Foot pain can be frustrating and confusing as to how it started, and what the problem is. It can stop you from enjoying your favourite activities when you are used to being pain-free. 

Sometimes walking can be painful and awkward and you find that other parts start hurting also. 

What is hurting in your Arch?

There are many different structures that can be painful, usually as a result of what we call 'overuse'. Apart from the plantar fascia (a fibrous, ligament-like tissue that functions to support the arch of the foot).

You should be able to feel the plantar fascia at the bottom of your foot, especially if you extend the toes. It is a fibrous tissue that inserts into the toes. 

Is it always the Plantar Fascia that is Painful?

No, of course, there are many other structures that can hurt, such as the flexor tendons to the toes. The posterior tibial tendon inserts into the midfoot, a swollen nerve (Mortons' neuroma), or osteoarthritis of the midfoot....

Leg Pain During or After a Run 

Running has become more and more popular in the past few decades and with this trend so have running injuries.

People who have just taken up running have the highest incidence of injury. It is only after being a regular runner for three years that you become less likely to become injured! 

Leg pain towards the lower, inside of the leg is most commonly shin splints, or the more modern term is medial tibial stress syndrome. The pain is localised 2/3 distal on the bone - in the leg. See the description below. It is one of the most common running injuries seen in recreational runners. 

The pain can come on during a run, immediately after or even the following day.

The pain is a dull ache, and sometimes a sharp pain. There is pain and tenderness to the leg bone at the site seen above. Once established it can stop runners from continuing with their training. 

What is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome MTSS?

There has been...

Children's flat feet

Very young children have flat feet. Development of the foot arch takes ten years to fully form. I often get concerned parents who have looked at their children’s gait and foot posture and have wondered if their children’s feet are normal. In most cases they are.

However there are some feet that won’t develop an arch and some feet  that will cause a problem, or is causing a problem, despite being a physiological (normal) flat foot.  

Who should be treated with Orthotic foot supports?

It can be difficult for a parent to know if your child would benefit from foot supports.

There are some clues however for parents: if your child avoids running or other high intensity activities. If they prefer to be sedentary, or complain about growing pains, or pain, trip or fall frequently or have aching feet and legs this can be a sign that they would benefit from arch supports. Children shouldn't be complaining of pain...

Footwear- Chose The Right Shoes 

As podiatrists we get questions every day on what type of shoes are going to help their foot work better and help them to get pain free. We are getting this question more and more frequently.

This suggests that podiatrists are doing their job of educating the public and is a reason to be encouraged! 

As foot wear is the cause of up to half of all foot problems, it certainly is a pertinent question. Studies have shown that 75% of women wear a size too small!! Sorry ladies ... it's true.

A quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet and all these structures should be allowed to have some natural movement when we walk and stand during the day. Too much restriction and you will start getting foot pain. 

Podiatrists are experts at checking and recommending shoes and making sure you get the right shoe size for your feet!
High-heeled shoes are probably the worst type of shoes to wear if you have foot pain as they transfer all your...