Low dye strapping is a technique that can help reduce foot and ankle pain, especially associated with excessive pronation in stance. It helps off-load the plantar fascia and provides medial arch support.
This study compared a modified LD taping group (LTG) and a conservative treatment group (CTG). The LTG showed greater decrease in VAS pain and TAOCOG stability than the CTG.
Arch Support
Foot arch support is essential to reduce pain and improve foot, ankle, knee, hip, and lower back posture. Proper arch support contributes to overall body alignment and prevents issues such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, flat feet, and more. However, the amount of support needed can vary widely from person to person. Over-the-counter orthotic inserts are usually one size fits all and may not provide adequate support for all individuals. PediFix offers a variety of foot arch support products including braces, pads, and arch supports to help you find the right solution for your needs.
A good way to determine if you need more arch support is to trace the inside of your foot, from your big toe to the bottom of your heel. You should see the outline of an arch in the middle. Some feet have high arches while others have normal or low arches. If you have a high arch, your feet need more support. Likewise, if you have a low arch, your feet need less support.
Another sign that you need more arch support is overpronation or supination. Overpronation occurs when your foot rolls too much inward when you walk or run, which puts excess stress on certain parts of the foot and leg. Supination is the opposite, where your foot doesn’t roll inward enough and stresses the outer part of the foot and legs.
Over time, your feet can become tired and swollen. This is a common problem among runners who don’t get the proper foot arch support. A simple remedy for this is to roll a tennis or golf ball under your foot. This will help loosen up the muscles and relieve tension.
If you are experiencing foot, ankle, or leg pain, try adding more arch support to your shoes. Arch support can redistribute pressure and improve shock absorption, reducing the strain on your feet and other joints in the body. It can also alleviate shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and general discomfort in your feet, ankles, and lower legs. If you are looking for a custom-fitted arch support, contact us today for an appointment with one of our podiatrists.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the bottom of your foot, becomes weak, swollen, or torn. Having plantar fasciitis can make it hard to walk, stand, or run. Usually, the pain is worst when you first start walking after sitting or getting out of bed in the morning. It can also hurt after long periods of walking or standing, or when you climb stairs. Your healthcare provider can diagnose plantar fasciitis by examining your feet and legs.
Low Dye taping is a functional taping technique that provides mechanical support to the ankle and foot. It helps to off-load the plantar fascia and reduce excessive pronation during stance and gait. Low Dye taping may help prevent symptoms of plantar fasciitis, including pain, stiffness, and swelling. It also improves the quality of life for people with plantar fasciitis, especially those who need to be active.
People with plantar fasciitis often have tight calf muscles or Achilles tendons (the tough band of tissue that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot). This can cause your foot and leg to not move correctly, causing strain on the plantar fascia. Having flat feet, high arches, or an uneven way of walking can also contribute to plantar fasciitis. So can being overweight or pregnancy, which cause your body to change the way you walk and use your feet.
Nonsurgical treatment almost always relieves pain from plantar fasciitis. This includes resting your foot, icing it, using a heel pad, and using a shoe that is comfortable and supportive. Exercises that strengthen your foot and calf muscles, such as stair climbing or heel raises, can also help. You can prevent plantar fasciitis by stretching your feet and calf muscles before you get out of bed in the morning, and by wearing shoes that are cushioned and support your arches. Having a balanced diet can also prevent the condition.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon, a thick rope-like tissue that attaches a bone to a muscle. Tendonitis can be caused by sudden injury or repetitive activity. People who have jobs or hobbies that require repeated movements are more likely to develop tendinitis. In addition, having flat feet or high arches can add stress to the tendons of the foot and ankle.
Tendinitis can cause pain and swelling of the tendons in your foot, ankle, and leg. It can also lead to stiffness and loss of movement in your ankle or heel. The most common symptom is pain when you first begin to use the affected tendon. This pain will get worse as you continue to use the tendon. Other symptoms include redness of the tendons, swelling in your ankle or foot, and a feeling that the tendon is swollen and tight.
A tendon injury can occur when you have too much stress on your tendons, especially if you do not warm up properly before exercise. It can also occur if you increase the intensity of your activity too quickly. Injuries to the tendons can be prevented by warming up slowly, wearing appropriate footwear, and avoiding repetitive activities that place too much strain on your feet.
The most common types of tendonitis are plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and peroneal tendonitis. Each type of tendonitis affects different parts of the foot and ankle. Plantar fasciitis causes pain at the bottom of your foot near the arch. Achilles tendonitis is pain in the back of your heel or calf muscle. Peroneal tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons that run along the outer edge of your ankle and connect to bones on the inside of your foot and your arch.
A podiatrist can provide treatment for tendinitis that includes ice to reduce inflammation and numb the pain, compression and elevation to keep the swelling down, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, stretching exercises, and strengthening the supporting muscles in your foot and ankle. If you do not improve with conservative treatments, a doctor may recommend a walking boot or inserts, prescription foot orthotics, or physical therapy. In severe cases, injections or surgery may be needed.
Posture
The condition of your posture has a greater impact on your foot health than you might realize. The feet serve as the foundation of your body, and good posture relies on them to distribute weight evenly and ensure proper alignment throughout the rest of your body. When your feet are not functioning properly, it can cause a domino effect that leads to misalignment and additional strain on joints higher up in the body.
Good posture is maintained by a complex network of muscles, ligaments and tendons. These components work together to maintain the body in a balanced and stable position when sitting, standing or moving. Poor posture is typically associated with back and neck pain, but the connection between posture and the feet goes far beyond that.
When you have good posture, your body parts are aligned correctly and the stress of each movement is distributed evenly. This is not always the case, however. For example, flat feet often lead to overpronation, or rolling inward of the ankles, which can put additional pressure on specific parts of the foot. This can create imbalances that result in foot problems such as bunions, hammertoes and plantar fasciitis.
Another common issue is excessive rounding of the shoulders, which can alter the distribution of weight throughout the body and place additional stress on certain areas. This can also lead to imbalances in the feet, such as excessive pronation or supination, which can lead to foot conditions such as flat feet and heel pain.
When you have an underlying foot problem, you may unconsciously adjust your posture to compensate for the discomfort. This can put increased stress on other joints, such as your knees and hips, which can then affect the way you walk and stand. This can also create imbalances in the feet, which can lead to additional foot problems like arch pain and calluses. This is why it is important to address any underlying foot issues before they affect your posture and ultimately lead to more severe complications.