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Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, is a foot condition that occurs in children. Sever’s disease is not truly a disease, but rather an overuse injury. It is common among active children between the ages of 8 and 14. Young, growing children have a growth plate in their heels, where new bone is forming. When too much stress is put on the heel, the growth plate can become inflamed, leading to heel pain.
Children who participate in activities that put repetitive stress on the heel bone are most at risk of developing Sever’s disease. These activities include playing soccer or basketball, running track, or any other sport or activity that involves running, jogging, or jumping. Children who are obese, have tight Achilles tendons, biomechanical problems, flat feet, or fallen arches are also at risk.
The symptoms of Sever’s disease include pain in the back or bottom of the heel, pain when the sides of the heel are squeezed, and fatigue. The pain may lead to difficulties walking or bearing weight on the affected foot, and you may notice your child limping or walking on their toes to avoid putting pressure on the heel. A chiropodist can diagnose Sever’s disease by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. Imaging studies such as X-rays may also be ordered.
Sever’s disease is generally treated by resting the affected foot, wearing shoes or orthotics that support the heel, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation. In severe cases of heel pain, the affected foot may need to be immobilized with a cast while it heals. If your child is complaining of heel pain, please consult with a chiropodist.
Stress fractures are small, fine cracks that can happen in the bones of the feet. Stress fractures occur when the affected bones are not able to bear the weight placed on them. They are often the result of repetitive overuse and injury from activities such as running, jumping, or dancing and are therefore common in athletes. Stress fractures are also more likely to occur in people who have other health conditions, such as osteoporosis, bunions, tendinitis, or abnormal foot biomechanics.
While stress fractures can occur in any bone in the foot, they are most common in the metatarsal bones, the calcaneus bone, and navicular bone. The metatarsal bones are in the center of the foot and connect the toes to the rest of the midfoot region. The second and third metatarsal bones, which connect the second and third toes to the midfoot, are the most likely bones to incur a stress fracture. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is located at the back of the foot and is the second most common site of stress fractures in the feet. The navicular bone is located near the top of the foot.
The symptoms of a stress fracture include pain, tenderness, weakness, bruising, and swelling. This can lead to difficulty putting weight on the affected foot, which may change your gait or manner of walking. Symptoms usually have a gradual onset and become progressively worse over time. Without treatment, a stress fracture may progress to a full fracture, in which the bone breaks completely. The affected bone can also move out of proper alignment, causing more pain.
Stress fractures are diagnosed through a physical examination. Imaging studies, such as X-rays, bone scans, ultrasounds, or MRIs may be needed to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other causes for your symptoms. Treatment for a stress fracture depends on the severity of the injury. You may be asked to cease certain weight-bearing activities and to rest, ice, compress, and elevate the affected foot to help it heal. Protective footwear, a cast, or crutches may be provided to protect and stabilize your foot while it heals. Surgery may be necessary if the stress fracture has occurred in an area that does not typically heal well through non-surgical means, such as the sesamoid bones.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of a stress fracture in your foot, please consult with a chiropodist.
Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot lives and thrives in warm, moist environments such as public swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers. This fungus can infect the feet through a cut or crack in the skin. Athlete’s foot is also highly contagious, and the fungus can spread from person to person through sharing personal items such as shoes, socks, or towels.
The symptoms of athlete’s foot include itching, stinging, or burning between your toes or on the soles of your feet, itchy foot blisters, and dry, cracked, or peeling skin on the feet. The infection can also spread to your toenails, leading to discoloration, thickening, and crumbling.
Through a physical examination, athlete’s foot can be diagnosed by your chiropodist based on its symptoms. Sometimes, a skin test may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. Athlete’s foot can be treated with both oral and topical over-the-counter or prescription medications. You can prevent a fungal infection by maintaining good foot hygiene, wearing shoes when walking in public areas, avoiding sharing personal items with others, and keeping your feet clean and dry.
Finding shoes that fit properly can be a challenging undertaking - but the results are well worth it. Wearing shoes that fit correctly is one of the most important things that you can do to prevent a variety of foot problems. From plantar fasciitis to hammertoes to neuromas, improper footwear is often a major contributor to foot pain and deformity.
When shopping for shoes, it is strongly suggested that you get your feet professionally measured at the shoe store. Although you may think you know your shoe size - after all, you’ve been wearing the same size for years - your feet might be larger than you think. In addition to age-related foot changes that can make the feet flatter and wider, and therefore a larger size, your feet also naturally swell throughout the day. They are typically at their largest in the later afternoon to early evening. This is a great time to go shoe shopping, because if the shoes you try on fit your foot comfortably when it is at its largest, then they will likely fit comfortably throughout the day.
Once you’ve learned your current shoe size, search for shoes that are comfortable right away. Some people erroneously believe that shoes need to be “broken in” in order to be comfortable, but the truth is that the right shoes should be comfortable from the moment you put them on. If you are shopping for shoes that are closed in the front and back, such as running shoes or dress shoes, make sure that they have plenty of room. There should be a half-inch of space between the end of your longest toe and the end of the front of the shoe, as well as an eighth inch of space between the back of the heel and the shoe.
To learn more about how to find the right shoes for you and maintain the health of your feet, please consult with a chiropodist.
Foot pain is a common symptom of a large variety of injuries and medical conditions. A diagnosis can be narrowed down by describing the locations and type of pain that you are experiencing.
Pain in the heel is often caused by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis usually causes stabbing heel pains and the pain is at its worst upon arising in the morning or when taking your first steps after a long period of rest. Heel pain can also be caused by heel spurs, bruises on the fat pad of the heel, or heel fractures.
Pain in the ball of the foot can be caused by Morton’s neuroma, in which the tissue of the nerves between the bases of the toes become thickened, causing tingling and numbness. Other causes of pain in the ball of the foot include metatarsalgia or sesamoiditis.
Pain in the arch of the foot can be caused by plantar fasciitis or having flat feet or fallen arches. Pain in the toes can be caused by many conditions, including gout, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, toe sprains or fractures, arthritis, and corns.
To find out what is causing your foot pain, it is recommended that you consult with a chiropodist, who can diagnose your condition and offer the appropriate treatments.
The ankle is the region that joins the foot and leg. It consists of three joints that allow the foot to move. Pain in the ankle is typically the result of injury or inflammation from a wide variety of conditions, such as strains, sprains, fractures, or arthritis. Symptoms that often co-occur with ankle pain include swelling, bruising, numbness, tingling, stiffness, joint instability, and difficulty walking.
The underlying cause of your ankle pain can be diagnosed by a chiropodist. A diagnostic visit to this specialist typically involves providing a medical history, describing your ankle pain, and undergoing a physical examination. In some cases, the chiropodist may order imaging studies, such as an X-ray or ultrasound, to rule out or confirm a diagnosis.
The right treatment for your ankle pain will depend on the underlying cause of the pain. In many cases, your chiropodist may recommend that you follow the R.I.C.E. acronym: resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the affected ankle. Taking these actions generally decreases swelling and inflammation, reduces pain, and promotes healing. Taking over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also help with pain management. The chiropodist may also prescribe custom orthotics, immobilize the affected ankle, or recommend activity and footwear modifications. In cases of more severe injuries, surgical treatment may be necessary.
If you are experiencing ankle pain, it is recommended that you seek the care of a chiropodist.
Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, is a condition in which the cuboid bone in the foot moves out of alignment. This can happen as a secondary injury to a sprained ankle or due to injury or overuse. Activities that may increase your risk of cuboid syndrome include playing sports with rapid, side-to-side movements, dancing, climbing stairs, wearing poorly fitted shoes, training on uneven surfaces, and not taking enough time to rest and recover after strenuous activity.
Symptoms frequently associated with cuboid syndrome include dull, aching, or sharp pain along the outside of the foot, pain that gets worse when bearing weight, ankle pain, difficulty walking, a reduced range of motion in the affected foot, and sensitivity on the bottom of the foot.
Fortunately, most people diagnosed with cuboid syndrome make a full recovery. There are many treatment options available for this condition. At home, you may be advised to rest, ice, compress, and elevate the affected foot to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling and to promote healing. Your chiropodist can also perform certain foot manipulations to realign the cuboid bone, use a pad or tape to stabilize the affected foot, or prescribe custom orthotics.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of cuboid syndrome, it is recommended that you see a chiropodist for treatment.
Like other parts of your body, your feet are composed of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. And just like other parts of your body, your feet can benefit from exercise. The feet support the rest of your body, so keeping them strong and flexible will help you maintain your overall health and mobility for years to come.
To improve foot flexibility and mobility, you can do a few simple stretches. Sit upright in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Keeping your toes and the balls of your feet on the floor, slowly raise your heels. Hold for several seconds and then lower them to the floor. Next, point your toes and slowly raise your heels until only the tips of your longest toes are touching the floor. Hold for several seconds and then lower your heels to the floor again. Finally, raise your heels and curl your toes inwards so that only the tips of the toes touch the floor. Hold for five seconds. Repeat each of these steps 10 times to boost foot flexibility.
To strengthen your toes, you can do simple toe curls. Spread a small towel on the flat on the floor. Sit upright in a chair and place one foot flat on the floor and the other flat on the towel. Using only your toes, grasp the towel and scrunch it, pulling it towards yourself. Repeat this on the other foot. You can also spread some marbles out on the floor in front of you and use just your toes to pick them up.
To learn more about various foot exercises, consult with a chiropodist.
Many older adults think that falls are rare and won’t happen to them, so they don’t need to take steps to reduce the risk of falling. This isn’t true, as falls are very common. Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and disabilities among older adults. Not only does falling affect one’s physical health, but it can also cause psychological harm. An older adult who has fallen may lose confidence in their abilities to get around and live independently. They may feel that the only ways to prevent falling are to avoid physical activities and stay in the house when this can in fact be counterproductive.
Though staying in the house can be tempting for an adult that is afraid of falling, it’s worthwhile to note that over 50% of all falls occur in the home. A better way to prevent falls is to take steps to make your home safer. Remove tripping hazards, like loose cables, slippery rugs, and low furniture from the home. Install good quality lighting that will allow you to see where you are walking. In the bathrooms, use a non-slip bath mat and install grab bars in the shower to avoid slipping. When you do leave the house, don’t be ashamed to use a mobility aid, such as a cane, if necessary.
Reducing the risk of falling continues with taking care of one’s physical health. Exercising regularly and incorporating exercises that stretch and strengthen the lower limbs is important for maintaining mobility. Vision care is another key element of falls prevention, as people with vision impairment are more than twice as likely to fall than those who don’t have vision problems. Being able to clearly see where you are going and if there are any tripping hazards in your way will help prevent falls. Managing your medications can help prevent falls. Certain medications cause side effects that impair balance, leading to falls. You should talk to your doctors about the medications that you are currently taking, their side effects, and any ways that they may interact with one another. Finally, regularly seeing a chiropodist can help maintain your foot health and mobility. A chiropodist can not only treat any existing foot problems, which can contribute to falling, but also help you prevent future issues.
Good foot care is proactive, rather than reactive. While a chiropodist can diagnose, treat, and help you manage a variety of foot and ankle conditions, preventing foot problems and keeping the feet healthy is something that you can do at home as well. Having and following an established daily foot care routine can be very beneficial.
Maintaining good foot hygiene helps prevent a variety of foot problems, including infections like athlete’s foot and fungal toenails. It is important to wash your feet every day using lukewarm water and mild soap. Wash the entire foot, from heel to toe. Then dry the foot thoroughly, taking extra care to dry in between the toes. Moisturizing the heels and soles of the feet after washing them can help keep the skin soft, hydrated, and free of cracks.
Stretching and strengthening the feet can maintain or improve their mobility. There are many easy foot exercises that you can do to keep your feet strong and flexible, such as toe scrunches and heel raises. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help keep your weight under control, relieving excess pressure and strain on the feet.
Finally, wearing the right shoes is one of the easiest ways to care for the feet. Many people wear shoes that are too tight or narrow, shoes that don’t support the feet adequately, and shoes that are made of materials that trap moisture on the foot. Opt for comfortable, properly-fitted shoes that support and protect your feet.
For more information about daily foot care practices for good foot health, please consult with a chiropodist.
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Blisters are fluid-filled bubbles of skin that can appear on any part of the body and are particularly common on the feet. Most foot blisters form due to friction. As you walk, run, or go about your daily activities, your shoes may rub against specific areas of your feet, causing the skin to become damaged. The top layer of skin then separates from the lower layers of skin. The area between the separated layers fills with a fluid called serum, whose purpose is to cushion and protect the raw skin below the blister.
If you find a friction blister on your foot, it is highly recommended that you do not pop it. Popping the blister drains the fluid inside of it and exposes the raw skin underneath, increasing your risk of infection. Instead, protect the blister by loosely covering it with a bandage. You can also use special padding around the blister to protect it. Typically, friction blisters naturally heal over the course of one to two weeks. Friction blisters can be prevented by wearing well-fitted shoes and moisture-wicking socks. Wearing soft bandages over areas of your foot that tend to blister may also help.
Sometimes foot blisters can be caused by problems other than friction. Blisters can develop due to a sunburn, frostbite, or exposure to an allergen, as well as from medical conditions such as fungal infections or eczema. If you frequently find blisters on your feet, it is recommended that you consult with a podiatrist.
If you’re suffering from foot pain, it’s important to note the locations and quality of your foot pain. Pain can affect any part of the foot, including the top, bottom, side, heel, or toes. The pain may be sharp, stabbing, dull, achy, burning, or stinging, and can come on suddenly or develop gradually over time.
Pain in the top, bottom, or side of the foot can have many causes. In addition to the type of pain and its location, it’s also important to note when the pain started, what you were doing at the time, and what aggravates the pain. For example, pain in the top of the foot that worsens with physical activity or weight-bearing, that has gradually gotten worse over time, and is accompanied by swelling and tenderness could be indicative of a stress fracture.
Pain in the heel is a frequent concern, especially among patients who participate in sports, run, or wear high heels. Plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heels to the toes, can cause stabbing heel pain. The pain is usually at its worst upon taking your first few steps in the morning or after a long rest and can radiate to the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is also often associated with heel spurs, bony outgrowths on the heel bones that can be painful if they poke into the surrounding tissues.
Foot pain can be caused by not only injuries but also problems with the biomechanics of the feet and underlying health problems, like diabetes or peripheral neuropathy. If you’re experiencing foot pain, please seek the care of a chiropodist near you.
Foot biomechanics is an area of foot care that examines the structure, function, and motion of the feet. When these factors are carefully examined, they can provide more information about potential causes of foot and ankle pain and help your chiropodist find the best treatments for the unique needs of your feet.
The study of biomechanics dates back to ancient times but became more well known in modern history when findings claimed that changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and foot can lead to positive clinical outcomes when treating various foot and ankle conditions.
The advent of modern technology, such as computer analysis, has continued to expand on these discoveries and helps medical professionals make informed decisions about patient care. Understanding the biomechanics of the feet can help in the diagnosis of various conditions and prescribing targeted treatments that reduce or eliminate pain. For example, a chiropodist can analyze your gait, or walking pattern, and determine if there are any abnormalities that can be treated with custom orthotics or footwear modifications.
Like any other part of the body, the feet are vulnerable to wear and tear throughout our lives. As we age, our feet may require more care and attention. Elderly people are especially prone to developing a variety of foot problems, including dry skin, corns, calluses, blisters, ingrown toenails, deformities, arthritis, fungal infections, and plantar warts. Additionally, systemic conditions such as diabetes or poor circulation can have noticeable effects on foot health.
The first step to preventing foot health problems at any age is to establish a good daily foot care routine. Washing the feet with soap and warm water daily, then drying them thoroughly is very important. Applying a moisturizer to the soles of the feet can help prevent dry skin. When trimming the toenails, use nail clippers to trim them straight across. This can prevent painful ingrown toenails. Doing daily foot exercises and stretches can help maintain the strength and flexibility of the feet.
A critical step of the daily foot care routine, especially for those who have systemic conditions like diabetes, is the daily foot inspection. Check your feet each day for any cuts, scrapes, sores, or other abnormalities. By catching and treating any foot problems early, you can prevent infection and other serious complications. A hand mirror can be used to help you see any hard-to-reach areas.
Another important aspect of caring for your feet is wearing the right shoes and socks. Footwear should be comfortable, supportive, flexible, and made of breathable materials. For some people, orthotic inserts can help make shoes more comfortable.
If you have any foot problems, or questions about maintaining the health of your feet, please consult with a chiropodist.