Educational Articles: Heel

The Achilles tendon is a strong cord made of fibrous connective tissue that attaches the calf muscle group to the calcaneus, or heel bone. The Achilles tendon is located at the lower end of the calf, and it is the continuation of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This tendon is one of the strongest tendons in the body and is essential for performing many occupational and recreational... Read more

Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the feet. In most cases, the fungal infection develops on the bottom of the foot and between the toes. Athlete’s foot is a common health problem that may last for a long time if the proper care and attention is not applied. This condition can be difficult to treat and may recur following treatment. It's... Read more

Foot blisters are a problem that most people experience at some point during their lives. Blisters are usually caused by friction from shoes or socks rubbing repeatedly against the skin, causing friction burns. Friction blisters occur when the outer layer of skin separates from the inner layer of skin and the space between these layers fills with lymph fluid. Friction blisters can cause significant pain or discomfort... Read more

Bursae are situated in various locations throughout the body where friction between tissues commonly occurs. These sacs are designed to help reduce friction and prevent pain. Repetitive movements or prolonged and excessive pressure are the most common causes of bursal inflammation, though traumatic injury may also cause this painful problem. In fact, the body sometimes creates bursal sacs in response to trauma or tissue damage. Infracalcaneal bursitis... Read more

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

One of the lesser known and discussed benefits of Correct Toes toe spacers is their ability to boost foot and toe circulation. Many Correct Toes users have reported this great benefit, but until now we haven’t actually been able to see this effect or quantify it. Thanks to a Correct Toes user (Sergio, from Spain) and the wonders of infrared (IR)... 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

Can applying heat to the plantar fascia (in combination with proper footwear and Correct Toes), facilitate healing of plantar fasciosis? And since plantar fasciosis is due to insufficient bloodflow, does this mean that icing the plantar fascia should be avoided? Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, tackles these questions in this short yet informative video. Learn... Read more