Educational Articles: Ball of Foot

Outer foot pain is a symptom that may occur in runners, especially runners who record high weekly mileage or who use conventional athletic footwear. Numerous factors may contribute to outer foot pain in runners, including running shoes that contain injurious design features, excessive training (i.e., overtraining), an insufficient warm-up, and poor nutrition. Outer foot pain, while potentially debilitating for runners, typically responds to natural, noninvasive, and conservative... Read more

Thick, hard skin can occur on any part of the foot. However, corns and calluses are particularly common on the toes, and they are caused by prolonged pressure or friction on the skin. Though not life-threatening, corns and calluses are often unsightly and may cause pain or disability when the skin buildup gets too thick or causes pressure on sensitive parts of the foot. A corn is... Read more

Diabetes is a chronic, or lifelong, condition in which the body is unable to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Foot problems are among the most common health concerns diabetics face. Several types of diabetes exist, yet they all may cause similar changes in the feet. Prolonged elevated blood sugar levels may lead to a serious health complication known as neuropathy—nerve damage or dysfunction. The nerves in the... Read more

Your feet are one of the most important parts of your body. They accept and disperse tremendous forces during standing, walking, and running (e.g., walking 1 mile places 60 tons of stress on each foot), and they possess extraordinary strength, integrity, and endurance. Although your feet are resilient and capable of bearing considerable forces, too much stress can cause pain or discomfort—especially if your foot is held... Read more

Severe pain, swelling, bruising, and an inability to bear weight are symptoms that could indicate a serious foot problem. Damage to your foot's muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones, along with foot and toe deformities, may be caused by trauma, overuse, or improper footwear. Though certain medical conditions can contribute to foot pain, shoes that prevent the foot from functioning the way nature intended are a frequent cause... Read more

Hallux is the medical term for the big toe. The big toe is one of the most important parts of the body, as it provides propulsive force during gait and helps stabilize the entire foot and body. The big toe should possess between 50 and 90 degrees of extension—also known as dorsiflexion—if it is healthy and injury free, and a person should be able to move his... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, dives deep into the condition called hallux limitus. Hallux limitus is a condition in which the big toe is unable to bend upward (or dorsiflex) to a proper degree. This foot health problem begins early in life in those who wear conventional footwear. Tapering toe boxes and... Read more

We often receive the following question (or slight variations thereof) from readers and customers who are interested in determining the proper width of shoe to purchase: I had my foot width measured at a local shoe store and was told that I need a wide shoe. Will the shoes you offer on your site work for me and my feet? First, let me say that conventional foot... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, answers the following question: What tape or blister treatments do you recommend for preventing blisters on long runs? Dr. Ray notes that one of the key strategies for preventing blisters on long runs is to adopt footwear that's shaped like the natural human foot. Other helpful natural... Read more

During the warm weather months, when people are wearing open-toe footwear, take a look around and notice the state and condition of the toes that you see. You'll most likely see a wide variety of toe deformities, ranging from mild and barely perceptible to severe and even shocking. Most people who have worn conventional footwear for decades are bound... Read more