icleanse2loseweight.com » insoles http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:10:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Three Reasons to Pay Attention to Foot Overpronation or Arch Pain http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/three-reasons-to-pay-attention-to-foot-overpronation-or-arch-pain/ http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/three-reasons-to-pay-attention-to-foot-overpronation-or-arch-pain/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:58:03 +0000 admin http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/three-reasons-to-pay-attention-to-foot-overpronation-or-arch-pain/ Arch pain and foot overpronation can cause issues for people in every stage of life and can even affect an athlete’s performance on the court, field, or track. For many people who experience pain like this, they may not be aware of the 3 common triggers. Most of the causes are avoidable, while several can be inherited. According to the Cleveland Clinic, three of the avoidable causes for arch pain include poor selection of shoe style, improper fit, and lack of arch support. These bad choices can all bring on painful foot disorders like bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis. The Mayo Clinic reports that 2 of the inherited foot problems that can bring on foot overpronation and foot arch pain include fallen arches or arches that are markedly high. Below we explain some foot procedures that remedy these disorders and how each of them can be helped.

Overview of Heel Spur Relief Procedures

Some of the inherited foot disorders include either fallen arches or excessively high arches. Both types of arch disorders can affect the average person as well as an active athlete. The result of a fallen arch can be foot arch pain and foot overpronation because this flattened part of the foot is not performing as it should. When this foot area fails to support the body’s weight, foot overpronation occurs which can bring on a heel spur, a bony protuberance in the heel. Surgery is sometimes required to remove the boneprotrusion and relieve the dicomfort. The surgeon will use a bone saw to cut away the superfluous bone which will eliminate the irritation, tearing, and swelling it had been causing. The best solution for treating both types of arch problems so heel spurs can be prevented is by giving the foot with normal arch support through athletic insoles.

Arch Pain Can Be the First Sign of Bunion Formation

Having a bunion removed, or a bunionectomy, is the process through which the bump of bone just below the big toe is severed to obtain a more standard foot form and width. In the most serious cases where the big toe has situated itself under the other toes, the foot doctor cuts a triangle-shaped block out of the bone in the big toe to reset it to its proper angle. A single metal osteo screw is turned inside the bone to hold the new position in place. After about 6 to 7 months, the screw is usually removed. Though this condition can happen because of pointed shoes, sometimes people are born with the tendency to form bunions. Podiatrists agree that shoes with little space force the toes into an abnormal position can cause bunions.

Overview of Hammertoe Treatment and Prevention

Shoes that crowd the foot, including pointed-toe shoes, can result in development of hammertoes. This condition can affect active people that wear snug shoes during activity as well. Hammertoes are, regrettably, difficult to treat without surgical intervention. First, a foot doctor can try to splint the affected toe to try and coax it into a more natural placement. For this procedure to work, patients need to wear shoes with plenty of toe room. Hammertoes can recur if improper shoes are worn again. If splinting the toe is unsuccessful, surgery is the lone alternative. The malformed toe must have a portion of the bone taken out to lessen the curvature of the toe. The recovery period is vital, as patients who do not remain off the affected foot as recommended will not heal correctly. The way to avoid this condition is to wear roomy shoes.

No matter what lifestyle, genetic disposition, or age, foot conditions can happen to a wide range of persons. Though foot procedures can surgically alleviate these conditions, most of the time they are preventable through proper shoes and appropriate arch support.

]]> http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/three-reasons-to-pay-attention-to-foot-overpronation-or-arch-pain/feed/ 0 Effective Treatments for Metatarsalgia http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-treatments-for-metatarsalgia/ http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-treatments-for-metatarsalgia/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:15:39 +0000 admin http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-treatments-for-metatarsalgia/ Stopping foot pain before it begins is the best way to avoid costly and painful surgical procedures down the road. Despite the fact that many people ignore foot pain for years, pretending that the pain isn’t there or hoping it would fix itself are not appropriate responses to the foot pain conundrum. With few changes to the way feet are treated, pain can be a thing of the past. Here are a few reasons why metatarsalgia occurs, how to cure foot conditions such as Achilles tendonitis, and how minor changes, like using high heel insoles, can help.

Foot Mechanics: The Evils of High-Heeled Shoes and Metatarsalgia

High-heeled shoes can wreak havoc on feet when worn regularly. From the very narrow toe box (the part enclosing the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, these shoes can cause permanent damage to feet. First, when feet are squeezed into tight shoes, as happens in a high heeled shoe, the mid-foot and toe portions of the foot are forced into a tiny space where they cannot function properly. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments are strained into a much smaller space than what the foot requires. Over time, nerves become squashed, blood flow is lessened to areas of the foot (particularly in the toes) and painful foot issues develop.

Metatarsalgia and How to Treat It

An ideal way of relieving tired and achy feet is to massage them. The soft movement of the muscle fibers opens up the flow of blood to the region. Massage also delivers healing, oxygen-rich blood into the affected foot. Once muscles are relaxed, nerve endings can begin to stop firing so that pain can be relieved. If nerve endings and muscles are especially aggravated by a certain pair of shoes or an activity, swelling will be present. In that case, applying ice to the foot for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for several hours should help. Raising the feet above heart level during this time is also very effective in allowing the extra fluids to be taken away by the lymph system from the foot.

Stretching Can Ease Foot Pain in More Than One Way

Achilles tendonitis can really put a damper on anyone’s day. The constricton of this vital tendon can cause extreme pain in the lower leg. It can also be a major contributor to shrinking enough to rip during activity such as running. The way to lessen the tendon’s tightening in order to lessen pain is to administer gentle stretching to the region. Sit on the floor with both legs extended in a seated position. Then, slowly lean the upper body forward and the hamstring will begin to stretch out. Now that your leg muscles have increased blood flow, gently coax the feet towards the head to focus on the Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, rest for one minute, and repeat 5 times.

Massage, Stretch and Orthotics For High Heels Can Prevent Painful Foot Conditions

In today’s world where shoes must look good (not feel good), lack of willingness to give up these types of shoes is regrettable. However, with the use of insoles for high heels, metatarsalgia can be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. It is advisable to select shoes with low-profile heels and with a wider-profile heel such as a wedge to avoid future ball of foot pain. If pain occurs at the end of the day, consider switching to flat dress shoes for 3 days out of the week to allow the feet some rest from tight shoes which will help feet heal in between wearing higher heels. Be sure to massage and stretch to encourage maximum blood flow to the feet.

]]> http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-treatments-for-metatarsalgia/feed/ 0 Effective Foot Arch Support With Orthotic Insoles Helps You Avoid Leg Injuries http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-foot-arch-support-with-orthotic-insoles-helps-you-avoid-leg-injuries/ http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/diseases-conditions-and-treatments/effective-foot-arch-support-with-orthotic-insoles-helps-you-avoid-leg-injuries/#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:20:26 +0000 admin http://blog.icleanse2loseweight.com/effective-foot-arch-support-with-orthotic-insoles-helps-you-avoid-leg-injuries/ Injuries incurred during sports activities are incidents that most athletes and coaches are familiar with. These conditions can temporarily disable the athlete, but in many cases can hurt the entire team. An ousted team member can cause setbacks in game performance and can have enduring influence on the season as well. Just as one missing athlete affects a team, a disabled body part influences the entire body. Lower-leg conditions such as weak knee injuries, shin plints, and twisted ankles can be caused by bad form, lack of flexible muscle tone, and excessive use of the areas below the knees. According to medical professionals at the Cleveland Clinic, almost every athlete have to deal with shin splints at some time. Here are ways to help them heal and try to avoid this debilitating issue, as well as averting other common sports injuries.

The Mechanics of Shin Splints

There are many symptoms caused by shin splints such as pain in the front or side areas of the lower leg. This pain can be dramatic and excruciating, especially when putting pressure on the affected leg. Swelling in the area can make the leg feel tight as well as make tissues appear swollen in the muscles. Regardless of what type of activities, from soccer to baseball any athlete can be afflicted by these conditions. Shin splints treatment should be started right away to begin the healing process immediately. Shin splints treatment guidelines followed by sports therapists includes rest, elevation, and icing of the painful area for one to two days. Ongoing physical therapy and preventive exercises include strength training moves and stretching of the Achilles tendon and the front leg muscles that surround the shin bone.

Twisting Injuries: How Weak Muscles Affect the Tendons and Ligaments

Another type of injury that is seen in impact sports is twisting of the ankle and knee. This is caused by either a forceful injury, which cannot be averted, or from weak muscles of the ankle, lower leg, and knee. Weak muscles can be strengthened with weight bearing or movements recommended by a sports therapist that target the muscular areas that support the knees and ankles. Weak muscles lead to loosened joints in the ankles and knees so that simple movements or shifts in position can cause twisting injuries. Another preventive measure for stopping these types of injuries are to support the arch of the feet with firm arch support. This can be accomplished specially-designed orthotics made for sports activities. The physicians at the Cleveland Clinic also recommend taping the arch for extra arch support during games.

How Tearing Injuries Happen

Rupturing of the ligaments or tendons are also typical kinds of sports injuries. This is most commonly found in the tendon in the back of the heel and the knee ligament. An Achilles injury is commonly caused by little flexibility in the heel tendon due to inadequate stretching technique. This is an important step in the warm-up routine that should never be skipped. Gentle stretches without force are suggested for anyone about to exercise. Holding the stretch for a minimum of 30 seconds, resting for a few moments, then repeating the stretch is what kinesiology specialists suggest. ACL (Anterior cruciate ligaments) are surrounding the knee area and help keep the knee structure together. Injuries to this area can be averted by strength training the knee , calf and quadriceps through curls and extensions of the leg. Orthotics can help avoid both of these styles of injuries by giving proper arch support, foot alignment, and cushioning.

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