can directly influence the health and level of functioning of the knee.

If a ‘popping’ noise is felt or if there is clear injury or trauma than emergency medical treatment should be sought immediately. If a secondary issue is suspected of developing from overuse or from secondary sources such as problems with the feet then the best thing to do is stop all activities, rest, elevate the foot, immobilize the knee, and use cold therapy to treat any swelling or discomfort.  Ideally, the knee should be elevated and iced several times each day during the recovery process. If this type of treatment does not relieve or reduce knee pain then a professional opinion and long-term treatment should be sought. 

 Suzy Pickhall, who has been a foot care expert over the past thirty years has written a viable guide on how to combat Foot Pain, and a guide on Heel Pain.

Foot Care Tips

Let’s face it: most people take their feet for granted until they begin to ache or until there is a problem that causes a reduction in the quality or level of activity of the sufferer. Contrary to popular belief, foot care tips are not limited to getting a pedicure or massage; there are several things that both men and women can do to maintain the health of their feet!

Foot care tips for proper foot health:

Keep feet clean and dry. Wash daily and apply cream to dry or cracked heels.

Nails should be trimmed regularly and not cut too short, otherwise in-grown toenails or infection can occur.

A pumice stone can be used to soften rough patches of skin on the feet but corns and calluses should not be ‘shaved’ or ‘trimmed’.

Wear clean socks every day, and be sure that they are not constrictive; blood flow is crucial to foot care. It’s also important that socks absorb sweat and allow your feet to breathe properly.

Treat your feet to well-fitting shoes. Make sure there is adequate support and cushioning, and that the toe box is large enough that the feet are not painfully crammed or squeezed out of position. If you wear tight shoes then you have a chance in developing bunions.

Give high heels a rest. On weekends or days off foot care should include flat, well cushioned shoes that support and protect the feet.

Quickly examine your shoes for pebbles or other obstructions before wearing as this type of irritation can cause abrasions or deviations in gait patterns.

Aside from daily care, there are times when achy feet need a little bit of TLC, and there are several foot care tips that will work with any budget:

Soak feet in hot water for 20 minutes then give them a thorough rub-down with cream. This will relax the muscles and tendons in the feet, especially if the calf muscles are included in the treatment.

Add Epsom salts to the water, as this can reduce foot pain and increase healing.

Try this home remedy for increased foot care: make a pot of rich, dark tea and add it to cool water to make a soothing foot soak that reduces discomfort and eliminates foot odour.

Elevate feet after a long day to reduce swelling and achiness. Be sure to place a cushion under your legs for extra comfort and to prevent circulation from being impaired.

Use orthotic devices in your shoes for extra support or cushioning. The fit and quality of footwear is an essential factor in proper foot care, and foot orthoses can go a long way to improving the health of your feet.

Stretch regularly. Having flexible calf muscles and supple tendons in the feet will go a long way to reducing discomfort and maintaining foot health. It is also a factor in foot care that if often overlooked by even the most conscientious person!

Wear shoes in public places such as the gym or pool; this will help prevent infections such as athlete’s foot from developing.

There are a multitude of steps that can be taken to safeguard the health of your feet, but these are easy and affordable foot care tips that everyone can try regardless of their time or budget. 

Suzy Pickhall, who has got been a foot care expert for more many years has written a functional guide on how to combat Pain in Feet , and Best Insoles for Foot Pain.

Hammer Toes

‘Hammer toes’ refer to a condition of the foot whereby a toe becomes curled over in the middle joint of the digit, giving it an appearance that is similar to a hammer. The second, third and fourth toe of the foot are most often affected. This condition is often confused with ‘Mallet toe’, a similar condition that affects the upper joint of a digit.

Both conditions are most often caused by wearing high heels or constrictive, ill-fitting footwear that is too tight in the toe box. Even well structured heels can cause problems as the foot is crammed into the box of the shoe due to the steep angle of the foot. It is the toe being forced against the front of the shoe, causing an unnatural and often painful bend in the toe, that cause hammer toes to develop. This condition may also be inherited or may result from an injury to the foot, diabetic neuropathy, or the occurrence of arthritis or strokes.

Aside from the visible deformity additional symptoms usually include pain and reduced mobility in the toe as well as the development of corns and calluses on the top of the digit, which usually result from the protruding joint rubbing against the inside of the shoe. There is often chronic discomfort in the toe area, especially while walking or engaging in other weight bearing activities, and it may become difficult to properly fit shoes over the deformed joint.

If the pain becomes chronic and debilitating (affecting your ability to walk or carry out regular activities), or if the toes develop a clenched, claw-like appearance, then medical treatment should be sought. One of the difficulties in treating hammer toes is that the toes initially remain flexible but over time the tendons of the toe gradually tighten to the point where the toe effectively becomes ‘frozen’ in the hammer position, making treatment much more difficult.

Modification of footwear is one of the primary treatments of hammer toe, and foot orthotics are also often recommended to ensure proper placement of the feet and toes and to reduce pressure on painful or deformed areas. Shoes should not be restrictive; there should be an extra half an inch of space between the big toe and the box of the shoe. It will also likely be imperative that the feet and toes be stretched in order to restore mobility to hammer toes and strengthen misshaped muscles and tendons.

Conservative treatments take time but because they are non-invasive they are preferable to surgery in correcting this type of problem, however, severe cases of hammer toe, or stubborn cases that fail to respond to this type of care, may require surgical intervention. The type of surgery performed will depend on the nature and severity of the deformity, although most surgeries of this type do not require hospital stays. 

There will be painful swelling and stiffness after the surgery is performed and the toe may be longer or shorter than it appeared pre-surgery and activities will have to be reduced for the first several weeks or months post-op.

While surgery is an option for treating hammer toes it is often used as a last resort and conservative treatments, and early intervention, are the preferred methods of approach. 

 Suzy Pickhall, who has been a foot care expert over the past thirty years has written a viable guide on how to combat insoles, and a guide on orthotics.

Over Pronation of the Feet

Our natural gait cycle inherently involves pronation and supination of our feet, which refers to the ‘in and out’ movement that occurs during weight bearing activities, such as walking or running. It’s only when the feet pronate too deeply and/or for too long a time during this cycle that it becomes a problem. Excessive pronation of the feet essentially means that the supination part of the gait cycle is not occurring to the degree that it should be, and this causes problems not only in the feet, but throughout the entire body as well.

Having an abnormal gait cycle means alterations to our walking and running patters, which in turn causes imbalances and excessive wear and tear on certain parts of the body, such as the ankles and knees. Pain in the arch of the feet and a feeling of instability while in motion are also common complaints, and there are several conditions that are more likely to occur when there is over pronation of the feet, such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, metatarsalgia, Achilles tendonitis and bunions.

People with flat feet are more likely to suffer from over pronation of the feet than people who have regular or high arches. And flat feet leading to over pronation are more likely to occur during pregnancy or when obesity is present, both of which place extra pressure on the arches of the foot, increasing the odds of the arch flattening out. Tight, painful calf muscles are also a common development with flat feet and feet inclined to over pronation, and there may be an inclination to walk on the inner portion of the foot as well. This development can not only cause pain to develop in the ankle but it may cause discomfort to occur in the knees or lower back as well, and it’s not uncommon for runners with condition to develop shin splints.

Fortunately, there are conservative (non-surgical) treatments that can greatly reduce the discomfort and physical imbalances that often occur due to over pronation of the feet. Orthotic insoles are one of the most highly effective and often recommended treatments for this particular condition. Not only do orthotic devices realign the foot in order to restore normal and healthy functioning of the feet, they also cushion painful and inflamed joints and tendons. The proper use of high quality orthotics will also create proper alignment with other parts of the body, such as the knees and hips, thereby reducing pain and injury outside of the feet as well.

When treating over pronation of the feet wearing supportive footwear is also a good idea, as is investing in high quality sneakers if physical activity is regularly undertaken. Runners in particular need to make sure that they choose a shoe designed for that particular activity and their particular foot problems, otherwise, serious and/or chronic injuries may develop.

If conservative treatment do not provide any pain relief, or if the situation worsens then professional advice should be sought. While over pronation of the feet is not a life threatening condition it can be quite painful and debilitating, but it can also be fairly easily remedied through the use of orthotic devices and proper footwear. Learn more about View Bunion Advice Here. Stop by Suzy Pickhall's site at View Website about Heel Pain and learn how they can help you