New Information for Painful FlatFeet

(Ivanhoe Newswire)-- Have you ever experienced the pain of flat feet? New insight may help millions of Americans who suffer from the painful condition.

Thanks to a team at the University of East Anglia a recent discovery was made that may help doctors understand what may be the cause of adult-acquired flat feet.

Flat feet are most common in women over 40 and are often left undiagnosed and untreated. Adult-acquired flat feet are caused from 'stretching out' a tendon that stabilizes the foot arch near the ankle bone called the tibialis posterior tendon.

Risks of flat feet include obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Although the main cause of the actual stretching of the tendon is unknown, speculation that standing while wearing heels, or walking for long periods of time may be the cause.

Working with surgeons and scientists at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and the University of Bristol, the team showed that the structure and composition of tendon specimens had changed and found evidence of increased activity of some proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes can break down the constituents of the tibialis posterior tendon and weaken it – causing the foot arch to fall.

"Our study may have important therapeutic implications since the altered enzyme activity could be a target for new drug therapies in the future," Dr. Graham Riley, author of the Arthritis Research UK at UEA's School of Biological Sciences, was quoted as saying.

Further research is needed to find which specific proteolytic enzymes should be targeted and whether people could be genetically predisposed to tendon injuries of this type. New treatments could be 10-15 years away and the findings could lead to new drug therapy for flat feet and other common tendon conditions.

SOURCE: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, January 11, 2012

At InMotion Foot and Ankle, we have found a great solution for flatfeet caused by Posterior Tibial Tendon disfunction, we use a combination of ankle bracing, Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) with injection of moralized amniotic membrane and fluid, followed by aggressive home therapy.

Give us a call or go to ZocDoc.com and make an appointment with Dr. Bruce Werber

InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists Dr. Bruce Werber 10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 480-948-2111 www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

high heels and shoe inserts are they worth it

High heels are high fashion. But the pain they can cause isn't pretty.

Makers of shoe insoles claim their product can help "prevent foot aches and pains, guaranteed" or provide "all-day comfort" and "cushion the entire foot area," so Consumer Reports Shopsmart put shoe insoles to the test, checking out four that cost between $8 and $13.

To test, 14 women tried each of the insoles in a pair of her shoes that had at least 2-1/2 inch heels, with some as high as four.

Jody Rohlena, with Consumer Reports Shopsmart, said, “The women did a lot of walking for this test. Each did a total of almost five-1/2 miles."

So what were the results? Not great for Dr. Scholl's for Her High Heel Insoles and Insolia high heel inserts. One woman who tested them out said. “My shoes didn't feel any more comfortable than they did without them."

Foot pedals Killer Kushionz did make shoes feel a little more comfortable. But the package says they are "not recommended to remove and reuse." Turns out the adhesive damaged some of the shoes.

Desiree Ferenczi said, “The whole lining is torn out and it looks really yucky now. It's not a nice shoe."

As for the Fab Feet three-quarter insoles from Target, they also made shoes a little more comfortable, but were easier to remove - although most of the women thought none of the insoles were worth the money.

When it comes to comfortable shoes, Consumer Reports Shopsmart says a big problem is people often buy shoes that are too small, selecting the size they've always worn.

But your feet change, so it's important to get measured each time you shop for shoes.

A good-fitting pair should have a pinkie's width between the end of your toes and the tip of your shoe.

InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Dr. Bruce Werber
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-948-2111
www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com