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GARY WEBB ^(1,203) United Kingdom

GARY WEBB

WEBB'S PODIATRY

Nagging Knee Pain to the Front or Sides of your Kneecap Patello-Femoral Syndrome

Posted Monday, August 10, 2009 (107 days 3 hours ago.) Viewed 183 times.

If you have persistent pain to the front and the sides of your kneecap you may have a condition known as patella-femoral syndrome. As your kneecap tracks across the femur it can become displaced. Activities such as running, walking up-stairs can cause pain on the sides or beneath your kneecap. A dull ache can occur, even when you are getting out of your chair or when you bend down. You may even have inflammation present and be experiencing clicking or crunching around your knee, which is known as crepitus.

Main Cause of persistent knee pain

A condition known as excessive pronation can be a significant cause of patella-femoral syndrome or be the main reason why you may have persistent knee pain. Pronation is caused by the foot and ankle rolling inwards. This causes the lower leg (tibia) to internally rotate, which then displaces the knee. This really only becomes a problem when the rolling inwards becomes excessive. Activities that are high impact will make your condition worse. Because your knee may not glide smoothly this can cause pain and swelling under your kneecap. The cartridge can then become damaged as the knee should glide smoothly over the femur (upper leg). Your quadriceps may become fatigued which will displace your knee still further.

If your knee condition worsens it is important to arrange an appointment with a qualified medical professional such as a Podiatrist.

Home Treatment

RICE rest, ice compression and elevate will help to relieve your symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and for pain management.

Correct footwear for your chosen activity, especially if you're sporting activity is very high impact. The footwear should be well padded.

Home strengthening program for VMO, hamstrings and quadriceps (can be advised by your podiatrist).

Temporary orthotics to control your pronation and re-balance your body.

Professional Treatment

Prescription orthoses for better control of your pronation.

Podiatric treatments to reduce swelling and re-balance soft tissue structures.

Podiatric Acupuncture for pain relief and a holistic approach to healing.

Advice on strengthening program for VMO, hamstrings and quadriceps.

Low level laser to improve overall healing, pain management and reduce swelling.

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Big Toe Pain, Stiffness and Swelling - Hallux Rigidus/Limitus

Posted Saturday, August 08, 2009 (108 days 19 hours ago.) Viewed 483 times.

Do you have a Hallux Rigidus, known as a big, stiff toe?

It is a degenerative condition, which as it worsens will prevent you from walking properly. It is a disorder of the joint on the base of your large toe. Hallux rigidus is a form of degenerative arthritis which arises from cartilage damage on the joint. It can be very painful and cause stiffness and total loss of movement. A bony bump may develop on your first toe joint, as time goes on the condition can get worse because movement in the big toe is limited and it can become frozen.

Your big toe takes a lot of body weight and the pressure on this joint is great. As much as 50% of your body weight is propelled through your big toe whilst walking. You will suddenly find activities like walking or running difficult and you will get swelling and pain around the big toe joint. Cold and damp weather will affect the joint more adversely.

There are many causes of hallux rigidus such as:

- Gradual deteriation of the joint due to age

- history of trauma to the joint

- Sports injury, like kicking a football

- Infection of the joint

- Gout

- Osteoarthritis

- Rheumatoid Arthritis

People who have fallen arches and excessive pronation (rolling inwards) of the ankles can lead to hallux rigidus.

Hallux Limitus

Is a deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (mtp) or better known as a bunion joint that restricts movement and causes pain. It is often caused by arthritis and often there is a build up of bone spurs, you can experience pain when running or walking uphill. The bone in the big toe is jammed up against the metatarsal head causing inflammation and pain.

Tips to help relieve your big toe discomfort

- You must wear good fitting shoes.

- Avoid wearing high heeled shoes will make the problem much more painful.

- Custom orthoses or temporary inserts may improve the function of your foot so you may need to see your Podiatrist for advice. By re-balancing your feet and redistributing your body's forces, orthoses will help to alleviate the problem.

- Home exercise program to help restore some movement in your big toe.

- Podiatric treatment to help restore movement and break down adhesions around the joint.

- Podiatric Acupuncture for pain management and to help rehabilitate the affected area.

- Simple insoles to offload your feet.

- Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling around the joint.

- RICE Rest, Ice ,Compression and Elevation

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The Diabetic Foot Stay one step ahead in the Management of your Diabetes

Posted Sunday, August 02, 2009 (114 days 22 hours ago.) Viewed 4 times.

In diabetes one of the main causes of ulceration in the diabetic foot is poor tissue oxygenation, which is caused by blocking of the large or small vessels. This can lead to very slow wound healing and make infection more likely, which can in severe cases lead to gangrene in the foot. Obviously early intervention in these cases is a priority as loss of limb can be a main cause of early morbidity. Where the circulation is severely compromised it is very difficult for the infection to clear. Foot ulcers affect 1 in 10 of Diabetes sufferers.

Common Causes of Foot ulceration

-Extrinsic pressure from tight shoes.

-Prolonged heel pressure.

-Intrinsic pressures from chemical mediators of infection within the body.

-Walking in bear feet and treading on a pin or sharp object which may not be felt due to loss of sensation.

-Foot type- high arch or flat feet etc.

-Calluses

-Blisters

-Athletes foot

Important steps to avoid foot ulcers

-It is important that if you have poor circulation that your feet are checked on a regular basis by either a Podiatrist or other medically trained professional. The lower limb foot pulses will be checked, with the skin and nails for any signs of poor foot circulation.

-Proper accommodative footwear must be worn to avoid any shearing forces, which causes blistering of the skin.

-Check your feet daily for any changes in skin colour, blisters and calluses etc. All these could lead to ulceration and possibly gangrene, with loss of limb.

-Orthoses to correct any problems with your gait or excessive foot pressures.

-Padding's or strapping's for excessive foot pressure or shearing forces which can lead to ulceration.

-Heel pads.

-Use Foot cream daily to avoid dry and cracked skin, which can be a common source of foot infection.

-Dry your feet thoroughly.

-Control your Diabetes with regular exercise, healthy eating and an aggressive treatment regime to control the blood sugars.

-Avoid smoking.

-Check your shoes for any signs of wear and inside for foreign objects such as sharp edges.

Loss of sensation Diabetic Neuropathy

Loss of sensation can develop in the feet over time. This condition is known as Diabetic neuropathy which manifests itself as peripheral neuropathy and usually affects the sensory nerves in the legs. Again it is important to have a regular test for this condition by a podiatrist or other medically trained professional.

Why it is vital to check for loss of sensation

If the nervous system becomes damaged it is possible for the feet to become numb. This can become painful in the early stages with a condition sometimes developing known as painful neuropathy. It is possible that your skin may be damaged through trauma or infection, even callus formation or standing on a pin and you could be totally unaware of the seriousness of the situation. As a foot ulcer could easily develop and you may be unaware due to the loss of sensation. Neuropathy can cause the heels to crack and the skin to dry out and pressure from daily walking may go unnoticed. Your Podiatrist will grade your feet from low risk to high risk, if you are more at risk of ulceration.

To recap it is important that you have a regular foot health check 6 monthly to yearly. Check your feet and inside your shoes daily to avoid any potential problems.

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Chiropodist or Podiatrist- What Is the Difference?

Posted Monday, July 20, 2009 (127 days 22 hours ago.) Viewed 127 times.

A commonly asked question!

The term chiropodist is commonly known by most people to mean a person that works on the feet.

The word Chiropodist' comes from CHIRO- from the Greek for hand, and PODOS- from the Greek for foot.

The word Podiatrist' comes from POD from the Greek for foot.

The title of Chiropodist has been in use since the 1700's. A Mr David Low first used the title around 1785. He was an Inn keeper and part time corn cutter. The use of this title helped to elevate his status in much the same way that the title of Dentist has for Dentists'.

This title has certainly helped to lift the profession and make it widely known to the public that if they want their feet treated they should go to a properly trained professional.

The titles Chiropodist and Podiatrist are now protected under the health professions order of 2003; making it a criminal offence to use the titles if a person is not on the HPC register. The licence must be renewed every couple of years and the health care professional must undergo regular continual professional development (CPD). This helps the health care professional keep up to date within their chosen profession. And give the public confidence in the professional that they are using the most up to date techniques available. The length of training now is a 3-4 years Degree course at a recognised University.

It is generally accepted that a Chiropodist undertakes the treatment and diagnosis of conditions relating to the foot and lower limb. Most people are given to understand that the Chiropodist treats nails, corns, callus verrucas and provide excellent palliative care. Whilst this is certainly true the scope of practice of the modern day professional is much wider than it was even ten to twenty years ago. The profession now includes Biomechanics, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Podiatric Acupuncture, minor surgery and even complete lower limb surgery for the more advanced surgical Podiatrist. The profession is advancing rapidly.

Due to this advancement in the profession and wider scope of practice the title Podiatrist is much more heavily in use nowadays. The title Podiatrist originally came from the USA where it is in wide use. It is now becoming very popular here in the UK. Most new University graduates tend to use the title Podiatrist rather than Chiropodist. This is helping to elevate the profession once again much in the same way that Chiropodist helped to make the profession become accepted and widely known throughout the world.

The Health Professions Council has not drawn a distinction between the titles Chiropodist or Podiatrist, either title or both can be used by the trained health care professional.

Within the profession it is widely becoming accepted that Chiropody is used for palliative foot care and Podiatry is used for more advanced work such as minor surgery. But this is not always the case.

It is possible that as the profession moves forward over the next decade that the title of Chiropodist will fall into disuse. This would be a shame as people from within the profession have fought long and hard to have Chiropody and Podiatry become protected titles and make it the well respected profession that it is today.

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