Upstep Answers
Our team answers your questions about the causes and treatment of various podiatric conditions, including plantar fasciitis, flat feet, foot pain, and the use of custom orthotics.
Recent Answers
Best Shoes For a Sprained Ankle—and What to Avoid
Ankle pain is a common problem in many people, especially athletes. It is often a symptom of an underlying disease or condition, including sprains. However, it can also be a consequence of wearing the wrong shoes. Which Shoes Should You Wear With a Sprained Ankle? Shoes can cause or worsen ankle pain, but they can also improve ankle pain and ankle sprains. Interestingly, changing into supportive shoes as soon as possible speeds up recovery after an ankle sprain. They do this by influencing the biomechanical alignment of the foot, providing support and cushioning, and aiding efficient energy transfer during motion. Shoes with sturdy soles and cushioning are best after sprains. Which Types of Shoes Should You Avoid Wearing? With any type of sprained ankle, you should avoid wearing the following: Ill-fitting shoes Shoes that are too tight or too wide will aggravate ankle problems.Shoes without adequate heel support Without adequate support, you will strain the muscles in your foot, which leads to further pain and discomfort.Uneven shoes due to wear and tear This can dislodge the alignment of the feet and cause pain.The wrong shoes for activities While it may seem obvious, wearing running shoes for long hours at work or wearing work boots to race will worsen the symptoms of a sprained ankle. High heels Wearing high heels should be avoided altogether until your ankle has fully healed. What Else Can Be Done to Heal a Sprained Ankle? We also recommend performing specific exercises to heal sprained ankles, doing regular ankle strengthening exercises, and using ankle support. You can also garner further relief through the use of insoles, but it is important to note that they should not be relied upon as the sole treatment for a sprain.
Asked 6 months ago
How Can Burning Feet Feel Cold at the Same Time?
Burning feet syndrome, otherwise known as Grierson-Gopalan syndrome, is a medical condition characterized by a burning sensation, aching pain, increased sensitivity, and excessive sweating in the soles of the feet. In severe cases, symptoms are reported throughout the feet, progressing upwards to the ankles and lower legs. The symptoms of pain are usually worse at night and commonly lead to a restless night's sleep. Burning feet syndrome is often caused by damage to the nerves in the feet and lower legs due to various conditions such as diabetes, excessive alcohol use, vitamin deficiencies, and exposure to certain toxins. Managing the primary cause of the nerve pain is essential in limiting complications that could arise from the condition progressing with time. Orthotics are often seen as a convenient and effective solution to manage the condition. Causes of Cold Burning Feet You might have ice cold feet despite the burning sensation, often at night before going to bed. This is because the nerve damage impairs the body's ability to detect temperature changes in the feet. In this case, the nervous system is sending messages to the brain alerting it to burning feet, but when the feet are touched they are cold. Be mindful of the reduced feedback from the nerves in the feet when using home remedies for treating pain associated with this condition. The skin on the feet may burn if placed in hot water for foot soaking or close to a heat source. You may not feel any damage as it's happening. Wound healing is impaired in people with neuropathy in the feet, therefore good shoes and regular self checks is helpful. Should You See a Doctor for Cold Burning Feet? If the sensation of cold feet arises and the feet are cold to touch, this may indicate an issue with the blood supply to the feet. The feet may not be getting enough blood or there could be a clot limiting blood flow to the feet. Consult with a medical professional should you not be able to warm your feet up, if you feel pain in the back of the calf muscle, or if the skin turns blue. Also, be sure to contact a medical professional if open wounds develop as healing may be delayed due to nerve damage.
Asked 6 months ago
How to Stop Your Inner Ankle From Hurting When Running
If running is to remain enjoyable, then it must be without pain. Sure, there may be occasional soreness of muscles when you over-exert or push them beyond their limits, but not pain. If you experience pain in your inner ankle when running or after, it may be due to a more severe condition like posterior tibial tendonitis. Without management, such as shoes for a sprained ankle, pain can lead to further injury and lower the quality of your life. Why Your Inner Ankle Is Sore When Running Inner ankle pain is common with runners and can occur either during the race or after you’re done. If medial ankle pain occurs while running, it’s probably due to incorrect technique or improper footwear. If inner ankle soreness occurs after the race, it can be due to an ankle sprain, weak ankle stabilizers, weak calf muscles, or the compensation that occurs to carry you through your run. Prevention and Treatment of Ankle Pain To treat inner ankle soreness, you can begin by reducing how long you run. Afterward, consider resting the foot and using ice to reduce inflammation swelling. You may also need to change your running shoes to one that better supports the arch of your foot. It's also important to understand that you may still experience pain on the interior or exterior of your ankle without swelling. Additionally, you can perform ankle exercises to strengthen the posterior tibial tendon, the calf muscles, and ankle stabilizers. You may also consider using Upstep's custom orthotics for running. These orthotics will be designed to support your arch and reduce pressure on the posterior tibial tendon. Inner ankle pain can be problematic for a runner and keep you off the track. However, by adhering to your exercises and getting your custom orthotics, you’ll be back out there sooner than you can imagine.
Asked 6 months ago
Does Metatarsalgia Go Away and Can It Be Treated?
Pain is never a good thing, and the fact that it is the primary symptom of metatarsalgia makes this condition that much more annoying. If left untreated, metatarsalgia can alter gait mechanics, reducing the quality of life. The good news is that metatarsalgia is treatable and totally curable with the right methods. How to Treat Metatarsalgia There are several effective approaches to the treatment of metatarsalgia. The choice of treatment depends on the cause and the severity of the condition. Metatarsalgia can go away on its own, but treatment is recommended as it can significantly speed up the rate of recovery. Generally, the first line of management involves the use of home remedies, including; Resting the foot.Elevating the foot to reduce swelling.The use of ice to reduce inflammation.Loss of weight to reduce pressure on the sole of the feet.Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce swelling.Activity modification. How Long Does It Take to Treat Metatarsalgia? Apart from these home remedies, you may also need to change your shoes to one that offers better support. If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks despite intervention, consider seeing your doctor. The doctor will refer you to a physiotherapist who will also include massage, stretching, and metatarsalgia exercises to relieve pain, increase flexibility, and strengthen the foot so that the chance of reoccurrence is limited. Additionally, you may be asked to wear orthotic inserts in your shoes to relieve the pressure on the ball of the foot and provide more comfort. A combination of these methods should be enough to reverse metatarsalgia permanently in less than 3 months. In rare instances where all these fail, surgery can restore normal foot shape and address symptoms. Prompt and consistent intervention is best for maximal recovery to take place. And apart from addressing symptoms, ensure you directly address the cause to reduce the chance of reoccurrence.
Asked 6 months ago
Flat Feet Without Pain: Do You Need Orthotics?
If your flat feet are not causing you pain, you can probably live without orthotics. Some people never experience the symptoms of low arches. In others, the symptoms may develop gradually over time. What Symptoms of Flat Feet Should You Watch Out For? You need to be alert to any symptoms that develop over time, especially if you have obesity, cerebral palsy, hypertension, or diabetes. Flat feet can affect your body in a number of ways where you might not feel the pain in your feet at all. If you experience pain in your knees, ankles, back, or hips, it could be related to your flat feet. If you feel pain in your feet after long periods of standing or walking a long distance, it could be caused by flat feet. Can Flat Feet Be Harmless? In most instances, you don't need orthotics if your flat feet aren't causing you pain. Having well-fitting shoes and custom orthotics can be beneficial to everyone, even if your feet are healthy. Custom orthotics for flat feet give your feet the ideal support and comfort that they need, and this can prevent foot problems in the future.
Asked 7 months ago
Recent Posts
Can't find what you're looking for?