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What Is Foot Pain?
Foot pain is a very common problem. About 75% of people in the U.S. have foot pain at some time in their lives. Most foot pain is caused by shoes that do not fit properly or force the feet into
unnatural shapes (such as pointed-toe, high-heel shoes).
The force exerted on the foot with each step is about 50% greater than the person’s body weight. In a typical day, the feet support several hundred tons.
The elderly have a very high incidence of foot pain, reported at 87% in one study.
Shoe Size Changes
Wearing correctly sized shoes could cure many foot pain problems. Feet change in size during the day (larger late in the day) and with the weather (smaller during cold weather). In addition, the
size and shape of feet change with age. Older people should not assume they wear the same size shoe as when they were younger. Before buying new shoes, they should have their feet measured.
Foot Overview
The foot is a complex structure of 26 bones and 33 joints, layered with an intertwining web of over 120 muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It serves the following functions:
• Supports weight
• Acts as a shock absorber
• Serves as a lever to propel the leg forward
• Helps to maintain balance by adjusting the body to uneven surfaces
Since the feet are very small compared with the rest of the body, the impact of each step exerts tremendous force upon them. This force is about 50% greater than the person's body weight. During
a typical day, people spend about 4 hours on their feet and take 8,000 - 10,000 steps. This means that the feet support a combined force equivalent to several hundred tons every day.
Given what the foot must endure, it is not surprising that about 75% of Americans experience foot pain at some point in their lives. According to one study, chronic and severe foot pain is a serious
burden for one in seven older disabled women. To compound problems, the lower back is often affected by injuries or abnormalities in the feet.
Foot pain is generally defined by one of three sites of origin: the toes, the forefoot, and the hindfoot.
The Toes. Toe problems most often occur because of the pressure imposed by ill-fitting shoes.
The Forefoot. The forefoot is the front of the foot. Pain originating here usually involves one of the following bone groups:
• The metatarsal bones (five long bones that extend from the front of the arch to the bones in the toe)
• The sesamoid bones (two small bones embedded at the top of the first metatarsal bone, which connects to the big toe)
The Hindfoot. The hindfoot is the back of the foot. Pain originating here can extend from the heel, across the sole (known as the plantar surface), to the ball of the foot (the metatarsophalangeal
joint).
Foot pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole or ankles.
Reviewed By: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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