5 Signs an Alignment Issue is Causing Your Foot Pain
Various structural and alignment issues can cause foot pain. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we offer foot pain treatment options that target the bones, joints, and skin to relieve discomfort. Here are five signs that an alignment issue could be causing your foot pain:
- Shoe Wear Patterns
If you notice that your shoes have an abnormal wear pattern or are wearing out quickly, foot misalignment could be the cause of your pain. Uneven wear patterns show where pressure is greatest on your foot while standing or walking. More wear on the outside or inside of the sole could be a sign of muscle weakness or improper foot support in the shoe. If one shoe has more wear than the other, one foot is experiencing more pressure when you walk, stand, or run.
During a foot pain treatment at Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, our team will evaluate your shoes to determine the wear patterns and identify potential alignment issues. We also perform foot screenings to create custom foot orthotics that address underlying alignment concerns. These custom orthotics do more than alleviate pain; they correct the position of bones and muscles to improve your body’s functionality.
- Bunions and Calluses
Foot structure changes, like the development of bunions and calluses, signal alignment issues. These changes can be caused by wearing footwear that is too restrictive or having an irregular walking motion. Wearing tight shoes may lead to the foot bones moving out of place and developing bumps or bunions at the joints. Calluses form on any part of the foot that rubs against shoe materials or the ground repetitively. The skin hardens to protect the deeper tissue layers and may cause discomfort while you walk.
To treat bunions and calluses, we recommend purchasing well-fitting, cushioned shoes. Our team can remove painful calluses and create corrective orthotics to adjust your foot position and reduce the amount of friction in your shoes. Our doctors will visually and manually examine your feet to identify bunions, calluses, and other issues that could be affecting your mobility and comfort level.
- Knee and Hip Pain
Knee and hip pain that occurs with foot pain could indicate misalignment of the bones and joints of the lower body. When the feet are misaligned, the knee and hip joints shift and overcompensate to create balance. This may also lead to tension and pain in the lower back.
Our team will perform a physical evaluation that involves watching you move your feet, ankles, knees, and hips to identify and treat the root cause of your joint pain. Observing your movement allows us to identify weakened or strained muscles and connective tissues in the foot and lower leg. Paring this evaluation with imaging tests gives us a holistic view of your foot’s structure, which helps us create a personalized treatment plan to relieve and prevent pain.
- Gait Issues
If your feet roll in or out significantly while you walk or stand, your foot pain may be caused by gait irregularities. Overpronation is an alignment issue that causes the foot to roll inward while walking or standing. Rolling inward puts extra pressure on the muscles and tendons that support the foot’s arch. This may cause the arch to flatten, causing foot pain and conditions like plantar fasciitis and shin splints. Supination is a gait issue that causes the foot to roll outward while walking, putting pressure on the outside of the foot and ankle. This can result in ankle sprains and misalignment that cause pain in the feet, hips, and back.
Overpronation and supination can be corrected by wearing properly fitting shoes and orthotic inserts that support the arch and evenly distribute pressure across the foot. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we make custom orthotic inserts to realign the foot and leg structures and reduce pain. Our functional orthotics are made of rigid materials, like carbon fiber or plastic, that help the device retain its shape during use.
- Pain After Activity
Foot pain that increases after standing, walking, or performing other physical activities may be related to alignment problems. Flat feet and high arches without proper support can cause the ankle and knee joints to change position. This shift affects overall body posture. If alignment issues are left untreated, they may lead to overuse injuries and trauma to the muscles and tendons. Misalignment also causes strains, sprains, and fractures in the lower legs and feet. These injuries are aggravated by spending long periods on the feet. If you have severe foot pain after standing or walking, our team will evaluate the musculoskeletal structure of your lower limbs. This helps us determine if misalignment-related injuries are causing your discomfort.
Schedule an Appointment for Foot Pain Treatment
Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute offers conservative and surgical treatment options to reduce foot pain and improve your quality of life. We treat structural issues like joint damage, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinitis. We also offer diabetic foot care for individuals with ulcers and neuropathy symptoms. During a consultation appointment, our team will assess your foot health and gait to create a custom treatment plan. Contact our team today to schedule an appointment and learn more about our treatment options.