Foot Pain

Foot pain occurs from distress induced by certain factors in the foot. Foot pain is a common problem experienced by young athletes involved in different activities such as running and jumping.

The foot is composed of different structures including bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. As feet bear the weight of our body, they are more prone to injury and pain. Normally foot pain can be treated through home treatments and may take time to heal. However, in cases of severe injury, adequate evaluation and treatment is required.

Causes

Foot pain may arise due to advanced age, being overweight, excessive sports activities or walking, foot injury or trauma, inborn foot deformities, poorly fitted shoes, and from standing on your feet for a long duration. Certain disorders and conditions may also induce foot pain and include:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Bone spurs
• Broken ankle, foot or toe
• Bunions
• Suffering from conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, gout, and osteoarthritis
• Foot deformities such as hammertoe, mallet toe, planter warts, ingrown toenails, and many others
• Foot tendinitis
• Foot tumors

The triggering causes for foot pain can be diagnosed by using imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scan, and MRI scans.

Treatment

The treatment of foot pain depends upon the fundamental cause. The usual measures for foot pain treatment include rest, medications, ice, compression, elevation, using crutches to avoid load on the foot, and performing stretching and strengthening exercises. Other medical treatments that may be considered include ultrasound, electrical stimulators and laser therapy to enhance circulation and stimulate healing. In some cases, depending upon the condition of the patient and the underlying deformity, surgery may be recommended.