What You Wear Can Hurt You

When it comes to feet, we are often our own worst enemies. From high heels to pointy toes, our shoes often pinch, pressure, and bind. Bunions, corns, and calluses are just a few of the problems that can result. To avoid painful and potentially serious foot problems, make sure the shoes you buy fit in width, length, and overall shape.

Even though the bones in our feet stop growing when we are in our late teens, our shoe size will change over our lifetime. Have your foot size measured at least once a year. There should be a thumbs width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Leave high heels to the fashion models-and let them deal with the consequences.

Although shoes are meant to protect our feet, too often we choose them for style rather than comfort and function. Whether shopping for sandals or hiking boots, let common sense dictate– if they aren’t comfortable, don’t buy them. If you do buy them, at the least you’ll end up not wearing them and wasting money; at the worst, they do damage and cost you even more.

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Sinus Tarsi Syndrome

The sinus tarsi is an opening on the outside of the foot between the ankle and heel bones. Sinus tarsi syndrome refers to localized pain, instability, and difficulty with weight-bearing activities. This condition commonly occurs after an inverted ankle sprain, (the foot rolls out), or it can be caused by a pinching of soft tissues in the area from a pronated (rolled inward) foot. Patients have trouble navigating uneven surfaces and feel pain when the area is touched. The ankle and foot joints often feel loose and unstable. Because treatment for sinus tarsi syndrome differs from that of other foot and ankle problems, an accurate diagnosis is important. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medication, injections, supportive shoes, immobilization of the area, and/or orthotics.

Pain may be one of the first signs of a foot problem, but it doesn’t always reveal the cause of the condition. The best way to determine the exact cause, location, and seriousness of foot pain is to have a podiatrist evaluation that includes medical history, examination, and tests. And at Shenandoah Podiatry, complete instructions for follow-up care and prevention are also an integral part of any treatment plan we formulate.