With age, it’s not uncommon to experience pain and stiffness in your feet and ankles.  Carefully monitoring your pain is important, however, as this noticeable discomfort could be an early indication of a more serious condition known as arthritis. Arthritis is a group of conditions that typically involves pain and inflammation in the joints.  There are many types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common form.  Left untreated, pain caused by arthritis will get worse, eventually leading to joint weakness that can interfere with the most basic daily activities.  

Arthritis can have a serious impact on the structure and function of your feet and ankles. See a podiatrist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling
• Chronic pain or tenderness
• Limited mobility or motion
• Stiffness early in the day
• Changes in skin, including growths and rashes                                              

Whenever you notice a change in your lower extremities, contact our podiatrists at Complete Foot Care for a thorough evaluation. When detected early, proper treatment can slow the development of arthritis and get you back to your active lifestyle.

Treating Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Complete Foot Care can help you determine the best treatment option depending on the type and severity of your arthritis.  

Treatment options include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections for the joint
• Shoe insets, pads, braces or arch supports
• Physical therapy and exercise
• Custom-designed shoes
• Weight management

When arthritis doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, surgical intervention may be considered as the last resort.

A thorough evaluation of your health and type of arthritis will allow our podiatrists to recommend the best treatment plan for you. Arthritis is a disabling disease, but with early detection, you can help manage the pain associated with arthritis of the foot and ankle and maintain a healthy, fulfilling life.  Allow our Timmins podiatrists to assess your foot and ankle pain and get you back on your feet.

The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body, located in the back of the lower leg and connecting the heel bone to the calf muscle. This tendon is crucial as it facilitates walking and running by helping to raise the heel off of the ground.  While the tendon can withstand immense force, it’s also surprisingly vulnerable. Injuries to the Achilles tendon require prompt treatment.  

When the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed from excessive use, tendonitis can weaken it over time and cause small tears. Athletes are at a high risk for Achilles tendon injuries, which often occurs at the start of a new exercise or training program, or due to not having enough rest or recovery time.

You don’t have to be an accomplished athlete to suffer an Achilles tendon injury. People with flat feet, arthritis and other foot problems are also more susceptible to develop Achilles tendonitis due to increased demands placed on the tendon when walking.

Common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include:

• Mild pain after running or exercising that intensifies gradually
• Localized pain along the tendon, especially after running
• Tenderness near the heel bone, with pain being worse first thing in the morning
• Stiffness and limited range of motion in the lower leg and ankle
• Swelling around the tendon
• When the disorder progresses to degeneration, the tendon may become enlarged and develop nodules in the area where the tissue is damaged

To prevent injuries to the Achilles tendon, strengthening and stretching the calf muscles through daily exercise is recommended.  Alternating intense exercise with low-impact workouts and wearing proper shoes for your foot type and activity can also help reduce your risk for injury.

Any time you experience pain, tenderness or swelling along the Achilles tendon, visit Complete Foot Care for professional diagnosis and treatment. Treatment for an injured Achilles tendon should begin right away with rest, ice, compression and elevation.   Without prompt care, Achilles tendonitis will get progressively worse, thus increasing the risk for further deterioration and rupture.   As a last resort and when other treatments fail, surgery may be recommended to repair the tendon.  

The professional podiatrists at our Timmins office can provide the best diagnosis and treatment for optimal recovery.

It's not uncommon to experience foot pain after a long day of work or a vigorous sport activity, especially as we age. A long day of shopping or yard work can leave feet tired, heavy, swollen and achy- a problem we can all relate to at one time or another.

Achy Feet Factors:

• Age
• Gender
• Dehydration

Causes
When you are constantly on your feet, a significant amount of stress is put on your legs and feet. Strenuous walking or standing for long periods has an obvious effect on your feet. Other factors include ill fitting, poorly padded shoes, tight socks or stockings and tight garters. Reduced blood circulation to the ankles and feet also causes tired aching feet.

5 Simple Ways to Relieve Tired, Aching Feet

There are ways to relieve pain associated sore feet and legs.

1. Elevate your feet for 15-20 minutes.
2. Soak your feet in warm water or warm a towel with hot water and wrap it around your feet and legs.
3. Massage your feet or have someone massage your feet for you.
4. Exercise your feet, as it can help to keep them healthy - it tones muscles, helps to strengthen the arches and stimulates blood circulation.
5. Wear Orthotic insoles in your shoes. Ask a podiatrist at Complete Foot Care if an orthotic device is a good fit for your lifestyle

When foot pain persists, it's important to visit our Timmins podiatric office for a thorough examination. The cause of your foot pain may be more serious than simple stress and over work. Dr. Patrick Rainville can identify serious problems and work with you to determine a treatment plan that will put an end to your tired, achy feet once and for all.

A child's feet grow rapidly during the first year, reaching almost half of their adult foot size. This is why podiatrists consider the first year to be the most important in the development of the feet. Proper care at a young age is essential for healthy development.  Since many adult foot ailments develop in childhood, periodic visits to Complete Foot Care and basic foot care can help minimize these problems later in life.

A child’s feet are formed from soft, pliable cartilage which makes them more susceptible to deformities. A young child can be affected by foot conditions such as:

• Intoeing
• Outoeing
• Flat feet
• Warts
• Heel pain

Tips for Parents

Parents can help promote normal, healthy foot development for their baby.

• Examine your baby’s feet regularly.  If you detect any unusual signs, contact your child’s pediatrician or podiatrist right away.
• Encourage exercise.  Lying uncovered allows the baby to kick and move feet and toes freely so not to inhibit normal development.
• Cover feet loosely.  Tight clothing or covers restrict movement.
• Alternate your baby’s position several times a day.  Lying too long in one spot may place unnecessary strain on the feet and legs.

Growing Up

As your baby continues to grow and develop, so will the feet. It may be necessary to change shoe and sock size every few months, as tight-fitting footwear can aggravate preexisting conditions.  After the first steps are taken, you should also carefully observe walking patterns. Intoeing, outoeing, and gait abnormalities can be corrected when they are detected early.

A baby’s feet will carry them throughout life, so it’s important to begin foot care at a young age. Neglecting your child’s foot health invites problems in other parts of the body, such as the back and legs.  Whenever you have questions about your child’s foot health, or if you suspect a problem with the development of your child’s feet, contact our Timmins office.

With our feet bearing the weight of our entire body, it’s no surprise that carrying excess weight may increase the chance of developing foot problems.  In fact, recent studies have shown that overweight people experience more heel pain, tendonitis, arthritis, ball-of-foot pain, fractures and sprains in their feet and ankles than individuals at a normal, healthy weight.

Extra weight doesn’t have to be substantial to have an impact on your feet and ankles. As little as 10 or 20 pounds can trigger pain in the lower extremities. Being overweight changes the way your foot functions, and the force on the feet intensifies.

The most common foot problems from being overweight include:

• Plantar Fasciitis: Excess weight adds strain to the plantar fascia, overusing and weakening it. This causes it to become inflamed and irritated. Heel pain is one of the most common problems caused by weight gain.
• Tendonitis: When the feet endure extra weight, it eventually causes the tendons/ligaments to be overused, which leads to injury and inflammation.
• Fallen Arches: An increase in body weight and pressure causes the supporting structures in your feet (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) to become stretched and weakened, breaking down over time. This can weaken the muscle which gives the foot its arch, causing over-pronation and leading to other problems such as knee and hip pain.
• Other effects from carrying extra weight include changes in posture, changes in gait (steps become shorter) and stress fractures.

Losing extra pounds can help ease the pain and reduce problems caused by carrying excess body weight. Unfortunately, it's tough to lose weight when your feet hurt. To combat foot problems triggered by weight gain, ease into a low-impact activity that doesn’t require you to place pressure on your foot, such as water aerobics.  Always start any new workout routine slowly and work with your regular physician and podiatrist at Complete Foot Care to find healthy ways to modify your diet and select the best, supportive footwear for your feet.

Foot pain is never normal, regardless of weight, as it indicates some type of stress or injury. You should always consult an experienced podiatrist at our Timmins office if you are experiencing any pain in your foot.