When your foot hurts, the first thing you probably think about is where it hurts.
Heel pain? Maybe it’s plantar fasciitis.
Ankle pain? Maybe you injured something.
Pain in the ball of your foot? Maybe it’s your shoes.
But after 36 years as a podiatrist, Dr. Po Raval knows that where you feel pain is only one piece of the puzzle.
Before determining what may be causing a painful spot, there are several things a podiatrist may evaluate to understand not only where it hurts, but why it may be hurting in the first place.
Here are five areas Dr. Raval pays attention to.
1. Pain: Where Does It Actually Hurt?
Of course, pain matters.
But a podiatrist wants to know more than simply, “My foot hurts.”
Is the pain in your heel?
Along your plantar fascia?
Around the ankle?
In your toes?
Does it hurt when you first stand up, while you’re walking, or after you’ve been on your feet for a while?
Pinpointing the location and behavior of the pain is the starting point—but it isn’t necessarily the diagnosis.
2. Mobility: How Well Does Your Ankle Move?
Next, Dr. Raval looks at mobility.
How much movement do you have through your foot and ankle?
Can your ankle comfortably reach approximately 90 degrees?
If your ankle isn’t moving the way it should, your body may start compensating somewhere else.
And sometimes, the place that’s compensating becomes the place that hurts.
3. Strength: Can Your Foot and Ankle Generate Push-Off?
Walking isn’t passive.
Your feet and ankles need enough strength to support you and help propel your body forward with every step.
A podiatrist may evaluate whether you’re able to generate an effective push-off and whether weakness could be changing the way you’re walking.
4. Balance and Gait: How Are You Actually Walking?
This is a big one.
You can point to the exact spot that hurts, but Dr. Raval also wants to see what happens when you stand up and move.
Are you walking steadily?
Are you favoring one side?
Are you shortening your stride?
Are you changing the way your foot hits the ground because something hurts?
Your gait can provide clues that aren’t always obvious when you’re sitting in an exam chair.
5. Circulation and Skin: What Does the Foot Look Like?
Finally, a podiatrist looks at what can actually be seen.
Is the area red?
Black and blue?
Swollen?
Discolored?
Does the skin look different from the other foot?
Changes in skin appearance and circulation can provide important information when evaluating a foot problem.
The Painful Spot Is Only the Beginning
This is why diagnosing foot pain isn’t simply about pointing to where it hurts.
Dr. Raval is looking at the bigger picture:
Pain. Mobility. Strength. Balance and gait. Circulation and skin.
Because sometimes the place where you feel the pain isn’t the whole story.
If foot or ankle pain is changing the way you stand, walk, or move, it’s worth paying attention to what the rest of your body is doing too.
How Well Are Your Feet Supporting Your Movement?
Your feet are your foundation, but they’re only one part of your overall mobility.
The MobilityLongevityScore™ helps you evaluate important areas of your movement, including strength, balance, gait, flexibility, and your feet and foundation.
You’ll receive a personalized score and action plan to help you better understand how you’re moving today—and where you may need to focus next.
