/assets/production/practices/a7962e896decfe27848427e23dcf8ed51d3a06f7/images/2753040.jpeg)
Think about the size of your feet in relation to your body and you begin to appreciate the enormous role these relatively small appendages play. It should also come as no surprise that some 75% of Americans experience foot pain during their lives. As orthopedists, the expert team at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates has considerable experience helping their patients in Daly City, California, get up and moving again. If you’re experiencing foot pain, call or request an appointment using the online booking tool.
Foot Pain Q & A
What is the anatomy of the foot?
Your foot is a complex system of 26 bones and 33 joints, layered with a web of 126 muscles, ligaments, and nerves, which all work together to:
- Support your weight
- Act as shock absorbers
- Initiate forward movement
- Maintain balance by adjusting your body over uneven surfaces
Since your feet are quite small compared to the rest of your body, each step you take exerts a tremendous force upon them — about 50% greater than your body weight. Now consider that the average person spends about four hours on their feet and takes nearly 10,000 steps in a day. This means that your feet support a combined force equivalent to several hundred tons every day.
What causes foot pain?
Given the tremendous stress your feet are under every time you take a step, it’s not hard to understand how foot pain can crop up, and for any number of reasons. That said, there are some causes of foot pain that are more common than others, including:
- Calluses on the bottom of your feet
- Bursitis
- Bunions
- Nerve damage due to diabetes
- Arthritis
- Fractures and strains
- Torn ligaments
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you some idea of the breadth and scope of the causes of foot pain. Many of these conditions develop as a result of:
- Improper shoes (too tight or too loose)
- Poor posture
- Inherited abnormalities
- High-impact exercise
- Temporary changes in foot size or shape
Whatever the issue, it’s important that you seek help at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates in order to restore pain-free movement.
How is foot pain diagnosed and treated?
The doctors at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates first sit down with you to review your symptoms and then turn to advanced diagnostic imaging to take a look inside your foot in order to pinpoint the source of your pain.
Once they figure out the problem, your doctor tailors a treatment plan that addresses your immediate discomfort, while also ensuring that your foot heals properly for long-term results. Your treatment plan may include:
- Rest
- Icing
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Exercises and physical therapy
- Lifestyle changes
- Bracing or walking aids
- Corticosteroid injections
Your doctor starts out conservatively at first but may turn to a surgical solution if your foot pain persists.
To get relief from your foot pain, call Peninsula Orthopedic Associates, or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.