What is podiatry? … And why might I need it?
Podiatry is one of the allied health professions, which specialises in the diagnosis and management of both lower limb and foot conditions. The foot is a complex structure, it contains 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments, and a whopping 250,000 sweat glands. The foot also has a huge job to do, in one lifetime we will walk the equivalent of four times around the equator of the earth, that’s a callosal amount of work for such a small body part. At Physio Plus we believe in the philosophy that hard working feet deserve to be looked after and that’s what Podiatrists are trained to do.
Podiatrists are experts in footcare and advice. With proper detection, intervention and care most feet and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented.
Treatments available at Physio Plus
+ Routine care: The management of skin and nail conditions; Callus and corns, troublesome thickened, fungal or ingrowing nails, verrucae treatment and dermatology skin issues.
+ Education; We will strive to increase your understanding of your foot condition or injuries and educate you on how you can look after your feet and body.
+ Biomechanics: Lower limb assessment and gait analysis involving the treatment of a range of foot conditions (soft tissue and structural) including but not limited to flat feet, excessive pronation, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, tendonitis, tight calves, high arched feet, claw toes, and Morton’s neuroma.
+ High risk: Conservative and corrective care provided to individuals with high risk medical conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, including foot ulcer management.
+ Nail surgery: Commonly associated with ingrown toe nails when conservative care has been unsuccessful. Either a partial or total surgical removal of the ingrown nail will be preformed under a local anaesthetic.
+ Footwear advice: Footwear has a huge influence and is renowned for being a contributing factor towards many foot ailments. Professional advice is offered to every patient seeking podiatric treatment in an attempt to eradicate foot and or lower limb pain.
+ Home visits: home visits are available for those physically unable to attend the clinic for routine foot treatments when within a 6 mile radius.
Biomechanics
Foot pain and injury can be debilitating, and in some cases, can cause discomfort elsewhere in the body; commonly affecting the ankles, knees, hips and occasionally the lower back. A Biomechanical assessment is used to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain within the lower limb. This type of assessment focuses on the body as a whole, assessing the relationship between different joints and structures, of the lower limb, as we move. This type of assessment is vital at recognising the cause of the lower limb injury or pain. By understanding the cause, a detailed treatment plan can be constructed.
Orthotics work by applying different pressures to the foot to change the mechanical function of the body from the ground up. At Physio Plus we use three different types of orthotic devices, to ensure our patients receive gold standard care for their individual needs;
Orthotics – we work with 3 different companies to provide our clients with a choice of orthotics to meet individual affordability and corrective prescription needs
Superfeet; nonprescriptive off the shelf quality orthotic. These areas very good standard off-the-shelf orthotic, that can suit a variety of people with less severe foot conditions. including plantar fasciitis and the mild overpronated foot. Superfeet insoles feature a structured heel cup that cradle the soft tissue under the heel allowing maximise shock absorbing and a durable 4 degree arch support to stabilise the rear foot. There are different insoles to suit different usage, for runners the cooper insoles have a memory foam layer for increase cushioning, black are more low profile for casual shoes, Superfeet also have a range of insulated insoles for ski boots and slightly raised heel for ice hockey boots.
Formorthotics are a prefabricated orthotic which are adjustable according patients’ needs with additional wedges. Formorthotcis were created 35years ago by a Podiatrist and Sports Physician from New Zealand. They are a tried and tested product which are loved and worn by many professional athletes. . These are a an ideal option for; children who outgrow shoes very quickly, and acute injuries that need offloaded in the short term and for extra support during sporting activities.
Cast Prescription Orthotic;
For the more complex foot issues Lead Physiotherapist Cara steps in and is able to use our Pressure plate Gait Scanning technology to assess and prescribe custom orthotics, working along side a podiatrist, formulates the correct prescription which is sent to the lab with the scans and pictures of your foot. Custom orthotic offer both specific control and offloading were needed and are tailored to your personal needs.
A custom functional orthotic is used to help control and correct motion through the foot and subsequently the lower limb, to offload foot structures and increase shock absorption. This type of device is very successful at treating mechanical problems such as; tendonitis, heel pain, knee pain and shin splints.
An accommodative orthotic is used widely to offload areas of high pressure on the high-risk foot to prevent ulcerations and discomfort. Patients with Diabetes or Rheumatoid arthritis find these devices incredibly beneficial.
High risk Feet and Podiatry Role
Podiatrists are able to care for individuals with specific foot pain, or others who experience secondary referred pain, which also can be associated with a range of medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and also neurological disease. intervention and the right care most feet and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented.
Podiatrists play a key role in helping to successfully manage high- risk patients like diabetics. By 2025 it is estimated that 5 million people in the UK will have diabetes. Furthermore, out of that 5million, 10% of those will suffer from a foot ulcer in their lifetime. A foot ulcer is a localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, they can result in infection, systemic illness, amputation and even death. Podiatrists are highly skilled at spotting the early signs of skin injury and preventing foot-related complications. Interventions by Podiatrists have lowered the risk of amputation by 31%.