Podiatric Treatments
What is Podiatry/Chiropody?
The titles podiatrist and chiropodist are, to some extent, interchangeable but ultimately it is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower leg.
- A fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itch of affected areas. It is caused by fungi and is typically transmitted in moist areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers or swimming pools.
Athletes Foot
- A bunion is a deformity characterised by lateral deviation of the great toe, often erroneously described as an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the head of the big toe. As the big toe turns in toward the second toe the tissues surrounding the joint may become swollen and tender.
Bunions
Symptoms
- Irritated skin around the bunion
- Pain when walking.
- Joint redness and pain.
- A possible shift of the big toe toward the other toes.
- Blisters may form more easily around the site of the bunion.
- Cracked heels are a common foot problem that are often referred to as heel fissures. Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick. For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem but when the fissures or cracks are deep, they are painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected.
Cracked Heels
Hammer Toe
A hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer. Initially, hammer toes are flexible and can be corrected with simple measures but, if left untreated, they can become fixed and require surgery.
People with hammer toe may have corns or calluses on the top of the middle joint of the toe or on the tip of the toe. They may also feel pain in their toes or feet and have difficulty finding comfortable shoes.
- A callus is an especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause blisters rather than allow calluses to form. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on feet because of frequent walking. Calluses are generally not harmful, but may sometimes lead to other problems, such as skin ulceration or infection.
Hard Skin Callus
- Commonly caused by an inflammation of the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. The most common cause relates to faulty structure of the foot. People who have problems with their arches, either overly flat feet or high-arched feet, are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces puts abnormal strain on the plantar fascia. This is particularly evident when one’s job requires long hours on the feet. Obesity may also contribute to the condition.
Heel Pain
Symptoms
- Pain on the bottom of the heel
- Pain in the arch of the foot
- Pain that is usually worse upon arising
- Pain that increases over a period of months
- Toenail problems tend to be more common with advancing age. Problems include ingrown toenail, fungal infection and nail deformities. Professional care from your podiatrist can improve the health of your toenails.
Problem Nails
Verrucas
Verrucas are warts that occur on the feet. They are the same as warts on any other part of the body.
Verrucas are small, rough, often round, lumps on the skin. Sometimes you will only see one or two verrucas on one or both feet, though they can cover larger areas of skin. Verrucas are common in children and are generally harmless and pain-free.
Podiatry is a widely used and effective treatment for a number of foot, ankle and lower limb conditions. Podiatry covers treatment of a wide range of conditions of the foot, ankle and lower limb as well as the commonly known ones, such as: treatment of toenails, skin disorders, minor infections like ulcers and wounds, minor foot surgery such as for ingrowing toenails, removal of corns and calluses.
It can also provide corrective methods such as orthotics to make walking easier or to help realign posture e.g. Pain in the hips or back can sometimes be caused by problems with the feet. At S and S Private Health Clinic we are able to refer patients between our practitioners to ensure your health needs are addressed as best as possible.
Podiatric treatments:
- Nail care
- Specialising in preventative maintenance care
- Most of our treatments are by non-invasive methods, including:
- Removing hard skin
- Undertaking nail surgery
- Treating the causes of pain
- Verrucae treatments from use of acids to Cryotherapy
- Heel pain
- Prescribing insoles
- Diabetes and circulation checks
- Use of ultrasound for muscle, ligament and tendon strains and sprains
- Care of heel fissures before they can become infected