The human foot is perfectly designed for walking and running on natural surfaces, but not standing for hours on hard floor while waiting on customers. Discarding the shoes and going barefoot solves many foot problems, but is not a realistic option outdoors. When feet hurt, every moment becomes an endurance test. Although there is no instant remedy, arch supports for flat feet can provide a measure of relief.
While this condition might be symptomatic of addition physical problems, the medical community does no classify it as a disease or physical defect. When born, a baby has naturally level soles, and will not develop the characteristic arch until around four or five years of age, depending on the growth rate of various ligaments, tendons, muscles and bone. Many people have naturally flat arches.
Adult can develop foot pain when tendons are injured, or when the effects of aging, joint, and nerve issues are implicated. While some is the result of serious illness such as diabetes, many times it is caused by ill-fitting shoes, especially with high heels. Bones broken during youth can cause problems later on, and the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis can disfigure toes.
Those who suspect a problem can check easily by wetting the foot, then standing on a dry spot that will easily show the print. A uniformly solid print without any gaps indicates that the arch may technically be called flat. This may or may not be an actual medical problem, but if it is a new discovery, or is accompanied by sharp pain, a medical appointment may be needed.
Those who experience symptoms may tire quickly when standing motionless, or may have sharp pains in the sole or heel. There can be unusual swelling on the sole, additional back and leg pain, and an inability to stand on tiptoe for more than a few seconds. Overall physical condition and general lifestyle are also factors. Overweight people place more stress on their bones, and runners may enjoy high-impact aerobics.
Much of the time there is no need for long-term therapy or surgery. Alterations in daily activities and personal habits are the most effective treatment, but might not be practical. Many times the pain is reduced most conspicuously by using orthotic shoe inserts for added support. They are normally slid inside a shoe, and construction materials range from simple foam padding to advanced carbon synthetics.
Recommending orthotic supports has generated medical controversy. Some doctors feel that they provide few benefits, and may only mask a problem that can be solved more efficiently by eliminating the underlying causes. They see foot discomfort as a symptom rather than a separate disorder, and some favor making changes in diet, exercise, and general lifestyle rather than spending money on temporary fixes.
When pain predominates, however, orthotic supports can provide relief. Although they cannot actually restore fallen arches, they can ease some of the accompanying aches, especially when combined with changes in personal habits and practices. There is no scientific proof that they cause additional ligament or bone damage. For foot pain sufferers, they help make daily life bearable.
While this condition might be symptomatic of addition physical problems, the medical community does no classify it as a disease or physical defect. When born, a baby has naturally level soles, and will not develop the characteristic arch until around four or five years of age, depending on the growth rate of various ligaments, tendons, muscles and bone. Many people have naturally flat arches.
Adult can develop foot pain when tendons are injured, or when the effects of aging, joint, and nerve issues are implicated. While some is the result of serious illness such as diabetes, many times it is caused by ill-fitting shoes, especially with high heels. Bones broken during youth can cause problems later on, and the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis can disfigure toes.
Those who suspect a problem can check easily by wetting the foot, then standing on a dry spot that will easily show the print. A uniformly solid print without any gaps indicates that the arch may technically be called flat. This may or may not be an actual medical problem, but if it is a new discovery, or is accompanied by sharp pain, a medical appointment may be needed.
Those who experience symptoms may tire quickly when standing motionless, or may have sharp pains in the sole or heel. There can be unusual swelling on the sole, additional back and leg pain, and an inability to stand on tiptoe for more than a few seconds. Overall physical condition and general lifestyle are also factors. Overweight people place more stress on their bones, and runners may enjoy high-impact aerobics.
Much of the time there is no need for long-term therapy or surgery. Alterations in daily activities and personal habits are the most effective treatment, but might not be practical. Many times the pain is reduced most conspicuously by using orthotic shoe inserts for added support. They are normally slid inside a shoe, and construction materials range from simple foam padding to advanced carbon synthetics.
Recommending orthotic supports has generated medical controversy. Some doctors feel that they provide few benefits, and may only mask a problem that can be solved more efficiently by eliminating the underlying causes. They see foot discomfort as a symptom rather than a separate disorder, and some favor making changes in diet, exercise, and general lifestyle rather than spending money on temporary fixes.
When pain predominates, however, orthotic supports can provide relief. Although they cannot actually restore fallen arches, they can ease some of the accompanying aches, especially when combined with changes in personal habits and practices. There is no scientific proof that they cause additional ligament or bone damage. For foot pain sufferers, they help make daily life bearable.
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