The foot is a complex system consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The foot is subdivided into the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot.
Why is it that we often lose weight where no one notices? For example, in our feet! Did you know that as we age, the fat pad under our feet that cushions our heels and balls of our feet wears thin? Foot experts refer to this as fat pad atrophy.
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, primarily found in animal products, that plays a key role in maintaining nerve function, producing red blood cells, and synthesizing DNA. A deficiency in B12 can lead to a variety of health issues, many of which significantly impact the lower limbs.
Plantar Fasciitis is a common condition causing pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue running from your heel to your toes, becomes inflamed or irritated. This condition can be frustrating and painful, making it difficult to walk or stand for long periods. But the good news is, you don’t have to live with it forever. With the right treatment and preventative measures, you can manage and even overcome plantar fasciitis.
Cortisone shots are commonly used to treat inflammation and pain in the shoulders, back, hands, hips, and knees. Did you know they can also be used for the feet?
When we walk, our feet must move and adapt in certain ways to lessen the risk for injury, pain and discomfort. To prepare for contacting ground, the foot arch must be higher or more supinated, making the foot a rigid lever for heel strike. As the body progresses through the gait cycle, the arch flattens slightly or pronates to adapt to uneven terrain and absorb shock from the ground.
You probably recall the childhood song – “the foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone…” While this may have been a broad simplification, there is great truth in this elementary school tune. The human body is like an integrated chain reaction.
Over 6 million Canadians have arthritis and in the coming years, this number will continue to grow. It is quite common for arthritis to be present in the hips, knees, ankles or feet. It can arise with age, from normal wear and tear on the joint.
