No matter what the source - footwear, neglect, hereditary factors, or just plain bad luck - women are subject to numerous foot and foot-related problems. In fact, statistics show that women have about four times as many foot problems as men. "Why is this?" you may ask yourself. One reason why so many more women are actually seen in a foot clinic could be your basic old-as-the-hills gender difference, of which so many wives have complained about at least once in their lives - male ego. Not only will husbands not pull over to ask for directions, but also is seems that they also don't like to seek help with the direction of their foot health, either. We see the typical scenario on nearly a daily basis - a female patient says to me. "You know, my husband has some foot problems too. Maybe I should get him to come and see you."
My response is, "Why don't you bring him in with you the next time?"
Six weeks later, nine times out of ten, she's back, he's not. 'He didn't want to come in today', or 'He takes care of it himself', is the common excuse. Apart from this egotistical male factor, however, the reason for more women in a foot clinic is simple and rather obvious - more foot problems.
Hereditary factors cannot account solely (no pun intended) for this lop-sided number, neither can bad luck, or neglect. What's left? Footwear! Probably the major difference between men and women's feet is what is put on them. From high heels to slip-ons, these can cause some significant foot problems, which seem to multiply as the years of wearing these shoes increase (and as a woman's closet fills with these shoes!).
Yes, women can be notoriously cruel to their feet. We see ladies in our clinics all the time complaining of foot pain: "When I wear these shoes my feet hurt. When I were these other ones they're fine." More often than not, the culprit shoes area a skinny pair of heels that she struggles to twist and contort her toes into and persuade herself she's comfortable - all in the name of fashion. When I suggest that the cause of pain might be her shoes, almost always the reply is, "Oh no, I paid 200 dollars for these shoes. They're very comfortable."
So often we see this unfortunate message echoed in fashion magazines and on TV. It's sending precisely the wrong message to women of all ages. Those high heels may look sleek and sexy, but the mess of gnarled toes, ingrown toenails, corns, and callus they inflict are hardly appealing. Neither are these foot conditions:
The "pump-bump": is a bony enlargement at the back of the foot where the Achilles' tendon attaches to the heel. It is generally the result of shoes that offer little support and very little foot room, so the heel is constantly rubbing against the shoe. These can be painful, and they affect the fit and comfort of all your other shoes.
The bunion: Everybody has heard of this one. It seems to be the butt of every joke out there, and is associated with gross, smelly feet. In fact, it has nothing to do with foot cleanliness or odor. It is simply a mis-alignment of the big toe joint that causes this toe to point sideways (towards the little toe), causing the joint to become swollen and painful. The condition can be hereditary, and is mainly caused by flatter-than-normal feet, but shoes that are too narrow in the toes can increase the symptoms of this condition.
Plantar Fasciitis: The main cause of heel and arch pain, and by far the most common foot disorder seen in our clinic, this is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of connective tissue under the foot that runs from the bottom of the heel and fans out to attach across the entire ball of the foot. High heeled shoes hold the foot in an awkward position that places a lot of stress on this structure, which can lead to inflammation and pain under the arch and heel.
Metatarsalgia: this is the general medical term for 'pain in the metatarsal bones', of which there are five in each foot. This word is not very descriptive, and is not a diagnosis but merely a symptom of a foot disorder that could be due to a number of problems, but can usually be summed up as pain in the ball of the foot. High-heeled shoes place a lot of stress in this region, so these joints can become overloaded with pressure, resulting in pain.
Achille's Tendonitis: Take your foot and point your toes like a ballerina or gymnast. This motion contracts your calf muscle on the back of your lower leg, of which your Achilles' tendon is a part. Hold this position for eight hours a day, 5 days a week, and you will soon find that you will have lost a lot of flexibility back there. That's how high heels hold your feet, and over time it essentially shortens the tendon. Switch suddenly to a low-heeled shoe for any physical activity and you run the risk of overstretching the Achilles', causing tendonitis.
Truly there are few things in life better or more liberating than a comfortable pair of shoes. Our wonderful assistant Norine has brought in some fabulous, approved, shoes who are looking for good homes. Call the clinic and asked to be booked with Norine for "shoe shopping"! (YAY!!!!). She'll properly measure your feet and get you into something that is fashionable and good for your feet.
Posted via email from Northumberland Physiotherapy and Foot Care Centre's posterous
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