Common Foot Problems and How They Relate to Your Health

Do you find yourself living a more sedentary lifestyle than usual because your feet hurt? Your feet experience significant stress throughout the day as you walk, stand, or exercise. Not every foot problem goes away with rest, leading to a potential cascade of issues that impact your overall health.

Read on to learn about common foot problems you should watch out for to stay active and healthy.

Common Foot Problems

Your foot is a complex structure with over two dozen bones. Foot problems usually come with foot pain and impaired mobility, typically because of damage to your bones, muscles, or other tissues. The following are the most common foot problems you may encounter:

Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain happens when the ankle joint turns too far inward, causing the ligaments to overstretch or tear. This injury is common and can happen to anyone, especially when walking on uneven surfaces or wearing improper footwear.

Bunion

A bunion is a bony protrusion. It commonly occurs on the base of the big toe or little toe. This deformity occurs with repeated stress, such as in people wearing tight, pointed, or heeled shoes. Bunions may also be a result of arthritis.

Corns

A build-up of yellowish, callus tissue or hard skin is called a corn. Corns usually occur near bony areas, like on or in between toes. They form because of repetitive friction and pressure, usually because of ill-fitting footwear.

Foot Fracture

A foot fracture may happen anywhere in your ankle joint, metatarsal (middle foot) bone, or toes. Foot fractures usually do not need a cast or foot surgery, except when it happens along the ankle joint.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can have many causes. They can be a sign of underlying foot problems. Some of the most common foot pain occurs in the ball of the foot, heel (plantar fasciitis), or calf to heel (Achilles tendon injury).

Hammertoe

A hammertoe is a structural problem where the middle joint of the foot bends as the toe buckles. It is most common on the second toe and is usually caused by poor-fitting shoes. People with diabetes are also at risk, and this condition may also be inherited.

Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are abnormal bone growths on the heel bone, specifically the plantar fascia. It may overstretch while running, by being overweight, or by wearing poor-fitting shoes.

Morton Neuroma

A Morton neuroma is a build-up of benign tissue around the nerves of the foot, causing compression and inflammation. It happens as two bones rub together, such as when walking or standing for long periods. Because it affects the nerves, this condition may also cause tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the toes.

How Foot Problems Relate to Your Health

Not every foot problem is severe enough to require foot surgery, but your foot health can affect your health in various indirect ways. Here are a few examples of how your foot problems can affect your overall health.

Risk of Related Diseases

If you have a foot problem that is not accident-related, you may have other comorbidities. For example, your foot pain might be a sign of diabetes, a heart condition, or arthritis. It also works the other way around — diabetes tends to cause various foot problems.

Decreased Physical Fitness

It is hard to move with foot pain, so you might end up favoring one foot or staying seated for longer than usual. However, decreasing your physical activity level also decreases your fitness, costing you the benefits of regular exercise.

Difficulty Working and Performing Daily Activities

Even mundane activities like driving or walking can become more difficult if you have foot problems. At the very least, they become more unpleasant, and may cause you to avoid or procrastinate getting important daily tasks done.

Trusted Foot Care Experts in St Peters and O’Fallon, MO

Foot problems don’t directly affect you the same way a diseased internal organ does. However, that doesn’t make them any less problematic — they can indicate more severe problems or indirectly cause other health issues. If you suffer from any foot problem, your best bet is to find a qualified foot and ankle doctor to diagnose and treat you.

At Advanced Bone & Joint, we are a team of expert orthopedists, surgeons, and pain specialists who can help you with your foot problems. We provide a variety of orthopedic services for any foot and ankle concerns you have.

If you need a trusted foot care specialist near St Peters and O’Fallon, Missouri, do not hesitate to call us today at (636) 229-4222. You may also fill our online appointment request form. We look forward to helping you maintain your foot health!