Injuries and soreness in the feet are common. Foot pain can come from local structures like muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints, or it can come from distant places like your lower back or other systemic disorders like diabetes.
Because there are so many reasons for foot pain, it’s critical to have your foot pain evaluated by a health expert who specializes in foot pain management. Only then can you be sure that your foot pain treatment is dealing with the “correct” source of your discomfort. Plantar fasciitis, bunions, heel discomfort, heel spurs, and ankle injuries are all common causes of foot pain.
Why Does It Hurt Under Your Feet?
“Why does it hurt under my feet?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by patients. While there are a variety of causes for foot pain, the majority of symptoms are caused by a few common disorders.
Treatment will always vary depending on your individual diagnosis and rehabilitation needs to return you to productive activities in your life, as there are numerous potential reasons of your foot pain.
Please speak with your trusted healthcare practitioner who specialises in foot pain for specific information on the source of your foot pain and the best treatment approach.
When should you see a doctor?
If you’re facing any of the symptoms listed below, visit a doctor immediately.
- Have a lot of pain or swelling
- Have an open wound or pus filled wound
- You have indications of infection in the affected area, such as redness, warmth, and soreness, or you have a temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 C)
- You can’t walk or put any weight on your foot.
- If you have diabetes and you have a wound that isn’t healing or is deep, red, puffy, or warm to the touch, you should see a doctor.
Common Foot Pain Causes
- Foot Injuries – Your foot has a lot of bones and ligaments. Ligaments are strong, flexible tissues that connect bones. Some ligaments might stretch and rip when the foot lands awkwardly. This is referred to as a sprain. A mid-foot sprain occurs when an injury occurs in the middle area of the foot. Common foot injuries are as follows:
- Plantar Fasciopathy (Plantar Fasciitis)
- Bunion
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Tendon Injuries – A tendon injury may appear to occur quickly, but it is usually the consequence of a series of small tears in the tendon that have occurred over time. Common tendon injuries in the foot include:
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- FHL Tendinopathy
- Peroneal Tendinopathy
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
- Bone Injuries – A fracture is a break in one of the body’s bones. When a shattered bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or complex fracture. Fractures are commonly caused by car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Common bone injuries in the foot include:
- Ankle Fracture (Broken Ankle)
- Stress Fracture
- Stress Fracture Feet
- Severs Disease
- Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Heel Spur
- Shin Splints
- Traumatic Ankle Ligament Injuries – One of the most common sports injuries is a ligament tear or rupture in the ankle joint. It usually happens when your ankle is twisted or rolled. A ruptured ligament is usually painful and creates swelling in the afflicted foot, preventing you from walking without pain. Common traumatic ankle ligament injuries in the foot include:
- Sprained Ankle
- High Ankle Sprain
- Degenerative Conditions – The tendons and ligaments of the foot wear down or break down over time in a degenerative foot disease. Common degenerative conditions in the foot include:
- Ankle Arthritis
- Soft Tissue Inflammation – Bursitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones and muscles or tendons. Bursitis, like tendonitis, is commonly caused by overuse damage, although it can also be caused by direct joint trauma. Common soft tissue inflammation in the foot include:
- Retrocalcaneal Bursitis
- Biomechanical Conditions – The field of biomechanics is concerned with the preservation, rehabilitation, and development of the foot and lower limb’s function. When the foot and/or lower leg do not function properly, biomechanical difficulties emerge. Orthotics can help with a variety of biomechanical issues. Common biomechanical conditions in the foot include:
- Anterior Ankle Impingement
- Posterior Ankle Impingement
- Pes Planus (Flat Feet)
- Nerve-Related Sources – Numbness might make it difficult to determine where your feet are moving, resulting in a loss of balance. Nerve damage can make it difficult to regulate muscles. It can also make you weak. Common nerve-related sources in the foot include:
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Pinched Nerve
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Muscle Injuries – A foot strain occurs when the tendons and muscles in the foot are stretched or torn. Common muscle injuries in the foot include:
- Cramps
- Muscle Strain
- Calf Muscle Strain
- Systemic Conditions – There are a number of systemic disorders that can cause symptoms in the foot and have an impact on their health. Common systemic diseases in the foot include:
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
In the video below you can see our unique physiotherapy approach using Radiofrequency TECAR, laser and shockwave therapy with immediate results available at our clinics in Toronto (Scarborough) and Vaughan (Woodbridge).
Are you looking for physiotherapy or a Chiropractor? If Yes, then visit Simply Align Rehab Physio in Scarborough/Toronto or Woodbridge/Vaughan or you can always call or text us for your Physiotherapy or Chiropractor needs in Toronto at (416) 438-3230 or For Physiotherapy or Chiropractor need in Vaughan (Woodbridge) at (905) 638-9840.