At Walking Mobility Clinics, we encounter and treat a wide range of foot problems from the minor to the serious, the straightforward to the complex, and the common to the rare. And when it comes to common foot conditions, these are the three that we treat most often.
1) Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot becomes strained, weak, swollen or inflamed. It causes pain when you stand or walk and can lead to more severe foot problems if not treated properly. Although the symptoms are the same, the root cause of the condition can be very different. Your individual assessment will help us determine why you developed the condition and the options that work best for you. Some of these treatment options include:
- Stretching
- Orthotics
- Footwear
- Night Splints
- Compression Sleeve
- Shoe Modifications
- Physical Therapy
Find out more on our blog about plantar fasciitis.
2) Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia simply means pain located at the front of the foot, which is related to many other conditions such as Morton’s neuroma, for example. It’s more an umbrella term used to refer to this type of pain, than a condition itself.
When treating metatarsalgia (as with plantar fasciitis), it is important for us to first determine the root cause. Our treatment method will vary, depending on the underlying condition. Here are a few case-specific examples:
- Aggressive metatarsal support for Morton’s Neuroma
- Carbon fibre soleplate for toe tendonitis
- Orthotic excavation under a heavy callus
- Orthotic splint (Morton’s extension) for big toe joint arthritis
- Rocker sole shoe modification for all of the above
At home, there are a number of exercises and stretches you can do to help relieve the pain of metatarsalgia. While sitting on a chair, put a small towel on the floor in front of you and place your feet flat on the towel. Keeping your heels on the ground, use only your toes to pull the towel towards you. You can also try picking up marbles with your toes.
3) Bunions
Bunions are painful, bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe. They can be extremely painful and are vulnerable to more pressure and friction from shoes, leading to the possibility of developing additional foot problems including calluses. Bunions can be hereditary or can be caused by a number of other conditions:
- Weak foot structure
- Morton’s toe (short first toe, long second toe)
- Arthritis
- Years of wearing tight, poorly fitting shoes
When treating bunions, the first step is to assess the root cause to come up with a treatment method. Depending on the underlying condition, your treatment may include:
- Custom foot orthotics
- Extra width orthopedic footwear
- Forefoot cushioning
- Rocker sole modifications
- Ball and ring stretching
- Balloon patch
- Bunion splints or toe spacers
Any toe exercises that improve the toe’s range of motion are good for bunions. When you come in to Walking Mobility Clinics for bunion treatment, we will advise you on the right exercises and stretches for your situation.
Click here to learn more about plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia and bunions. Contact us to set up your appointment at one of our locations across Ontario!