Pathologies

Subcategories

Sagging arch of the foot

The arch is part of the architecture of the foot which is made of 3 arches that draw a triangle on the ground.

This bone structure, subtended by ligaments, muscles and plantar fasciitis, is able to deform itself :

- To support the weight of the body;

- To absorb the shocks;

- To allow the foot to adapt to any kind of ground;

- To participate in the phase of propulsion in walking or running.

From these 3 arches, the most important in size and function, is the internal longitudinal arch.

It forms an arc of a circle which starts at the calcaneus, passes by the navicular bone (the keystone) and it ends at the head of the 1^st metatarsal.

It is a stretchable arch.

The second is the external longitudinal arch.

It forms a curve that starts from the calcaneus, passes through the cuboid bone and ends at the head of the 5th metatarsal.

It is a press and hold arch.

The third and last is the transverse arch.

It forms a small bridge that links the 1st metatarsal head to the 5^thmetatarsal head.

It is an arch of connection.

We talk about sagging arch of the foot, when the curve of the internal longitudinal arch flattens, getting closer to the ground.

It is not yet a flat foot and there is no calcaneal valgus.

In this case, the amplitude of the shock absorber that represents the arch of the foot is diminished and its efficiency reduced.

Tiredness will install itself while walking or while standing in upright position for a long time.

The causes are most of the time the ligament hypermobility and or lack of muscle tone.

Our Supports for the arch of the foot, inside your shoes, will restore in your feet the necessary curve in order to regain their function of shock absorber.
fasciitis
Decrease in footpad

The footpad is a fatty tissue in the deeper part of the skin on the soles of the feet.

Its thickness varies from 1 cm under the forefoot to 2 cm under the heel.

This is the thicker layer of skin in the body.

It protects the bone structure of the foot in contact with the ground like a mattress.

It serves to cushion and absorb shocks.

Any reduction or alteration of footpad affects the comfort while walking and while standing upright.

When the reduction of the thickness is too strong, the pains appear in localized areas of the forefoot.

It will then become difficult to walk normally.

The main causes for the atrophy of the footpad are:

-Ageing which leads to a natural and irreversible decrease.

-Intensive practice of some sports which demand excessively and repeatedly the forefoot.

-Wearing, on regular basis and for several years, shoes with heels too high.

The insoles CAPITONER with their Support Retro Median Capital (SRMC) are efficient to relieve the pains under the second, the third and the fourth metatarsal heads (just behind the toes joint).

Due to the particular profile of the SRMC the pressure is reduced and these sensitive areas are relieved. The SRMC slips under the metatarsal heads in order to uplift them and isolate them from the ground.
Callus

It is an excessive production of skin which causes the thickness of the dermis as a reaction to a pressure or a repeated friction.

It is a reaction of the body to a constraint.

This result can be beneficial and protective when spread on the entire surface of the foot sole, while walking barefoot for instance.

However when concentrated and located on one point, the callus is uncomfortable and painful like a pebble in a shoe.

It looks like a yellowish disc on the surface of the skin and its size varies depending on the pressure zone.

Its center is the thickest.

If suffering from diabetes ask a pedicure specialist to monitor the callus.

In order to relieve the pain caused by a callus on the second, third and or fourth metatarsal heads (just behind the joints of the toes) you must wear the insoles METASTAR which will insolate the callus from all pressure and reorganize the press and hold on the ground.
Callus under the 5th...
CALCANEAL Spur or...

It is a calcification, spur shaped, located at the plantar fascia level under the heel bone (the calcaneus).

The plantar fascia is a fibrous tissue similar to a tendon that links the heel to the forefoot.

Its role is to underpin the arch of the foot in order to work as a cushion.

Excessive and repeated tractions can cause micro lesions on the posterior insertion of the plantar fascia and cause an inflammatory reaction, then a beginning of ossification. Intensive running, wearing unsuitable shoes, overweight, aging, flat feet increase the risk of developing this spur.

The diagnosis is an enthesitis with spur.

A ligament or a tendon affected at the area where it is attached to the bone.

X-ray revealing the presence of calcaneal spur

This calcaneal spur can be revealed most of the time by X-ray.

The pain is sharp, located under the heel which makes walking difficult.

It settles for a long time.

Recommendations :

- Wearing EPITAL insoles (with arch support to take the stress off the plantar fascia, and of course avoiding the painful area to relieve the pain) anti calcaneal spur;

- Reduce doing sports;

- Focus on wearing shoes with heels of about 2 cm.

If, despite wearing the insoles, the pain is still present after several weeks, go see your doctor.
Genu valgum

The legs have an X shape, which means that, when the knees touch there is a distance between the internal malleolus.

Legs suffering of genu valgum

This deviation of the legs leads to a difficult and unsightly way of walking.

There may be painful repercussions at the knee level as the knees don’t work in their normal axis.

The genu valgum may be hereditary, so monitor your children’s legs.

To fight against the genu valgum :

- Place Supinator Heels inside all your shoes.

- If your shoes are too distorted repair them or replace them.
Genu varum

Also known as bow-leggedness, which means the internal malleolus touch when there is space between the inside of the knees.

Legs suffering of Genu Varum

This deviation of the lower limbs leads to an unsightly way of walking.

There may be painful repercussions at the kneecaps level as the patellas do not work in their normal axis.

The genu varum may be hereditary, therefore monitor your children’s legs.

To fight against your genu varum;

- Place the Pronator Heels inside all your shoes.

- If your shoes are too distorted, repair them or replace them.
Hallux Valgus or bunion,
Hyper pressure under...
The Leg Length...

The Leg Length Inequality (LLI) is validated by a radiography. It corresponds to the difference of height between the two legs, measured at the top of the femoral heads.

Radiography of the pelvis front, patient standing

The first consequence of the LLI is the inclination of the pelvis at the front.

This swing of the pelvis forces the spine in a scoliosis position or a real lumbar scoliosis, creating an imbalance of the muscle, ligament and joint tensions. This is how musculoskeletal disorders can settle in, together with the pains that accompany them.

It is important from this point on to wear the heel compensation in incompressible materials with a height adapted to correct the LLI and reestablish the functional harmony.

The studies published on the Leg Length Inequality (LLI) reveals that 8 persons out of 10 have one leg shorter than the other. (A panel of population free of fractures, surgery or diseases influencing the growth of the lower limbs)

Percentage of population with unequal leg length

The synthesis of this work highlights several points :

- First of all, there is a large disparity in the measured differences (from 3 mm to 22 mm of difference in length between the two legs)

- 38% have a deficit equal or superior to 10 mm.

- Only 14% correct their swing of the pelvis by wearing a heel compensation.

- Last of all, despite the fact that the LLI is as present in women as it is in men, the women are 5 times fewer than men to correct their swing of the pelvis by wearing a heel compensation ( the main reason to this being the aesthetic concern).

Please note, in margin of these studies, after a hip surgery, after the placement of a prosthetic of femoral head, after sever fracture of the lower limbs or a sever osteoarthritis of the knee or of the hip, it is interesting to control the right balance of the pelvis by all ad hoc means recommended by your doctor. This will allow to check the relevance of a correction and therefore to prevent possible pain episodes.
The hyper pressure

It corresponds to an area of excessive pressure under the second, the third and the fourth metatarsal heads (just behind the toes joint).

This hyper pressure may be the result of:

-a reduction of the footpad (fat pad under the foot which helps to cushion)

-a distortion of the bone structure

-changes in the press and hold on the ground

-or wearing shoes with heels too high

The skin reacts by thickening at the hyper pressure level. It can be seen on a footprint made by a podograph.

With time, if nothing is done, this area may become painful. It could even become a callus.

If suffering from diabetes ask a pedicure specialist to monitor any hyper pressure.

In order to relieve one or several hyper pressures located on the second, the third and or fourth metatarsal heads, you should wear the insoles METASTAR. They will reorganize the press and hold points on the ground and relieve that area of any pressure.
Morton’s neuroma

Extremely acute pain, felt while standing or while walking, generally located at the second and/or third intermetatarsal space (at the base of the toes). These pains are generated by the compression of the sensitive nerve which innervates the toes.

Its origin is mechanical and it gets worse by wearing shoes too narrow and heels too high.

One solution and among the most efficient to erase the pain is to give enough space to the intermetatarsal space.

The simple solution to eliminate theses pains, efficient, immediate, without side effects and non invasive is to spread enough the intermetatarsal space. It is the role of Support Retro Median Capital of the insoles METASTAR. Due to its special shape it is slipped under the metatarsal heads and lifts them in an arc of circle which gives enough space between the inter-metatarsal joints.

In order to be relieved you must wear the METASTAR insoles specific for this type of pains.
Sever’s disease

Also called calcaneal apophysis on the posterior side of the heel.

Bone growth disorder at the cartilage level on the rear part of the calcaneus in children and young adolescents, mostly male and who do sports.

Main causes

The Sever’s disease appears linked to repeated microtrauma caused by doing many sports.

The diagnosis is confirmed by the pain localized to the posterior and plantar side of the heel.

Treatments

- Go see a doctor

- Eliminate the cause

- Rest

- Wear cushioning heels
Median Metatarsalgia

The pains are generated by the hyper pressure at the base of the joints for the second, third or/and fourth toe.

This flexing zone of the foot is highly stressed while walking or running and often complained about.

The causes may be due to:

A decrease in the thickness of the footpad with age;

Fat pad under the foot helping to shock absorption

when too much pressure;

Excessive pressure zone due to the weight of the body

On one or several claw toes or hammer toes;

On a callus;

Thickening and hardening of the skin

due to heels too high.

This type of pain is easily relieved by wearing the METASTAR insoles thanks to their Support Retro Median Capital.

In order to enhance the beneficial effect of the insoles we recommend you as well to wear flat shoes or with heels not higher than 2 cm with wide forefoot.

You will quickly find that the pain will fade and disappear completely in a few days.
Metatarsalgia of the...
Claw or hammer toes

It is a common disease affecting essentially women.

Wearing shoes with heels too high and a forefoot too tight has a big responsibility in this biomechanical disorder of the foot.

It is a distortion of the toe in claw shape due to a muscle-tendon retraction.

It concerns mostly the second, the third and fourth toe.

This retraction of the toes causes painful conflicts inside the shoe on the prominent areas over the inter phalangeal joints and sometimes also on the extremities of the toes. These areas of friction will help privilege the appearance of callus and the pains that accompany them. (If suffering from diabetes ask a pedicure specialist to monitor the callus or calluses).

In order to stop the evolution of the claw toe and avoid the deformations of the joints, you should react upon first visible signs of deformation or upon first appearance of pains.

Support Retro Median Capital (SRMC) of the insoles METASTAR will press on the tendons to relax and help the extension of the toes. Once the points of friction are eliminated the pain will disappear.

Priority should be given to shoes made of soft leather which offer wideness and volume to the forefoot as well as heels of about 2 cm high.
Flat feet

The flat foot has two symptoms: the collapse of the arch and the calcaneal valgus* (the heel bone leans inward).

While walking or running, the foot roll is in pronation*.

It is often associated with a genu valgum*.

There are 3 degrees to define a flat foot.

Footprint diagram of flat foot

At each step, the internal longitudinal arch, which is the main architecture of the plantar arch, acts like a cushion which absorbs the body weight.

The causes of a flat foot are most of the time:

- The ligament hypermobility

- The muscle atony

- The overweight

A flat foot causes tiredness while walking or while standing in upright position for a long time. It may have a resonance at the spine level. With age, we may see forming a hyper pressure on the internal side of the foot. At last, in some cases it increases the risk of forming a hallux valgus.

For a flat foot, even 1st degree, it is important to adopt inside all your shoes, the Supports for the arch of the foot in order to give height to the internal longitudinal arch so it can play its role of shock absorber.

* See the list "Pathologies".
Cavus
Pronation of the foot

The pronation is primarily defined in relation to a neutral or universal foot. The pronator foot represents 40% of the population.

The pronation is a dynamic definition of the foot roll while walking or running, which is mainly concentrated on the interior side.

The distribution of ground support is therefore more important on the inner edge.

Logically we will observe a more pronounced wear of the inner part of the shoe sole.

An excessive foot pronation is associated with the sagging of the arch of the foot.

The pronation of the foot may be hereditary so monitor your children’s feet.

In order to correct your pronation, reduce the tendency of your arch of the foot to sag and fight against the premature wear of your shoes;

- Place the Supinator Heels inside all your shoes in order to correct your pronation.

- If the wear of the shoes is too pronounced repair them or replace them.
LEJARS venous insole

LEJARS venous insole

The plantar venous insole described by LEJARS is a network of veins in the fat tissue that lines the bottom of the foot.

At each step, the compression of soft flesh crushes this superficial network to quickly send the blood to the deeper venous system.

It is the first stage of the venous pump. It is essential for the good quality of the blood drainage from the periphery inward, at the risk of seeing a venous stasis.

It slows down the blood and it dilates the blood vessels.

The second stage, the muscles of the leg and mostly of the calf contract, which accelerates the venous return of the lower limbs to the heart.

Our Supports for physiological arch of the foot, inside your shoes, will increase the venous pump effect and will participate in the fight against heavy legs effect.

We also recommend you to wear heels of reasonable height around 3 cm.
sesamoiditis
Supination of the foot

First of all, the supination is determined by comparing it with a neutral or universal foot. The supination of the foot represents around 15% of the population.

The supination, is the dynamic definition of the foot roll, while walking or running, which is done mostly outwards.

The distribution of the press and hold points on the ground, is more important on the external edge.

It will be observed, logically, a more pronounced wear on the external side of the shoe sole.

A too high supination of the foot may be responsible for repeated ankle sprains.

The supination of the foot may be hereditary, therefore, monitor your children’s feet.

To correct your supination, stabilize the joint of your ankle and fight against the premature wear of your shoes;

- Place the Pronator Heels inside all your shoes to correct your supination.

- If the wear of the shoes is too pronounced repair them or replace them.
Cracked heels
Archilles tendinitis

The Achilles tendon is a powerful fibrous structure that connects the calf muscles to the heel.

The insertion is done at the rear side of the calcaneus.

It participates in the plantar flexion of the foot.

It is particularly put to work during running at the propulsion phase and while standing on "tiptoe".

It is made of fibers that are very sensitive to dehydration which is the main cause of tendinitis.

Being poorly vascularized, they are particularly vulnerable.

Main causes

Intrinsic :

- Tendon too short

- Not stretchable enough

Extrinsic :

- Important physical activity and repeated movements

- Conflicts with poorly adapted shoes

- Trauma

- Poor nutrition or hydration

Treatments

- Go see a doctor

- Eliminate the cause

- Rest

- Wear cushioning heels
Calcaneal Valgus

It is the slope of the heel bone (calcaneus) inwardly. Note that the axis of a “normal” heel is perpendicular to the ground.

The classical complications of this posture are;

- the sagging of the arch of the foot until reaching flat feet;

- the risk to develop a hallux valgus;

- and with age, the appearance of hyper pressure on the inner side of the foot .

When observing the shoe you will get the confirmation of the valgus by the deformation of the rear stiffener sloping inward.

Shoe with stiffener and heel deformed inward

The calcaneal valgus may be hereditary so monitor your children’s feet.

In order to correct the calcaneal valgus, reduce the tendency of your arch of the foot to sag and fight against the premature wear of your shoes;

Place the Supinator Heels inside all your shoes to straighten up the heel.

- If the wear of the shoes is too pronounced repair them or replace them.
Calcaneal Varus

It is the slope of the heel bone (calcaneus) outwardly. Note that the axis of a « normal » heel is perpendicular to the ground.

The common complications of this posture can be frequent sprains and with age a hyper pressure may appear on the exterior side of the foot.

By looking at the shoes you will get the confirmation of a varus as the hind stiffener leans outward.

Shoe with distorted stiffener and heel outward

The calcaneal varus may be hereditary, therefore, monitor your children’s feet.

To correct your calcaneal varus, stabilize your ankle joint and fight against the premature wear of your shoes;

- Place the Pronator Heels inside all your shoes to straighten the heel.

- If the wear of the shoes is too pronounced repair them or replace them.