Are you curious as to whether plantar fasciitis is genetic? Or, is your grandmother responsible for your bunions? Do you ever feel as though you’re searching for something or someone to blame for your problems? Something aches on your body, and you want someone else to accept full responsibility. When it comes to our patients, we are all about cause and effect.
That’s why, when we first meet you, we’ll be caught between the present and the past. Naturally, we’ll focus on the issue you’re currently facing. However, we will also consider who or what is responsible for this development.
You may be surprised when we ask, “Who else in your family has bunions?” We don’t have telepathic abilities. But we are experts on foot and ankle problems. And many of them are genetic foot problems.
Of course, something that runs in your family doesn’t have to happen to you. However, this increases your risk. It also enables us to anticipate and counteract the pressures of genetics. Together, we can thereby prevent issues and keep you walking comfortably.
Bunions
A bunion is a painful bony bump that develops on the inside of the foot at the big toe joint.
Since we’ve already used bunions as an example, let’s begin with this one. When it comes to bunions, you can blame your footwear. But shoes have a negative reputation. Shoes can aggravate bunions, but they are rarely the cause of bunions.
Your foot type makes you susceptible to developing a bunion. Each foot type has corresponding foot mechanics. With each stride, a bunion-prone individual will roll off the big toe. This backward pressure on the metatarsal bone causes it to migrate outward. A protrusion is formed on the side of the big toe joint. You get a bunion.
Rarely is a bunion present at birth. It evolves with time. If you detect a bunion in its early stages, you can prevent it from developing. Changing the mechanics of your feet is important. Sounds difficult? It is simpler than you might imagine. We use a specialized insole referred to as custom orthotics. An orthotic corrects the improper mechanics. This eliminates the forces that cause bunions.
Flat Feet
People with flat feet may also be more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.
Whenever we observe someone with flat feet, we typically attribute it to a relative. “I have inherited my father’s feet.” And as you utter it, you recall how uncomfortable your father’s feet were. He may not have liked walking long distances. He probably didn’t do any sports or exercise at all. And you do not wish to conform to the same pattern.
Flat feet provide an unstable support base. Therefore, when you stand with flat feet, other joints must work harder to provide stability. People with flat feet frequently experience discomfort in their feet, ankles, knees, hips, and back. Their feet can’t support their movement.
Heel pain has now been linked to flat feet. In this case, the answer to the question “Is plantar fasciitis genetic?” may be affirmative. But you need not develop heel pain if you have flat feet. We may intervene in a variety of methods.
A flat foot can, of course, be made more stable. This is accomplished using a custom orthotic. We design the orthotic to provide your base of support with stability and efficiency. It permits your feet to assist in sustaining your activity. In doing so, your ankles, knees, pelvis, and back are relieved of pressure.
However, we also recommend the followingstretches for flat feet to combat your so-called hereditary plantar fasciitis.
1. Use a towel.
Place the heel of your foot in the center of the towel while grasping the towel’s ends with both hands. Pull the towel gently with a straight leg so that your toes move toward your face. This should relieve some pressure from your calf muscles, which are frequently overworked when you have flat feet.
2. Go straight to the zone
This stretch targets your arch specifically. Start by sitting with both feet flat on the ground. Now, attempt to bring the sole of your foot closer to your heel by raising your arch while keeping your toes and heel on the ground. Aim to perform 10 arch lifts per set and five sets on each foot. This strengthens your foot’s arch, thereby reducing the discomfort associated with a flexible flat foot.
High-Arched Feet
High arches cause foot and ankle instability, which can result to pain and increased risk of ankle sprains.
If your father had flat feet, you must have inherited your high-arched feet from your mother. Mom was always enthusiastic about her arch. In any case, the higher the arch, the better, correct? Surely a result of all those years of ballet training.
Of course, that’s all a joke. A foot with an abnormally high arch can be just as problematic as flat feet. Where a flat foot has excessive motion, a high-arched foot has minimal. This will result in inadequate impact absorption when walking or running. This results in foot pain, medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints), and stress fractures.
Shin splints are irritating. Whether you are moving or at rest, you may experience a faint, throbbing ache on the inside of the lower leg bone. It might even be tender to the touch. And if you attempt to massage the area, you may sense a knot-like structure around the source of the discomfort. These are all indications of muscle inflammation. However, if you observe discoloration or edema, you may be suffering from a stress fracture. This indicates that you have developed tiny cracks in your muscle bones. Although both injuries are prevalent among individuals with high arches, they are preventable. We will simply have to exert a little more effort.
In this instance, we cannot rely solely on a custom orthotic. This foot type will not gain mobility from an orthotic. At best, it can redistribute pressures so that no single area is overloaded. An orthotic must be worn with the appropriate shoe. It is essential to wear a well-made neutral running shoe. It provides the natural shock absorption that your foot lacks.
Ingrown Toenails
You may not consider ingrown toenails to be a hereditary condition. True, some cases of ingrown toenails are caused by user error. You inadequately trim your toenails, resulting in an ingrown toenail. Would you think that other things are more likely to cause an ingrown toenail?
Too-wide toenails are the most common cause of ingrown toenails. That is all. You can’t blame bad nail clipping. You need not complain about the overly enthusiastic pedicurist. You were simply born that way. And here’s the thing: your ingrown toenails may never affect you. But someday they may.
The optimal time to have ingrown toenails checked is when they begin to become painful. But you should go before they become excessively inflamed or infected. The method for treating an ingrown toenail is simple. Additionally, recovery is a breeze. If it is infected, we are unable to treat it permanently. Wouldn’t a single procedure be preferable to multiple ones?
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Not all cases of diabetes are hereditary. However, the majority of diabetics have a genetic predisposition.
Diabetes has severe effects on the limbs. They may experience numbness due to peripheral neuropathy. They may have inadequate vascular flow. And all diabetics have a diminished capacity for healing. When all of these factors are taken into account, the situation is quite undesirable. Which is worse? Diabetic foot ulcers may form.
A diabetic foot ulcer is a hole in the skin caused by excessive pressure on the bottom of the foot. It develops when your diabetes is poorly managed. It can also happen if your feet are numb and pressure builds up under your foot but you don’t feel it. It causes tissue breakdown and the development of a diabetic foot ulcer.
This genetic condition can be fought in two methods. First, you should look after yourself. If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, you should consider this condition seriously. Do not simply take in your medication. You must also monitor your diet. It makes a difference. In addition, periodic diabetic foot exams must be done. How often depends on how well your diabetes is managed.
If you see yourself in any of these situations, it’s time to start undoing the effects of your genes. Call the Houston foot doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Centerand we will schedule you for an immediate consultation. Remember that delaying until there is a problem will only make treatment more complicated in the future. It’s a cliche, but it’s true: prevention is better than cure.
