Happy Feet One Step at a Time

Enduring toe pain while running needs immediate attention; runners will usually perservere and while admirable, this will possibly make a temporary problem take much longer to resolve.  Just stop and remedy the situation so you can continue to enjoy your runs.  Plus if your stride is changing it can affect your knees, hips, and back.  Geez.

Is the toe pain from your running shoes?  You may have the wrong shoe, it is worn out and needs to be replaced, or your biomechanics may need adjusting.  In the latter case try orthotic inserts, or for the best results visit a podiatrist for custom orthotic devices.  Well worth it for dedicated runners.

Is it big toe pain?  A sore or painful big toe beigins with soreness and stiffness, hallux limitus.  If it progresses to inability to flex it, it is then termed hallux rigidus.  Not so good.  Hallux Rigidus can be caused by:

• Genetics
• Overuse
• Fallen arches
• Diseases like arthritis and gout
• Injury to the big toe; even stubbing the toe can lead to hallux rigidus

Early treatment is key.  See a podiatrist as soon as possible for:

• Evaluation
• Orthotics
• Steroid injections
• Ultrasound therapy

From Sonic Relief:

Do you think the pain is in the bone, or connective tissue?  Again, get it investigated by a professional for the quickest results.  It may be something a simple as a Morton’s neuroma, which can be removed with an alcohol injection.

Big toe pain while running? You are not alone:

The Third Amiga Has Returned

Saaaad. I cried myself to sleep every night. :`(. 2) Erin, I totally feel the toe pain. Here is proof that running is not good for your feet eh? It at least has stopped hurting, but I think it’s going to take a bit to fall off. …

rough week

Got an extra mile in, but didn’t really do a whole lot. The awesome thing about today was that the toe pain is nearly gone and it feels great to run again. Enjoyed running this morning, although it was 56 degrees- for the low. …

August 2 News

One of the amazing things you will find about this is the discovery of the amount of work our running shoes do for us. They do the lionshare!! That explains why they cost so much eh? You will immediately notice in the toe muscles, …

Pain in the big toe has a medical name , which is hallux (big toe or great toe) rigidus (stiffness), or hallux limitus (limited movement).

If the pain is not caused by any disease (Gout, Osteoarthritis, Reiter’s Syndrome, Scleroderma, Reynaud’s Disease, or Erythromelalgia), heredity reasons (exceptionally long great toe, abnormally bent great toe, high arches, pronation abnormalities), or other problems (conditions such as an ingrown toenail) , it is a mechanical problem , meaning the normal foot function has deteriorated over time from repeated stress to the toe.

This can happen from wearing high heels frequently. The big toe has two bones with cartilage and a joint capsule in between to provide a cushion between the bones. When the toe is constantly forced into an unnatural position the cartilage begins to wear down, and eventually the bones are actually grinding against each other. At first , you may only feel some tightness, mild swelling on top of the foot, or a soreness when standing on your tiptoes. This is when you need to be pro-active!

Get custom orthotics made. They will:

1. Reduce movement of the big toe, relieving pain, reducing cartilage damage, and prevent bone spurs.
2. Stabilize the big toe, allowing the rest of the foot to absorb some of the work.
3. Provide the proper amount of arch support.
4. Stabilize the entire foot and bring it back to a normal alignment.

Be sure the soles of your shoes are rigid and your shoes are long enough so the toe isn’t jammed forward with every step. Don’t run "on your toes"; be sure your entire foot is involved when running. If prevention is done early, your feet will be happy!