1. harmful effects on the foot:If the muscles tire and the ligaments and capsules slacken, the skeleton in the joints loosens. The consequences are changes and foot pain, which, if they persist for a long time, especially if the damaging causes continue to act, not only become irreparable, but above all make these changes even more severe. Inflammation of tendons in the foot can also be responsible for the pain.
The number of damaging influences on our feet is constantly increasing. The influence of the footwear on the disease of our feet is not yet clear. What a contrast to the influence of the environment on the foot of the mostly barefoot walking member of the uncivilized peoples!
The constant walking already in well-formed shoes and stockings causes already a damage of the foot, since the normal secretions cannot evaporate, but are absorbed by the footwear. This keeps the foot permanently in a humid atmosphere, which softens the skin and hinders skin breathing. 2. inactivity atrophy of the muscle-muscle atrophy:Good footwear relieves our foot muscles.
On the one hand this is very pleasant, on the other hand a permanent relief leads to a decrease of the foot musculature. Every muscle that is not trained gradually atrophies. Walking barefoot on soft ground trains the foot muscles and protects against the above-mentioned damage to civilization and foot pain.
The successes of a systematic athletic training are largely based on these and the previously discussed considerations. The muscles specifically required for a sport are developed to the maximum and brought to training. An anatomically completely different, but ultimately very similar process is observed in the joints.
A joint that has been immobilized for a long time is then more or less stiff and must be made mobile again, often very painfully and with great effort. The reduction in the mobility of the joints is caused by shrinkage of the joint capsules, which, also as a result of not using the joint, very soon adapts to the given conditions of the immobilized, practically unmoved joint. Through the normal footwear, even if it fits very well and is well worked, the musculature of the foot and leg is “spared” to a great extent, d. h. condemned to inactivity.
The effect is that the musculature becomes increasingly weaker. The effect is that the muscles become increasingly weaker and weaker, which means that they are less and less able to fulfil their actual task of keeping the foot active and elastic. This creates all the prerequisites for a deformation of the feet.
Then there are the shifts and changes in the joints and capsules, so that after a sufficiently long development in this direction, healing, i.e. restoration of normal condition, is no longer possible. Already during this development process the complaints and pains occur to an increasing extent. Of course, these phenomena are not only caused by the softening effect of the footwear, but are supported by it.
If the patients are treated in time, appropriate measures such as active foot gymnastics, exercise treatment, etc., can be taken to reduce the pain. If the patients are treated in time, this danger can be prevented and the development can be returned to normal. At the same time, however, since the damage to the foot muscles and the foot skeleton continues, an orthopedic shoe fitting must be used.
This should not only mechanically compensate for the changes that have already occurred in the damaged foot, but by shaping the footwear accordingly, conditions should be created that stimulate the foot to become active. The healthy, still instinctive body defends itself against the development of foot deformity through an often unconscious, increased urge to move. Thus many members of professions, which are particularly threatened by this damage to civilization, have a pronounced wandering instinct in their free time, i.e. they want to walk energetically in the mountains without paved smooth paths or do sports or run barefoot on the firm sand of a beach.
The not-knowing of these connections then probably asks astonishedly, why this one, that nevertheless complains the whole year over complaints in the feet, in its vacation its feet also still so “strenuously” instead of “finally allowing them to rest once”.Foot pain can generally be relieved by immobilization, cooling or warmth (whichever is more comfortable). Painkillers or creams such as a Voltaren ointment bandage also have a decongestant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. This can be particularly helpful in cases of sprains, torn ligaments or infections.
If a bone fracture occurs, it is often immobilised in a plaster cast, sometimes surgery is necessary. For all types of foot pain, care should be taken to wear comfortable shoes with a suitable footbed. The shoe should not press and should be large enough.
Occasionally, insoles can be used to improve the gait pattern (e.g. splayed, bent, flat feet). Socks should not wrinkle and blister plasters and the like can also counteract pressure points caused by shoes. During sports (especially running), special sports socks should be worn to provide adequate protection against blisters.
Foreign bodies in the shoes, any painful blisters, splinters or warts should be opened/removed. Warts can be frozen with cold therapy (cryotherapy). Inflamed nails can be avoided by special care and proper nail cutting.
If a nail has grown in, regular foot baths, cleaning of the wound and possibly the insertion of absorbent cotton between nail and skin can help. Occasionally the whole nail must be pulled out so that a new nail can grow again. Regular foot care can often prevent warts, athlete’s foot and nail changes.
If the big toe, the hallux valgus, is malpositioned, pain on the outer ball of the foot results. Since the malposition is often caused by a shortening of the tendons, night splints that pull the toe outwards or insoles can be used to slow down the progress. However, a normal toe position can often only be achieved with an operation.
If the foot pain is caused by leg malpositions (bow legs, knock-knees, pelvic obliquity), an orthopedist should be consulted to discuss the possibilities of correction. Rare tumor diseases like Ewing’s sarcoma must be treated in specialized centers. Chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy are used.
Surgical removal is possible for benign osteoid osteomas, but good response rates for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have also been described. In cases of circulatory disorders that result in the death of bone parts (M. Köhler 1 and M. Köhler 2), relief can often be achieved by conservative therapy through immobilization in a bandage or plaster cast and subsequent treatment with insoles. In the case of Köhler 2 disease, which primarily affects girls, this is unfortunately often not sufficient, so that surgery must be considered.
Rheumatic diseases can also occur in childhood and affect many joints, including the foot. With children with joint pain, in whose family rheumatic illnesses occur, should be already promptly examined in this regard. Most child rheumatic illnesses disappear again completely, with some the rheumatic illness becomes however chronic, i.e. it remains a life long.
The various therapy options should be weighed up by a rheumatologist. Often, anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy are used. In the case of bone and bone marrow infections (osteitis, osteomyelitis), rapid targeted antibiotic therapy is important because they can lead to permanent damage and can also be life-threatening.
For growth pains, a hot water bottle on the painful area or a warm bath that relaxes the muscles often helps. The muscles can also be massaged and rubbed with oils by the parents. Calcium phosphoricum and manganese are said to provide relief from homeopathic pain, but these effects have not been proven.
In any case, one should seek advice before taking them. Painkillers (paracetamol) must be used with care in children and adapted to their weight and age. Patients often complain of foot pain after getting up.
If it is not an acute injury or its consequences, one has to think of different diseases. Even a banal pair of shoes can be the reason for foot pain after getting up. Arthrosis or arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis) cause a so-called start-up pain in the ankle joints.
Arthrosis is the wear and tear of the joint surfaces, i.e. there is a reduction in cartilage, resulting in direct friction between the joint surfaces.The cartilage layer serves to allow the joint surfaces of the bones that form the joint to move smoothly and painlessly without resistance or direct contact. Furthermore, rheumatoid arthritis leads to inflammation of the joints as well as the structures located nearby (tendons, ligaments, muscle attachments). These inflammations can cause foot pain after getting up.
Irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia (the large tendon plate on the sole of the foot) also leads to stabbing pain, especially after resting. However, less serious reasons can also lead to the initial pain, such as a change in the arch of the foot, which is found in most people as they get older. If you suffer from the described foot pain after getting up, it is recommended that you consult an orthopedic surgeon, as only a careful diagnosis and the resulting treatment can remedy the symptoms.
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