Your feet take repeated abuse daily. As a result, they sometimes develop problems. In addition, some of these problems can actually be made worse with poorly fitting shoes. Here is a short list of some common foot ailments that cyclist sometimes encounter. Remember, with any foot condition, please consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

• Arthitis
• Bunions
• Metatarsalgia
• Mortons Neuroma
• Plantar Facitis

Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that is generally characterized by inflammation and damage to a body’s joints. The disease attacks cartilage, joint linings, bones and connective tissues such as ligaments. It takes away the normal, pain-free function of a joint. It can occur in any joint – in the wrist, shoulder, back, neck, hip, hands, ankle or foot. Arthritis affects nearly one of every seven people in the United States. It occurs more frequently in senior citizens but can strike people of any age – even children. In the U.S. alone, there are over 31 million victims of arthritis, and it is estimated that by the year 2020, there will be more than 60 million. Since each foot has 26 bones and over 30 joints, the foot and ankle are major targets for arthritis. At least half of all Americans over age 60 have arthritis of the foot and/or ankle. There are many types of arthritis that can affect these two areas.

Osteoarthritis is commonly referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It is the gradual wearing out of the joint cartilage that comes with age. Motion becomes very difficult and painful, and joints can become stiff after periods of rest. However, osteoarthritis can also be the result of an old injury – known as traumatic osteoarthritis. Often an injury such as a broken bone, ankle sprain or torn ligament will result in arthritis years later even though the injured joint received proper medical attention at the time. Osteoarthritis can affect one joint or many.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis, as are psoriatic arthritis, gout and lupus. A chronic condition, inflammatory arthritis usually affects more than one joint and sometimes affects all of the body’s joints. It can cause severe deformities of the joints and general fatigue. Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling form of the disease that affects people of all ages. In fact, nearly 300,000 kids and teens in the U.S. have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. People who suffer from this condition may develop severe deformities in their feet such as bunions, hammertoes, or claw toes. They can also develop other deformities of the forefoot and midfoot. People who have had rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years or more, almost always develop foot and ankle problems. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and there is no known cause, but there are many things that a person with arthritis can do to manage the condition and address the pain associated with the disease.

How Can A Pedorthist Help?
A Pedorthist is a specialist who has been trained in the design, manufacture, modification and fit of shoes and foot orthoses. A Pedorthist has a special interest in alleviating foot problems caused by overuse, injury or diseases such as arthritis. A Pedorthist’s education includes shoe construction and modification, foot orthoses materials and fabrication, and anatomy, pathology and biomechanics of the lower limbs. Pedorthists work mainly from a prescription provided by a physician. The pedorthist’s main goal is helping a patient enjoy a pain-free, ambulatory life-style. Pedorthic modalities can enhance a person’s mobility. The potential benefits are enormous.

Foot orthoses can be an effective tool in combating the painful effects of arthritis. A properly made foot orthosis provides extra cushion for the bottom of the foot and helps redistribute body weight evenly over the entire bottom surface of the foot. This in turn eliminates painful high-pressure areas of the deformity. A certified pedorthist is familiar with the available materials used in making foot orthoses. For continued effectiveness, shoes and orthoses will need to be replaced periodically.
Follow-up visits with the physician and pedorthist are necessary for maintained pain relief. Results that come from working with a pedorthist are often apparent immediately. Other times, positive results are gradual with the wearing of proper shoes and orthoses over a period of time. A pedorthist is an important team member who helps arthritis sufferers remain active participants in life.

Bunions
A bunion is a prominence or enlargement at the great toe joint. The enlargement can become red, tender, and painful. Hallux valgus, a common deformity in which the great toe is angled towards the little toe is often associated with bunions. A less common bunion is a tailor’s bunion, or bunionette, located at the base of the small toe.

Who develops bunions?
Bunions most commonly affect women. Tight-fitting shoes, especially high heels and narrow toe boxes, increase the risk for developing bunions. Genetic factors can also predispose individuals to developing bunions as can arthritis and injury to the foot.

What are the symptoms of a bunion?
Bunions may or may not cause symptoms. Bunions that cause pain are generally associated with swelling of soft tissues, redness, and tenderness. A frequent symptom is pain when walking or wearing shoes. This pain is generally relieved with rest.

How are bunions treated?
Most bunions that are moderate in nature can be treated conservatively. Properly fitted shoes made of soft flexible materials, and designed with a roomy toe box are important.

Metatarsalgia
Pain at the ball of the foot, or metatarsalgia, is a common complaint. The pain usually occurs across the metatarsal heads on the bottom surface of the foot. This worsens with standing on hard surfaces all day, and, without treatment, can sometimes lead to more severe problems.

Metatarsalgia can be attributed to several causes. Aging, for example, sometimes involves a thinning, or atrophy, of the fat pad at the ball of the foot, decreasing the natural cushioning of the metatarsal heads. An extremely high-arched foot can also lead to metatarsalgia. Something as simple as wearing heels that are higher than 2 inches can provoke these painful symptoms as well.

Aside from naturally occurring conditions, there are also those caused by trauma. For instance, metatarsal fractures, or midfoot and ankle fractures, can sometimes lead to more weight bearing on the non-fractured metatarsal heads, thus encouraging painful callus formation and metatarsalgia. Any time the distribution of weight is altered, the chances are greater for producing calluses and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and gout are inflammatory diseases that all produce inflammation or swelling in the metatarsal joints. As a result, pressure on the joints can be increased, leading to metatarsalgia. Do not, however, let these be confused with other painful conditions, such as Morton's Neuroma or plantar warts. To be sure of your condition, always seek medical advice.

Mortons Neuroma
A Morton's Neuroma is a painful condition of the foot caused by a pinched nerve in the forefoot. The nerves of the toes are compressed between the bones behind the toes before the nerve splits into a "Y" which supplies the sensation to the web space between the two toes. The Morton's Neuroma usually occurs between the web space of the 3rd and 4th toes. Upon examination, a clicking that is felt between the 3rd interspace often indicates a neuroma. A neuroma is caused by repeated friction and pressure on the nerve, which in turn causes the nerve to scar and become thicker, the result is numbness, tingling, or burning between the toes. Pain or burning also may shoot backwards up the foot into the leg. As the day goes on you may experience more pain that is relieved when shoes are removed. Stiff, restrictive shoes often will increase these symptoms.

Treatment for Morton's Neuroma is usually easy to treat with a metatarsal pad and shoes with a roomy toe box and a soft upper that is flexible. Soft orthoses with a support in the arch and a metatarsal pad help lift and separate the metatarsal shafts, relieving pressure on the nerve. Cortisone shots into the web space around the nerve may also help. In the most severe of cases a Morton's Neuroma may require surgery. The ligaments holding the two metatarsal bones together are divided; a small segment of the nerve is removed, which in turn relieves the pain and numbness between the web spaces. Please consult your physician.

Plantar Fasciitis
Some can’t pronounce it. Others can’t spell it. But many people suffer from it. Plantar Fasciitis (plan´t r fash e ¯it´is) is one of the most commonly treated foot ailments at our pedorthic facilities. Sometimes diagnosed as a heel spur, or heel spur syndrome, this condition is more accurately referred to as "heel pain syndrome." Plantar fascia is a band of fibrous tissue that runs the entire length of the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot, beginning at the heel bone (calcaneus) and extending to the base of the toes (metatarsal joints). See diagram. The purpose of the plantar fascia tissue is to maintain the integrity of the longitudinal arch. When the fascia tissue becomes inflamed, or micro fibers are torn, the body tries to protect it by plastering the fascia with calcium. This, in turn, is how a heel spur can form. The calcium forms a fish hook-like spur on the base of the heel bone in an attempt to maintain its connection with the fascia tissue ... hence ... a heel spur, heel pain diagnosis. When suffering from this condition, remember to put on shoes or sandals before jumping out of bed. That first unprotected step in the morning can disrupt whatever healing occurred overnight. Avoid going barefoot. Plantar Fasciitis is an overuse injury caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. This excessive stretching can cause the tiny fibers of the fascia to tear in spots and become very inflamed. The most common causes are:

• Tight heel cords; they cause an inordinate stretch of the plantar fascia
• Over-pronation (flat feet); causing the arch to collapse while walking or running
• A very high-arched foot; the plantar fascia is stretched taut with every step
• Stiff-soled shoes
• Worn-out shoes that no longer support the foot
• Improper shoe selection or fit
• A sudden change in activity (i.e. going from a sit-down job to a standing job)
• A sudden change in level of physical activity (i.e. beginning an exercise program too vigorously)
• A sudden change in environment ( i.e. switching from standing on carpet all day to concrete)
• Excessive weight on feet, usually pregnancy or obesity
• Interestingly enough, women are at a greater risk for developing Plantar Fasciitis than men

Unfortunately, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can become a chronic problem. The good news is that about 90% of patients improve significantly within two months of starting treatment. The first step is to consult a physician. Plantar Fasciitis is not the only cause of heel pain. It is a common cause, but there are many things such as a heel spur, a stone bruise or tendinitis that could be mistaken for plantar fasciitis. It is best to let a doctor sort it out.

Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis

The first and most obvious treatment is rest. Rest is helpful, but is often a short-term solution. A physician may prescribe anti-inflammatories, this does not usually represent a long-term answer either. The key to solving the plantar fascia problem is alleviating or at least reducing the stresses on the fascia. This is done most commonly with heel-cord stretching exercises and arch supports. Splints that keep the foot and ankle stretched out at night are sometimes useful. The physician may refer the patient to a therapist for help with the stretching program, or he may instruct the patient in a battery of exercises himself. He may also refer the patient to a pedorthist to have a set of custom foot orthoses made. In severe cases, a cast may be necessary to completely eliminate the stress on the plantar fascia. It can take a very long time for plantar fasciitis to resolve, but with the right treatment, it typically does.

How Can Rocket7 Help?
Rocket7 products are designed to be both better fitting and better performing. Where most cycling shoes stop at offering a single width and at best, perhaps a single “wide” model offering, Rocket7 offers 8 widths (in most sizes)! Combined with 40 lengths of 30 – 53 (half sizes too), there is a Rocket7 shoe to fit almost every foot imaginable. With the added options of a custom footbed, we can produce a shoe that will fit like "like a glove". In extreme cases, we offer RX/ Prescription products (both shoes and footbeds) that are built around your doctor's prescription. We'll work with your doctor in assembling cycling shoe to match your unique situation. No other cycling shoe manufacturer takes "fit and performance" to this level. Our research shows that most shoe manufacturers spend the bulk of their efforts addressing the aesthetics of the shoe first and "fit" second. Rocket7 focuses on two areas: 1) Fit and 2) Performance. It's a pretty simple concept that offers huge advantages.