Our professional partners prescribe orthotics to
their patients for various symptoms. Many medical
conditions often stem from a biomechanical gait
abnormality that can be treated with custom
orthotics. Here are some common ailments related to
poor foot biomechanics.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles Tendonitis is an inflammation of the common
tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of
the posterior compartment of the leg. Patients that
have equinis deformity and/or run up-hill are
candidates for this disorder. As the tibia moves
over the foot, the ankle joint needs to be able to
dorsiflex at least 10 degrees. If this is not
possible, due to tightness of the aforementioned
musculature,the tissues of the tendon can be
damaged. In addition it is thought that
over-pronation may reduce the blood supply to the
area by "wringing out" the arterial blood supply to
the tendon. This is due to the twisting movement of
the tendon associated with over pronation of the
foot.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
The iliotibial band which is a thick extension of
the tensor fascia lataemuscle slides over the
lateral epicondyle. Iliotibial Band Syndrome is an
inflammatory reaction at the side where this sliding
occurs. If the foot over-pronates, this is
accompanied by internal rotation of the entire lower
limb, producing a constant friction between the band
and the bony prominence of the femur. It is
therefore very common among runners especially if
they run on a banked track or downhill.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia is not an injury; it's actually a
symptom or a group of symptoms. These may include
pain in the ball of the foot, with or without
bruising, and inflammation. It is often localized in
the metatarsal heads or it may be more isolated, in
the area near the big toe. One of the hallmarks of
this disorder is pain in the ball of the foot during
weight-bearing activities. Sharp or shooting pains
in the toes also may be present, and pain in the
toes and/or ball of the foot may increase when the
toes are flexed. Accompanying symptoms may include
tingling or numbness in the toes. It is common to
experience acute, recurrent or chronic pain as a
result of this problem. Metatarsalgia develops when
something changes or threatens the normal mechanics
of the foot. Ultimately, this creates excessive
pressure in the ball of the foot, and that leads to
metatarsalgia. Some of the causes of metatarsalgia
include:
- Being
overweight: the more weight is brought to bear
on the foot, the greater the pressure is on the
forefoot when taking a step.
- As men and
women age, the fat pad in the foot tends to thin
out, creating less cushioning and making them
more susceptible to pain in the ball of the
foot.
- Wearing shoes
that do not fit properly: Shoes with a narrow,
tight toe box, or shoes that cause a great deal
of pressure to be put on the ball of the foot
(high heels, for example) are often the cause of
metatarsalgia. Because such footwear inhibits
the walking process and forces the wearer to
alter his
or her step to adjust to the shoe, the mechanics
of the foot are
compromised.
- Certain foot
shapes contribute to metatarsalgia. A
high-arched foot, or a foot with an extra-long
metatarsal bone can cause pressure on the
forefoot region and contribute to pain and
inflammation there.
- Claw toes or
hammertoes can press the metatarsals toward the
ground and cause stress on the ball of the foot.
- Arthritis,
gout or other inflammatory joint disorders can
produce pain in the ball of the foot.
Morton's Neuroma
Morton's Neuroma is a thickening of the tissue that
surrounds the intermetatarsal nerve leading to the
toes. When the nerve becomes squeezed and irritated,
it causes painful symptoms. Neuroma patients
occasionally complain of a "pins and needles"
sensation that spreads through their fourth and
fifth toes, or of a feeling akin to hitting their
"funny
bone." A neuroma can occur in response to the
irritation of a nerve by one or more
factors:
- Abnormal foot
function or foot mechanics: primarily excessive
pronation that causes strain on the nerve.
- Improper
footwear: constricting, narrow, poor-fitting
shoes with a tight or pointed toe box tend to
compress the end of the foot, leading to
excessive
- pressure in
the area of the nerve. High-heeled shoes are a
particular culprit here.
- Previous
trauma to the foot: Those who engage in
high-impact activities that bring repetitive
trauma to the foot (running, aerobics, etc.)
have a greater chance of developing a neuroma.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that
occurs where the plantar fascia attaches to the
medial tuberosity of the calcaneus. Over-pronation
results in a const ant tugging of the aforementioned
attachment site. Inflammation then results from this
constant insult to the local tissues. When the
patient is off- weight bearing, scar tissue begins
to repair the site of injury. When the patient
resumes weight-bearing, the scar tissue is torn
resulting in acute pain. This explains why patients
with this disorder typically experience the most
pain when they get out of bed, or stand after a
period of sitting
Runner's Knee
Runner's Knee is a general term referring to pain
around the front of a runner's knee. If the pain is
anteromedial in location, the source of the problem
may be over-pronation. The internal rotation of the
tibia associated with overpronation, may cause the
knee to fall into a functional valgus orientation
during the stance phase of gait. This in turn will
compromise the ligaments on the medial aspect of the
knee. Furthermore, the abnormal motion will result
in abnormal pressures behind the patella, leading to
a more specific knee malady referred to as
chondromalacia patella.
Sacroiliac Syndrome
Sacroiliac syndrome is a painful inflammatory
condition of the sacroiliac joints. The patient
generally experiences pain in the buttock and thigh
regions. It is typically aggravated by sitting for
long periods. Quite frequently it is caused by an
injury such as would be sustained by a fall on the
buttocks or during a lifting activity. However,
there is some evidence to suggest that a chronic
irritation from abnormal foot mechanics is also a
possible cause. When a foot over-pronates, it
creates a tendency towards internal rotation of the
lower limb. Due to the anatomy of the hip joint,
this internal rotation translates into an extension
of the pelvis (PSIS's rotate upward while ASIS's
rotate downward). If the mechanics of the feet are
not symmetrical, then conflicting rotations may
occur at the two sacroiliac joints. This appears to
set up a chronic irritation of these joints leading
to the inflammation.
Shin Splints
The condition known as Shin Splints involves a
muscular over-use scenario. There are Anterior Shin
Splints and Posterior Shin Splints. Anterior Shin
Splints involve the Tibialis anterior muscle of the
anterior compartment of the leg, and Posterior Shin
Splints involve the Tibialis posterior muscle of the
posterior compartment of the leg. Both of these
muscles are involved in slowing down pronation
during the stance phase of gait. Tibialis anterior
functions early in the stance while Tibialis
posterior functions a little later. If the patient
over-pronates or pronates too rapidly, either or
both of these muscles may be called upon to work
harder than normal. As a result, fatigue sets in,
leading to inefficient force production which leads
to micro-tearing of the soft tissue and therefore
and inflammatory reaction. Since the muscle is
wrapped in a fascial covering, the swelling that
occurs from the aforementioned problem is restricted
by this covering. Beyond the fact that much pain
results from the entire process, the pressure within
the fascial covering can be sufficient to
"choke-off" the blood supply to the involved
musculature, further added to the insult on the
tissue. In severe circumstances the swelling can be
severe enough to damage the deep peroneal nerve
resulting in a permanent "foot drop," as this nerve
supplies the dorsiflexors of the foot. The scenario
that typically brings on "shin splints" is a
sedentary individual that suddenly starts running or
walking long distances. When that individual is also
an over-pronator, the combination of having weak
muscles from lack of activity and having this
biomechanical fault increase the likelihood of
injury. Even changing the type of shoe worn during
walking or running can be sufficient to increase the
pronation of the subtalar and transverse tarsal
joints and lead to tissue injury.
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