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GENERAL
Feet are generally overlooked until they develop problems. Over a lifetime general wear and tear can take their toll on your foot health. Also general medical conditions such as diabetes can be first diagnosed through the foot. General foot care will enable you to avoid problems getting worse as well as making life more comfortable. We can offer a general consultation in which your feet will be checked for problems and the appropriate treatment and advice offered.
The foot is unique in the body due to its position and function. Although most people believe that each foot only takes half your body weight during walking in fact the true figure is about one and half times body weight. In the course of a normal day a person might take between 3 – 10,000 steps. This means that any inefficiency in foot function is multiplied many times over. This is the basis for many foot and lower limb problems. A careful biomechanical examination attempts to pick out these minor imbalances and seeks to correct them by mechanical means. A foot orthoses, although in appearance a piece of moulded plastic, works by increasing the efficiency with which the foot functions. This altered function can affect the whole lower limb, pelvis and back thus improving the body’s general posture and ability to function.
Walking creates forces through the feet of about 1 to 2 times body weight. During running it is estimated that these forces can increase to 9 times body weight! These incredible forces are transmitted through the lower limb which ultimately interacts with the ground through the feet. If there is any inefficiency in the system then injury can occur. With each different sport there are various elements that can work for or against the athlete. Altering lower limb and foot function through biomechanical assessment and the use of orthoses and with proper muscle balance the athlete is in a better position to overcome and avoid injury. One of the partners, Mr David Dunning has obtained a masters degree (MSc) in sports injury and therapy at Manchester Metropolitan University. He also lectures on this subject and general biomechanics at Staffordshire University and is associated with professional rugby and football clubs. Other members of the team also have active interest in various sports.
Technology
has made vast improvements in the way we can view the forces acting on
the feet. At one time practitioners only had their eyes and experience
to guide them. Now with the development of pressure plates and computer
software the interaction between the foot and the ground can be examined
in much more detail.
This practice
owns and uses pressure platform (Matscan) and digital video imaging (Quintic)
where necessary. This is state of the art technology for the analysis
of human walking.
Orthoses have transformed the treatment of many foot and lower limb problems. Developed over many decades the modern orthoses is a highly developed piece of engineering. In order to obtain the correct prescription a full biomechanical examination is required. The examination allows the podiatrist to exam each joint of the foot and lower limb and assess how they interact. A pair of plaster-of-paris casts are taken with the foot and leg in the optimum position. These “slipper casts” are sent to the laboratory where they are prepared for the orthotic device to be made. The casts and the prescription provided by the podiatrist allow the laboratory to make the right device for the patient. The type of orthoses is as variable as the patients we see. You can be assured that the orthotic you receive is as individual as you are.
Orthoses are not the only answer to foot problems. Many patients’ foot health and comfort can be improved with shock absorbing insoles of various kinds. These can be made to redirect forces away from painful areas. They are particularly useful in reducing pressures under the sole of the foot. High pressures are implicated in the development of plantar ulcers in patients with diabetes mellitus. We are able to supply a wide range of insoles to suit your needs often after measuring the pressures using the Mat scan system.
Shoes are the environment that our feet live in. If these are in any way incorrect it can result in discomfort and long term problems. This is particularly important in patients with underlying medical problems which can cause insensitivity e.g. diabetes mellitus. We are able to provide advice on all aspects of footwear as well as supplying information on suitable shoes and made-to-measure footwear. Using contacts built up over the years we can in some cases offer specialist footwear.
Nails are often overlooked until they cause problems. Although the butt of jokes ingrowing toenails can be very painful! We have many years of experience in treating ingrowing toenails and other nail problems. We use modern techniques (such as local anaesthetics) to reduce discomfort and to improve healing. We perform nail surgery ourselves and follow our patients through until the area is healed. We always try and accommodate patients who are in pain with the earliest appointment available.
Foot surgery over the years has obtained a bad reputation. This has changed as podiatric surgeons have developed techniques to improve post operative function and comfort. Surgery can reduce pain and deformity and increase function. Most foot surgery can be done under a local anaesthetic which means no overnight stay in hospital. Mr Shayne Trinder a partner at the practice has under taken a surgical course of training leading to a Fellowship in podiatric surgery. We are able to advise our patients on the best course for their foot problem and refer for surgery if this is required.
Surprisingly children can suffer with a range of foot and lower limb problems. These can be developmental or due to a family trait. Poor alignment and function of the foot can lead to overuse of the lower limb resulting in “growing pains”, foot and arch pain and other problems. We have many years experience in treating children’s foot problems. Our team also attend conferences regularly in order to stay up to date with the latest treatments.
The family of viruses that cause these benign lumps in the skin are known as the papiloma forming viruses. Some types cause body warts, some hand warts, some plantar (foot) warts and some can cause any combination of them. They are more common in children and are rarely painful, indeed sometimes the treatment can cause more pain than the verruca. Treatment usually involves killing the skin cells that are harbouring the virus and this can be quite destructive as in the case of liquid Nitrogen and some can take a long time and be very inconvenient. Modern methods include low level laser, herbal remedies and controlled cryotherapy. All these treatments are available at this practice.
The
ancient Chinese believed that there are pathways of energy flow in the
body known as meridians. They thought that if there was a problem with
this balance of energy stream then pathology would occur and vice versa.
To reinstate the normal function they used needles to stimulate the meridians
and hence eliminate the problem. This of course is a vast over simplification
of a very complex health care regime. Western acupuncture is the use of
some of these techniques in the control of pain and inflammation. Acupuncture
is used in Podiatry to help relieve many painful symptoms associated with
lower limb conditions that are related to the foot.
LASER
Low level laser or therapeutic laser is used extensively in medicine and physiotherapy. In essence it is intense light that penetrates the tissue and sets up a healing process. It can be applied in many different conditions from neuromas to verrucae. It is also used in certain acupuncture techniques and is not to be confused with high intensity laser or cutting laser. Therapeutic laser therapy is available through this practise
This is a new technique involving the injection, under local anaesthetic into the joint space of replacement synovial fluid. This is the natural lubricant of all joints and is often deficient in some of the small joints of the foot. The big toe joint is the usual site and this treatment can help to limit the affects of early bunion development. The treatment usually involves a short course of injections and is relatively painless and inexpensive.