WHAT IS BIG TOE ARTHRITIS?

Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a gradual and debilitating breakdown of the body’s joints due to routine wear and tear, overuse, and mechanical abuse. The big toe is a key joint in the foot, because of the high repetitive forces that pass through it with all weigh-bearing activities, is unusually susceptible to arthritis from middle age on.

Arthritis features a number of negative changes to joint tissues and function. The most important change is the thinning and eventual disappearance of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the smooth, lubricated surface at the ends of the bones in all normal joints that is responsible for normal function. It allows the joint to move smoothly with minimal friction and is capable of handling large compressive forces without pain or damage to the joint. It has no nerve endings so even heavy loads are not usually painful. When a joint is subject to routine, abnormal wear and tear or unusual mechanical strain, the cartilage may be worn thin or obliterated completely. The cartilage develops cracks or fissures, loses its lubrication and the cells gradually die. The involved joint becomes swollen and painful; excess bone frequently develops along the joint margins (called “lipping”) as a response to the abnormal trauma and tends to progressively limit joint range of motion as the arthritis advances.

HOW DID I GET BIG TOE ARTHRITIS?

The big toe is designed to take the majority of stress as the forefoot loads and we propel ourselves forward with each step. When the main arch of the foot flattens (flat feet) the big toe function becomes limited by abnormal ligament restraint. The toe cannot raise upwards when the forefoot is loaded but the forward motion of the foot occurs anyway, forcing the joint into an unnatural position.

This forcing of the big toe motion is abnormally stressful to the joint. Over time, the joint begins to show the negative changes of arthritis described above. The base of the big toe becomes thicker, begins to swell especially after prolonged weight-bearing activities, and gets progressively stiffer and painful with age. Bad weather may elicit soreness in the joint because it promotes swelling.

Besides poor foot mechanics due to flat feet (most common), arthritis of the big toe may come from a sports injury, a traumatic accident or the medical condition known as gout.

HOW IS BIG TOE ARTHRITIS TREATED?

Arthritis is best treated in its early stages before the joint loses most of its range of motion. As with most foot problems, there are two main concepts in treatment:

1) reducion of symptoms      2) addressing the underlying causes

Anti-Inflammatory Agents: These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. These may provide some temporary relief and ease the pain of inflammation, but are not helpful in addressing the underlying cause of your condition.

Footwear: Advice that focuses on taking the pressure off the big toe should be followed. A stiff-soled shoe with a rocker or roller bottom may be recommended to help you walk and lessen the bend in the big toe. A shoe with a wide toe box may also help relieve pain. Avoiding high heels and weight loss are other important considerations.

Surgery: In advanced cases that do not respond to conservative measures, your doctor may recommend surgery. There are a few common surgeries that are performed depending on the degree of arthritic changes. Removal of the bone spurs, joint fusion, and complete joint replacement can be performed.

These procedures are not without risks and often the disease continues to progress after a temporary period of pain relief. Also, operative measures performed on one foot may have negative effects on the other foot due to the excessive load.

Custom Arch Supports: This is truly the most effective way to treat and even reverse the development of arthritis in all but the most advanced stages of the disease. The right Custom Arch Supports will address your pain by restoring correct arch height and function, effectively releasing the big toe, allowing it to unlock and function properly. When this is done, the cause of your pain is being addressed rather than just the symptoms. A Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports, unlike typical Custom Arch Supports, is designed to completely restore and support the corrected arch of your foot, determined by a unique way of capturing your optimal foot position.

Abnormal joint stresses can be reversed, allowing affected tissues to heal and normal joint function to be restored. In this way the Custom Arch Supports provides both primary treatment and preventative care by restoring normal weight bearing function and range of motion to your big toe.

This information provides a general overview. To find out if this applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your health care provider.

WHAT CAUSES KNEE PAIN?

Knee pain is a very common complaint and has many different causes. Some of the more common diagnoses you may be given include: arthritis, ligament injury or tear, cartilage (meniscus) tear, patellar tendonitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome and bursitis.

All of these conditions involve pain in one or both of your knees. Some are a result of direct trauma or injury, and some can be the result of long standing wear and tear. Some involve pain that is made worse by squatting, kneeling, sitting with your knees bent, and rising after long periods of sitting.

IS MY KNEE PAIN RELATED TO MY FEET?

In many cases, YES! Your feet are the foundation for every step you take. Problems with the function of your feet can have repercussions that are felt all the way up including your knees, back and hips.

Excessive pronation (or flattening of the arches) is the biomechanical problem most often cited as being associated with lower limb injury and irritation.

Try this experiment to illustrate this point. Stand with your shoes off and feet flat on the ground. Note the position of your kneecaps. Now turn your feet inwards so that you are standing on the outside of your feet. What happened to your knees? They actually point more outwards. The presence or absence of a good arch in your feet puts a different twist on your knees! Let your feet flatten again and notice that your kneecaps move back to the inside.

All the joints in the lower limb are closely connected and affect one another. When the arch collapses in the foot, it triggers a series of compensations up the joint chain which causes the knee to rotate inwards – leading to increased stress on the knee and problems like the ones mentioned above. You may have noticed that your knee pain is worse in different shoes, or that walking in bare feet makes your knees hurt. This may be an indication that your feet are contributing to your knee pain.

HOW IS BIG TOE ARTHRITIS TREATED?

Treatment for knee pain is as varied as the number of causes. It is very important that you understand the cause of your symptoms before undergoing treatment for your knee pain. Here are some of the more common treatments:

Anti-Inflammatory Agents: These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. These may provide some temporary relief and ease the pain of inflammation, but are not helpful in addressing the underlying cause of your condition.

Exercises and Stretches: Many of the muscles in your thigh and calf interact at the knee joint. Keeping these muscles and tendons loose and mobile can decrease stresses around the knee. Increasing the strength of muscles that have become weak can sometimes play a role in your recovery. Regardless of the type of treatment you are receiving, a good stretching and strengthening protocol can help you get better results.

Injections: Depending on the cause of your pain, this intervention may be considered. Cortisone is a very powerful medication used to decrease inflammation in the knee joint. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this treatment.

Surgery: In advanced cases that do not respond to conservative measures, your doctor may recommend surgery. There are a few common surgeries that are performed depending on the degree of arthritic changes. Removal of the bone spurs, joint fusion, and complete joint replacement can be performed.

Foot Custom Arch Supports: The right Custom Arch Supports can address the underlying cause of your knee dysfunction. Abnormal joint positions can be reversed allowing affected tissues to heal and normal joint function to be restored. In this way the Custom Arch Supports provides both primary treatment and preventative care by restoring normal function to your knee and minimizing harmful compressive forces that cause knee injury.

Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Support:Unlike typical custom Custom Arch Supports, is designed to completely support the corrected arch of your foot, determined by a unique way of capturing your optimal foot position. It can be the difference between long-term success and failure in the management of your knee pain.

This information provides a general overview. To find out if this applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your health care provider.

WHAT CAUSES LOW BACK PAIN?

Back pain is the leading cause of disability for Americans under the age of 45. Studies show that 80% of adults in America will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. The causes of back pain are as varied as the types of symptoms you may experience. Symptoms can be a result of poor muscle tone, muscle tension or spasms, ligament tears, degenerative arthritis, nerve or disc problems.

Low back pain can be a result of an acute injury, but many times back problems develop over a long period of time. Factors such as age, occupation, poor posture and overall fitness all play a role. The body needs a sound support structure with core strength to carry weight and perform normal activities. When this support structure is weakened, the body must work harder to keep the feet, knees, hips and low back functioning properly. Over time this can lead to back problems.

IS MY BACK PAIN RELATED TO MY FEET?

In many cases, yes. Your feet are the foundation for every step you take. They play a key role in absorbing the shock that you place on your body every day. Problems with the function of your feet can have repercussions that are felt all the way up, including your knees, hips and back.

All the joints in the lower limbs are closely connected and affect one another. When the arch collapses in the foot, it triggers a series of compensations up the joint chain which causes the knee and thigh to rotate inwards – leading to increased stress on the knee, pelvis and low back. You may have noticed that your low back pain is worse in different shoes, that walking in bare feet or prolonged standing makes your back hurt. This may be an indication that your feet are contributing to your back pain.

HOW IS LOW BACK PAIN TREATED?

Treatment for low back pain is as varied as the number of causes. It is very important that you understand the cause of your symptoms before undergoing treatment for your back pain. Here are some of the more common treatments:

Anti-Inflammatory Agents: These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. These may provide some temporary relief from the pain of inflammation, but are usually not helpful in addressing the underlying cause of your condition. In limited amounts, rest may help reduce inflammation as well. Heat can be used with some effect when your symptoms are primarily a result of muscle tightness.

Conservative Therapies: There is evidence that back pain is often best treated with conservative measures initially. These treatments can include chiropractic, physical therapy and acupuncture. The source of back pain is often the muscles and joints in the back, which may respond to these interventions. Regardless of the type of treatment you are receiving, a good stretching and strengthening protocol can help you get better results.

Injections: Depending on the cause of your pain, this intervention may be considered. There are many different types of injectional therapies including facet joints injections, trigger point injections and epidural injections. With this treatment, a steroid is injected into the area of pain and is designed to quickly reduce inflammation and decrease pain. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this treatment.

Surgery: In cases of severe injury, unrelenting and usually down-the-leg pain or in cases that do not respond to conservative measures, your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery is often designed to take pressure off of damaged tissues and fuse areas of instability. As with other treatments, the reason why the tissues were damaged in the first place should be considered. If you are considering surgery, talk to your doctor carefully about the benefits and risks.

Custom Arch Supports: For back pain that is at least partially caused by poor biomechanics of the feet, good Custom Arch Supports management is a treatment of choice. By restoring a normal, functional arch to the foot, the posture and alignment of the lower body can be normalized. This can greatly alleviate unnecessary stress to areas of your low back. It is a simple yet profound therapy, easily performed by just standing and walking properly, and easily combined with other kinds of treatment.

Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports: Uniquely designed to directly and completely support and restore the arch of your foot. This not only helps correct low back posture, but restores proper function for prolonged, pain-free foot health that benefits the legs as well. It may be the difference between long-term success and failure in the management of your low back pain.

This information provides a general overview. To find out if this applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your health care provider.

CAN A CUSTOM ARCH SUPPORT HELP MY PERFORMANCE?

In order to understand how an Custom Arch Supports can help your athletic performance, an understanding of basic foot function is necessary. Your feet are your interface with the ground and make up a complex system of bones and joints that are a major contributor to shock absorption and propulsion. The shock absorption component comes into play when your foot hits the ground, the propulsion phase occurs while you are pushing off and using your foot as a rigid lever to propel you forward. These are two very different functions with different biomechanical requirements. During the shock absorption phase, your foot must be relatively pliable and mobile. During the propulsion phase, your foot must regain structural integrity or stiffness for mechanical efficiency. This is a beautiful system design but even small inefficiencies in this system can produce detrimental effects on performance including injury and poor propulsion. Conversely, even small improvements in this system can have a positive effect on performance measurements such as speed, power and balance.

WHAT YOUR FOOT NEEDS

A Custom Arch Supports need to provide a rigid lever for propulsion while allowing for shock absorption and terrain adaptation. This need is magnified for athletes. Whether you are on a bike, in running shoes, or in ski boots your foot is always working on shock absorption and propulsion. To assist in these functions a Custom Arch Support needs to be properly calibrated to your weight, foot flexibility and activity level. Different athletes and sports require different Custom Arch Supports attributes, but all require the same biomechanical control and function. Currently, the Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports is the only one on the market that addresses these needs. They are based on a completely new and unique model of correction and Custom Arch Supports design.

I’M NOT INJURED, DO I NEED A CUSTOM ARCH SUPPORT?

This depends on how you would like to approach your training. Would you like to only worry about injuries after they happen, or after they cause a reduction in training? Or would you like to have a more proactive mindset when it comes to your health and performance? In addition to all of the overuse injuries we are familiar with such as shin splints, achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome and patellar tracking dysfunction inefficiencies in foot function can cause sub-clinical problems (meaning that they haven’t shown up as a symptom yet). It makes more sense to correct these problems before they have a chance to cause tissue breakdown and injury. There are two ways to look at sports performance and injury:

1) You can react to overuse injuries with ice, anti inflammatory medications, braces,
rest and surgeries

2) You can prevent these injuries with the use of a device that makes your foot more efficient

HOW ARE SOLE SUPPORTS™ DIFFERENT?

Most “Custom” Arch Supports are made based on outdated theories that do not significantly change foot function and do not take into account the demands of the modern athlete. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, these Custom Arch Supports usually end up as expensive soft cushions or hard-as-rock braces that are respectively either ineffective or too uncomfortable for aggressive use. Whether you are a competitive or recreational athlete, your foot is unique and requires specific calibration for the right mix of flex and rigidity. This is the real custom factor absent in standard “Custom” Arch Supports. At Sole Supports, we have put the years into re-thinking and redesigning Custom Arch Supports. We know how much extra work it takes to make a device that actually delivers on promises. We love it that we can offer a competitive edge to athletes that depend on powerful feet.

WHAT IS PLANTER FASCIITIS?

Plantar Fasciitis (pronounced plan-tar fash-ee-eye-tis) is a common cause of heel and foot pain in adults. “Plantar” means the bottom of the foot; “fascia” is a type of connective tissue, and “itis” means “inflammation”.  

The classic symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain that is usually most severe first thing in the morning. This condition is characterized by inflammation at the insertion point of the plantar fascia on the heel bone. Plantar fascia is a layer of tough fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and supports your arch. This is one of the longest and strongest ligaments in the body.

As the plantar fascia pulls on the heel, your body will respond by laying down more bone in the area. This can be seen on an x-ray and is known as a heel spur.

HOW DID I GET PLANTAR FASCIITIS?

Common contributors to this condition include: progressive flattening of the arches over time (primary reason), lack of flexibility in the calf muscles, changes in activity levels, overuse, and weight gain. When your arch drops, the plantar fascia begins to tear away from its insertion at your heel. When this happens over a long period of time, it can overcome the body’s ability to repair itself.

HOW IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS TREATED?

There are two main concepts in the treatment of plantar fasciitis:

1) Decrease of inflammation       2) Addressing the cause of the condition

Stretching and Exercise: Increasing the length of the calf muscles is a very important part of any treatment. Tightness in this muscle group can force excess pronation (arch drop), which may contribute to plantar fasciitis because a falling arch spreads the fascia and increases tension on the heel. Other stretching exercises are aimed at lengthening the plantar fascia in an attempt to reduce the pull on your heel, like adding slack to the rope that is yanking on your heel.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents: These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. These may provide some temporary relief from the pain of inflammation.

Night Splints: A device worn at night to prevent contraction of the plantar fascia and to maintain calf flexibility. These will usually lessen the “first step in the morning” pain and relieve symptoms temporarily. They can be uncomfortable to wear for some, but generally provide some relief.

Corticosteroid Injections: This involves the injection of a steroid directly into the heel and site of inflammation. Usually reserved for intractable or difficult cases, this may provide more relief than oral anti-inflammatory medications. Talk to your doctor about the indications and risks for this treatment.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: A high or low frequency sound wave is delivered to the area in an attempt to speed the healing process. Usually 1 to 3 treatments are required, and depending on the intensity of the sound wave an anesthetic may be used. The outcomes of this treatment are unproven, it is expensive, and you should discuss the risks with your doctor.

Surgery: In cases that do not respond to conservative measures, surgical release of the plantar fascia may be a consideration. Cutting the plantar fascia will lessen the pull on the heel, but may have long term consequences including further flattening of the arch (since the plantar fascia contributes about 30% to the stability of the arch).

Custom Arch Supports: The right Custom Arch Supports are often the best defense in the prevention of plantar fasciits and the most reliable long-term cure for existing conditions. A Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Support, unlike typical custom Custom Arch Supports, is designed to completely support the corrected arch of your foot, determined by a unique way of capturing your optimal foot position. A restored arch significantly reduces the daily pull on the plantar fascia by relaxing the “bowstring” function of the fascia. It is the only practical way to address both the symptoms AND the cause of your problem.

HOW LONG WILL PLANTAR FASCIITIS TAKE TO HEAL?

If left alone, plantar fasciitis can take from 6 to 18 months to heal. This can be frustrating, interfere with your ability to work and other activities, and the problem can come back. With Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports, you expect either a dramatic loss of pain within the first weeks of use or a more gradual reduction of symptoms depending on how long the problem has existed, normal body weight, or how well you follow other therapeutic regimens prescribed by your provider.

WHAT ARE BUNIONS?

A bunion is a bony bump located at the base of the big toe. It can be painful when it rubs against the shoe. Hallux abducto valgus is the medical term used to describe the position of the big toe, and is generally used together with the term bunion which describes the enlarged joint. Bunions are one of the most common big toe problems.

Symptoms of a bunion include redness, swelling or pain at the base of the big toe. Initially a bunion may present as non-painful deviation of your big toe towards the others. As the big toe progresses towards the others, calluses, corns and deformities of the other toes occur. You may also experience limited big toe motion.

HOW DID I GET BUNIONS?

A bunion forms when the big toe moves out of place as the fore foot presses into the ground with every step. A bunion is the result of a flattened arch and how that causes the forefoot to spread out abnormally. As the forefoot spreads out, the big toe is forced to angle inwards towards the second toe. Over time, after many millions of steps like this, the big toe gradually becomes “set” in this deformed position. In other words, the bunion is usually the end result of a long period of incorrect foot function due to a flattened arch of the foot.

Your big toe is the big toe for a reason. It is designed to bear most of your weight when you walk. When the big toe is not functioning properly (as in the case of a bunion) it is unable to take its normal load. This may be compensated for in the other joints and you may experience symptoms in your feet, knees, hips and low back.

Bunions are not directly inherited, but they can run in families. What can be inherited is your foot type, and some foot types (usually flexible, flat feet) are more prone to bunion formation than others.

Most medical information sites will tell you that bunions are the result of wearing narrow, pointy shoes that crowd the toes together. While this may not be helpful, it is hardly the “cause” of such a major deformity. The real cause is the lack of structural integrity and altered function in a flexible, flat foot over time.

HOW ARE BUNIONS TREATED?

The best treatment would address the underlying cause of the bunion. This requires a restorative change to the foot’s posture and function: giving the foot a healthy arch that resists flattening.

Custom Arch Supports: Custom Arch Supports from Sole Supports™ will address your bunion by correcting the cause of your foot dysfunction. Abnormal joint positions can be reversed allowing affected tissues to heal and normal joint function to be restored. In this way the Custom Arch Supports provides both primary treatment and preventative care.

Sole Supports™: Unlike typical Custom Arch Supports, are designed to completely support the corrected arch of your foot, determined by a unique way of capturing your optimal foot posture. This truly restores proper foot function. When this is done, the cause of your bunion is being addressed rather than just the symptoms.

Conventional Treatment: Naturally, most people want immediate relief and may not have access to a Sole SupportsTM Custom Arch Supports, so the focus of conventional bunion treatment is to relieve pressure on the bunion and any symptoms that may be present.

Footwear Modifications: Correct fitting shoes are essential to addressing the pain from a bunion that may be caused by rubbing against the inside of the shoe. Corns and calluses should be treated as well. Felt padding can be used to buffer the bunion against the shoe. Padding can also be placed in between the big toe and the second toe which may lessen some of the pain. Keep in mind that these options can help the symptoms, but do not address the cause of your bunions.

Exercises and Splints: Exercises can be performed that may help keep the joint mobile. A night splint can be worn to try and prevent a loss of mobility. Night splints are more effective when used with young patients who still have considerable mobility in their joints.

Surgery: The type of surgery varies with the type and severity of the bunion. Often your doctor will take an x-ray to measure how much deformity has occurred. Surgery is often indicated in moderate to severe bunions and bunions that do not respond to conservative measures. Surgery is often done on an outpatient basis. The most common type of surgery involves realigning the bones of your big toe. Ligaments and tendons may be tightened and the bunion may be shaved away. If your bunion requires surgery, it is crucial that the cause of the problem is also addressed. Failure to do this may result in additional surgery when your bunion returns in a few years.

Conventional treatment may or may not produce significant symptomatic relief depending on the timeliness of care. Relief of symptoms is not a cure, however, and without the right Custom Arch Supports it is not likely to last. It is common to achieve permanent bunion arrest or reversal with the right Custom Arch Supports – especially in mild to moderate cases. Even in severe cases, Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports are indicated to help restore proper function to the foot. The time to symptom resolution varies with the type, severity and maturity of your bunion. Your age and the mobility of your joints is also a factor in your recovery. Sole Supports™ are critical to avoid re-occurrence after surgery as well.

This information provides a general overview. To find out if this applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your health care provider.

WHAT ARE HAMMERTOES?

Hammertoes or “Claw toes” is a deformity of the lesser toes characterized by an accordion-like contraction of toe posture that results in the “knuckles” lifted upwards and the tips of the toes pointing straight to the floor.

Symptoms of hammertoes are most commonly skin irritation and pain where the raised toe knuckles rub against shoewear. Often there are also corns, or local thickening of the skin, at the toe tips; the metatarsal heads (lesser balls of the foot); and on the raised knuckles of the toes. Corns may may become painful or ulcerated in response to persistent friction, in addition to being a nuisance with hosiery. A less perceptible yet important “symptom” of hammertoes is the loss of normal toe function in maintaining balance in standing. The deformity changes the ability of the toes to give balance to the body.

HOW DID I GET HAMMERTOES?

Hammertoes most frequently develop as a result of flat feet. As the arch drops, the entire foot is lengthened back to front. Toe function relies on a delicate balance of muscle control that gets disturbed as the foot lengthens abnormally. This causes the muscles that bend the toes downward to dominate and the muscles that straighten or lift the toes to be less effective. The toes then “buckle up” whenever you are on your feet. At first , the toe deformation is flexible; as the years pass and the arches drop even further, the toes begin to harden into the deformity.

HOW ARE HAMMERTOES TREATED?

Hammertoes and other non-traumatic foot deformities such as a bunion are best treated while the joints are still flexible. As with most foot problems there are two main concepts in treatment:

1) reducion of symptoms       2) addressing the underlying causes

Injections: Cortisone can be injected into the area to control inflammation and pain. This may be helpful in reducing the pain temporarily but does not address the cause of your symptoms. Overuse of injected steroids can result in side effects such as weight gain, increased blood pressure, and can interfere with proper healing; which is why patients only receive a limited number of injections.

Toe Spacers or Pads: A large variety of toe pads and spacers are available to attempt to straighten-out the toes and avoid painful rubbing in shoes. While these may help somewhat temporarily, the abnormal internal mechanics of the foot will inevitably wear out such a “band aid” approach.

Surgery: In cases where the deformity is very mature, hardened, and does not respond to conservative measures, your doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery may be very successful in reducing the pain of hammertoes but is a last resort as it comes with risks. The surgery involves the removal of the deformed joints in order to straighten the involved toes. This greatly decreases the functional capacity of those toes. Something not understood by many people is the fact that toes play an important role in maintaining balance in standing and walking. Surgical intervention brings permanent changes to foot anatomy and balance that can have negative consequences for the rest of your life.

Custom Arch Supports: The right Custom Arch Support will address your pain by correcting the cause of your foot dysfunction. Sole Supports™ Custom Arch Supports are uniquely designed to support and restore full arch functionality in your feet. This also restores the proper posture and length of the foot which normalizes the muscle balance at the toes. Toe deformities may now slowly reverse and straighten with regular Custom Arch Supports use. It is important to note that, as with most conditions, attacking the problem early enough is critical to avoid the need for surgery. Should surgery eventually be necessary, though, use of Sole Supports™ immediately after surgery can help insure that the deformity does not emerge in other toes.