Pain around the ball of your foot? Does it feel like you’re walking on a pebble? Do your toes feel numb? If you’ve answered ‘YES’ to any of these questions, then it’s time to see a Podiatrist.

Pain around the front part of your foot (the forefoot) is a very common problem that people seek help from a Podiatrist for. Let’s talk about it.

What Causes Forefoot Pain?

There are several causes of forefoot pain. The most common we see is called Morton’s Neuroma.

Morton’s Neuroma is an irritation of the digital nerves that travel between your long metatarsal bones. This causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the balls of the feet that can radiate into the toes. It is most common between the 2/3 and 3/4 metatarsal bones, affecting the 2/3/4 toes.

There is also a fluid-filled sac called a bursa that sits between the metatarsal bones. This bursa may also become irritated and inflamed, adding to the symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma. This is often referred to as intermetatarsal bursitis.

Why Does Forefoot Pain Occur?

Morton’s Neuroma is most likely to present around ages 40-50 and is more common in females than males. There are many reasons why you may develop a Morton’s Neuroma, including:

  • Tightly fitting and/or high-heeled footwear
  • Participating in high-impact activities without appropriate footwear
  • Thinning of the protective fatty padding under your feet
  • Morphology of the feet- ie. differences in the lengths of the metatarsal bones
  • Biomechanical factors such as tight calf muscles, toe deformities, and foot structure

How is Forefoot Pain Diagnosed?

Morton’s Neuroma can often be diagnosed by clinical presentation. Clinical presentations vary, but will often include one or several of the following symptoms:

  • Pain on weightbearing in the ball of the foot
  • Shooting pain that radiates into the toes
  • Feeling like walking on a pebble
  • Burning, numbness, and tingling

Your Podiatrist will perform a clinical examination and may find the following signs that indicate Morton’s Neuroma:

  • Pain when the bottom of the foot is palpated
  • Pain when the foot is compressed and the bottom of the foot is pressed
  • Skin changes (including callus) may be present
  • Swelling may be present. There is rarely redness or loss of movement

Your Podiatrist will also observe your footwear and how you’re walking to determine what could be causing your forefoot pain.

Imaging may also be used to diagnose a Morton’s Neuroma. Ultrasound is accurate for diagnosing Morton’s Neuroma. X-ray will not show a Morton’s Neuroma but may be used to rule out other bony conditions.

How Can I Improve My Forefoot Pain?

The first step to improving your forefoot pain is to book an appointment with a Podiatrist! Your Podiatrist will conduct a biomechanical assessment including watching you walk and performing a set of functional exercises. From there, they will develop a management plan with you and guide you through your treatment options. Treatment for forefoot pain may include:

  • Activity Modification
    • Your Podiatrist may recommend that you decrease or change any activities you are doing that may be flaring the pain. This is usually for a short period until the pain has settled. They will then work with you to reintroduce that activity in a safe way.
  • Footwear Changes
    • Your Podiatrist may recommend changing your footwear depending on your foot posture, what you are currently wearing, and the activities you are doing.
  • Offloading
    • Your Podiatrist may recommend padding, insoles, or orthotics to help offload the area that is sore. This will allow the damaged part of your foot to heal while allowing you to walk with less pain.
  • Shockwave Therapy
    • Shockwave therapy is a soft tissue treatment that can increase blood flow to the problem area,  encouraging healing and strengthening of the damaged tissues.
  • Strengthening and Stretching Exercises
    • Your Podiatrist will likely give you a series of strengthening and stretching exercises to help reduce the forces that are leading to your forefoot pain and to strengthen the tissues that have been damaged.

Forefoot pain is a condition that is well-managed with conservative treatments and rarely involves surgical intervention.

Book a Podiatry Appointment

If you’re ready to take the first step in treating your forefoot pain, book an appointment online or call us (02) 6771 9142. We’d love to help you walk away from foot pain!

Running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity in the world- it’s free, you can do it almost anywhere, and it doesn’t require any specialized skills or equipment. If you’re new to running, or an experienced runner, here are my top tips to follow to keep you running happy!

 

1. Footwear

Like with every sport, having the right gear is vital to your success in your running regime. Get fitted properly for a pair of running shoes, always try both feet in the shoes, and try a couple of different pairs to get different feels. Ensure your footwear meets the demands of what you’re doing in them, for example, if you’re planning on trail running, get trail running shoes. Always remember that if you’re not comfortable in the footwear straight away, it will unlikely be comfortable for you in the future, so make sure you’re happy walking out of the store in your new shoes.

2. Rotate Footwear

Someone who is running frequently should have a couple of different pairs of shoes to run in. These should be different brands/models. Rotating between a couple of pairs of shoes will mean that you get a different feel in your runs and will load different tissues at different times, helping to prevent injury.

3. Replace footwear regularly

One of the most common problems I see with footwear is that they are worn out. Most people think that we should be able to keep running shoes for a certain period of time– ‘I’ve only had them for 6months’. However, athletic footwear is designed to last 600-800km, so if you’re running a couple of times a week, you will reach this mileage quicker than you realise. Modern shoes can be deceptive in that they may still look okay from the outside; however, the shock absorption and cushioning components of the footwear are only made to last so long. Most exercise-tracking apps will allow you to input what shoes you’re wearing for your run, allowing you to measure the mileage on the footwear more accurately.

4. Use different routes

As I runner, I’ve been guilty of leaving my house and turning the same way out of the driveway with every run. The problem with this is that you will constantly be loading the same tissues. Mixing up the routes you’re taking on your runs will allow for a better variety in surfaces, angles of the road and variations in inclination, helping to manage loads more effectively and preventing injury.

5. Variety

This ties in with my previous point, by switching up the distances you’re running and the pace you’re running at, you will also help to prevent injury by allowing different tissues to be loaded during your runs. Generally, I recommend incorporating one long, slow run a week; 1-2 medium distance, medium pace runs; and 1-2 short, fast runs. This can of course be adjusted depending on the number of runs you are doing a week.

6. Increase distances/frequency slowly

If you’re just starting to run or are trying to increase your running load, I highly recommend increasing your load slowly. We are most likely to injure ourselves when we increase our activity too quickly as our soft tissues and bones have not had enough time to adapt to the loads you are putting them through. Even starting off with a combination running and walking can help your tissues to adapt and prevent injury. There are some great apps out there that will guide you through increasing your running load slowly and safely, Couch to 5km is an example of one of these apps.

7. Rest

As someone who loves running, and who has an energetic kelpie who also loves running, it’s tempting to want to run every day. Scheduling yourself time for rest is just as important as arranging your running schedule correctly. This doesn’t mean you have to do nothing, try switching up your regime to include a swim or Pilates session. This means you can remain active, however will allow your body recovery time, and further reduce your risk of injury.

8. Seek help early

If you begin to get any aches, pains, or niggles, seek help as soon as possible. It’s much easier to address these problems when they’re small rather than waiting until they’re really affecting your running regime. Your Podiatrist can advise you on footwear, strengthening exercises, load management, and anything else you may need to keep you running.

 

If you remember these few simple tips you can expect greater success with your running! If you’re experiencing any foot or leg problems that are preventing you from running or doing any of the things you love, then book an appointment online or give us a call on 6771 9142. We’d love to get you back on your feet!

Are your heels cracked and sore at the moment? Are they stopping you from doing things? Cracked heels are a very common problem at this time of year when the weather is hotter. There are many things we can do to help your cracked heels, let us tell you more!


How Do My Heels Become Cracked?

Everyone has a protective padding of fatty tissue under their heels. This fatty tissue aids in shock absorption and protects the bones in our feet. When we walk, force goes through our heel, causing this fatty padding to splay out from under your heel. When your skin is dry or fragile, your skin becomes less elastic. This means that when you step, instead of the skin stretching and splaying out, it cracks. These cracks can then become deeper, sorer, and can lead to infection in some cases.

Why Do My Heels Become Cracked?

There are many reasons why a persons’ heels may crack. These include:

  • Poor Footwear – wearing open backed shoes such as thongs increases your risk of heel cracks. A shoe with an enclosed back will help to prevent the fatty padding from splaying out, therefore reducing the likelihood of the skin cracking. Enclosed footwear also helps to keep more moisture in the skin, preventing the skin from drying out and becoming less elastic.
  • Dry Skin – Skin that is dry or fragile is less elastic, therefore will crack instead of stretching.
  • Aging skin – As we age, we naturally lose the plumpness in our heel fatty padding, meaning it is thinner and therefore more likely to crack. Our skin also becomes less elastic and drier as we age, making it more prone to cracking.
  • Deficiencies – lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, and poor water intake, can affect the health of our skin and lead to more dryness and inelasticity.
  • Medical Conditions- some medical conditions can increase the dryness of your skin, leading to more cracking. This may include diabetes mellitus, eczema/dermatitis, obesity, hypothyroidism.
  • Genetics – unfortunately some people are just more prone to dry and inelastic skin on their feet, leaving them more likely to experience cracking.

What Can I Do About My Cracked Heels?

The good news is, we’re here to help! There are many ways that your Podiatrist can help to combat the problem of your cracked heels.

Step 1: See your Podiatrist.

Your Podiatrist can assess your feet and provide hands on treatment including debridement of the heel cracks, instantly improving the condition of your skin, and improving any pain you’re experiencing. As well as this, your Podiatrist will come up with a treatment plan for you and advise other ways in which you can help prevent your heels from cracking.

Step 2: Implement a skin care routine

Applying an emollient to your feet daily can make the world of difference. In severe cases, twice daily application in the morning and the evening is recommended to help improve the condition of your skin. Your feet have an extra layer of skin on them compared to the rest of your body, therefore the emollient you use needs to be strong and thick enough to penetrate this extra layer. Emollients made for feet are better for feet, at Armidale Podiatry we recommend the Walker’s brand of foot emollients.

Step 3: Assess your footwear and make any changes

Your Podiatrist can help you determine whether your footwear is suitable and whether any changes are needed. If you’re someone who loves wearing thongs and open-toed shoes, you may need to switch these for enclosed shoes to help better manage your skin problems.

Step 4: Manage any other contributing factors

Again, your podiatrist will help to determine if any other factors are adding to your cracked heels. They may suggest a review with your GP to manage any underlying health problems. They may also suggest lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise related changes.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to your cracked and sore heels, then book an appointment online or give us a call on 6771 9142. We’d love to help you achieve your dream summer feet!

Usually in the last trimester of pregnancy some of your complaints will become foot related. Common annoyances include foot swelling, cracked heels, pain (especially under the heel and arch) and shoes no longer fitting. At Armidale Podiatry, we thought it would be fitting for our podiatrist, Trina, to write a blog post on how pregnancy affects feet while it’s still fresh in her mind!

pregnancy and feet

Ankle and foot swelling during pregnancy

As the uterus grows it presses on blood vessels that return blood from the feet to the heart causing blood flow to be slower. This puts more pressure on the blood vessel walls causing clear fluid in the blood to leak out into surrounding areas – this is the swelling that you see in your ankles and feet. Raised hormone levels during pregnancy also cause the body to keep more fluid than usual and gravity doesn’t help as your ankles and feet are the lowest part of your body when standing and sitting.

Apart from being very uncomfortable another issue caused by foot swelling is that you can be more prone to ingrown toenails. The skin surrounding the toenail gets pushed up against it. If you’re feeling any niggles at the sides of your toenails and you can’t quite reach… this is a good reason to see a podiatrist before an ingrown toenail starts.

 

My shoes don’t fit!

As your body prepares for birth it releases a hormone to relax the ligaments of the pelvis. This hormone also affects the feet causing the arches to stretch out and lower. Your foot size could go up by half to a full shoe size.

It is important to wear properly fitted shoes that offer support and cushioning and not squeeze your feet into your old faithfuls. A shoe with an adjustable fastening to accommodate your changing foot size is recommended. If your pregnancy is in summer a slip-on shoe with built-in support is highly recommended, such as a Birkenstock or our Archies thongs.

 

Foot pain during pregnancy

Women often experience heel and arch pain later in pregnancy, this is known as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thick gristle band of connective tissue that connects the heel bone and the toes on the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis occurs when there is too much strain on this band. This excess strain comes from the bones of the foot moving apart allowing the arch to flatten because of the release of ligament relaxing hormone mentioned above and the extra weight you’re carrying.

Supportive footwear and in-shoe support, like an orthotic device, can both reduce or eliminate foot pain. We can give you shoe advice specific to your foot type and discuss an orthotic with you if needed. A prefabricated orthotic is a cheaper option that we can use during this time to alleviate foot pain.

 

Cracked heels and hard skin

Cracked heels might not affect some women until after pregnancy. This is usually because of a combination of mostly being barefoot at home and your skin being drier than usual postpartum.

Underneath your heel bone there is a fatty pad to cushion it. Cracked heels form when the fatty pad splays out putting pressure on the skin around your heel – especially if your skin is dry and not as elastic. This splaying can happen during pregnancy because of the extra weight you’re carrying. Enclosed shoes normally help to hold the fatty pad in place, which is why being barefoot at home can contribute. A podiatrist can tidy your feet up and give you advice on at home foot care.

Pregnancy is a special time full of anticipation about meeting your baby. Your body goes through many changes, and this includes your feet! Don’t let foot problems be a part of your day, we can manage these, so that you can be comfortable during your pregnancy. If you would like to make an appointment with a podiatrist at Armidale Podiatry phone 6771 9142 or book online.

 

Did you know that no one, other than Superman, has x-ray vision? I’m sure this comes as no surprise, so the next time you’re told by a friend, or a concerned family member that you have a heel spur, and they are not wearing a red cape and underpants on the outside of their tights, or have a white dog by their side called Krypto, they’re only guessing, and in all honesty, it’s a poor guess.

Only an X-Ray can determine if a heel spur is truly present, and even if a spur is identified, rarely is the spur causing the ongoing pain in your heel.

There are many types of heel pain, meaning there are numerous underlying causes, and this is why it’s important to see a Podiatrist if you have any sort of heel pain and discomfort, because at Armidale Podiatry, that is exactly what we do, day in, day out, we fix heel pain problems.

If you randomly stopped a hundred people in the street and x-rayed their feet, you would find a large percentage would have a heel spur and didn’t even know it existed. So, the existence of a heel spur does not mean you will have heel pain.

A Heel Spur should really be called a traction spur, because it develops in the same direction that soft tissues pull away from the heel bone.

On the bottom of your foot, there’s a group of tissues called the Plantar Fascia, which attaches itself to the underside of the heel bone. When the Plantar Fascia tears away from its attachment to the heel bone, it creates a micro-bleed in the area, and over time this micro-bleed area ossifies and becomes hard, and eventually develops into a spur, however a spur will not develop in a week or month, it develops over many years, and usually there have been multiple injuries, or tears to the heel area.

Many patients tell us they’ve had sore heels off and on for many years, and they’ve just put up with the pain because it never got too bad, and it is usually these patients that develop heel spurs.

So yes, it’s true, heel spurs do exist, and they are common, and a lot of people with sore heels may have a heel spur, but rarely is the heel spur causing the heel pain.

Some foot-types are also more prone to heel pain and heel spurring than others, and different sporting activities place enormous force on the heels, so all this, and a person’s footwear, needs to be taken into account when diagnosing a heel pain problem.

More often than not, when a person has heel pain, they will notice it first thing in the morning when getting out of bed, or upon rising if they’ve been seated for some time. The pain can be quite intense, however once they get mobile and warmed up the pain tends to be reduced.

There are many causes of heel pain including Plantar Fasciitis, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (nerve entrapment) and inflammation of the heel fat pad … to name just a few. This is why it is important to see somebody that is specifically trained in diagnosing and treating foot conditions. You wouldn’t go to the Optometrist to have a tooth pulled, so why would you take your feet anywhere else other than to a Podiatrist at Armidale Podiatry.

To book a podiatry appointment phone 6771 9142 or Book Online now.

When we treat a child with foot and leg pain at Armidale Podiatry, the treatment often includes exercises, shoe recommendations, and in some cases, foot orthotics.

Parents sometimes have concerns about costs and how long orthotics and quality footwear will last because their child’s foot is growing so fast, which is understandable.

Growing feet

Put Your Mind at Ease

If this sounds like you, let us put your mind at ease. A research study conducted by Roche and Malina in 1983, found that between the ages of six to twelve, both boys and girls feet grow at their fastest rate. Then from twelve to seventeen, it slows quite considerably.

On average, the length of the foot will grow approximately 1cm per year from age six to twelve. From age twelve to seventeen a boy’s foot will only grow an additional 10% and girls about 2%.

Some More, Some Less

You have to remember that these are averages and some children’s feet will grow slightly more per year and others will grow marginally less. If you look at your own feet, this can be a good guideline for your child’s future eventual foot size.

For example, two parents with a size eight foot will rarely have a child with a size twelve foot, especially if there’s no family history of big feet.

No Replacement for Years

Therefore, it is safe to say the average child between six to twelve years of age would not need to replace their orthotics for about one to two years. A child between twelve and seventeen may not need to replace their orthotics for two or more years, or until the orthotic itself has worn out.

I know no parent wants to see their child in pain, so I do hope this article has put your mind at ease about how long orthotics last, and that they are a cost-effective treatment plan.

What to Do Next

If you have any questions, please phone Armidale Podiatry 6771 9142, and one of our friendly team will be able to assist you. Otherwise, feel free to send an email to armidalepodiatry.com.au

Do your toes get red, itchy and sometimes painful bumps in winter?
They are probably chilblains

Chilblains are the body’s abnormal reaction to cold temperature where blood vessels in the toes (and sometimes fingers and nose) become inflamed and constrict. It is a local form of vasculitis; vascul- meaning ‘blood vessel’ and -itis meaning ‘inflammation’.

If you are affected by chilblains you will notice red or purple itchy bumps on the toes. Associated swelling can be present and they may even become painful. If the bumps aren’t attended to and they dry out, the skin can become cracked creating an entry-point for possible infection and definitely a cause for concern.

An Individual is more likely to develop chilblains if they have poor circulation to the feet (which can be due to things such as diabetes or smoking) or have a connective tissue disorder such as lupus erythematous.

Image by DermNet NZ

Avoid extreme temperature changes

Keep your feet warm and avoid extreme temperature changes when possible. A common scenario for mistake is going from a warm bed onto cold bathroom tiles barefoot. On that note, you also want to avoid direct heat as this can cause an extreme temperature change. Things to avoid are putting your feet right in front of a heater or a hot water bottle directly on the feet.

Be selective with your shoes and socks

If trying to keep your feet warm be selective about what your socks are made of. For example, merino wool is a fine fiber making it itch-free, insulating and absorbent. Another favourite for keeping the toes warm during winter are toe socks (which have come a long way since the 70’s) having each toe individually wrapped provides added warmth. Injinji make a great merino wool seamless toe sock.

Avoid ill-fitting or tight footwear, if a chilblain is forming the skin will have poor integrity and abnormal pressure from footwear (or sock seams) can lead to blisters or breaks in the skin creating an entry-point for possible infection.

Exercise and massage

Increasing blood flow to the feet with exercise will help to prevent chilblains. If you have limited mobility sitting in a chair performing foot exercises or massage will also warm the feet and improve blood flow.

How Can a Podiatrist Help?

A podiatrist will assess your feet and check your circulation with a handheld doppler ultrasound machine. A management plan may include recommendations on the use of topical creams or dressings to prevent secondary infection, advice on winter socks and footwear, prescription of foot exercises and how to avoid instigating temperature changes. If chilblains are already present the podiatrist may use a method known as ‘cocooning’ which will prevent temperature fluctuations.

Book Appointment Online (NEEDS LINK)

It’s nearly time to start thinking about getting the kids ready for another school year.
It’s also around this time we start getting a lot of questions about school shoes

Choosing school shoes can be an overwhelming task but it is an important one. Your child spends five days a week wearing them and as their feet are still developing a properly fitting supportive school shoe is important!

First off, it’s a great idea to involve your child in the decision as they are going to be wearing them. Ask them for feedback as another thing to know is that having to wear-in school shoes is a myth, a quality supportive school shoe should feel comfortable on first wear.

We’ve put together three easy tests to check if a shoe has supportive features

Another feature to consider is an adjustable fastening, this holds the foot snugly in the shoe and prevents the foot from sliding (preventing blisters). If tying shoe laces is a bit tricky for your child, good alternatives are velcro or buckles.

Correct sizing is important for your child’s developing feet. We recommend having them professionally measured but if you don’t have access to this service there should be roughly a thumbs width between the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Make sure you measure both feet (they may not be the same size) and fit to the longest or widest foot. This should be assessed with your child standing and their toes should be able to wriggle freely in the shoe.

If your child has been experiencing foot/ankle pain or you’ve noticed excessive shoe wear patterns it is a good idea to have your child’s feet assessed before buying new school shoes as your podiatrist can give footwear recommendations specific to your child’s foot function.

Book Appointment Online (NEEDS LINK)

Pronounced Plan-tar Fash-ee-eye-tis

Are you hobbling around first thing in the morning because your heels hurt? It might be plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis (or fasciopathy) is one of the most common causes of heel pain in adults. It is most commonly described as heel pain in the morning, it improves as the body warms up but returns by the end of the day. You might have good and bad days but how long have you been waiting for your heel or arch pain to fix itself?

What is the Plantar Fascia?

The plantar fascia is a thick gristle band of connective tissue that connects the heel bone (calcaneus) and the toes on the plantar surface (bottom) of the foot. Its primary job is to stabilise the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when excess strain on the plantar fascia causes tissue damage at the attachment into the calcaneus. It usually occurs as an overuse injury caused by repetitive strain during day-to-day activities but can also be from an impact injury such as a jump from height.


Plantar fasciitis – Common Risk Factors

  • Increasing Age – as we get older the flexibility and resilience of the plantar fascia decreases.

  • Foot structure – certain foot types can make an individual more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. A flat foot (pronated) results in the plantar fascia having to span a longer distance due to the collapsing arch which causes excess strain. Whilst a high-arch foot (supinated) has less flexibility and poor shock absorption which gets transferred through the plantar fascia as a jarring motion. Often a thorough biomechanical assessment is needed as there is usually multiple contributing factors.

  • Footwear – there are several characteristics to consider. For example, when the calf muscle contracts to lift the heel bone off the ground strain is placed on the plantar fascia’s attachment into the heel bone. This load can be reduced by choosing a shoe with a heel height of approximately 5-10mm and avoiding barefoot or flat shoes.

  • Activity Levels – a sudden change in activity levels such as returning to running without warming up or not gradually increasing distance can lead to excess strain on the plantar fascia as your foot muscles have not had time to gain strength.

  • Occupation – the physical demands of your job including prolonged standing on hard floors, carrying heavy weight or footwear requirements (construction workers in steel-capped boots or flight attendants in high heels) can contribute.

  • Surfaces – standing, walking or running on surfaces which have no compression, like concrete, can aggravate plantar fasciitis because it increases shock attenuation demands on the foot. Consider surfaces at home (tiles), work and during physical activity.

  • Bodyweight – excess bodyweight increases load through the plantar fascia.

Why hasn’t it healed?

As most overuse injuries have a gradual onset of pain, we often think the pain will also gradually go away and the problem will fix itself. By the time most people start investigating treatment options the pain has been present for months, become chronic and is affecting their day-to-day activities. Once aggravated, the plantar fascia is slow to heal because it has a poor blood supply (our blood carries nutrients required for healing). It is also attempting to heal whilst still being under constant load as we carry out our normal activities that require standing and walking.

You may have also heard that plantar fasciitis is an ‘episodal condition’ and will eventually resolve – this is true. Everyone will have symptoms for a different amount of time depending on contributing factors and severity but if you’re experiencing daily heel pain for months or years it can be a long time to wait!

Why attend a Podiatry Appointment?

It is important to see a podiatrist for a professional assessment and diagnosis as heel pain can have other causes such as ‘fat pad contusion’ or ‘tarsal tunnel syndrome’. If required your podiatrist can send you for x-ray or ultrasound investigation. You want to make sure you’re putting your time into treating the right condition!

A full lower limb biomechanical assessment will be conducted to identify contributing factors to your heel pain. A treatment plan will then be formed to address your specific contributing factors and treatment goals. The podiatrist will give advice on footwear, strengthening and stretching and may also apply strapping, conduct dry needling sessions or recommend the use of orthotic devices.

To start walking around with the bounce back in your step phone Armidale Podiatry to book an appointment today – 02 6771 9142 or book an appointment online (NEEDS LINK).

Spring is finally here, and summer is fast approaching. I know its traditionally time to spring clean your house, but what about your feet. Now winter is over, we can ditch the thick socks and enclosed shoes but are your feet ready?

Dry skin & Callus build-up

If you’ve noticed your skin is dry in winter one of the reasons is the change in humidity levels, cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and this causes the water in our skin to evaporate faster leading to dry and flaky skin. Another reason is we tend to have long hot baths or showers in winter which removes a lot of our skins’ natural oils.

As winter is spent in enclosed shoes, bony prominences on your feet may have been irritated by constant rubbing or pressure leading to callus formation. Callus is a thickening of the outer layer of skin and common causes include ill-fitting shoes (narrow toe-box or high heels), abnormal foot structure (bunions), abnormal gait patterns (the way you walk) or high activity levels.

In preparation for summer replenish your skin with the daily application of a moisturising cream specifically formulated for feet. We recommend a urea-containing foot cream as this is the ingredient which allows the moisturising properties to penetrate the callus and tough dry skin. Excessive callus can become painful when weight-bearing or with pressure from shoes – if this is the case or you’re adverse to unsightly callus in sandals attend a podiatry appointment for removal and specific advice on foot care.

Cracked heels

In summer many people suffer from cracked heels this if often due to walking barefoot, wearing thongs or open-backed sandals which allow the fat pad under your heel to expand sideways – if your skin has less elasticity (dry skin) this extra sideways pressure will cause the skin to split. As above, we recommend the daily use of a urea-containing foot cream and a pumicestone twice a week to reduce callus build-up. If your cracked heels have become too hard to manage it is a great idea to see a podiatrist as cracked heels can become a worry as they allow an entry point for possible infection.

Painful corns

Corns are smaller than callus and have a hard centre or core, the surrounding skin can become inflamed which is painful. Corns are also caused by abnormal pressure but concentrated to a small area. The abnormal pressure may not be obviously uncomfortable as it could be light friction over several weeks. For example, if two of your toes sit too close together and touch you may not notice the excess pressure until a painful corn appears in between them. A podiatrist will remove the corn and discus ways you can reduce the abnormal pressure at the site.

Thickened & discoloured toenails

Over time you may notice that your toenails thicken, you might not like the look of this, but it can also be a problem if it rubs against the top of your shoe or pushes against the surrounding skin. There are a few causes of thickened toenails including an obvious injury (dropping something on your toe can cause permanent damage to the toenail base or bed), repetitive pressure from tight or ill-fitting shoes, older age, certain disease (reduced blood flow to the feet or skin conditions such as psoriasis) or you might have a fungal nail infection!

Constantly wearing enclosed shoes in winter can create a dark and moist environment ideal for a fungal infection of the skin (Tinea) or toenails (onychomycosis) to develop. A fungal toenail infection will often cause thickening, a yellow or brown discolouration and the toenail to be brittle or white and crumble. Whilst fungal nail infections aren’t normally painful, they aren’t pretty and can spread! It is best to get professional advice on treatment options.

Lastly, people often ask about correct toenail cutting technique. All you need is good eyesight, flexibility to reach your toes and a good quality pair of clean nail clippers. It is best to cut straight across your toenail according to its natural shape (not down the sides of your toenail), leaving a free edge of approximately 2mm and then use a file to round the corners slightly. If you’re toenails have become difficult to trim because they’re thickened or hardened podiatrists have multiple tools to combat this.

With less than a month left until summer and ‘sandal weather’ book a podiatry appointment today to Spring Clean Your Feet!

If you’re unsure if you may need to see a podiatrist we’ve created this blog post explaining the role of a podiatrist in foot health – and how this can enhance your overall well-being.

What is a podiatrist?

Podiatrists are university-trained health professionals who specialise in the assessment, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of conditions affecting the feet and lower limb. Simply, they are foot health experts.

Why do people see a podiatrist?

Your feet contain a quarter of the bones in your entire body, twenty-six plus two sesamoid bones in each foot to be exact. For pain-free movement to occur, a complex system of joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles need to function together. Not only do your feet contact the ground but they carry you around for a lifetime!

While the feet can sometimes be overlooked or ignored, if a problem occurs it takes a toll on day-to-day life. Podiatrists understand the structure and movement of the foot and lower limb and conduct biomechanical assessments to identify areas to address. Alternatively, if you have diabetes the podiatrist will check your circulation and test the protective sensation in your feet. Once an overall picture is obtained a podiatrist will advise on an appropriate treatment plan.

Often a foot problem will have multiple contributing factors. For example, foot structure, age, shoe choices or physical demands of your job to name a few. This is why your podiatrist will utilise a number of treatment approaches combined to form a management plan. If you are experiencing foot pain or tired and aching legs, your podiatrist may give you footwear advice, recommend specific stretching or strengthening exercises, strapping application or orthotic devices – to give you an idea of a few possible treatment options. Whilst, if you have a painful corn or ingrown toenail tools will be used to remove the offending ailment and preventative measures discussed.

When should you see a podiatrist?

General podiatry

  • General nail care – hard/thick toenails, difficulty reaching your feet or poor eyesight

  • Ingrown toenails, discoloured toenails

  • Fungal nail infections

  • Callus, corns and cracked heels

  • Plantar warts

Foot pain

  • Tired & Aching feet or legs

  • Assessment for orthotics

  • Heel & Arch pain (plantar fasciitis)

  • Forefoot pain (Morton’s neuroma)

  • Foot arthritis

  • Bunions

Diabetic foot care

  • Circulation & nerve testing

  • Diabetic foot education (preventing diabetic foot complications)

  • Footwear advice

  • Wound care

  • Diabetic insoles

Paediatric Podiatry (Kids feet)

  • Flat feet

  • Growing pains

  • Heel pain (Severs)

  • In-toeing (pigeon toed)

  • Toe walking

  • Lower limb coordination issues

  • Sport injuries

Do I need a referral?

You do not need a referral from a GP to see a podiatrist. However, in certain circumstances you may be eligible for a Team Care Agreement (TCA) allowing your GP to refer you under a Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care) item. This will allow you to claim a Medicare rebate on a certain number of podiatry visits. Patients covered by Department of Veteran’s Affairs will require a GP referral.

If you have a private health fund it is a good idea to check if you are covered for podiatry care before your appointment – item code F004 for an initial consultation.

To schedule an appointment at Armidale Podiatry phone 02 6771 9142 or book an appointment online(NEEDS LINK)