There are many benefits to running. It is undoubtedly fantastic for your health and fitness and can help ease stress. However, foot injuries are common for runners. Overuse of the feet and the pressure that running puts on them means every runner will probably suffer a foot injury at some point.
Here we look at the most common types of foot injuries caused by frequent running.
- Stress fractures – A stress fracture is a bone fissure affecting the bones that form the foot. A stress fracture usually develops over time, but it will make itself known with an intense shooting pain starting from the location of the bone fracture. It can be tricky to determine the exact point of pain, and often, even an X-ray will not help pinpoint the precise location of the fracture. In this situation, MRI and bone scans may be required. Treatment may include rest, elevation, and ice. You may also need a cast or a splint.
- Extensor Tendonitis – This is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the foot. The intense pain that this can cause is like that of a stress fracture. The extensor tendons are connected to the toes. To determine if you are suffering from extensor tendonitis, apply some pressure to your toes. If it is extensor tendonitis, the pain will be isolated in that area, showing that it is not a stress fracture. Ice, elevation, and rest may ease the pain of extensor tendonitis.
- Plantar fasciitis – This is a very common runner’s injury. The Plantar Fascia is the tendon that connects your heel bone to your toes across the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis causes sharp pain across the arch of the foot and the heel. This pain may be worse in the mornings. Ill-fitting or poor quality running shoes can cause plantar fasciitis, as can extreme overuse or weak or tight calf muscles. When treating plantar fasciitis, a podiatry specialist, such as Luisa Seymour Podiatry, will first determine the cause of the problem. You may then require physiotherapy, insoles, or regular foot exercises.
Less severe but still unpleasant issues that can arise from frequent running include:
- Blisters
- Calluses
- Missing toenails
- Black toenails
- Athlete’s foot
- Foot cramping
For specialist podiatry advice, contact Louisa Seymour Podiatry on 01277 266870.
