Having good foot health is a vital part of overall well-being, but unfortunately many people don’t realize how much of an impact the alignment of their feet can have on their daily lives.
It’s estimated that nearly 50% of people have misaligned feet, which can lead to various problems, including pain and discomfort. Misalignment can also cause issues with the hips, knees, and spine.
Here’s what you need to know about foot alignment, the causes, common symptoms, and the treatment options that can (literally) help you get back on your feet.
Don’t Get Off on the Wrong Foot: Understanding Misaligned Feet
If you have foot misalignment, it means the muscles, ligaments, or bones in your feet are not positioned correctly. This can affect how you walk, stand, or sit, placing extra stress on your body and potentially leading to further complications.
How to Spot Foot Alignment Issues
There are several ways to identify foot alignment issues. For instance, when you stand straight and face forward, your ankle bone should align with the front edge of your heel bone, creating a space called the sinus tarsi. If the ankle bone loses stability and shifts out of place, typically moving over the heel bone, this space gets compressed.
When this gap collapses, the ankle and heel bones come together, disrupting your body’s overall balance. This can often be seen from the outside, such as when your ankle bows inward while standing straight. Even if you don’t notice this yourself, a podiatrist usually will. In some cases, an X-ray is needed to reveal underlying problems not visible to the naked eye.
Causes of Foot Misalignment
Foot misalignment is often due to genetics. Certain foot structures, such as high arches or flat feet, can make some people more prone to misalignment. Other factors that can contribute to this issue include:
Injury: Trauma or injury to the foot, ankle, or leg can disrupt proper foot alignment. For instance, untreated muscle tears, sprains, and fractures may result in long-term alignment problems.
Improper Footwear: Wearing shoes that lack proper support can contribute to misalignment. High heels, for example, force the foot into an unnatural position, which can lead to alignment issues over time.
Arthritis: Conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can cause changes in foot structure and due to inflammation and degeneration.
Recognizing Symptoms of Misaligned Feet
Misaligned feet can manifest in several ways, and the symptoms often vary depending on the severity.
Typically, people who have misaligned feet tend to roll their feet inward when they walk. This is called pronation, and can cause pain in the arches, heels, or balls of the feet. However, pain from misalignment doesn’t always stay in the feet.
This is called referred pain, which occurs when the body compensates for the imbalance by putting extra strain on the hips, knees, and back. Over time, this imbalance can also result in issues such as:
- Bunions
- Flat Feet
- Hammertoes
- Calluses and Corns
People with foot alignment issues often experience pain after physical activity, mistakenly attributing it to their workout rather than misaligned feet. Those with chronic pain in other areas of the body might also overlook the possibility that their foot alignment is the root cause. This can lead to untreated alignment issues and potentially result in receiving treatment for the wrong problem.
Treatment Options to Put Your Best Foot Forward
If you suspect misaligned feet might be the culprit for your pain or discomfort, it’s important to seek professional evaluation by a podiatrist. Unfortunately, foot misalignment won’t improve on its own and can worsen over time if left untreated, so proper diagnosis and treatment are important to address the issue and prevent further complications.
Treatment options for foot alignment issues vary based on the severity and underlying causes of the problem. Two common treatments are custom orthotics and corrective surgery:
Custom Orthotics: These orthotics are tailored to address specific foot structure and alignment issues, helping to reduce pain and improve function. While they stabilize the ankle bone, they only offer a temporary solution, as they don’t address the collapsed sinus tarsi.
Corrective Surgery: For many, corrective surgery is necessary to fully resolve alignment issues. This procedure involves inserting a stent to stabilize the ankle bone and restore normal range of motion. Most corrective surgeries are minimally invasive, requiring only a few days of rest before you’re back on your feet.
Don’t Jump to Foot Conclusions!
Before you jump to conclusions and worry over the idea of surgery, don’t panic, because the issue you’re experiencing might not be misaligned feet!
In some cases, the problem might be as simple as wearing the wrong type of footwear.
If you’re experiencing signs of foot misalignment, don’t delay—schedule a consultation with a foot and ankle specialist today.
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