New running shoes for the new year – Know your foot type

Most of us have probably found a brand of shoe that works better for us than another. Since each shoe company uses a different design for the sole this is not surprising, but even within a brand there can be much variability in the support and structure of different styles.  Shoes designed for cross training or hiking need to provide more side to side stability, where those designed for running are focused on energy transferred from heel to toe.  Within the styles of running shoe, we can further look at the amount and type of support to address the motion of your foot.  Pronation, or the motion of pressure from outside heel to the inside ball, can be exaggerated in some individuals.  Because an excessive amount of motion in this manner can cause problems, Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists recommends these shoes based on your foot.  A thorough examination of your feet in our clinic can provide you all the information you need to select the proper footgear.

Foot pain can often be caused simply by the structure of your foot.  The normal foot exhibits an arch on the inside when standing normally.  A foot with a very high arch is cavus, and a foot with no arch, or flat foot, is planus.  Most individuals fall somewhere between these two extremes, but knowing which extreme your trend towards can help you from incurring the aches and pains that can come from putting then in the wrong shoes.   Often the right type of padding or support in the right places will be enough to keep you running, but many options are available to correct painful foot structure through your Austin podiatrist.

In addition to our website, there are a variety of sources out there to help runners with shoe selection.  The American Association of Podiatric Sports Medicine has an extensive list of shoes based on the support they offer as well as other advice for the runner.  The APMA has a webpage devoted entirely to the runner. You can also find a link here to guide your shoe selection based on arch height.

Why do my heels hurt? Answers from the Heel Pain Center of Central Texas

One of the most common foot issues to afflict individuals is heel pain.  As highlighted in the most recent Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists Newsletter, Dr. Thomajan has devoted a part of his practice to it.  There are many different causes for heel pain.  Last month in this blog we discussed one of the causes seen often in children.  In adults, the reasons are often have multiple causes which we will discuss further.

For adults, the problem is often a product of foot mechanics.  A movement of the foot, known as pronation, is critical to normal walking.  It allows stresses to be distributed through the foot until the toes leave the ground for the next step.  When this motion becomes exaggerated or moves past the point that is necessary, it can lead to problems.  The bottom of the foot becomes spread out during over-pronation and causes the arch of your foot to drop down.  This stresses the muscles and ligament beneath your foot often leading to plantar fasciitis.  More information on this can be found in the free book ‘Heel Pain’. Early treatment of this problem involves stretching, icing, and anti-inflammatory medication to provide relief.  This may help your heels feel better but does not correct the mechanical problem that caused it in the first place.  Without proper treatment, it can come back or worsen to the point of a tear in the tissues.

The Heel Pain Center of Central Texas was created to properly treat the causes of heel pain.  A division of Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists there are a variety of treatments available.  X-rays may be used to verify that the problem is in the tendons and muscles and not the heel bone itself.  Specialized shoe inserts, or custom orthotics, can often a good solution if your foot mechanics are the source of the problem.  There are also other non-invasive treatments that can be implemented to help heal damage caused to the fascia.  In severe cases where other treatment modalities fail, surgical intervention may be an option you discuss with your Austin podiatrist.  If you find yourself with heel pain, be sure to make a call to the Heel Pain Center of Central Texas.