During pregnancy, a woman goes through a lot of changes to her body. Physiologically speaking, things are working differently. Hormonal and metabolic functions are altered, blood flow is changed, and weight gain has an effect on the mother-to-be biomechanically. The healthy weight-gain associated with pregnancy causes a change in the center of gravity, which leads to a condition known as lordosis, or sway-back. This change in posture can have a strong effect on the lower extremities, including the feet.
Some of the conditions that can be caused by the changes involved in pregnancy include flat feet/pronation syndrome, a change in foot size, swollen feet, plantar fasciitis, and cramps in the legs and feet. The following is a list of some of the conditions, their causes, and what a podiatrist may do to help with the symptoms. If you are pregnant and experiencing foot and leg pain, your obstetrician or gynecologist should refer you to an APMA member podiatrist.
- Swollen Feet/Increased Foot Size: This is often caused by edema, or excess fluid collecting in the tissues of the foot. Extra blood may also accumulate in the legs and feet during the third trimester, which contributes to the swelling and change in foot size. It is very common for an increased foot size to be a permanent change following pregnancy. A podiatrist may recommend wearing support stockings to avoid some of the swelling. Also, elevating the feet whenever possible allows some of the excess fluid to flow out of the feet. If you’re pregnant, have your feet measured to see if they have increased in length and/or width, and buy comfortable shoes.
- Flat Feet/Overpronation: The increase in body weight causes an increase in stress on the feet, which can lead to the arches flattening out. Once the arches begin to flatten, you may notice that you are walking more on the insides of your feet. This is known as overpronation syndrome, and can be dealt with usually by wearing over-the-counter shoe inserts, or prescription orthotic devices prescribed by your podiatrist. Overpronation syndrome can cause pain and inflammation in the heels, which may be dealt with by wearing a more shock-absorbing shoe.
- Plantar Fasciitis: This is a condition that is often linked to overpronation syndrome. Basically, the tissue on the bottom of the foot is stretched beyond its normal limits, causing inflammation and pain on the bottom of the foot, particularly in the heel. This may be avoided by stretching and exercising daily, as well as wearing shoes that offer an appropriate amount of support. Walking barefoot or in backless shoes may exacerbate the problem, so try to avoid this when possible.
- Leg and Foot Cramps: This is caused by the increased blood volume in pregnancy and the increased progesterone levels that help avoid high blood pressure during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the slack blood vessels in the lower extremities combined with the increased weight can cause cramping in the legs and feet due to lowered circulation. The cramps can be stretched out, particularly by stretching the calves often. Wear supportive shoes, such as walking or running shoes, and walk off the cramps when you get them. You may also try rotating your feet in a clockwise rotation 10 times, then switching to counter-clockwise for 10 times. Repeat this a few times, and do it often to increase the circulation to your feet.
Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com
