What to Expect When Getting Fitted for Orthotics

Orthotics can be very helpful in treating problems in specific muscles or joints. Different types of orthotics can be used to restrict movement, reduce the weight bearing on a certain joint, help in movement, restore proper function and prevent injury of a part of the musculoskeletal system such as the neck or knee. The most common types of orthotics are those fitted on the feet to help in running and walking, reduce pain and treat conditions such as flat feet and poorly formed arches.

Here’s what to expect when getting fitted for orthotics so you can be better prepared for your appointment:

• A detailed analysis of your medical and lifestyle history. A review of your medical history will reveal any diseases you may have had affecting your musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, cartilage and ligaments) as well as any past injuries. An analysis of your lifestyle helps establish what activities you do most which in turn helps design the best orthotics for you.
• A biomechanical examination. This is a detailed exam of your of your feet and ankles and how they relate to the rest of the body. The doctor may observe how you walk and stand.
• Impressions. To create the perfect orthotic for your foot, an impression of your feet is taken.
• Ensuring a shoe fit. After the fitting, orthotics take just a few weeks to be designed. Your doctor may recommend that you bring two or three pairs of your usual shoes for testing. If any problems arise, modifications are made and monitored over the course of the next several weeks.

Treating Ingrown Toenails – DIY or Go to a Professional?

Should you treat your ingrown toenails yourself? There are situations when you may be able to handle the problem on your own, but there are also signs that you should skip treatment at home altogether and see a doctor.

When to Treat at Home and How

If the ingrown toenail is mildly irritated and red, then you don’t necessarily have to see a professional. The following treatment should help:

• Soaking your foot in lukewarm water three times a day for 15 minutes.
• Massaging the skin around the area where the nail has grown with the purpose to push the skin away from the nail.
• After drying the foot thoroughly, applying antibiotic cream or ointment to prevent infection.

If after a few days the soaking doesn’t work and the irritation gets worse, then it’s best to visit the doctor.

When to Seek Professional Help

Whether the ingrown toenail happened naturally or through an injury, it can be very painful. If the pain doesn’t subside, the toe feels numb and there are signs of an infection then go directly to a professional before attempting to treat the problem yourself. If you have diabetes or poor blood circulation, you should also seek immediate help.

Needless to say, it’s better to prevent ingrown toenails from becoming a problem. Clipping your nails on a regular basis according to the natural curve of your toe and not rounding off the corners should help a great deal. Also, don’t cut them too short and wear shoes that give your toes enough room to move around.

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Foot Health

It’s important to know how diabetes can affect your foot health, because your lower extremities run a higher risk of developing complications. That’s why when you have diabetes, taking care of your feet has to become a priority.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause problems. Two of the most common are:

Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetes causes direct damage to nerves and blood vessels – specifically peripheral nerves. In addition to making your muscles less efficient, pain and a tingling or burning sensation in your feet can be expected. You may also have an overall loss of feeling in your feet, which means injuries are less likely to be noticed.

Peripheral Artery Disease: This is the indirect way diabetes can create complications. Basically, you experience a hardening of the arteries which either decreases the amount of oxygen that reaches the legs and feet, or it completely stops the oxygen flow. With less oxygen reaching the area, you’ll feel more pain. You can develop ulcers and, in the worst cases, the tissue in your legs and feet can start to die.

Diabetes is often treatable, but it’s imperative that no matter how serious your condition, you keep a close eye on your lower extremities so that when complications do arise, you’ll be able to get the treatment you need before too much damage is done.

How Can Neuropathy Affect the Feet?

Neuropathy is a disorder that affects the network of nerves (called the “peripheral nerves”) that connect the spinal cord to the organs, muscles and skin. The job of the peripheral nervous system is to relay signals or information from the central nervous system (i.e., your brain and spinal cord) to the rest of your body, and vice versa. Neuropathy develops when some type of damage has been done to the peripheral nerves, which will eventually affect your ability to perceive certain touch-related information such as warmth, pressure, etc. People who suffer from peripheral neuropathy will sometimes feel numbness or tingling in their extremities such as their arms, legs, hands, and feet.

How Neuropathy Affects the Feet

Since neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, there can be times when your nerves will send signals of pain when there is no source of pain present. This can take the form of sharp shooting pain in your feet, or even a dull ache or throbbing sensation. Other times, you may experience a loss of feeling when something actually is harming you. Other symptoms include burning or stabbing sensations in the toes. This type of condition can be caused by a number of factors, including illness, injury, infection, or even hereditary disorders. Neuropathy can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as diabetes.

Neuropathy: Caring for Your Feet

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, it is highly recommended that you inspect your feet on a regular basis. Since neuropathy can cause a gradual decrease in physical sensation, it can be easy to accidentally overlook an infection or injury. For example, you could step on a piece of glass or a tack and not even feel it. Carefully inspect your feet on a consistent basis, and seek medical attention if necessary. In addition, it is a good idea to avoid walking barefoot, and be sure to wear adequately protective footwear.

Tips for Teens Dealing with Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) is caused by a fungal infection on the feet. Common symptoms of athlete’s foot include itchy rashes, dryness or cracking of the skin on the bottom of the feet and/or between the toes. Despite the name, you don’t have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot; this condition can affect anyone, but it is most commonly found among teenage males and young men. If you are a teenager dealing with athlete’s foot (or the parent of one), below are some helpful tips you can use to help treat and/or prevent this bothersome condition.

• Fungus thrives in damp places, so be sure to dry your feet completely (including between your toes) when you get out of the shower. If you are physically active and sweat a lot, you may need to bring an extra pair of socks to change into after you exercise so that the sweat doesn’t settle in on your feet and create a moist environment. You can also apply some antifungal powder to your feet before putting on your socks to help keep them dry.
• There are several over-the-counter antifungal creams, such as miconazole and clotrimazole, that do a good job of killing the fungus associated with athlete’s foot. It typically takes between 1 to 4 weeks of applying the cream to the soles of your feet and between the toes to fully eliminate the fungus.
• Avoid walking barefoot, especially in public locker rooms, gyms and showers. These places are breeding grounds for all kinds of “fungus triggers”. Wear flip-flops or shower shoes instead.
• Wear socks instead of cotton or synthetic fabrics such as polyester or nylon. Wool absorbs moisture much better than its synthetic counterparts or cotton.

The above tips are typically very effective in treating and preventing athlete’s foot, but if the fungus still stubbornly hangs around, consult with a podiatrist in order to knock it out for good.

What Should You Do if a Toenail is About to Come Off?

Torn or separated toenails are not uncommon injuries; they can happen by way of something as simple as stubbing your toe around the house or hurting your foot while playing sports. A loose toenail can also be the result of a fungal infection. Whatever the cause, common symptoms of a loose toenail include swelling, discoloration, pus or blood collecting under the nail, and pain (of course). If your toenail is about to come off, you need to take a good assessment of its condition so that you’ll know how to respond. Below are some practical steps you can take to treat a torn or separated toenail.

1. Treat the bleeding first. This can usually be done by applying light pressure around the toe (not directly on the toenail) with a cloth. Try to keep your foot elevated during the process as well. It may take anywhere between 10 minutes to half an hour for the bleeding to stop completely, so don’t be worried if you have to wait a little while.
2. Clean the wound as best as possible. Use a warm washcloth to gently wipe away the blood around the toenail. You will also need to disinfect the wound, but it’s better to use something like Betadine instead of hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol to do it. Not only will it be far less painful, but you will run less risk of possibly burning or damaging the underlying tissue. Once you have disinfected the wound, dab it dry and apply an antibiotic ointment (e.g., Neosporin) to the area.
3. Don’t yank it off if it’s not ready. If the nail is “dangling by a thread”, so to speak, it’s fairly safe to go ahead and gently remove it with toenail clippers, but if you have any doubts, it’s better to err on the side of caution and leave it on. Many times the nail will fall off all on its own to prepare for the healing process. The nail will grow back naturally in about 3 to 6 months. In the meantime, keep the affected area as clean as possible, regularly apply your ointment, and wrap it with gauze and medical tape.
4. Monitor the wound for signs of infection. Check on it regularly for any discolored pus or abnormal swelling (a small amount of swelling is normal). If you suspect that it might be infected, get it checked out at a clinic or hospital just to be on the safe side.

What are Plantar Warts and How Do You Treat Them?

Plantar Warts (verruca plantaris), also known as myrmecia, are small, hard, noncancerous skin growths that affect the foot, but typically appear on the heels or balls (plantar side) of the foot. They commonly occur in children, adolescents and the elderly. Plantar warts are caused by a strain of viral infection in the superficial layer of the skin known as human papillomavirus (HPV) – the most common viral infection of the skin. Though HPV can be found anywhere in the plantar surface or sole of the foot, they tend to produce symptoms in areas of most pressure and friction.

What do plantar warts look like?

The most noticeable symptom is a thickened callus-like growth that tends to become quite tender, especially if it occurs around areas of continuous pressure. Because of this pressure, plantar warts appear flat or grow inwards. They can occur solo or in a cluster (mosaic warts). They may also have black spots (caused by dilated blood vessels) on their surfaces.

How do you get plantar warts?

HPV thrives in warm, moist environments and you may contract it by walking barefooted around locker rooms or swimming pools.
HPV gains entry into the skin of the foot through:

• Cuts or scrapes
• Cracks in dry skin
• Moist, softened, fragile skin that has been in the water a long time

How do you treat plantar warts?

Treatment of plantar warts is recommended to lessen symptoms (including pain), decrease duration and reduce transmission. Plantar warts may eventually clear up on their own after a certain period of time. However, since they are frequently painful, especially when standing, walking, running or when squeezed, you may want to have them treated immediately and completely by a podiatrist.