Dry, cracked heels can be unsightly, and they can be cause of pain and embarrassment.
Cracked heels are caused by dryness or thickening of the skin (callus) which then cracks or breaks under pressure. If this becomes severe enough, then fissures may form.
Hammer toes, Claw Toes and Retracted Toes.
Hammer toes, claw toes and retracted toes are deformities that affect the little toes and not the big toe. The toes curl over or lift off the ground which creates pressure on the tops of the toes or increased pressure under the ball of the foot causing callus and corns to form. The lesser toe deformities are due to a variety of reasons including neurological deficiencies, muscle imbalances, arthritis or even injuries to particular tendons. The toes often require shoes with a deeper area in the toe box portion of the shoe. Tubes for the toes, little rubber props and even orthotics can help to reduce the stresses through the toes due to the deformity.
Heel and arch pain is something we may likely experience at some point in time, however ongoing feel and arch pain is something that should be investigated further.
In many cases, heel and arch pain is due to an issue called plantar fasciitis. Other issues it could be attributed to include Heel Spurs, Claw Toes, Morton’s Neuroma, Bunions, Sesamoiditis or Arthritis.
It may also be from a biomechanical issue, for example flat feet, or high arched feet, could be the potential causes of pain.
Ongoing pain in your heel or foot is not normal and should be looked at by a Podiatrist. Gait Way Podiatry can develop a tailored treatment plan to manage your foot and/or heel pain.
A claw toe is a toe that is contracted at the middle and end joints in the toe. This position can lead to severe pressure and pain. Muscular imbalance around the toe can cause the toe’s joints to curl downwards. Claw toes may occur in any toe. There is often discomfort at the top part of the toe, which can rub against the shoe, and at the end of the toe that is pressed against the bottom of the shoe.
Neuroma pain is described as a burning pain in the forefoot. It can also be felt as an aching or shooting pain. Patients with this problem frequently say they feel as though they need to take off their shoes and rub their foot. This pain may occur in at any time. Commonly this involves the 3rd and 4th toes. Repeated trauma or compression of these nerves causes the nerves to swell and thicken causing a neuroma to develop.
Sesamoiditis is a common condition of the forefoot. Pain is in the ball of the foot specifically under the big toe joint. The sesamoids are small bones located under the big toe joint. These bones are in the tendons that run to the big toe on the under surface. Due to their location and function they are subjected to immense pressure and forces every time the big toe is used to push the foot forward. They can cause pain due to the surrounding tissue being inflamed, fractured or shattered.