Heel SPURs

It is an outgrowth of heel bone (calcaneous) due to repetitive pressure on foot and this calcium enriched outgrowth penetrates into soft tissue. As we step on hard surface it pokes into tissue generating an unbearable pain sensation in the heel region. One needs cushioning at spur region to relieve stress. 

Major causes of heel spurs include: (a) Sudden weight gain (pregnancy); (b) Wearing ill-fitting shoes; (c) Excessive pronation (d) Persons engaged in continuous heavy weight carrying occupations (e) Athletes while training / Soldiers while training (f) Gout (g) Rheumatoid Arthritis etc. 

First step of the day or after prolonged rest, extreme poking pain in the spur region or when you walk on hard surface or carry heavy objects. It generally subsides after walking as your nerves settles away from spur region. 

These are similar or somewhat same terminologies, however, in case of infant born with extended heel bone, it would be preferably referred as heel bone spur. The symptology and curative methods are same for both cases. 

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Foot Blisters are generally observed in case of Diabetic Neuropathy. The first stage of neuropathic foot, nerve damage eliminates sensation at the extremity of the body - and the lack of sensation, especially the lack of pain, can sometimes hide injuries.  At stage 2, the skin breaks open, wears away, or forms an ulcer, which is usually tender and painful. The sore expands into deeper layers of the skin. It can look like a scrape (abrasion), blister, or a shallow crater in the skin. Sometimes this stage looks like a blister filled with clear fluid.  Click Here to read more about Foot Ulcers. 

Universal Insole (without any fabric) should be used as it will provide daily cushioning to all types of footwears and prevent foot from any formation of foot blisters. 

Plain Insole is thicker at back while thinner  in front providing transfer of body weight. This ensures safety of foot from any blisters. 

Cokum Foot Cream massages the foot and  keep the foot healthy. 

Foot ulcers are infected site (dry open skin sores) arising due to corn & calluses especially in case of diabetics and very difficult to heal. Digital ulcers are collagen enriched poorly circulated infected sites arises at corner and top of toes that requires isolation by using artificial cushioned orthotics especially using Toe Cap. It is different from blisters, corns, calluses, bursitis, sores and lesions. 

Ulcers are slow healing open skin wounds. It is initiated with redness in pressurised foot regions and even pressure is relieved, redness doesn’t go away. It leads to blisters, peeling or cracked skin causing partial loss of thickened skin followed by complete breakage on inner skin layer. These sites become infected, if not treated (bone infection called as osteomyelitis). Such state is called as foot ulcers. 

Conditions leading to ulcerations

• Calluses in metatarsal region (extreme pressurized region) often filled with fluid at various cracked skin region leading to contamination, causing foot ulceration of decubitus (pressure induced ulceration) in nature. 
• Diabetic neuropathic foot (having less sensation and poor circulation- arterial loss) often get infected skin cracks leading to foot ulceration especially in tips of toes, lower legs, ankle, heel and top of the foot.
• Compromised veins lead to ulceration within ankles.
• Corns, bunions and other toe ailments might often accompanied with Toe- Digital Ulcerations. 

These are slow healing foot wounds and whole treatment regimen can be differentiated whether the patient is diabetic or not. In case of non-diabetics, soothing of skin using moisturizers, pain relieving modalities followed by adequate treatment by doctor is advised. In case of diabetics, they are difficult to heal requires multiple interventions. In both of these cases, functional orthotics should be used to prevent aggravation of diseased state. 

Digital ulcers are often accompanied with Scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body produces too much collagen in which collagen prevents circulation in micro-vascular system of toes leading to thickening and bacterial infection induced ulcerations. It could be treated by maintaining hygienic state, appropriate cushioning (C3I organogel) and wound care treatment modalities.

Foot digital ulcers should be capped with Toe Cap or separated by Toe Spreaders  to prevent rubbing. In case of decubitus (pressure induced ulcerations), location specific padding is recommended i.e., Toe Spreader(D) with metatarsal cushion and Toe & Metatarsal Protector for metatarsal ulceration. Similarly Heel care products are recommended for heel ulceration. For complete foot, universal or plain insole along with foot cream is recommended. 

High heelers, highly aesthetic elevated footwear with heel is raised from 2.5’ ranging to 6’ as compared to toe as in varied shapes - stiletto, pump (court shoe), block, tapered, blade, and wedge. It leads to numerous foot pains especially ball of foot pain and in some rare cases, pinching nerves (neuroma) induced pain was also observed.  An altered posture due to high heel transfers body weight directly to metatarsal area leading to extreme foot pains. 

Women have worn high heels since 3500 BC to prevent their foot getting etched in mud. In the present age, approximate 20% of women felt foot pain within 10 minutes of wearing it. Nearly 70% of high heelers enhance their professional attire by wearing high heels. 50 % women did it for sexy / lavishing look while only 45% did for providing astonishing look to her legs. On an average 35% metropolitan women wear high heels to look taller. There is nearly 10% chance that high heels might lead to joint problems, arthritic and back pains. 

High heels induce alteration in gait cycle, degenerative changes in knee (knee pain) and sole of foot, thereby increasing the appearance of calves, likelihood of sprains & fractures; shortening of calf muscles; foot & tendon pain (Plantar fasciitis); and significant increase in ball of foot pain. It has been observed that maximum fashionable high heeled footwear has narrow toe box leading to blisters; cracked heels; hammer toes; bunions; corns; Morton’s Neuroma.  Such stylish wear lead to alteration in crushing of lower back vertebrae, leading to back pain.   However, in spite of such pains, 42% women wear high heeled sandals and even, though argued fact that some podotrists even recommend low heels for medium-to-high arched women. Some studies suggest improve the muscle tone of women’s pelvic floor and might have a beneficial effect on female stress urinary incontinence. These studies are isolated, thus always weigh pros and cons prior to take appropriate decision.

The oil dispersion and elastomeric rebound gel technology provides an artificial cushioning to ball of foot area, thereby relieving body weight stress to great extent. 

It is not recommended to wear high heeled footwears though if one is still interested in exercising this habit, he/ she should follow the steps given below: (a) Keep your feet under check for right size; (b) Know your foot type :  flat foot or  high arch; (c) Avoid thin heels in daily wears (stiletto) as it is site of 70% pressure load; (d) Avoid thin sole and preferably platform to reduce stress on feet; (e) Take breaks between high heeled footwear (especially while sitting at office desks); (f) Stretch your feet: pulling your toes up with a strap to get the Achilles’ tendon and the calf muscles followed by side to side movement to get to the instep and the outside of the foot; (g) Use footwear with more coverage top or ankle / wide strap; (h) Use often contour supporting flat shoes (exercise sandals) to keep the foot in tone; (i) Always wear studded belt to reduce stress on back while wearing high heels (j) Use non-silicone, non-slippery Medigel Ladies Heel Cushion; Metatarsal Gel Cushion Sleeve; Gel Heel Cup; Heel Care Gel Socks to provide additional cushioning layer providing immediate relief. 

Use Heel Care Socks (also referred as Heel Cup with Strap) on regular basis while wearing high heels. Clean your foot in the evening with warm water and massage with Cokum foot cream followed by wearing of foot comforter / foot warmer.