Our foot clinic in downtown Toronto sees a number of cases of bursitis every year. The fluid-filled sacs cushioning your muscles, tendons and bones around your joints are affected by this painful issue. Although bursitis is commonly located in the hip, elbow and shoulder, it’s also common at the tip of your big toe and your heel.
Your foot has what’s called a bursa. Those are fluid-filled sacs shielding tendons and bones from getting damaged. When these become inflamed, bursitis can follow.
It is often found in the joints performing repetitive tasks. Symptoms include:
- Pain when touching the affected area and discomfort when running and walking.
- Warm red skin over the area that’s been affected by bursitis.
- Sharp pain when standing up on your tiptoes.
Toronto orthotics that supply arch and heel support reduce the discomfort from bursitis. Orthotics can also help with other issues like bunions. Ones that come with a wide toe box reduce pressure on the big toe that can cause this problem.
There are risk factors. For example, you stand a greater chance of getting bursitis as you age. If you have an occupation or a hobby where you put pressure on a particular joint or undergo repetitive motions, your chances of developing this problem increase. There are other conditions like gout, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes that increase your chances of developing bursitis. The same can be said for being overweight.
Foot Clinic in Downtown Toronto Prevention Tips
It’s not possible to prevent all types of bursitis. However, you can lower your risk and the severity of the flareups you experience by changing the way you approach certain tasks.
If you already have an effected joint, exercising can help. Try to pinpoint the muscles that can protect this area. Before any strenuous activities, you should stretch and warm up. This is an excellent way to protect your joints from further injury.
Bend Your Knees
At work, it’s important to lift properly. That means bending your knees. It’s also a good practice to take breaks and alternate repetitive motions and tasks.
Bursitis can also be caused by irregularities in your feet. Sometimes a bone spur can develop on the heel that can cause this issue. There are other conditions that can cause bursitis including diabetes, arthritis infections and high thyroid levels.
Questions
We can diagnose this problem at our foot clinic in downtown Toronto. We will ask a series of questions about the type of exercise and sports you enjoy. We also will need to know if your job involves repetitive motion and long periods of standing.
