Pregnancy and Your Feet

There’s a lot going on in a woman’s body during pregnancy. One change that may not be apparent until it happens is the effect on the mother’s feet. Many women complain about their feet throughout their pregnancy. These changes can impact the feet in a few different ways, but can all lead to conditions like overpronation and plantar fasciitis.

One part of the problem is the sudden weight gain women undergo when they become pregnant. This lowers their center of gravity and adds more force on their knees and ankles. This can manifest itself as pain in the feet, ankles, knees, or back. This sudden change can also lead to overpronation (flattening of the arch). Excess pronation can then put more of a strain on the plantar fascia and lead to that dreaded plantar fasciitis. Overpronation is also common in people who already had flexible flat feet before they become pregnant.

Another component adding to foot pain is the hormone changes. The natural pregnancy hormones that cause pelvic ligaments to relax can also cause the foot and ankle ligaments to relax and stretch out a bit. This takes away from the support structure of the foot and can also cause pain.

But there is good news in all of this. There are a few ways to prevent or minimize the effects. Elevate your feet as much as possible. Make sure you are wearing proper fitting shoe gear that is also supportive in nature. Orthoses can also help support the flattening of the arch. Wear seamless socks that don’t constrict circulation. If after pregnancy you still have foot pain, come by and see Dr. Grimm or Dr. Pattison. Remember that foot pain is never “normal,” even after pregnancy.

Cracked Heels and Fissures

As the fall approaches in Texas, it’s time to start treating those abused feet from the long summer and prolonged use of flip flops. Cracked heels, or fissures, are gaps in the dry skin around the back of the heel that can be painful. These are also known as rim calluses. Usually these are caused by the repetitive friction and pressure forces of our feet moving around in a shoe. This can be caused by prolonged standing on hard surfaces, being overweight because the pressure is increased on the fat pad under the heel, open back shoes because they shift pressure to the sides of the heel causing the skin to crack, or some skin conditions such as psoriasis. They can also be caused by a fungal infection such as Tinea Pedis.

If these fissures are left untreated, they can bleed, become deeper, more painful, and infected. There are a few things your podiatrist can do to help. Your podiatrist will try to find the cause of the problem to help direct the treatment. Removal of the thick hard callus will help promote healing to the area. Over the counter special creams or socks may be used help moisturize the area. Also, a pumice stone can be used to eliminate the thick callous. It does so without the use of a needle or chemical. Advice on footwear may be recommended to help prevent further fissures. To treat those summer feet or any others, come by and see Dr. Grimm or Dr. Pattison for your podiatric concerns.