Iain Johnston - Podiatrist

Exercise and Biomechanics

2012-02-20T10:34:00.000-08:00

In an ideal world, we would be taking our bodies much more seriously.
Keeping fit, or putting it lightly having an activity that utilises the body, and challenges it enough to give all the muscle groups a range of use, that involves stretching, and strengthening.
It is very hard to get this from just 'walking' or just running, as these activities specialise and do not challenge some areas of the body. Many sports are not holistic enough to challenge the 'core' muscles and prevent the possibility of aches and pains in the body.

Many people wake up one day, realising they need to get mobile. They may find themselves getting more aches and pains, putting on weight, and generally feeling out of puff.
Getting back into some sort of exercise can be tricky, as they may already have developed poor posture, tight muscles, and faulty foot function. This can all contribute to difficulties in getting into exercise.

In my clinic, I like to utilise stretching as a part of my therapy. Once I have assessed the foot and leg biomechanics, and used the Gaitscan to give me all the information. I use a series of exercises to loosen strategic muscle groups, this in turn reduces stress on joints and aids range of movement.
As we get older, we get stiffer...and this stiffness, then limits movement which must be compensated for elsewhere. The concepts are really quite simple once understood and applied regularly....and the regularly is the key word. Getting into a habit or seeking assistance in creating that habit.
Insoles, or orthotics are often need with the right footwear to get your legs started on the right path, with less stress and better function. A sensible way to start any exercise regime. Would you take an old car out the garage and decide to go racing without a tune-up?

I like to utilise the use of personal trainers, pilates and yoga instructors...as part of a more holistic approach to improving musculo-skeletal complaints. The Personal Trainer is able to assess your exisiting capability and tailor a routine that gradually builds up your strength and flexibilty, awakening muscles you never knew you had and giving you more balance and composure.

It cannot be emphasised enough the importance of maintaining ones body for the rest of your life.

Functional Hallux Limitus

2011-11-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Functional Hallux limitus refers to a perfectly normal 1st Joint that is not allowed to work like it should.
This happens for a variety of reasons and often a combination of them.
Tight calf muscles, are the most common feature I see with all my patients.....I suspect that this has to do with our lifestyles. We sit, we drive, we commute and we have desk bound jobs and we wear heels. All of which encourage tightening of the calves. Its the old use it or lose it saying, when the muscle is in a slack position it shortens and loses its flexibility. The consequence of this is to force compensaton. This compensation occurs in a variety of ways. The most common of which is to make the foot pronate more.
When excess pronation occurs, the arch sags leading to the flexor tendons to take strain and the arch not to function as it should. So at the point of toe off, arch fails to re-establish leading to a big toe joint that no longer works life it should.
This can lead to callus on the big toe, joint pain in the 1st big joint, bunion formation, dorsal exostosis which are bony enlargements on the top of the joint.
It also leads to peak pressures inder the 2nd 3rd metatarsal heads as the 1st Met rises reducing it pressure. Callus formation then occurs in these areas.

So the focus of treatment for this is to imporove flexibility with targeted streching, supoposr tthe arch, and allow the 1st Met to flex and function as it should.

Nail Fungal laser

2011-08-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce a new treatment arriving soon at the Chart Clinic.
The Pinpointe www.pinpointe.com Nail Fungal Laser...the Gold standard in nail fungal treatment without the use of drugs and medication. It involves the use of a frequency of light that does not harm the healthy nail tissue and kills the infected fungal tissue.
To date as far as I know two independant studeis have been done, one found a 75% succcess across the group which included 18-85 year olds, and another found 85% success.
These are extremely high success rates and considering the ease of treatment with no side effects, it is aa fantastic approach to this unsightly condition.
In my practice I will in addition give all sorts of advice on general health issues surrounding the root cause of the condition. There will also be some addditonal topical treatments to back up the treatment involved as well to ensure an even higher success rate.

Look forward to seeing you www.lasernailtreatment.co.uk

Severs Disease - Heel pain in Children

2011-05-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Growing feet are often placed under tremedous stress with busy schedules in sport.
Their innate energy allows them to be on the go all the time, their self limiting ability is retarded by enthusiasm, demand and peer pressure to participate in their chosen activity. This is more prevalent in schools that place a high regard for sport and competitiveness.
Severs disease - a bad sounding name, describes a disturbance to the growth plate of the heel. It belongs to a group of several growth plate injuries called Osteochondritis that commonly occur in growing children, particularly the active ones.
It occurs commonly from 10 years old upwards and will eventually stop when the growth plates finally fuse as the bones reach full growth at 14-15 years old. Severs Disease is generally a self limiting problem, but the pain can persist for several years at varying levels of severity.
Severs disease typically occurs at the bottom back of the heel, and will usually manifest as a child limping of the field of play not putting the heels on the ground.
The cause is related to either a one off traumatic event like jumping out a tree, or a biomechanical problem ie - flat feet, high arches and tight achillies could be the contributing factor. Excess pronation can lead to bow-stringing of the achillies tendon, so that as the heel lifts of the ground the achillies snaps straight causing a tension on the base of the growth plate, aggravating the heel.
Tight calves are a common denominator in most of the cases, as children generally do not do any pre and post warm-up and warm-downs, or alternatively the coaches dont encourage adequate streching routines to encourage flexibility. Perhaps it is assumed that children are naturaally flexible, and they are, unless they play a lot of sport. Increase in muscle strength also reduces flexibility.
The disturbance to the growth plate (epiphyses) causes a temporary retardation of growth, pain on putting the heel down on the ground. The severity can vary, form a mild case where the child is still able to perform and limps off the field after a game, to more severe where it stops them from playing all together. The treatment approach will vary depending on the severity of the problem.
X-rays may pick up on the more severe cases, but are often inconclusive as a diagnostic tool.
History and palpation reveal the classical symptoms the condition presents.
Treatment will vary depending on whom you vist. Drug, anti inflammatories, not the best thing for a child to be honest, are often prescribes, but bear in mind, that this does not deal with the cause and simply masks the pain.
A biomechanical assessment is necessary to establish cause, streching and orthotics may be needed as well as adjustment to sporting habits to allow healing. Severe cases need total rest to allow inflammation to subside.

Osteoarthritis in the Knee

2011-03-28T04:14:00.000-07:00

Osteoarthritis in the knee is a condition that afflicts many. Here in the UK, the approach to dealing with this condition is often focused on the site of pain only, and not necessarily the cause. People are often led to believe that they have no choice to get better once they have been told that they have Osteoarthritis, and they are told to wait till they are old enough to have a total knee replacement.
The knee joint, being next in line after the foot and ankle is dependant on the foot and ankle functioning correctly. Should there be a fault on the way the foot works, then this can have an effect on how the knee works, hips and lower back. One cannot separate the body parts from one another. So if the foot rolls in too much, often referred to as 'over-pronation', then this causes the Tibila 'leg' to rotate internally. This internal rotation leads to an incorrect tracking of the Patella 'knee bone', which in turn leads to additional wear and tear of the Patella on the Femur. The early signs are Crepitus 'grating' sensations as the cartilage behind the knee becomes worn. Pain can arise around the knee cap, the Patellar tendon, Collateral ligaments can also be involved in the stresses that result for incorrect tracking. Once this wear and tear gets severe enough it gives rise to osteoarthritis.

Patients often go to their GP complaining of knee pain, which is often managed initially with pain killers or anti-inflammatories. This may settle things in the early stages of a problem, but often serve to cover up the underlying mechanical changes in the legs. As the pain returns or the problem persists, X-rays may be ordered to assess the knee. X-rays will not pick up on soft tissue inflammation such as ligament or tendon pain, but will show wear and tear of cartilages. The next stage is often a referral to Physio or Osteopathy. Pain relieving techniques, massage, acupuncture, heat, taping, utrasound all have a place, in addition to streching and strengthening.
Should this not work, the patient is referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, who may perform and Arthroscopy to clean the knee out. If the pain in the knee persists, then the next stage is often knee replacement. This is not necessarly done until the patient is old enough.

The one approach that is over looked in all of this, is Functional Biomechanics. How the foot and legs work and their effect on how the knee works. This can be the reason why early treatment interventions do not work to solve pain, as the forces involved in creating the pain are still alive and well.
Podiatrist are able to assess, foot and leg function to determine the foot's influence on how the knee works. Exersises, insoles, orthotics and footwear advice can play a role in improving foot function and reducing the forces on the knee, assisitng knee alignment and patellar tracking. If the patellar tracks better, there is less wear and tear, and less chance of developing Osteoarthritis.

Fungal Infection of the nail

2011-02-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

Nail Fungus, Onychomycosis, is a very common condition that appears on the nails and affects people across the spectrum of age. The tendency is to infect older people but it has been seen in those in their 20's as well. Those that are prone tend to have other underlying medical problems like diabetes, circulation problems, stress, mal-nutrition, or lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alchohol, drugs, poor dietry habits etc.
Nail fungus exists as organisms that are abundant in the environment. The prevailing belief is, is that one picks up an infection. This may be true in some cases, but not in many others. There has to be a susceptibility brought on by factors I have already mentioned.
Of course, perfectly health women, who tend to enjoy wearing nail polish for long periods can also encourage the growth of fungus under their polish. Nail polish is a cosmetic that does not priopose to be healthy for the nails, it may cut off the flow of oxygen to the nail. Nail Fungus, enjoy and thrive in anaerobic, sub-oxygen environments. Women, often find one the discolouration begins, they feel embarressed by it, so, they keep their nails covered even longer. This of course encourages even further growth of the Fungal Infection.

They can manifest on the nails and skin in a variety of ways leading to discoloration, from white, yellow brown to black. The nails consists of three layers of which one or all can be invaded by Fungal infection. Nail Fungus can lead to thickening of the nail, discolouration, curving and eventual ingrowing toenails. Because the condition is painless, people tend not to take any notice of it, until it causes damage ie curved ingrown nail, or thickening that is painfull in the shoe.
There are many treatments available with varying degree of success. Some are topical and others oral medication. Some of the treatments can be obtained over the counter, but home or self help may not be effective unless the nails are correctly prepared. the Podiatrist will use a Nail Burr to thin the nail, and clear as much of the infected material before medicinal application.

In my clinic, I use Marigold Therapy. This has shown to be one of the most effective ways of clearing Nail Fungus. It is a homeopathic approach avoiding oral medication. In addition, a discussion over lifestyle choices, and advice on nutrition to assist the body in helping itself is advised.
If the infection is very mild and superficial, I often advise Tea Tree oil as a way of improving the problem.
In the near future I will be introducing Pinpointe nail Lazer as a way of delaing with fungal nail problems. This is state of the art approach to dealing with nail fingus, a one shot treatment.

Callus and Corns

2011-02-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Seemingly one of the simple problems in feet, but Callus (hard skin) and Corns can be the signs that warn of other things to come. Generally mis-understood, Callus and corns are treated as a nuisance to get rid of. Many options for off the shelf products exist to treat Callus and Corns, but have very little success and in some cases aggravate the problem.
So, what are Calluses and Corns?
In order to understand the problem, I will try to explain what happens to the skin. The skin consists of two layers, the Dermis and the Epidermis. The Dermis is where all the blood vessels, nerves exist. The Epidermis consists of 5 layers of cells in different stages of death. The reason why we wash, it to remove the surface layers of skin and with it all the accumulation of the day, perspiration, dirt, bacteria etc.
The surface layer of the skin consists of high levels of keratin which is a protein that gives it its resilience. The new cells migreate throught the Dermis up throught the Epidermis and eventually they fall off.
If for some reason, there is trauma to an area, like the small toe, or ball of the foot, and if this trauma is repeated....the dermis undergoes compression, which drives out the blood, then when the pressure relaeses, the blood floods back creating a Reactive Hyperaemia. This stimulates increaced cellular production, speeding up the amount of cells that grow. I addition the surface cells of the skin become more adherent, instead of fall off, they retain their position. The consequence is that the skin layer becomes thicker, and ass the cells pack in from beneath, the thickness becomes quite an impediment to how the foot feels.
These sites of pressure are unique to the individual and depend on the type of shoes worn, as well as the type of foot mechanics that exist. This means the way the foot moves in the shoe has a ,ot to do with the amount of rubbing, shearing and pressure that leads to Callus and Corn formation.
A Corn is essentially a Callus that has a more focused spot of pressure, creating a deeper thickening of the skin. They can get as deep to feel like walking on a stone.
Whenever any of these skin formations form, they are indicators of change in foot function or footwear. Ideally they should be advised upon earlier rather than later. It is by far easier to solve a problem in its early stages.
As a Podiatrist, we take these signs into account when examining the feet. They tell an awefull lot about your foot mechanics and gait patterns.
Treatment for Callus and Corns traditionally involves removal with skilled scapel work. protection of the area, deflection of pressure, insoles, excersises, footwear adjustments and orthotics may be needed to help.
Marigold Therapy has a usefull corn busting treatment. Utilising a paste derived from marigols Flowers that has an anti-inflammatory effect, reduces and restores normal celllar growth in the area, and can cure the corn, in conjunction with biomechanical and footwear advice.
Be carefull of off the shelf products as they tend to burn good skin as well as the callus, and this can lead to localised inflammation and more pain. If you are elderly and have any circulatory problem or Diabetes, please do not use these products without adequate advice.

Dropped, Dropping, Fallen Arches

2011-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

Who can ever believe that the feet you were born with would one day change. When we are young, light and supple, our feet hardly gave us any idea they existed. Then we grew up, started working behind desks, commuting in all sorts of 'seated' transport, and got heavier....bigger. What did this mean...it meant there was more pressure on the poor little feet responsible for carrying all that load. Of course its more complicaed than just what I have described, there are many types of feet, from rigid to mobile , from high arched to low, and they all respond in their own way to the forces placed upon them.
Essentially there are two arches in the foot. The Longitudinal arch and the transverse arch. The longitudinal runs from the inside part of the heel to behind the big toe joint, and the transverse arch runs across the ball of the foot from the 1st metatarsal to the 5th.
Dropping of any of these arches can lead to a variety of changes in the foot. Callus on the ball of the foot, burning sensations, neural irritation, joint pain, retracting or claw toes to name a few. Dropping Longitudinal arches lead to Arch pain, plantar fasciitis, peroneal pain, shin splints, bunions, knee pain, osteoarthritis, hip and lower back pain.
You can see how Dropped arches can be the fore runner of a whole host of ailments, which unless dealt with correctly can cause much aches and pains.
The first thing to do, is to get a biomechanical assessment to see what your feet are all about. Testing the foot and leg alignment, muscle flexibility, footwear will reveal the cause of the changes in the feet.
Each case must be dealt with on its unique needs, but the one common denominator for all Dropped Arches is calf flexibility. Our lifestyles of sitting, contribute to loss of calf flexibility. This leads to changes in how the foot moves. The foot starts to pronate (roll in) more that before untill such a time as the foot reaches the point where it can pronate no further. Once it reaches this point, compensation will be taken out on the next available joint ie - knee, hip and lower back. Should the forces increace, the foot may start to collapse even further. This requires tremendous force to achieve and is more common in older people. It is one of the reasons why we see so many of the elderly using sticks , walkers and wheel chairs.
Dropped arches, is an unnecessary condition to acquire. Fortunately there are many symptoms that precede Dropped arches like Callus, neuroma, bunions, leg , knee and back pain.
Think about looking after your feet , make sure they give you a life long service, by getting the right advice.

Verrucae - Plantar Warts

2011-01-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Bane of our existance, Verrucae apparently infect 1/5 people at any given time. Thats an awefull lot of Warts. Verrucae or HPV (Human Papilloma Viris) is a virus. There are perhaps over a hundred varieties of the virus and can grow or manifest in many places on the body, Certain types prefer the feet and they can take different shapes, and have different levels of pain and discomfort.
Most verrucae are benign lesions that occupy the foot and take on a variety of appearances. Some have a cauliflower appreance, others appear flat, in clusters. Others are raised, red , and can be painfull. Some have what appears to be little black dots. Verrucae viruses can not exist outside the body for too long, and in order to pick up the Virus, there has to be a contact with it through an area of the body where the skin has been weakened. Small scuffs and scrapes on the skin can allow entry to the virus. Areas where there are more people, like swimming baths, beachfronts, gyms tend to be where one increaces the chance of infection. Of course cross infection between family members as well.
Verrucae generally are not sore on direct contact unless they are the inflammed type, but if one presses the verrucae laterally or on the sides it hurts. This is why some people can have them and not be aware, but if the Verrucae happens to be in a position like the side of the foot or heel, or over a bony prominence or joint, it can be uncomfortable to walk on.
Many people try to treat them with home remedies, as these are widely advertised. These remedies unfortunately are not very effective and some of them, particularly the acid based ones can have side effects. They harm good skin as well as bad, which can lead to inflammation, an increase in pain , and a spreading of the verrucae. The freezing based treatments may be usefull for chidren older than 10, but not adults as it does not reach the required tempratured below zero to be tissue destructive.
Success with any treatment however relies on getting the bodies immune system to wake up and deal with the virus. Because the Verrucae occupies the Epidermis, and the Dermis is where the blood supply is, it does not create a signal for the bodies immune system to respond, which is why they can live for years. Generally it is believed that Verrucae have a limited lifespan of about 18 months, and that they will spontaneously dissapear in time. Nowadays we see that this is often not the case and this may be due to personal health habits and diet. Poor nutritional state can lead to lowered immune response ability, hense a spreading of verrucae. Smoking, drinking and poor dietry choices play a role in this.
In my Clinic, we have a number of choices for treatment:
1) Liqued Nitrogen - usefull for single lesion that are not too big. Not ideal for children due to discomfort. LN is -196 degrees, and drops the temprature in the skin to below -30, which is required for tissue destruction. You will be left with a blood blister, which whne removed, will remove the verrucae with it.
2) Marigold Therapy - www.marigoldfootcare.com, is a homeopathic approach to dealing with Verrucae. Usefull for those where other therapies are not recommended, like large, clusters and groups of verrucae. Good for stubborn verrucae. Children friendly, pain free and quite effective.
3) Dry Needling - can be useful for those with multiple Verrucae, we choose the biggest one, and under a little local anaesthetic, we multiple puncture the verrucae, with the intension of driving viral tissue deeper to elicit an immune response. Once this happens, all the verruce will clear. It is relatively non invasive, heals quickly. in-expensive, and takes a few months to know the result.
4) Electrosurgical Removal with the Radiolaze. This technique involves removal of the verrucae under local anaesthetic. The lesion is skimmed off the dermis, leaving a small wound that will heal in a few weeks. This is generally a one shot treatment with a high success rate.
5) Some clinics offer ND:YAG laser, this equipment is expensive so the treatment will cost more. But it may be usefull in some cases. We do not provide this yet.
6) Occlusive Taping is a technique that can be tried at home. It involves the application of a piece of tape, like plastic sticky tape to the area. This is replaced every day till the verrucae falls off.
7) Cellfood www.heavenearth.co.uk is an Oxygen mineral supplement, that provides 78 minerals, 34 enzymes and 17 Amino acids to stimulate an improvement in health and immunity. This has shown to be useful in stubborn cases, and is often used as a back-up to other treatments. So we treat inside to out.
There is no guarantees with any treatment...finding the right approach often takes time.
We provide a free 1st consult to establish the route forward, to choose the best treatment suited to the individual.

Runners Knee

2011-01-17T02:58:00.000-08:00

Its that time of the year again when prospective London Marathoners increace their training in preparation for the marathon. One of the common injuries that presents is pain around the knee.
There are a number injuries that can occur like ITB (Illio Tibial Band Friction Syndrome) , Patellar-Femoral Pain, Chondromalacia Patellae, Patellar Tendonitis, Collateral Ligament pain, just to name a few. www.drpribut.com .

The cause of your knee pain can link to a number of factors : Too much Too soon, meaning increasing training without adequate conditioning. Footwear choices, can be a tricky one, especially since so many stores propose to do an 'assessment' utilizing treadmills to 'diagnose' your running style to establish what type of shoe you should be wearing. In addition there are numerous flashy brands, proposing different levels of control. So do you have the right shoes?? Do you trust the young salesman opinion of your foot function?? Do they know what to do if you pick up a problem?
Excess Pronation has been linked to knee trouble, not everyone is a natural born athlete with high springy arches, some of us have flat feet, or feet that roll in too much. This can lead to incorrect tracking of the patella and excess rotation of the knee during the running cycle This will lead to cartilage wear and tissue irritation around the knee. Muscle imbalances i.e. weak Quadriceps muscles, tight calves, tight hamstrings. Some women have a high 'Q' angle from wide hips leading to a knock knee effect which contributes to mal-tracking of the patellae.
There are a number of treatment options available to you. Your GP may give you medication for pain. Be advised however, that pain relief may give you the illusion of being ok, but the problem cauld become worse if the cause is not dealth with. The Physiotherapist or Osteopath www.chartclinic.co.uk can treat your symtoms, provide knee support and exersise.
As a Podiatrist we focus on the foots involvement of the problem. Examining your Biomechanics, looking at your foot function and leg alignment, leg length differences, gait analysis, footware concerns, wear and tear of old footware, tight muscles identified and diagnoses of the pain itself are part of the treatment.
You will be given excersises, streching, footwear advice and depending on your foor type..orthotics prescribed to balance the feet witihin the shoe. This assists inreducing internal rotation of the leg, helping the knee to work in a better alignment, hence improving tracking.

Plantar Fasciitis

2011-01-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs, Policeman's Heel are names for a condition commonly seen by Podiatrists in the Clinic. It can occur in all sort of people from active to sedentary, the most common age group being 45 onwards.
The Plantar Fascia consists of a band of tissue (tendon) that extends from the Heel (Calcaneus) and splits into three parts as it approaches the forefoot. The tension that is exerted on these bands can lead to a micro tearing from the heel bone. This tearing is painful on weightbearing, but settles once up and about. The feet are often sore in the mornings, and after sitting for a while it hurts when standing. The end of the day can be particularly uncomfortable. This repeat tear (pain-weightbearing) - relief (rest-sitting , sleeping) may continue for some time, and gradually get worse unless the cause can be determined.
The causes are unique to the individual. In a sportsman, it may be related to footwear, streching technique and conditioning. In and older person it may be related to weight gain, changing from heels to flats, unaccustomed exercise. It can also be purely biomechanical. Flat feet, excess pronation, knock knees, tight calves, hypermobility may be some of the reasons behind the problem.
It is important to catch this condition early, as it can get worse over time. Even to the extent that one can be reluctant to walk. Chronic or long standing Planar Fasciitis can become Heel Spurs. This is a bony outcrop that extends along the fasciia. The Spur itself is not the problem, it is more of an indicator as to how severe the condition is.
I trust that your GP will refer you to a Podiatrist, as the medicinal approach ie: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories, may make you feel better in the short term, but the tendancy is for the condition to resurface worse overwhelming the effectiveness of the pills. Corticosteroid injections are often useful for pain relief, but as with the Anti-Inflams the condition can overwhelm it, emerging worse than before. Physical therapies like Ultrasound, massage, acupuncture, shockwave therapies - all have short term benefit if used in isolation. These treatments are more useful if used in conjunction with causal treatment. ie: deal with the root cause.
Podiatrists are well suited to treating this condition in its earlier stages as we can identify the cause, advise improvements and get a quick response. More advanced conditions may need additional intervention to assist recovery.
There are many options listed on the internet that point towards solutions, I personally do not advise the cheap and cheerful route and it can be a waste of money. Cheap insoles are not for everyone, and the insole is not the only solution. It is a multifactoral problem that needs an experienced consultant to work out the best route for you. Many companies will sell cheap insoles with promises of money back guarantees, I wonder how they stay in business. You only get one pair of feet, why mess with them.
Once we have worked out the site of your problem, discussed lifestyle and footwear, examined your individual structural mechanics, foot posture and gait. The treatment options will be revealed.
These can take the form of Streching exersises, Foot Mobilisation (Manipulation), Footwear changes, Weight loss advice, Insoles or Orthotics, Physiotherapy or Home Physio (techniques you can use at home), Marigolds Therapy for pain, Sport Taping, Kinesiotaping .
A Biomechanical Assessment tells us what foot structure you have, foot and leg alignment, muscle imbalances, leg length discrepancies. How you stand and walk, the shoes you wear, how much weight you carry, your occupation, sport are all taken into consideration.
Streching programmes to loosen muscles, in addition to footwear advice, insoles or orthotics are part of the Podiatric treatment. Early intervention results in quick relief. More advanced cases take more time to recover but can be sped up with Home Physio, Massage. Marigols Therapy applied to the area with a pad can be effective in immediate pain relief. Foot Mobilisation is a manipulative technique that is usefull in some cases, and can provide immediate relief.
for more info. www.footmech.co.uk feel free to ask

What can a Podiatrist do?

2011-01-11T02:58:00.000-08:00

I still sense the public, and at times the medical profession does not understand the role Podiatry plays in the health of our musculoskeletal system. Everyday I am constantly involved in educating my patients, bringing new insights into the potential causes of their problems.
Your feet have such an important role to play in how the body works, it needs to be emphasised, as much as possible. In so much as the Dental industry has huge support from toothpaste and brush companies, Feet have not had as much exposure. The are a few opportunistic companies that attempt to help with the treatment of verrucae, and corns, but they do little to promote the profession and even less in educating the patient as to the cause of their problems.
Our lifestyles today involve so much sitting, ie: driving, watching TV, computers and desk jobs...these contribute to muscle imbalances and tightness, that can lead to many aches and pains all over the body. Tight muscles cause compensatory movements in the way the feet work, which then have a knock on effect to the rest of the body.
It's amazing how loosening up muscles in the legs can have an influence on the lower back.
As a Podiatrist, we are trained to assess the function of the feet and legs, establishing the root cause of many of the aches and pains that you may have. Conditions like Plantar Fasciitis, Mortons Neuroma, Shin pain, Knee pain, Bunions, Sciatica...etc the list is endless...and if you are having treatment for these conditions, ask yourself, 'has the cause been dealth with'. Because if not, the chances of re-occurance or the problem not resolving is high.
Treatment options depend on the individual case. Streching, Mobilisation, Home Physio, Marigold Therapy, Insoles and Orthotics are tools used in treating most conditions.
www.footmech.co.uk