As you are likely already aware, the joints in your body are where your bones meet. Most joints have to hold two bones together securely, while at the same time, allowing substantial movement without causing friction and wear between bones. To carry out their tasks, joints are made up of a complex combination of elastic tissue called cartilage to allow movement, strong fibrous tissue called ligaments to keep the bones together and lubricating fluid. The bones of the foot form a series of springy arches, which act as a platform for the support of the body. What if there is undue pressure on your toe joints? The platform may collapse!
The joints of the toes may give rise to a number of symptoms of arthralgia (joint pain), such as swelling, difficulty of movement or discolouration. Injuries may occur due to sprain, dislocation or fracture; but if there is no injury, then the pain could be the result of disease, some types of medication or ill-fitting shoes. Gout is a disease that especially attacks the big toe, and bunions are another culprit. Bunions are almost certainly caused by poor choice in footwear - primarily high heels or stilettos.
High heels and shoes that are a bad fit put pressure on the lower joint connecting the toe to the foot. Constant pressure and irritation causes a spur of bone to form, and this is then covered with a sac of fluid-filled tissue, called a bursa. The skin covering the pressure point often thickens into a corn or callus, adding to the pain. Ultra-high heels can force your feet into an unnatural position that puts pressure on the ball of the foot. At this critical joint, the long metatarsal bones meet the pea-shaped sesamoid bones, and the toe bones (phalanges). Too much pressure can inflame these bones or the nerves that surround them. Chronic stress to the foot bones can even lead to hairline fractures.
High heeled shoes push too much body weight toward the toes and then squeeze them together. Over time, the result can be hammertoe, which means abnormal bends in the toe joints that can gradually become rigid. Surgery is sometimes needed to relieve the pain of severe hammertoe. Crowding can cause other toe deformities, and crowding occurs in all of the above cases.
The same pressure can cause ingrown toenails, which are not only painful and unsightly, but can also lead to infection - sometimes severe. After healing occurs, wearing heels again can lead to a cycle of repeated ingrown toenails, increasing your chances of infection each time.
So how do you treat your feet? Is your 'platform' about to collapse?
Ditch the uncomfortable heels and over-tight shoes today to perform on this platform with feet that feel and look perfect!
Gone are the days of aching legs, corns and bunions behind us? Here are three chic shoe designers that you should be following:
- Anyi Lu: Inspired shoewear - Anyi designs handmade Italian shoes for women who do not compromise when it comes to shoes. Her mission is to design shoes "that function as beautifully as they are fashioned".
- Dana Davis: Dana consults with podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons to design her footwear
- Taryn Rose: Created by an orthopaedic surgeon, these shoes are well cushioned, light, flexible and comfortable all day long.
If you want to know more about treating foot problems like
ingrown toenails or are looking for a surgical podiatrist in Sydney,
please contact me - Dr Damien Lafferty or visit my website http://www.damienlafferty.com.au/
I am a podiatrist and a Podiatric Surgeon and a Fellow of the Australian College of Podiatric Surgeons. Sydney 02 9380 9647
I am a podiatrist and a Podiatric Surgeon and a Fellow of the Australian College of Podiatric Surgeons. Sydney 02 9380 9647
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire