Foot Pain from Running

Do you know that each of your feet pounds the ground some 800 times per mile? So it is quite obvious that they feel the occasional pang. Aching feet can be experienced due to structural defects in feet or slight imbalance in your stride. Age, gender, physical activity, infections, injuries, diseases, etc., are to be taken into consideration, while searching the reasons behind foot pain from running. Generally, everyone experiences achy feet after running. Some of the foot problems like blisters and corns are very common while some like stress fractures are relatively rare. Certain foot problems require prompt medical attention while some can be cured with simple home remedies or just by changing some of the bad habits.

Causes of Aching Feet

• Lack of Exercise: Sedentary lifestyle can weaken the foot muscles. Regular exercise plays an important role in strengthening of muscles.
• Injuries: Sometimes, the injuries are detected with the help of an X-ray. Hair line fracture or torn ligaments of the tissues can lead to severe pain in the injured foot.
• Blood Circulation Problems: A blood clot in foot or any problem related to blood circulation in foot, can lead to aching foot after exercise.
• Infections: Fungal foot infection can cause pain after walking or running. Athlete's foot symptoms include patchy, dry, scaly and itchy skin and this infection is usually picked up from swimming pools and other public places.
• Improper Diet: Deficiency of vitamins, insufficient supply of the necessary nutrients to the body, irregular eating habits, obesity leading to hormonal imbalance can cause foot and leg cramps.
• Flat Feet: Flat feet or fallen arches are common in infants and toddlers. Flat feet in adults are noticed as a result of aging, injury or pregnancy. Strengthening exercises for flat feet if performed regularly, can help avoid aching feet.
• Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fascia helps the foot bones to bear the weight of an individual. Inflammation of plantar fascia can lead to severe foot pain. The characteristic foot heel pain which is noticed after the exercise, is the symptom of inflamed plantar fascia.
• Bursitis: The small sacs filled with synovial fluid, which are located between the bones and the muscles, are known as bursa and they act as shock absorbers. Inflammation of these sacs is called bursitis which can lead to pain in the foot.
• Diseases: Arthritis leads to stiffening of joints which in turn can cause leg pain and foot pain. Gout is another form of arthritis, wherein excessive uric acid gets deposited in the joints and can lead to sharp pain in the affected foot. Other diseases like diabetes can cause foot pain from running.
• Improper Shoes: Wearing improper shoes results in achy feet after any physical activity. You should always wear the shoes that fit properly and that are comfortable for your foot structure. This is very important as many of the injuries described above are the result of simply wearing the wrong shoes.
• Spurs: If the muscles in the feet are strained and if there is growth of calcium deposits on the bones of the feet, then spurs are noticed. Obesity and continuous standing or running can worsen the condition. Spurs are usually painless but they can also become quite painful sometimes. You may use heel pads, heel cups and foot supports to treat this condition. In some rare cases, surgery may be required.
• Bunions: The bursa of the first joint of the big toe can swell due to some genetic or other causes. To relieve the pain, you can wear pads to cushion the affected area, you may tape the affected foot or you can wear shoes that cut at the toes and instep. Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone injections to get rid of the pain. Surgery may be recommended to repair the affected toe joint and relieve the pressure.
• Calluses: Corns or calluses on feet are developed when feet are exposed to severe pressure or friction. They are more prominently noticed on the balls of the feet and underneath the big toe or between the toes. Actually they are hard but due to the moisture present in the area, they feel softer. Calluses are actually nothing but a collection of dead skin, which becomes thick, sometimes painful if not treated at the right time.
• Tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis is a common problem which can be gotten rid of with some rest, ice, medicine and exercises. Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Inflammation of this tendon can cause lot of discomfort to the sufferer. It can cause piercing, burning or shooting pain in the area. If you regularly wear high heels, the Achilles tendon gets shortened and then, when you wear flat shoes for running, the tendon gets stretched and so it becomes inflamed.

I hope you found the above information beneficial. You would now be able to determine the course of the treatment as you must have found out the exact cause of foot pain after running. In case of severe and persistent symptoms, you should immediately consult your doctor.