Foot Problems and Treatments in Grand Rapids, MI

Foot pain is a common issue for people in Grand Rapids, especially with our active outdoor lifestyle, long winters, and hard walking surfaces. Understanding common foot problems and knowing when to see a podiatrist can help you stay mobile and pain‑free.

Local podiatry care is available through major health systems such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, as well as many independent podiatry clinics across Kent County.

Common Causes of Foot Pain

The way your feet and legs move with every step (your biomechanics) plays a major role in foot health. Podiatrists in Grand Rapids assess:

  • How your feet and legs move when you walk or run
  • The surfaces you train on (concrete, indoor tracks, icy sidewalks)
  • Your footwear (work boots, winter boots, running shoes, dress shoes)

Foot pain is often due to overuse or mechanical problems rather than a single injury.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel and arch pain in Grand Rapids adults and runners.

What it is

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation or overuse of the plantar fascia – a strong, ligament‑like band running along the bottom of your foot from heel to toes.

Typical symptoms

  • Pain in the heel or arch of the foot
  • Pain that is worst when you first stand up in the morning or after sitting
  • Pain that can build up over weeks or months

Plantar fasciitis:

  • Accounts for around 10% of running injuries
  • Is common in middle‑aged adults
  • Is more likely if you are overweight or on your feet all day (for example, in manufacturing, healthcare, or service jobs common in West Michigan)

Contributing factors

  • Poor foot biomechanics (feet rolling in or out too much)
  • Tight calf muscles
  • Poor training techniques or sudden increases in activity
  • Standing or walking on hard surfaces (concrete factory floors, sidewalks, warehouse floors)
  • Unsupportive or worn‑out shoes

Treatment in Grand Rapids

Most people with plantar fasciitis improve without injections or surgery. A Grand Rapids podiatrist may recommend:

  • Activity modification (temporary reduction in running or standing time)
  • Stretching of calves and plantar fascia
  • Icing the heel after activity
  • Supportive footwear appropriate for Michigan winters and summers
  • Custom or prefabricated insoles/orthotics
  • Short‑term use of anti��inflammatory medication (if appropriate)

If pain continues, your provider at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health may discuss:

  • Cortisone injections
  • Night splints
  • Physical therapy
  • In rare cases, surgery

Flat Feet, Fallen Arches, and Foot Pain

“Flat feet” or “fallen arches” describe a lower‑than‑average arch on the inside of the foot. In the past, flat feet were thought to be a serious problem, but research has shown:

  • Many people with flat feet function well and never develop pain
  • High arches can cause just as many problems as flat feet

The most important factor is not how high your arches are, but how your feet move when you walk or run.

When flat feet may cause problems

  • Foot, ankle, knee, or shin pain
  • Shoes wearing out quickly on one side
  • Difficulty standing or walking for long periods

A Grand Rapids podiatrist can:

  • Examine your walking and running pattern (gait analysis)
  • Recommend supportive shoes (including winter boots with good arch support for Michigan’s cold months)
  • Prescribe custom orthotics if needed

Shin Splints (Shin Pain)

“Shin splints” is a broad term for pain felt along the front or inside of the shin, especially during or after activity.

Causes

  • Poor biomechanics (how your feet and legs move while you run or play sports)
  • Sudden increases in training volume or intensity
  • Hard or uneven surfaces (concrete sidewalks, frozen ground, indoor courts)
  • Inadequate footwear or worn‑out running shoes

Who is at risk in Grand Rapids

  • Runners using the Kent Trails, Riverside Park paths, or city sidewalks
  • High school and college athletes training on indoor courts or tracks in winter
  • People starting a new exercise program after a sedentary winter

Prevention and treatment

A podiatrist or sports medicine provider may recommend:

  • Rest or reduced activity
  • Ice after exercise
  • Proper warm‑up and cool‑down stretching
  • Gradual training increases
  • Footwear assessment and possible orthotics
  • Cross‑training on softer surfaces when possible

Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin that form in response to friction or pressure, often from poorly fitting shoes.

What Are Corns and Calluses?

  • Callus: A broader, thickened patch of hard skin, often on the ball of the foot, heel, or under the big toe
  • Corn: A smaller, often painful, hard bump that may have a central core
  • Soft corns: White, rubbery areas between the toes where skin stays moist (common when feet stay damp in winter boots)

Common locations

  • Ball of the foot
  • Under the big toe
  • Tips of the toes
  • Over bony prominences
  • Between toes (soft corns)

Who Is at Higher Risk?

  • People wearing narrow, high‑heeled, or ill‑fitting shoes
  • People with foot deformities (hammer toes, bunions, arthritis)
  • Older adults (aging skin loses elasticity and protective fat padding)
  • People with high‑arched feet that roll outward, putting more pressure on the outside of the foot
  • People who stand or walk for long hours on hard floors (common in West Michigan factories, warehouses, and hospitals)

Symptoms

  • Pain when pressure or friction is applied
  • Thick, hard, or raised area of skin
  • Redness, swelling, or inflammation around the area

Treatment and Safety

Your body forms corns and calluses to protect the skin from pressure. They will keep coming back unless the source of friction or pressure is removed.

Do NOT

  • Cut or scrape corns or calluses yourself
  • Use over‑the‑counter corn plasters or acids without guidance—these can damage healthy skin and cause infection, especially in people with diabetes or poor circulation

Do

See a podiatrist in Grand Rapids for:

  • Identification and removal of the cause (shoe changes, padding, orthotics)
  • Professional reduction (trimming) of the callus or corn to relieve pain
  • Custom padding to redistribute pressure
  • Permanent shoe inserts (orthotics) for long‑term relief
  • Advice on appropriate footwear for Michigan’s seasons (roomy toe box, cushioned soles, moisture‑wicking socks)

Tinea (Athlete’s Foot)

Tinea, or athlete’s foot, is a contagious fungal infection of the skin. It is common in humid, shared environments.

How It Spreads

You can catch tinea by walking barefoot in:

  • Public showers (gyms, schools, workplace facilities)
  • Pool areas (e.g., local Grand Rapids community pools)
  • Locker rooms and changing areas

Symptoms

  • Red, itchy, or burning skin between the toes or along the arch
  • Moist, peeling, or cracked skin
  • Small blisters or scaling

Prevention in Grand Rapids

  • Wear shower shoes or flip‑flops in public showers and pool areas
  • Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between toes, after bathing or swimming
  • Change out of damp socks quickly (important in snowy or rainy Michigan weather)
  • Choose breathable footwear and moisture‑wicking socks

Treatment

  • Over‑the‑counter antifungal creams or sprays from a local Grand Rapids pharmacy
  • Keep feet clean and dry
  • If symptoms persist or recur, see a podiatrist or your primary care provider for stronger medications or to rule out other conditions

Bunions

A bunion is a deformity where the big toe leans inward, causing the joint at the base of the big toe to become prominent and often painful.

Symptoms

  • A visible bump at the base of the big toe
  • Pain or soreness, especially in shoes
  • Redness, swelling, or irritation over the joint
  • Difficulty finding comfortable shoes

Contributing Factors

  • Genetics (family history)
  • Tight, narrow, or high‑heeled shoes
  • Certain foot types and biomechanical issues

Treatment Options in Grand Rapids

Non‑surgical options:

  • Wearing shoes with a wide toe box and low heel
  • Protective pads over the bunion
  • Custom orthotics to improve foot mechanics
  • Activity modification if certain activities increase pain

Surgery may be recommended by a foot and ankle surgeon at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health if:

  • Pain is severe and persistent
  • Non‑surgical treatments have not helped
  • The deformity is progressing

Plantar Warts (Papillomas)

Plantar warts are caused by a virus (human papillomavirus, HPV) and typically appear on the soles of the feet.

How They Spread

They are often picked up in:

  • Public showers and locker rooms
  • Swimming pool areas
  • Other warm, moist, shared surfaces

Prevention

  • Wear flip‑flops or shower shoes in public showers and pool areas
  • Do not share towels, socks, or shoes
  • Keep feet clean and dry

Treatment

Plantar warts sometimes go away on their own, especially in children. However, treatment can:

  • Reduce discomfort
  • Lower the risk of spreading the virus to other areas of your feet or to other people

Options include:

  • Over‑the‑counter wart treatments from a pharmacist
  • Professional treatments from a podiatrist (stronger topicals, freezing, minor procedures)

Because there are many treatment options, it is wise to seek podiatry advice to choose the safest and most effective approach for you.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail (usually the big toe) grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain and sometimes infection.

Causes

  • Poor nail‑cutting technique (cutting nails too short or rounding the corners)
  • Abnormal nail shape
  • Tight or poorly fitted footwear (including narrow dress shoes or tight winter boots)
  • Toe trauma

Prevention

  • Cut toenails straight across—not curved
  • Do not cut nails too short
  • Make sure no sharp nail “spike” is left at the corners
  • Ensure you and your children wear properly fitted shoes with enough toe room

Treatment

If you frequently get ingrown toenails despite proper care, a podiatrist may recommend a minor in‑office procedure to remove the outer edges of the nail permanently.

Seek medical care promptly if you notice:

  • Increasing pain, redness, or swelling
  • Pus or signs of infection
  • Any ingrown nail and you have diabetes or poor circulation

Diabetes and Foot Problems

People with diabetes in Grand Rapids and across Michigan are at higher risk of serious foot complications. Cold weather, dry skin, and reduced circulation can make winter months especially challenging.

Why Diabetes Affects the Feet

  • Impaired circulation can delay healing of cuts and sores
  • Nerve damage (neuropathy) can reduce sensation, so you may not feel injuries, pressure, or heat/cold

This means a small blister, cut, or rubbing spot can quickly become a serious infection if not noticed and treated.

Daily Foot Care for People with Diabetes

Be guided by your doctor or podiatrist, but general suggestions include:

  • Make foot care part of your daily routine
  • Check both feet every day for:
    • Cuts, blisters, bruises, or cracks
    • Red, hot, or swollen areas
    • Corns, calluses, or thickened nails
    • Color changes or cold spots
  • If your eyesight is poor, ask a family member or caregiver to check your feet
  • Wash feet daily with lukewarm water, dry carefully (especially between toes)
  • Apply moisturizer to dry skin (but not between the toes)
  • Always wear socks and well‑fitted shoes, indoors and outdoors
  • Never walk barefoot, even at home
  • See a podiatrist regularly for nail and callus care

If you find a cut or break in the skin:

  1. Wash the area gently with warm salty water
  2. Apply an antiseptic if advised by your doctor
  3. Cover with a clean dressing
  4. Contact your GP or podiatrist promptly—do not wait to see if it improves

People with diabetes should not treat corns, calluses, or ingrown toenails themselves. Always seek professional care.

When to See a Podiatrist in Grand Rapids

Contact a podiatrist or your primary care provider if you have:

  • Persistent foot or heel pain
  • Painful corns or calluses
  • Signs of infection (redness, warmth, swelling, pus)
  • Recurrent ingrown toenails
  • Bunions or deformities that make walking or shoe‑wear difficult
  • Diabetes and any new foot problem

Local Resources

In Grand Rapids, you can get help from:

  • Podiatry clinics associated with:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Your GP (primary care provider)
  • Community health centers in Kent County
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for general health information and referrals

You can also refer to national organizations such as the American Podiatric Medical Association for educational resources.

Key Points

  • Many different conditions can cause foot pain and injury, including plantar fasciitis, corns, calluses, bunions, shin splints, tinea, warts, and ingrown toenails.
  • The way your feet and legs move (biomechanics), your footwear, and the surfaces you walk or run on are major contributors to foot problems.
  • Pain on standing first thing in the morning is a classic symptom of plantar fasciitis.
  • Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common problems experienced by runners and is also common among middle‑aged and overweight individuals.
  • People with diabetes in Grand Rapids need especially careful daily foot care and regular podiatry check‑ups to prevent serious complications.