It’s easy to take our feet for granted. Most people don’t think twice about how much we rely on our feet until something goes wrong—whether it's a dull ache, a sharp pain, or even something as simple as discomfort from a pair of shoes that don’t quite fit right.
Our feet are truly incredible structures, made up of numerous bones, joints, and over a hundred muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They all work together to support and stabilise our entire body so we can do the activities we love and live life to the fullest.
Every day, our feet endure significant stress, especially when we engage in activities like running or jumping, where the forces on them can skyrocket. With this constant use, it’s easy to understand why our feet are susceptible to injury and various complications.
The pain you might be feeling in your feet or arches can stem from a variety of causes. It could be something as straightforward as wearing shoes that don’t offer enough support or cushioning, or it might be the result of a sudden increase in physical activity. Exercising on hard or uneven surfaces, underlying medical conditions like diabetes, or even an unexpected injury can all contribute to foot pain or skin conditions. Your job can also contribute to the injury risk for your feet, with many people spending all day on their feet, walking up and down stairs or ladders, and the like.
Symptoms and causes of foot and arch problems can vary widely, from visible issues like warts or peeling skin to more intense discomfort like swollen feet or severe pain radiating through your arch or the back of your heel. Sometimes, this pain is short-lived and may improve on its own in a few days or weeks. But if it lingers or intensifies, that's your body telling you it’s time to seek professional help.
You should never ignore persistent foot pain. Without the right diagnosis and treatment, what starts as a minor issue can become more complicated and more challenging to treat down the road. There are many potential causes of foot and arch pain, and understanding the root cause is key to finding relief. Otherwise, you’re just putting a temporary “band-aid” on the problem without ever getting the proper fix.
While the exact location of your pain—whether it’s in the sole, heel, arch, toes, or top of your foot—can provide important clues as to what the cause of the pain can be, a podiatrist is the best person to see to know with confidence what has happened, how to fix, and how to keep the problem from coming back again.
We’ve gathered information on some of the most common causes of foot and arch pain, and you can explore these further to learn more about each condition and how we can help you treat it. If you’re ready to take the next step, our Brisbane podiatrists across our Brisbane CBD and Newmarket clinics are here to help.
A bunion is a bony bump on the inside border of your foot that is caused by a change to the alignment of your big toe. They develop gradually overtime, and often won't be painful unless tight shoes are rubbing against it.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when your plantar fascia, the thick fibrous band of tissue in the bottom of the foot is placed under increased stress, causing painful inflammation.
Morton's neuroma develops in the nerves that run between the long bones in your foot. When these nerves become irritated from compression & friction, a Morton's neuroma develops as the lining of the nerve thickens.
Corns & calluses are areas of thickened skin caused by pressure or friction. Calluses are not usually painful whereas a corn is smaller and has a painful "core" centre surrounded by inflamed skin.
A fungal nail infection occurs when fungi begin to grow in, under or on the nail. There are five different types of fungal nails, so it's important to diagnose the condition correctly, in order to get accurate treatment.
Warts are a growth on the skin that is caused by a viral infection. They are very contagious so you will usually pick them up in communal areas. A wart that you find on the sole of your foot is officially called a plantar wart.
Ingrown toenails occur when the nail begins to pierce the skin causing inflammation and pain at the area. This may occur when you cut your toenails too short, particularly on the sides of your big toes.
Athlete's Foot is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet. This fungus causes the skin to become itchy, red and often flaky, particularly between the toes or on the soles of your feet.
Heel spurs (calcaneal spurs) are bony bumps of calcium deposits that form on the heel bone. They often result from long periods (months and years) of stress being placed on the tendons that attach to the heel bone.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage (smooth elastic tissue) that protects the ends of the bones breaks down over time. This results in pain and swelling at your major joints, often making them hard to move.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long term autoimmune disorder that affects the body through persistent damage to the lining of the joints. This happens when the immune system doesn't work properly, mistakenly attacking your own healthy cells.
A Lisfranc injury is an injury to the midfoot joint. When a twisting motion is applied to this area, (from a stumble or fall), it can break or dislocate these bones and/or sprain or tear the ligaments holding this joint together.
Pregnancy can cause a range of pains and problems not just to our feet but throughout the body. This is why many pregnant women also experience lower back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain and more.
The more tense you (or your muscles, ligaments and all sorts of fibres) feel, then the more pain you will understandably perceive. Here are
three ways to help relieve this tension in your feet.
Not everyone needs orthotics, but they can play an integral role in treating or relieving pain in several foot and lower limb conditions.
The heat and humidity of an Australian summer makes it a prime time for issues to arise, so our newest podiatrist Lucy has put together seven helpful tips to keep your feet healthy and problem free throughout summer.
| Monday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Tuesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Thursday |
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| Friday | TEMP CLOSED |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Ground Floor, 344 Queen Street,
Brisbane City QLD 4000
| Monday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Tuesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 7:40am - 6:00pm |
| Thursday |
7:40am - 6:30pm |
| Friday | 7:40am - 5:00pm |
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| Sunday | CLOSED |
Newmarket Village, 114/400 Newmarket Rd, Newmarket QLD 4051