The Link Between Extra Weight and Foot Problems
Your feet are the foundation for your body, and they bear your entire body weight day in and day out. It’s no surprise that carrying excess weight may increase the chance of developing foot problems. In fact, recent studies have shown that overweight people experience more heel pain, tendinitis, arthritis, ball-of-foot pain, fractures and sprains in their feet and ankles than individuals at a normal, healthy weight. The most common foot problems that are caused or worsened by being overweight include: • Osteoarthritis is considered a “wear and tear” condition that occurs when the cartilage begins breaking down in one or more joint, which often leads to a total loss of cartilage. The cartilage breakdown is a result of repeated stress and overuse, which can be exasperated from carrying around extra pounds. In the foot and ankle joints, this can become quite painful and debilitating. • Plantar Fasciitis is when the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs from the...