Bunions If you have a bunion, you know it can be a painful enlargement at the joint of the big toe. The skin over the joint becomes swollen and is often quite tender. Bunions can be inherited as a family trait, can develop with no recognizable cause or can be caused by shoes that fit poorly.

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Varicose Veins
Veins are thinner-walled than arteries. Since veins are returning blood back to the heart, they are under less pressure. Veins are more numerous than arteries and contain about 70 percent of the body’s blood at any one time. Since blood returning to the heart from the lower part of the body must move against gravity, most of the larger veins contain one-way valves to keep the blood from pooling in the feet and legs, or moving backwards.

Another well-known circulatory problem is varicose veins. Varicose veins are veins that have a valve problem. when this happens, blood moves backward and the veins become swollen. These veins swell, because of the blood they are being forced to hold, until eventually they do not function properly. The larger, deeper veins develop valve problems, and at that point the used blood re-routes through smaller, more superficial veins.

From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/circulation.html

Circulation and the Foot

Gravity does its best to pull the blood to the feet, but it is not ensuring a return trip. Because, in the human body, the major foot arteries are the farthest away from the heart, many circulatory problems will first display themselves in the feet.

Reduced blood-flow to a part of the body means that the muscles may become oxygen-deficient. Some symptoms of oxygen-deficiency are a cramping pain in the calf and lower leg. At the same time the feet may become cold. (Though not all muscle cramps should be interpreted as a sign of cardiovascular disease, if you suspect a problem seek medical advice.) Sometimes a person with a circulatory problem will develop thick and brittle toenails.

From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/circulation.html

Metatarsal ProblemsIn severe cases of calluses, which usually occur on the plantar aspect (bottom) of the foot, an IPK can develop. An IPK is, in medical terminology, an

• Intractable, meaning that it will not go away,
• Plantar, meaning bottom of the foot,
• Keretosis, meaning a deep seated painful callus that usually occurs under a weight bearing metatarsal (long bone of the foot).
• From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/metatarsal.html

Haglund’s Deformity is a condition caused by a prominent bump on the posterior (back) aspect of the heel at the area of the Achilles tendon.

In mild cases, this inflammation and projection of bone at the back of the heel can be relieved with ice, compression, change of shoe gear, Achilles Heel pads, heel grip pads and orthotics.

From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/haglund.html

Sesamoiditis

Sesamoiditis is pain around a small bone (the sesamoid) below the metatarsal head where it adjoins the big toe (first metatarsal head). The cause of sesamoiditis is usually repeated injury. Sometimes the bone is fractured, or the bone or surrounding structures are inflamed. Sesamoiditis is particularly common among dancers, joggers, and those who have high-arched feet or wear high heels.The pain of sesamoiditis is felt beneath the ball of the foot at the big toe, is usually made worse by walking, and may be worse when wearing certain shoes. The area may be warm or swollen.The doctor bases the diagnosis on an examination of the foot. The diagnosis may be confirmed by x-rays taken to exclude a fracture of the sesamoid bone.Simply not wearing shoes that cause pain may be sufficient. If symptoms persist, shoes with a thick sole and low heels, orthoses, or a combination can help by reducing pressure on the sesamoid bone. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) taken by mouth and injections of corticosteroids and a local anesthetic into the affected area can help relieve pain.From this site:  http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch072/ch072b.html

Pain in the ball of the foot (called metatarsalgia) may have many different causes (including arthritis, poor circulation, pinching of the nerves between the toes, posture problems, and various disorders). However, most often the pain is caused by nerve damage or by an abnormality of the joints nearest the balls of the feet (metatarsal joints). Often, developing one disorder that causes pain in the ball of the foot contributes to development of another disorder that causes pain in the same location.

From this site:  http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch072/ch072b.html

 Flat feet of themselves are not necessarily a problem. But people with a flat foot (or the opposite condition, a highly arched foot) that are painful, are certainly in need of treatment. Flat feet and high arches that are associated with ankle, knee or low back pain are also in need of treatment.

From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/flatfeet.html

Bunion is the common term for a medical condition known as Hallux Valgus. Hallux Valgus is the tilting of the toe away from the mid-line of the body. It is usually characterized by a lump or bump that is red, swollen and/or painful on the inside of the foot in and around the big toe joint.From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/bunion.html

Hammertoes, exostosis (bonespurs) could also be grouped under arthritis. Hammertoes, bonespurs, and exostosis are all a result of an imbalance of the muscle structures of the toes, when the toes become crooked, bent, or buckle under causing joints to protrude. These are all descriptions of a biomechanical imbalance.

From this site:  http://www.footcaredirect.com/hammer.html