[Kok! Health] Increase in Foot Disorders in Summer... How to Reduce Pain

Foot disorders increase during the summer. This is because the frequency of wearing sandals or slippers with thin and hard soles rises, and physical activity increases due to vacations and other reasons.

Pain in the foot is divided into the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot, starting from the toes. The foot is composed of a complex structure including 26 large and small bones, 33 joints, over 100 ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves. Since the location of the pain varies, accurate diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

Pain in the front of the sole

This refers to a condition where repetitive and continuous pressure is applied to the nerves responsible for sensation in the toes, causing the nerve tissue to enlarge. When pressure is applied to the enlarged nerve tissue, pain occurs, which is a type of nerve entrapment syndrome.

The causes of onset are diverse. One common cause is excessive pressure and trauma applied to the foot. Shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot or high-heeled shoes increase pressure on the front of the foot. Sports activities or continuous external impacts can also increase the risk of developing interdigital neuroma.

The main symptom is pain occurring in the front part of the foot. Pain mainly occurs between the toes when stepping, characterized by a dull, tingling, and stabbing sensation.

To relieve pain and reduce inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids may be injected. Using soft insoles or pads to minimize pressure on the foot also helps alleviate pain. If conservative and medication treatments do not improve the condition, surgical treatment may be performed to remove the interdigital neuroma or relieve pressure on the nerve.

Pain in the arch area of the sole

The accessory navicular bone is a small bone attached to the side of the navicular bone (the bone connecting the ankle and the big toe) on the inside of the foot. About 1 in 10 people have an accessory navicular bone. Its size and shape vary among individuals and it occurs as a congenital condition. The accessory navicular bone itself is not problematic, but sometimes pain occurs in the area if the accessory navicular bone is large or the connecting tissue is weak.

The accessory navicular bone is usually discovered incidentally. It causes problems when continuous stimulation is applied to the foot due to accidents, trauma, excessive exercise, or wearing uncomfortable shoes, causing the accessory navicular bone to move from its original position.

In the early stages, conservative treatment such as medication, shoe insoles, or plaster immobilization is performed. If there is no improvement with conservative treatment or symptoms recur and affect daily life, surgical removal or fusion of the accessory navicular bone may be necessary.

Pain from the sole to the heel

The plantar fascia is a fascia located under the sole of the foot, extending from the heel to the front of the sole. It maintains the arch shape of the foot and absorbs shock during walking. Inflammation of this plantar fascia is called 'plantar fasciitis.'

Generally, the risk of developing plantar fasciitis is higher in people with flat feet (where the arch is lower than the normal range) or excessively high arches (pes cavus), excessive contraction of the calf muscles, or a short Achilles tendon that prevents the ankle joint from bending upward.

Early diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis are important. When treatment is started early, conservative or non-surgical methods are used, and symptoms usually improve within about 6 to 8 weeks, but treatment may take several months depending on the patient's activity level and severity of the condition.

If pain becomes chronic, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, physical therapy, or injection therapy may be helpful. If there is no improvement after more than 6 months of conservative treatment, surgical treatments such as plantar fascia release or calf muscle lengthening may be considered.

Professor Seung-Yeol Lee of the Department of Orthopedics at Myongji Hospital advised, "When exercising, it is important to wear shoes with a wide forefoot and sufficient cushioning to disperse pressure and absorb shock well," adding, "Obesity can also be a major cause of foot disorders, so maintaining an appropriate weight is recommended."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.