Parkinson’s Foot Pain: Problems and Treatments

Posted by:

Johannes Sauer

Reviewed by:

Dr. Jennie Stanford

Updated at: August 28, 2024

Table of Contents

What Foot Problems are Associated with Parkinson’s Disease?
1. Dystonia
2. Swelling or Edema
3. Other Types of Pain in Parkinson’s Disease
Who Helps Alleviate Parkinson’s Disease-Related Foot Pain?
What Types of Footwear are Useful for People with Parkinson’s Disease?
Choosing the Right Size Footwear for Parkinson’s

You likely know that Parkinson’s disease is a condition that creates challenges with common movements, such as walking. But Parkinson’s disease can also cause multiple types of pain. Some Parkinson’s disease pain may affect your feet directly. When that happens, it can make walking more difficult and decrease your quality of life.

This post will dive into Parkinson’s disease-related foot pain. We will discuss some common causes of Parkinson’s disease-related foot pain, along with what you can do to alleviate it. In addition, we will offer recommendations for how to improve your walking Parkinson’s disease through gait training exercises and appropriate footwear.

What Foot Problems are Associated with Parkinson’s Disease?

A number of different foot problems can be linked to Parkinson’s disease. In the sections below, we discuss how dystonia and swelling might affect you.

Dystonia

Sometimes when you have Parkinson’s disease, your toes might abruptly curl and hurt. This can also happen with your fingers or in your throat, neck, and face.

The Parkinson’s Foundation explains that this type of muscle spasm is called “dystonia,” and the pain associated with it is “dystonic pain.” These unpleasant spasms usually affect around half of people with Parkinson’s disease at some point.

The foundation states that you are more likely to experience dystonia in the morning hours or in response to triggering movements. However, it can also strike at other times. Certain medications that are used to treat Parkinson’s disease may produce dystonic pain when medication levels fluctuate.

Swelling or Edema

When you have Parkinson’s disease, the difficulty with walking may cause you to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. If you do, a fluid buildup in your lower extremities called “edema” can occur, which is seen as swelling in your feet and ankles.

Sometimes, taking certain medications for Parkinson’s disease might also cause swelling in your lower extremities.

Feb 22, 2024

In general, swelling in your lower legs and feet can be uncomfortable, as it puts added pressure and stress on the surrounding tissue. Depending on the severity of the edema, you may feel pain as either throbbing or a dull ache, or you may feel pressure and heaviness.

Also, if your shoes are too tight when your feet are swollen, this can be very uncomfortable.

Other Types of Pain in Parkinson’s Disease

While our focus is on swelling and dystonia in this post, we do briefly want to mention that there are other types of pain that you may experience if you have Parkinson’s disease.

The Parkinson’s Foundation reports that many people with Parkinson’s disease experience musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, and (less commonly) central nervous system pain.

Sometimes, the neuropathic pain takes the form of peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve pain that affects the hands and/or the feet.

While your primary doctor may be able to help with treating Parkinson’s disease-associated foot pain, you may also benefit from consulting with a specialist if your foot pain continues.

The type of medical specialist who focuses on foot care is usually known as a podiatrist, or sometimes as a chiropodist. A podiatrist or chiropodist has the advanced training and experience in foot problems to provide you with a deeper understanding of the pain you are experiencing and make personalized recommendations for how you can treat your foot pain.

What Types of Footwear are Useful for People with Parkinson’s Disease?

Wearing healthy shoes is important for everyone. But, when you have foot pain from Parkinson’s disease, it becomes critical. The right shoes can help you to alleviate pain, exercise more, and manage the gait-related challenges that come from walking with Parkinson’s disease. In fact, finding comfortable, supportive footwear makes it easier and safer to do gait training exercises.

Feb 22, 2024

Our top recommendation for Parkinson’s disease footwear is Cadense Original Adaptive Shoes for men and women. What makes these shoes stand out is their patented variable friction technology.

This technology helps to mitigate common issues that occur with a Parkinsonian gait, including shuffling the feet and the tendency for the toes to drag along the ground.

If you are unable to lift and place your feet in a natural way due to Parkinson’s disease, the adaptive technology in Cadense shoes will help you to “glide” across obstacles, preventing tripping and falling.

Feb 22, 2024

In addition, Cadense shoes are lightweight, reducing fatigue as you walk. They have high quality tread, providing a firm grip on a variety of surfaces. They also offer comfortable cushioning and support along with a wide base that helps increase stability. Explore the Cadense collection of shoes for Parkinson’s disease.

Choosing the Right Size Footwear for Parkinson’s

As we discussed earlier in this post, swelling in the feet can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. If you experience foot swelling and your shoes are too tight, you may experience pain or circulatory problems.

At the same time, the swelling may not be present constantly. This can make it a challenge to find the right size of shoes when you have Parkinson’s disease.

One option is to get shoes that have adjustable laces that you can loosen and tighten as needed to get the right fit based on the degree of swelling you are experiencing.

Another option is to buy shoes in multiple sizes. Get a smaller pair for when you do not have swelling and a half size or full size up for when you do experience swelling. You may need to try on shoes at different times to establish the right sizes for your individual needs. You can then switch shoes as needed for your symptoms.

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FAQ

Is foot pain a symptom of Parkinson’s disease?

Yes, foot pain can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. In fact, more than one type of foot pain can be present, including neuropathic or dystonic foot pain. Swelling may also cause pain if your shoes are too tight. Central nervous system pain may sometimes affect the feet too, and in some patients, it may affect the whole body.

Can Parkinson’s disease cause neuropathy in feet?

Yes, Parkinson’s disease can lead to peripheral neuropathy in around 40% of patients. The linked study states that peripheral neuropathy not only causes pain, but it can also make it harder to maintain a natural gait and keep your balance.

What are the symptoms of dystonia in the feet?

If you experience dystonia in your feet, here are some common signs and symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

Your toes may curl up in a painful and involuntary way.
You might experience a cramp in your foot.
There could be painful contractions in your foot.
Your foot may drag as you try to walk.
You no longer have full motor control over your foot.

If you experience dystonia in other parts of your body, you may have different symptoms. For example, in your face, dystonia can lead to involuntary fast blinking.

Dystonia can be “focal,” where it only affects one part of your body (i.e. your foot). However, there are other types of dystonia that can affect more than one body part and/or side of your body.

What triggers foot dystonia?

As discussed earlier in this post, certain movements may trigger the unpleasant sensation of foot dystonia. Medication fluctuations as well as the time of day can trigger it as well. It is more common to feel dystonic foot pain in the morning.

Posted by: Johannes Sauer

Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. He was immediately drawn to the mission of the company because his cousin lost his lower leg in a tragic motorcycle accident a few years ago and is experiencing walking difficulties ever since. Johannes brings over a decade of experience in working for consumer product companies to Cadense. He holds an MBA from the University of Graz in Austria. Johannes lives with his family in Santa Barbara, CA.

Reviewed by: Dr. Jennie Stanford

Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is a highly accomplished physician who has made significant contributions to the fields of obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her expertise and dedication to patient care have earned her a reputation as a leading authority in these areas. Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is a highly accomplished physician who has made significant contributions to the fields of obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her expertise and dedication to patient care have earned her a reputation as a leading authority in these areas. After obtaining her Doctor of Medicine degree from the prestigious University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Stanford went on to achieve board certification from both the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Stanford is a prolific medical writer and educator. She leverages her expertise to create informative and engaging content that educates both healthcare professionals and the general public about the latest advances in obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her written works, which include articles, blog posts, and educational materials, have been widely published and have helped to raise awareness about the importance of preventing and treating obesity and related metabolic disorders. As a recognized leader in her field, Dr. Jennie Stanford continues to advance the understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. Her tireless efforts to educate, mentor, and provide exceptional patient care serve as an inspiration to her colleagues and a testament to her commitment to improving the lives of those affected by these conditions.

Mar 31, 2025

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Parkinson’s Foot Pain: Problems and Treatments