Educational Articles: Arch Area

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot problem, but is this condition properly named? In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, reviews the underlying cause of this painful foot problem (improper toe alignment) and puts forth an argument in favor of renaming the condition plantar fasciosis, due to the tissue degeneration (not inflammation) observed in... Read more

Plantar fasciosis is a foot condition characterized by heel pain and pain in the plantar fascia—the strong and dense connective tissue structure on the sole of the foot that spans the foot arch. This condition has historically been called plantar fasciitis because it was believed that plantar fascia inflammation was the principal underlying cause. Plantar fasciosis is a more accurate name for this condition because it actually... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the condition commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis and explains why this foot health problem should more appropriately be called plantar fasciosis. Dr. Ray also discusses how this condition is treated using conventional versus natural approaches. Learn all about plantar fasciosis, including what you can do about it, in... Read more

A study by Harvey Lemont, DPM, published in the May 2003 edition of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association suggests that the term “plantar fasciosis” may be more appropriate than the commonly used “plantar fasciitis,” as biopsies reveal necrotic, or dead, tissue in the plantar fascia of people with this condition, not inflammation. Lemont concluded that plantar fasciitis is a degenerative process, not an inflammatory... Read more

A plantar fibroma is a knot or nodule of fibrous tissue that develops in the medial longitudinal foot arch. This nodule grows within the plantar fascia—a strong band of connective tissue on the underside of the foot that runs from the heel to the toes. Plantar fibromas can develop in one or both feet, are noncancerous (i.e., benign), and typically will not resolve without appropriate treatment. Though... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, demonstrates a plantar taping technique to address bottom-of-foot pain or discomfort. Dr. Ray walks you through all the necessary steps required to wrap your own foot. Plantar taping is a simple, conservative, and effective way to relieve arch and heel pain. Learn how to perform this helpful... Read more

Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary spasms of one or more muscles that may occur while exercising or at night, during sleep. Muscle cramps typically last for a few seconds to several minutes. Common causes of muscle cramps, including foot muscle cramps, include the following: Muscle strains, dehydration, mineral depletion, and insufficient circulation. Several holistic remedies for foot muscle cramps may be effective. Massage therapy is an often... Read more

Tarsal bones are the short bones located in the midfoot and rearfoot that form a bridge between the ankle and the metatarsal bones. The tarsal tunnel is a space located just below the bony prominence on the inside of the ankle, or medial malleolus, and is made up of bone on the inside and the flexor retinaculum—a band of connective tissue—on the outside. Several important structures pass... Read more

The Toe Extensor Stretch—a simple stretch of the toe extensor muscles and tendons—is perhaps the single most important stretch or exercise for foot health. Most conventional shoes possess about 15 to 20 degrees of toe spring, or upward toe ramping, which, along with heel elevation, creates imbalances in the flexor and extensor muscles and tendons that act on the foot. Overly tight toe extensor muscles and tendons... Read more

Certain foot exercises, along with appropriate footgear, can help rehabilitate your feet (including your toes) by stretching tight muscles and strengthening weak ones. Helpful foot exercises restore a dynamic balance between your foot and toe flexor and extensor muscle groups as well as integrity to the tissues (i.e., muscles, tendons, fascia, etc.) that act upon or within your feet.... Read more