Why do I have foot pain?

Feet are complicated!

They are made up of 28 bones, 30 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, all of which work together to provide support, balance and mobility.

When your foot turns one way (pronates), it becomes an adaptable foundation to mold to the terrain you are walking on. When it turns another way (supinates), it becomes a supportive lever to gain power and push off for walking, running, and jumping.

It gains stability from the arch, ankle muscles, hip muscles, and core. It has magical fibers which help relay information to the brain to keep you balanced while standing on one foot, walking, or completing other balance activities.

Weakness or tightness in muscles in the hips, core, arch, foot, and ankle can affect your balance, strength, and the foot movements. When something goes wrong with these structures, the foot can become, stiff, unstable, unbalanced, or otherwise painful. Because the feet are your foundation, they can become very painful and bothersome if these issues are not addressed.

Here are some of the causes of foot pain.

• Weakness in the muscles which support your arch.

• Weakness in the muscles which move your ankle, foot, or toes.

• Weakness in your core or glute muscles which help to stabilize the entire leg.

• Stiffness in your foot or ankle.

• Tightness in your hamstrings or calf muscles

• Walking or running patterns that bias a certain type of movement.

• Stiffness in your toes

• and more!

If you are experiencing pain in your foot, I would recommend getting it checked out by someone who will do an entire evaluation of the aforementioned areas. Also, you may notice that none of these causes of foot pain listed can be seen on an MRI or x-ray. I urge you to find a physical therapist who specializes in orthopedic conditions to find the true cause of your foot pain.