Interesting page for anyone with persisting heel pain (plantar fascia) or metatarsal region pain: Healthy Feet Daily
https://www.facebook.com/Healthy-Feet-Daily-270071377203357/
Main points
-beware of shoes with a narrow toe box – look for shoes with a wide toe box to encourage the natural position for the toes (not squashing the toes – see picture)
-must have a adequate calf flexibility – most shoes have an element of heel lift placing the calf in a shortened position
-feet need to have strength and mobility, too much support can weaken the supporting muscles
-multiple factors contribute to symptoms, the key is to identify the underlying factors
-a study in 2003 by Dr Harvey Lemont in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association demonstrated histologic findings of microtears and necrosis (not inflammation) in 50 subjects with persisting “plantar fasciitis” pain that underwent surgery. With this knowledge in mind we should use the term plantar fasciopathy or plantar fasciosis.
