Foot Pain (cont.)
What other symptoms may accompany foot pain?
Pain and point tenderness are
the immediate indicators that something is wrong in a specific area. The onset
of pain, suddenly or over time, is an important indicator of the cause of the
problem. Other important questions are
Is there pain with movement of the
affected area?
Is it affected by weight-bearing?
Does it change your walking
gait?
Bones of the foot are joined together by ligaments. A sprain occurs when
the ligaments that hold the bones together are overstretched and the fibers
tear. Point tenderness and looseness of a joint are indicators of a sprain.
Injury to the bones of the foot can be caused by a single blow or twist to the
arch or also by repetitive trauma that can result in a stress fracture.
Fractures are indicated by a focal point of pain that may be exquisitely tender
on the bone. There may be a distinguishable lump or gap at the site of the
fracture. A rotated toe or forefoot may also be a sign of a fracture.
Muscle and
tendons move the body. A strain occurs when a muscle or group of muscles are
stressed to the point where there is tearing of the muscle fibers. The muscles
and tendons of the foot may be strained by overstretching, overuse, overloading,
bruising, or even being lacerated. Weakness in contraction of a joint,
difficulty in stabilizing body parts, and pain working against resistance are
signs of muscle problems. Swelling, tenderness, loss of function, and
discoloration over and around the injury of are symptoms of a strain.
Bruises
are usually the result of a direct force injury to the body. A bruise can occur
to the foot by a variety of causes such as having your foot stepped on or by
stepping on a rock. Blows to the foot that result in pain, discoloration,
swelling, and changes in how you walk may indicate more serious damage.
Pain
and tenderness associated with planter fascia strains are usually felt on the
bottom of the foot and may occur either as a specific or general area of
tenderness. Plantar fascia pain may be increased or decreased by stretching of
the arch. In mild cases of plantar fasciitis, the pain will decrease as the soft
tissues of the foot "warms up," however pain may increase as use of the foot
increases. In more severe cases of plantar fasciitis, pain may increase when the
arch is stressed.
A sensation of rubbing or burning on the surface of the foot
is usually the first signs of a blister. Itching and burning sensations between
the toes or around the foot indicate a skin infection or athlete's foot. Pain
and redness at the edge of a toenail are usually the result of an ingrown
toenail.
As discussed above, foot pain may have a variety of different causes.
Proper evaluation and diagnosis of foot pain is essential in planning a
treatment. A good general guideline is to compare the injured side to the
uninjured side. Injury may present itself as distinguishable lump or gap felt at
that location or a "crunchy" feeling on that spot caused by inflammation. The
types, causes, and severity of pain also are good indicators of the seriousness
of the injury.
- Four grades of pain
- during activity
- before and after, and
not affecting performance
- before, during, and after athletic activity,
affecting performance
- pain so severe that performance is impossible
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