Jacky Peter Physiotherapy - Physio FAQ's (Feet/Foot)

How important are wearing the correct shoes? >>back to top: Very! All forces during walking/running are transmitted first through the feet to the rest of the body! Therefore, any mal-distribution of the forces (by non-supportive/incorrect shoes) will affect the whole mechanics of the body. For example, a shoe with poor arch support can lead to over-pronation which will can cause knee, hip and back problems AS WELL as a painful foot!
Will orthotics help my foot problem? >>back to top: Orthotics can help a foot problem as long as the abnormal mechanics of the foot is correctly identified. Eg. Not everyone who pronates needs anti-pronation orthotics because pronation can be caused by a 'skew' pelvis. If this is the case, correcting the pelvis will correct the pronation! If, however, the pronation is due to a mechanical problem in the bones of the foot, orthotics will most certainly help! Consult a physio or a podiatrist for a biomechanical assessment for your foot problems.
What happens if I keep playing on a sprained ankle? >>back to top: If a sprained ankle has not had sufficient time to heal (even though you may feel fine!), re-injury is inevitable. Ligaments take weeks to months to completely heal. This does not necessarily mean that you can't keep playing your sport but, your rehab is an ongoing process (discussed with you and your physio) during the healing process. Muscle re-education, balance, substitute exercises/movements and support need to be considered.
The bootom of my foot, just by my heel has been sore for a few months now, should I be worried? >>back to top: Pain that lasts that long MUST be investigated as there is some structure in the foot that is being hurt! Heel pain can arise from a few factors, the most common one being 'plantar fasciitis'. This is inflammation of the plantar fascia (a broad tendon-like structure under the foot that attaches to the heel). If this tendon is overstressed in any way (for example, by tight calves, pronation, overweight or a misaligned pelvis), it causes a pulling on the undersurface of the heel bone which is very painful! If it is left untreated, the pain will come back again and again and eventually cause a spur to develop on the heel bone. This can only be removed with surgery.