Any injuries may be gait related and need a Bio Mechanical Assessment, which we now do using the RSSCAN Footscan System.

This equipment produces comprehensive analysis for pressure and force, gait and balance.

The footscan plate gives Bio Mechanical breakdowns of all areas under the foot and can even assess metatarsal (ball of foot) loading information as well as static (standing) and dynamic (moving) breakdown.

If orthoses are required a cast is taken and sent to the lab with our prescription and the resultant data is used to manufacture orthoses to exact specifications.

Ideal for Rugby players where balance, weight distribution and speed is essential.

NOW back to basics before we move on to actual sports injuries.

First off don’t leave those rugby boots in your bag all dirty, smelly and wet.   This is an ideal growing area for fungus.  Give them a bit of fresh air and remember to wash your socks!!

The feet themselves need a bit of TLC too!

Wash every day.

If the skin is moist use surgical spirit  especially between the toes.  If it’s dry and cracked use an emollient such as CCS or Epaderm.  No powder, it blocks the pores and makes you sweat more.

Keep the nails short,  Cut straight across and file if necessary.

If you have a fungal infection use antifungal sprays, they tend to work quicker

If corns or calllous appear have this removed by a podiatrist.

Common Sports Injuries.

If you get any injuries a podiatrist can treat most of them from the lower limb down.

These include:  Plantar fasciitis, lliotibial Band Syndrome, Achilles problems, knee, ankle and foot problems.

Don’ forget some lower back problems are due to bad posture, which can affect performance.

A Bio Mechanical assessment only takes an hour.  It could be one of the best things you ever do.

• Make sure you can wiggle your toes a little inside your shoes
• Try on both shoes and walk a few steps to see if they pinch or rub
• Choose leather uppers or materials that allow your feet to breathe and mould well to the shape of your foot
• Feet tend to swell a little during the day, so buy shoes in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest
• Visit a member of the Society of Shoe Fitters for a professional fitting service
• Buy the right shoe for the purpose – high heels are not for walking distances
• Buying shoes in a “sale” may save money, but could cost your feet dearly. Ensure they fit correctly

PUT THE RIGHT FOOT FORWARD TO

PREVENT AND TREAT ARTHRITIS

Howlett & Dickinson offers preventative advice and treatment for arthritis

Hidden away in socks and shoes at the end of our bodies, our feet can often be neglected and our foot health overlooked. As part of the annual Feet for Life Month in June, The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists is raising awareness ofall aspects of foot care and foot health, with a specific focus this year on arthritis.

Arthritis is often associated with older age, and while you are more likely to develop arthritis as you get older,it can occur at any age and usually develops between the ages of 20 and 50. There are also steps you can take to help prevent your chances of developing the condition later in life.

Knees and feet are particularly prone to arthritis and The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists is urging people to be vigilant about pain in these areas to help aid detection and improve quality of life and treatment.

Howlett & Dickinson explained:

“Arthritis of any form can cause great pain for the sufferer but the good news is that there are things you can do to help prevent arthritis and there are also ways to ease the
symptoms if you do develop it. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active through low impact sports such as swimming and cycling can help to preventarthritis in later life, as can choosing supportive footwear which reduces pressure on the joints. The key to treatment is early detection so if you do experience pain, swelling and stiffness in your joints, see a podiatrist or health professional for advice.”

WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?

There are numerous forms of arthritis but Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are common.

OA is the most common and is caused by trauma and stress to the cartilage around the joints which can be as a result of general wear and tear, or an injury. OA is very common in foot joints.

RA is one of the more severe types of arthritis although it is much less common. RA affects around 2 per cent of the UK population and is twice are prevalent in women than men. RA occurs when the body’s immune system turns on itself, causing inflammation in the joint lining.

TREATMENT:

If someone is experiencing problems with their feet, then often a podiatrist is their first point of call and can help indentify ifit’s arthritis that is causing the problem, and consequently refer the patient depending on the severity of the disease.

If you have already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, treatment may involve non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, footwear, insoles, or other help. But living with the pain is not inevitable – something can always be done to help control the disease and help your quality of life. Talk to your podiatrist, GP or consultant about what can be done.

If you are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, regular checks are important, at least annually for feet, according to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). People with RA are likely to need stronger medication and should be seen by a specialist rheumatologist. As medical treatment advances, more help than ever is available to aid ongoing foot problems. There is now good evidence for the use of insoles and footwear helping people with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in the early years, soon after diagnosis. Your podiatrist can help by aligning your joints to ease pain and prescribing insoles and footwear to limit joint damage. If the arthritis is severe, surgery may help.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Early detection: Arthritis is more easily treated if detected early. It is therefore important for people to self-monitor and be aware of any developing symptoms.

Regular exercise: Taking part in regular exercise and activity throughout your life is great for reducing the effects of arthritis however it’s important that you choose low impact sports that don’t bear heavily on limbs and joints. Activities such as cycling and swimming are great and over time can actually increase the thickness of the cartilage in the joints.

Footwear:
Arthritis is caused by inflammation and wear and tear to the joints which may be caused or exacerbated by wearing high heels and unsupportive footwear. For general daywear, try to wear a low heeled, round toed shoe of around 2-3cm in height with shock absorbent sole and lace/strap to help minimise damage to the joints. When doing exercise, ensure you wear trainers that are fitted and designed specifically for that form of exercise.

Weight loss:
Try to remain a healthy weight. Arthritis is caused by mechanical stress on the joints and extra weight can exacerbate the problem.

Diet:

There is currently no conclusive evidence about diet and arthritis but experts advise eating a healthy, balanced diet to limit any problems. A Mediterranean diet that includes
lots of olive oil and Omega is said to be good for the joints. Dietary supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin may help make the cartilage more resilient, but evidence is not yet conclusive.

This June, why not head down to Howlett & Dickinson and have a foot health checkwith a qualified podiatrist? Appointments can be made by calling 0191 2843698.

More information on foot health, with free leaflets and tips can be
found on the Society’s website www.feetforlife.org.

It is becoming more evident that foot and lower limb function holds one of the keys to a proper golf swing. To transfer weight and produce an efficient swing, proper biomechanical balance of the foot is essential.

Acute foot injuries in golf are not that common, however walking the course , pre-exisiting foot injuries complicated by repetetive weight transference during swing, and improprerly fitting shoes can contribute to foot complaints during golf play.

Other factors such as tight achilles tendons and calves, feet rolling inwards and high arched feet, combined with uneven terrain & uphill lies can cause excessive stretch and torque of tendons contributing to tendinitis. Plantar fasciitis (heel Pain) is one of the most common over use injuries in sport, particularly with golfers who walk the course as opposed to buggy riding.

Golfers who walk undulating fairways or attempt to swing from uneven or uphill lies (sand traps) or who excessively turn the ankle outwards in the follow through swing may suffer an acute ankle sprain. Tight fitting golf shoes can cause nerve entrapment in the foot which results in stabbing pain when walking.

Other problems golfer’s can suffer from are blisters, corns, hammer toes, Athlete’s foot  infections, sweaty feet, dryness of the skin, and heel fissuring and fungal nails.

The golf shoes act as a base of support for the golf swing by reducing foot slippage and offering stability.

There are 3 basic types of golf shoe

1.Welted shoes, the classic shoe with leather upper and stitched leather sole

2.Athletic style shoe

3.Comfort classic shoe which is lighter and more cushioned.

For full biomechanical and gait analysis see your podiatrist, you may need special insoles for your golf shoes, or basic chiropody care. Healthy feet will go towards creating a perfect golf swing!

During pregnancy feet can be problematic and challenging, just reaching your feet in the later stages of pregnancy is not easy! Add to that swelling, cramps, aching, itchiness and varicose veins, feet and pregnancy don’t seem that appealing!

 But foot pain need not be an inevitable part of pregnancy.

Continue Reading »

Obviously, what do you want to achieve?

Is it weight loss, general fitness and wellbeing or do you want to join a running club and or just enter races

From my experience Its better to find a running partner or club to start with as this keeps you motivated and once your hooked Its easy to run alone!!

However It dosn’t matter what your goal is the steps are the same.

Continue Reading »

Excessive amounts of sweat (hyperhidrosis) are secreted by glands in your feet, and when this happens it effects the skins mechanical strength.

This means for example that your skin between the toes will become waterlogged and white and the skin will tear. The soles of the feet and heels can become waterlogged as well and appear pitted, white,rubbery and painful.

When the skin breaks this can then increase the risk of bacterial infection, which in turn causes the characteristic smelly feet odour. A sweat rash can then develop which consits of tiny blisters which can then block the sweat gland ducts. This results in damage to the tissues and inflammation.

Why do I produce excess sweat in my feet?

Excess sweating may be caused by several factors :

• Wearing non absorbent footwear i.e non-leather shoes
• Wearing nylon socks
• Abnormal foot shape can lead to foot strain which can cause excessive sweating
• It may indicate a medical disorder e.g. an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)

How do I stop my feet from sweating and smelling?

• Try sweat absorbing insoles
• Changing and airing footwear frequently
• Wear cotton socks and change twice daily
• Apply astringents e.g. surgical spirit or potassium permanganate footbaths (only use 2-3 crystals)
• Antiperspirants e.g. aluminium chloride
• Deodorants
• Treatment of any foot disorder e.g. flat feet
• Treat any bacterial or fungal infections
• In severe case botox injections can help (injections of botulinum toxin)
• See your podiatrist for a consultation, who can provide stronger treatments
• Iontophoresis is a simple device used to treat excessive sweating of the hands and feet which patients can buy to use at home. Iontophoresis uses water to conduct a mild electric current through the skins surface. It is thought the electric current and mineral particles in the water work together to block the flow of sweat to the skins surface. www.iontophoresis.info

Why do diabetics need to look after their feet?

Diabetes may affect your feet in a number of ways and in some cases may lead to serious complications.

One of the early changes may be loss of sensation in your feet starting in your toes. This is called peripheral neuropathy. It can be gradual, and go unnoticed which is why it is important that you have a diabetic foot assessment annually by a podiatrist.  At Howlett & Dickinson we provide all our diabetic clients with a free anuual diabetic foot assessment.

Occasionally there may be pain or a burning sensation accompanying loss of feeling, this is called painful neuropathy.

When your nerves in your feet are affected other changes may follow e.g. clawing of the toes and the bones in your feet may be more susceptible to fracture.

At your annual foot review any early signs of neuropathy will be detected, and you will receive both advice and explanation of these changes.

Another change that may occur is reduced blood flow to the feet. Diabetes may also affect your ability to heal and reduce your bodies natural ability to fight bacteria, therefore you should take care of any cuts, scratches or blisters on your feet.

If you are a low risk diabetic one check up per year is adequate. However if you are at increased risk of complications these inspections should be done more regularly.

At Howlett & Dickinson we check the pulses of the feet to check circulation and check for loss of sensation in the feet.

We also look for any foot deformity or signs of excessive pressure that may warrant foot care advice. We remove hard skin and corns and sometimes the provision of corrective or protective insoles is necessary.

Can I prevent or slow down any changes to my feet?

It is possible to prevent or delay changes if you follow medical advice and keep blood pressure and cholesterol and blood sugar levels within the target range set by your doctor. Your chances of doing this will be greatly improved if you do not smoke.

Consult your podiatrist immediately if you see any of the following in your feet:

1.A break in the skin or discharge

2.The skin changes colour, becoming redder, bluer, paler or blacker, over part or all of the foot.

3. New swelling in your feet

4. Seek urgent advice from your doctor or podiatrist if you normally have little or no feeling in your feet but suddenly experience an unexplained pain or discomfort, especially if the surrounding skin is a little warmer to the touch, compared to a similar spot on the other foot.

8 Top Tips for healthy diabetic feet

1. Always check your feet everyday for cuts, colour change and wounds that are not healing.

2.Clean and dress any cuts, scratches or wounds with a sterile dressing before consulting your podiatrist or GP surgery.

3. Always wear footwear especially if you have lost the feeling in your feet.

4. Always wear shoes that fit properly.

5. Never sit with your feet too close to the fire

6. If you have corns and callouses visit a podiatrist regularly for there removal as they are caused by pressure from shoes.

7. Do not attempt to use corn plasters, as they can cause damage if you have loss of sensation or poor circulation and can cause serious consequences.

8. Nail cutting – if able cut your nails straight across and file any sharp edges with an emery board. Any difficulties in cutting your nails you should consult a podiatrist.

How do I seek a private consultation with a podiatrist?

You can search for a podiatrist at www.feetforlife.org