How often do you think about your foot type when shopping for shoes? If you have painful flat feet and haven’t been choosing wisely, your shoes could be the cause! Flat feet are characteristic of an arch that has flattened. If you aren’t sure, place a wet foot on a light brown piece of paper. If the footprint has a flat oblong shape, you most likely have a flat foot.
Our Houston, TX staff constantly stresses the importance of good footwear to our patients. If you have flat feet, your foot structure needs a shoe that will support it properly to avoid stress on the foot and possible injury. People with flat feet tend to have a problem with over-pronation, which is when the ankle rolls inward while standing, walking or running. When you go out shopping for your next pair of shoes, take the time to go to a reputable shoe store with employees who know which shoes would be best suited for flat feet. An anti-pronation shoe is optimal as it is designed in such a way to limit the foot from over-pronation.
Remember that shoes for a flat foot should be well cushioned and have a straight sole rather than a curved one. If the sole is too curved, it can put a lot of pressure on the foot. Look for a shoe with solid support – if you can bend it in the middle, leave it on the shelf. This is especially important if you want to use the shoe for athletics.
Lastly, many patients with flat feet experience great benefits by using custom orthotics to support and stabilize their feet. Choose shoes with removable insoles to accommodate for orthotics if necessary.
If having flat feet is causing pain and making it difficult to stay involved in your favorite activities or to find shoes that feel great, Dr. Jeff Bowman can help! Please contact Houston Foot Specialists and make an appointment today. Don’t let one more day go by being plagued with foot pain, call (713) 467-8886.
©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved
Showing posts with label Adult Acquired Flatfoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adult Acquired Flatfoot. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
You may have a tendency to suffer with foot pain in the hopes that it will just go away. When symptoms persist, it is important to find out what is going on. Houston, TX foot specialist, Dr. Jeff Bowman, sees many patients who have ignored foot pain only to find out something serious was behind the pain.
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a common reason for foot pain but left untreated can gradually worsen. Take note if you are experiencing symptoms such as:
• Pain on the outside or inside of your foot or ankle
• Swelling along the inside of your ankle
• Inability to stand on your toes
• Loss of your arch and flattening of your foot
• Tenderness in the midfoot
• Pain during activity
PTTD affects the tendon that starts in your calf and stretches behind the inside of your ankle to the bones in the middle of your foot. This condition is also often called “adult acquired flatfoot” since damage to this tendon causes your arch to flatten. You may be at risk for developing this condition if you do a lot of running, hiking, walking, climbing stairs, are overweight or have diabetes.
Since this condition can progress, please contact Dr. Bowman if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above. There are many non-surgical options to help reduce your pain such as: immobilization, orthotics, shoe modifications and physical therapy. Don’t put up with foot pain any longer. Make an appointment at our podiatric office today by calling (713) 467-8886 or visit us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.
©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved
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