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Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
6:59 pm	Relief For Shin Splints In Athletes With Insoles For Sports Shin Splints refers to a painful condition in the front leg area below the knee caused by injury to the posterior peroneal tendon. The resulting inflammation happens in the front or inside section of the shin bone. Frequently, shin pain in runners can result from intense physical activity like jumping, running or playing active sports; shin pain in runners often needs a long period of time to heal. Shin Splints: Symptoms Shin splint symptoms that are most common include inflammation and/or soreness around the shin area, particularly after running, walking, or participating in sports activities. The pain typically presents itself at the beginning of the workout, then lessens slightly, and reappears when settling into rest. It is not uncommon for shin pain in runners to occur in people who have just started to get involved in intense physical activities. What Causes Shin Splints? The main cause of shin pain in runners is severe stretching of the muscles and tendons adjacent to the shin bones, which are the tibia and the fibula. Excessive use of these muscles by runners and other athletes is the most common factor for this condition. Other causes for shin pain in runners can also be due to excessive use of the anterior tibialis muscle in the front of the leg, along the outside front of the shin bones. Over pronation of the feet is often a significant contributor to shin pain in runners. Over pronation leads to internal tibial rotation and intensifies the tractional forces upon the ligaments and muscles in the lower leg. Treatment and Relief of Shin Pain In Athletes For the short term, it is recommended that the individual rests to help alleviate shin pain in runners. Running and other strenuous activities should be avoided until the condition is controlled. Shin splints are often prevented by performing stretching exercises before intense physical activity. It is of utmost importance for runners and athletes to steadily increase their activity level, and always go through a proper warm-up before sudden or intensive exercise. A change in running style to eliminate overstriding and avoiding heavy heel strike can also contribute to a reduction of shin pain in the long term. The use of appropriate footwear is also an effective way to prevent and reduce the pain associated with shin splints, particularly for athletes who strike heavily with the heel. Running shoes with proper rear foot stability should be used whenever possible. Additionally, sport shoe insoles are useful in that they help prevent over pronation and cushioning the heels, thus reducing the impact while assisting with heel stability. In general, athletes and runners need to continuously maintain proper foot health in order to stay in top performance shape. For more visit: http://www.kaboodle.com/blogs/foot-care-blogazine-by-footminders/footminders-comfort-orthotic-insoles-for-sports (Comment on this)
Friday, December 19th, 2008
8:33 pm	Metatarsalgia: Causes And Treatment With Orthotic Shoe Inserts Acute ball-of-foot pain symptoms can indicate the presence of Metatarsalgia, a medical condition which involves inflammation to the nerves attached to the metatarsal bones. This type of condition is common among athletes involved in high-impact sports such as running, basketball, tennis, etc., as well as women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes. Symptoms of Metatarsalgia A person suffering from metatarsal pain experiences sharp pain in the area of the sole directly behind the toes, more commonly known as the balls of our feet. This pain can sharp, dull, or burning, and is commonly felt near the big toe, or around the middle toes. These are the most recurrent symptoms linked with metatarsalgia pain: • Intense pain around the toes. • The pain intensifies when walking barefoot, especially on hard surfaces. • Stinging or numbness of the toes • The pain aggravates when dorsiflexing the feet. • You feel like you’re walking on rocks • The pain gets exacerbated when you stand, walk, or run, and gets better after resting. Metatarsalgia: Typical Causes When we run or jump, the metatarsal bones absorb the full impact of the equivalent of several times our body weight. Among the many factors causing metatarsalgia pain are intense physical activities, biomechanical foot imbalances, excess weight, poorly fitting shoes, and everyday wearing of high-heel shoes. Potential Complications If the symptoms of metatarsalgia pain are not taken care of in a timely manner, this condition can likely deteriorate to more severe ailments such as loss of range of motion, injury to foot ligaments, toe problems, and chronic stiffness. In extreme cases, necrosis can develop and collapse the entire bone structure. Treating Ball Of Foot Pain Healing metatarsalgia pain in most cases requires only conservative treatment options. The most recommended treatments for metatarsalgia pain are: Get rest - Avoid stressing your feet by getting some rest. In short time you may practice low-impact activities such as cycling, swimming, or rowing. Apply Ice - Use ice packs on the area of pain for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Wear proper footwear - Shoes need to fit properly and be of the suitable for the type of activity that you plan to practice. Wear orthotics - The use of suitable orthotic shoe insoles can provide the needed sustainment to reduce stress on the ball-of-foot area. Using orthotics can be an essential part of most treatments for metatarsalgia pain. Using metatarsal pads can also help to reduce the stress around the metatarsal area. In most cases involving metatarsalgia pain do not require medical treatment. It is normal for our feet to ache after a long day of standing or working out. Consult a physician if the pain or burning sensation if the metatarsalgia pain does not improve after modifying your activities and wearing orthotics. Having ball of foot pain can be an unpleasant experience, but by taking the proper care of your feet with the treatment options recommended above you can return to your normal activities in a short amount of time. For more visit: http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Do-My-Feet-Hurt-When-I-Wear-High-Heels?&id=1622415 (Comment on this)
Monday, December 8th, 2008
8:44 pm	Treating Foot Problems With Orthotic Arch Supports The equivalent of 2-3 times our body weight is placed on our feet with every step we take. As a result, foot pain conditions are fairly widespread. Approximately 70 percent of people will suffer foot pain at some time in their lives. It is estimated that in the course of a typical day we take between 8,000 to10,000 steps, so it's not surprising that most of us will suffer from foot pain symptoms at some time during our lives. Our feet are complex structures, consisting of 26 bones and 33 joints, layered with an intertwining web of more than 120 muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Here is an overview of the most common types of foot pain, why they occur, and what you can do to alleviate these foot pain conditions. Foot Pain Conditions: Common Ailments Plantar Fasciitis Plantar Fasciitis is caused by small tears accompanied by inflammation along the ligaments and tendons stretching from the heel towards the ball of the foot. This region (called the Plantar Fascia) resembles a bow string, and forms the arch of the foot, serving as one of our bodies' shock absorbers. Pain in the heel, particularly during the first steps as you start the day, is often associated with this type of foot pain. The type of shoes we wear is very important to providing proper arch support and relief from foot pain. Many podiatrists advocate the use of orthotic arch supports as treatment for plantar fasciitis to provide relieve this condition in many people. Ball of Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia) Ball of Foot Pain is also referred to as Metatarsalgia, and takes place when the forefoot bones (metatarsals) drop and the ligaments which surround them weaken. As a result, the forefoot structure collapses, leading to excessive friction and pressure under the ball of the foot. In most cases, arch support inserts with proper arch and metatarsal support can provide significant relief for this condition. Achilles Tendonitis The Achilles Tendon joins the heel bone (calcaneus) to the calf muscle, and is the largest tendon in our bodies. Since this tendon supports most of our body weight, extreme physical activities involving the feet may cause this type of foot pain. In other cases, arthritis may be the culprit. If over-pronation is a major factor in causing this condition, orthotic arch supports can provide significant help in relieving these types of foot pain conditions. Additionally, plenty of rest and calf muscle exercises are also helpful. Heel Spurs Heel spurs consist of bony growths that can cause sharp pain and discomfort around the heel bone (calcaneus). Heel spurs are typically a consequence of having plantar fasciitis. This painful bony growth on the heel is the result of continued pulling of the fascia as a result of over-pronation. The usual plantar fasciitis treatment involving the use of orthotic arch supports can prevent and relieve these types of foot pain conditions. Shin Splints It is not uncommon for runners to experience pain in the shin area, also known as Shin Splints. This condition involves inflammation in the front or inside section of the shin bone. In many cases, shin splints are the result of intense physical activity such as running or jumping, and is a condition that can often take a long time to heal. Another cause of shin pain is tight leg muscles. Muscle imbalances caused by improper running posture can also lead to shin pain. Excessive foot pronation can also be a major contributing factor to shin splints. Over-pronation leads to internal tibial rotation and increases the tractional forces upon the muscles and ligaments in the lower leg. In these cases, orthotic arch supports can be helpful in providing relief to these foot pain conditions Although orthotic arch supports can be of significant help in relieving these types of foot pain conditions, you should consult with a podiatrist if the pain becomes chronic, or if it increases in intensity. For more visit :http://www.footminders.com/foot-pain-symptoms-causes-and-solutions.html (Comment on this)