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.

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.

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!

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

Foot changes during pregnancy 

During pregnancy the body pumps hormones into the blood stream to help the development of the baby, loosening  joints in the mothers’s body to prepare for the birth. But these hormones also effect  your feet and ankles.

Due to natural weight gain in pregnancy, the centre of gravity is moved which changes the posture and walking pattern which can effect balance, which may result in additional pressure on the hips, knees and feet. 

Footwear – many women find that their shoe size increases by half to one size.

Top tips for choosing footwear during pregnancy

• Make sure there is 1cm between the longest toe and the end of the shoe
• Keep heel heights to about 3cm
• Make sure shoes are wide and deep enough at the to box to accomodate the foot
• Feet tend to swell during the day , so buy shoes later in the afternoon when your feet are largest
• Choose a shoe with a strap to keep it firmly on your foot, avoiding fiddly straps that are tricky to do up
• Take time to check your shoes fit properly, don’t rush into a purchase.
• Try on both shoes and walk around the shop to check if they pinch or rub
• Choose supportive footwear with extra shock absorbtion, supportive arch and firm heel

Nails

Ingrown toe nails can occur due to weight gain or swelling and not cutting your nails correctly. An ingrown nail is a piece or splinter of nail that pierces the flesh of the toe. This usually prompts women to see the podiatrist.

Toe nail cutting self help tips

• Cut nails with larger nail nippers available from your podiatrist or chemist; with a longer handle and smaller cutting suface
• Cut your nails straight across following the shape of the nail which is slightly curved. Do not cut too short or down the side of the nail
• The corner of the nail shoiuld be visible above the skin

Why do my legs and feet swell?

The uterus puts pressure on the veins in the pelvis which slows down the return of blood to the heart. The blood vessels in the feet and ankles are among the smallest in the body. This causes some fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues of the legs and feet, causing swelling and sometimes throbbing. Feet can increase in size and you may need to change shoe size.

Self help to reduce swelling in feet and ankles

• Put your feet and legs up whenever you can
• Stretch legs and feet whenever possible, when you are driving
• Don’t stand for long periods of time without a break
• Wear comfortable, supportive footwear, ideally with a strap, laces or velcro
• Don’t cross your legs or ankles when sitting

A note of caution!

Contact your GP or midwife immediately if you get: swelling of the face or around your eyes, noticeable swelling in one leg more than another; sudden or excessive swelling in your legs, feet & hands; if pain persists; excessive itchiness on skin of feet and ankles, particularly the soles; severe or prolonged cramps; skin lesions or moles; excessive or unusual bruising.

When you need extra help

It can take up to a year for your feet to recover after pregnancy. You shouldn’t have to put up with foot pain. A podiatrist can advise on treatment and prevention of your foot pain, footwear and lower limb problems.

Many women have no foot problems during pregnancy, but your podiatrist can still advise on nail care, foot and footwear care, and give your feet a health check, which can be comforting and helpful.

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.

Many people think they can’t run complaining of knee,back,and foot pain. More specifically shin splints, plantar fasciitis,metatarsalgia, Ilio  Tibial Band syndrome to name but a few.

I hear this all the time in my clinic but I happen to think differently.Within reason most  healthy people can run so long as they don’t set themselves unrealistic targets i.e don’t run 10miles the first time out. Gradually build up with a mixture of running and walking, It may take months but you must be patient.

When you have thought about the why and when you want to run visit a Podiatrist who will check your feet and explain what type of foot you have. They will carry out a bio mechanical assessment which means your gait i.e the way you walk and running action will be checked which will enable the Podiatrist to advise you on the type of running footwear you need.

There are specialist running shops around who work closely with the Podiatrist. Sometimes the advised running shoe is not sufficient on Its own to correct any bio mechanical problems and an orthotic ( insole ) is necessary. This again can be easily made by a Podiatrist.

Now you are prepared and the light nights are coming so get out there, be careful and always wear something reflective and enjoy your running.

Please find below somemore useful tips.

A COMMON SENSE GUIDE TO TRAINING FOR NEW RUNNERS

It is advised to consult with your Doctor prior to any training

STEP 1 Allow at leastfour weeks of training if you are starting from basic fitness (that is , being able to jog for at least 20 mins)

STEP 2 Add 5mins of running/jogging to your 20minutes in week one. In other words try to run for 25mins each time you run.

STEP 3 Continue this program over the next three weeks, adding 5mins of jogging/running per week. By this time you will be up to 40minsof continuous running. Hopefully!

STEP 4 Aim to do this program at least three days a week.The other four days can be either rest or an alternative exercise like cycling or swimming.

STEP 5 Allow your legs and lungs to catch up to each other in the begginning. I used to feel so breathless but it wears off. You use your legs everyday but your lungs probably havn’t worked so hard in years!

STEP 6 Work up to being able to do at least 4miles of continuous running before your race.This I’m sure will allow you to run another 2miles on race day.

STEP 7 Run at your own pace dont go off too quickily to keep up with the crowd.

STEP 8 Build up training steadily and add variety(eg. hill running, weight training, swimming etc).

STEP 9 Listen to your body dont push too hard too soon, you will get injured.

STEP 10 Find a natural starting point by recording your morning pulse rate. Sudden rises in your rateare signs that you are putting your body under too much stress.

STEP 11 Remember to stretch. Get into a routine and stick to it.

STEP 12 Take a break from training if you have an illness or infection- but dont be surprised if you cant start back at the same level on the first day back after the illness.

STEP 13 Break your training up and offer yourself more than constant running- you will get bored if you dont!

STEP 14 Never  run through injuries -it only makes them worse and slows down the natural healing process. If you suffer from repeated injuries see a Podiatrist, Doctor or sports  injuries specialist. Your running style might be the problem.

STEP15 Remember – it’s not the end of the world if you dont do well in a run. Go out and enjoy it and learn from the experience and come back in better shape next time.

STEP16 Please make sure you get a good pair of running trainers. See a Podiatrist first who will tell you what type for your running style you have, and then go to a specialist shop.

GOOD LUCK. I HOPE YOU HAVE GREAT FUN AND MEET LOTS OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE

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

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

What is a chilblain?

This is a seasonal, sudden constriction of a blood vessel affecting the young and old. This cold injury, when resolving may be mistaken for unusual hard skin or old blisters. There may be an underlying medical condition complicating the problem.

What do chilblains look like?

Chilblains occur most commonly in the winter and are about 2cm in diameter, are usually discoloured and may itch or be painful. They affect the extremities, feet, hands, ears and nose. The discolouration changes according to the stage of the chilblain. Initially the area of cold damage is white due to constriction (closing) of the blood vessels. Later, when the blood vessel eventually dilates (opens) and consequent tissue damage occurs, the site shows a bright red inflammatory reaction. A few hours later the site becomes swollen and bluish from prolonged dilation of the blood vessels. As the lesions resolve over days to weeks, the skin may wrinkle, look shiny and scale. If the chilblain site is damaged then the area may become broken and take some weeks to heal.

Management of chilblains

Management requires minimising exposure to extremes of temperature and rapid temperature change e.g. avoid walking in bare feet on cold floors and then sticking your feet in front of a fire to warm them up. Insulating footwear may need to be a size bigger than normal; adding insulating materials to footwear also requires sufficient space, otherwise the tissues will be constricted, depriving them of local blood flow which will make the situation worse.
Topical preparations can be applied according to the stage of the chilblain; a cooling, soothing preparation can be used to control the red inflammatory stage e.g. witch hazel. In the swollen, bluish stage homeopathic and herbal preparations such as calendula and peppermint oil can help with very gentle, superficial massage, but not if the skin is broken.
Proprietary chilblain creams that contain active ingredients such as methyl salicylate and capsaicin are aimed at dealing with chilblains in all their stages.
Low level laser therapy may also help stimulate healing and circulation.
Over areas of pressure which could result in the skin breaking open, the podiatrist can apply deflective padding to aid healing.
Patients with poor circulation need to be monitored carefully to avoid breaking of skin and secondary infection.
Regular exercise can improve circulation and reduce the risk of developing chilblains. Stopping smoking will also improve circulation.