Cheadle Hulme Podiatry

Myth de-busting by British Journal of Sports Medicine....

Advice on footwear by Podiatrist Emma Supple. Woman's hour interview - listen from 32mins onwards. About 10mins duration.

BLISTER advice
There are a number of dermatological conditions which result in blistering to feet/body. However, most people will suffer blisters as a result of ill-fitting footwear/hosiery, activity, hot weather, foot deformity.
Blisters on the feet usually occur because of something called 'shear force' applied to tissues during activity. As your foot hits the ground it decelerates and the soft tissue (skin, fat pad) moves against the footwear. Dependent upon the force... of the foot strike or constant repetitive motion (hard surfaces) the resultant shear force can overwhelm tissue resilience. If you add in heat and moisture then mechanical fatigue of the skin occurs.
So..you start to feel what is known as a 'hot spot' which indicates the start of a blister. If you continue with activity then a layer of the upper skin surface separates at that point of pressure and fluid leaks into the space. See photo. The breakdown in skin integrity and accumulation of fluid increases the pain level. You may sometimes getting blood leaking into the intraepidermal/dermal space.
Prevention is not only about getting the right footwear/hosiery, but also being aware of temperature and moisture levels on your feet.
1. If you feet get moist in footwear/hosiery then try anti-perspirant on the tops and bottoms of your feet before activity (caution is advised if you suffer from dry skin conditions such as eczema). 2. Wickable hosiery such as Drymax, Coolmax, Armaskin to keep feet cool throughout activity and reduce moisture levels next to the skin. 3. Try a cushioned insole to decelerate impact force during activity if blisters occur on the bottom of your feet. Materials such as poron or Spenco are recommended. 4. If your feet get wet during activity - especially in the wet weather - make sure that all footwear and hosiery are dried and that you change out of wet footwear/hosiery as soon as possible. Don't start activity wearing damp/wet footwear. 5. Try Engo patches in footwear which stick to the inside of footwear/inner liner to reduce shear force during activity on the areas of your feet which suffer from blisters. 6. If you wear blister plasters, then ensure it's for the duration of the activity only. The material can encourage moisture build-up when applied to the skin for prolonged periods.
If you have a blister ensure that you keep the area covered with a dry dressing and seek advice from your podiatrist, especially if you are diabetic. Please don't forget that blisters/wounds could increase the chance of infection.
The type of activity, intensity of activity levels, hyperhidrosis or gait may also contribute to the development of blisters. Again, your podiatrist will be able to advise.
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Do you suffer from sore, aching, heavy legs? Do swollen legs stop you from doing day-to-day activities?
The Legs Matter campaign provides a useful resource for patients/healthcare professionals alike.
Did you know that the Pennine Acute trust also runs a service for those suffering from chronic oedema of the lower limbs.

PLANTAR WARTS (VERRUCAS) ADVICE FROM BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF DERMATOLOGISTS
What are plantar warts or verrucas? Warts are localised thickenings of the skin, and the term ‘plantar warts’is used for those that occur on the soles of the feet (the ‘plantar’ surface).
...Continue Reading

The best medicine....inspirational animation from Dr Mike Evans.
https://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo

For all the runners out there! Keeping yourself injury free is key to optimising your performance - whether that's surviving a jog around the block or looking ahead to that Ultramarathon.
Most running injuries are as a result of 'over-use'. Essentially stress caused to the soft tissues as a result of pushing your training beyond what your body can cope with.
Susceptibility to injury is multifactorial and there is increasing evidence that our biopsychosocial health can imp...act likelihood of injury i.e. mental health, unhealthy sleep patterns (Ivarsson et al, 2017; Luedke et al, 2018).
It is also interesting to note that shielding tissues (complete rest) following injury could again predispose the injured runner to further stress once training recommences (Dye, 2005). Rehabilitation is therefore dependent upon correct diagnosis/cause of injury and modification of the training regime to: 1. Increase tissue capacity (strength and conditioning) 2. Reduce the load on the tissues (volume, frequency and intensity)
Our clinic assesses and treats a range of sporting injuries often in conjunction with physio or sports rehabilitation practitioners. Finding the balance is key and we will work with you to get you back on track.
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Diabetic foot - holiday advice
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and are planning to go on holiday please refer to advice published by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
Use the following link to download a copy of the leaflet https://www.scpod.org/easysiteweb/getreso urce.axd…

Just how many people see a podiatrist each month? Prof Nester offers his views on the impact of podiatrists on the nation's foot health.

FOOT MOBILISATION - A QUICK INTRODUCTION
Foot mobilisation is a gentle manual therapy which aims to improve foot function and ease discomfort caused by surgery, overuse or trauma. Used by physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors, foot mobilisation uses precise, painless movements to stimulate the soft tissues of the foot. Patients report improved foot function, reduced discomfort as tissues become less rigid and muscle guarding is alleviated. Foot mobilisation can be ...used alongside other modalities to improve patient outcomes and quality of life:
1. Reduces increased stiffness in the foot post-injury, immobilisation or surgery. 2. Part of a treatment care pathway for rear, mid and forefoot pain, neuritis issues and ankle limitation of movement. 3. It can improve quality of function of some hammer toes (using muscle energy techniques). 4. Simple and gentle techniques for restoring cuboid function and range of movement of the subtalar joint.
To find out more please contact the clinic on 0161 485 1028
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Please be careful with what footwear you wear ! We are seeing more and more foot related problems due to poor supporting shoes like the pair in the picture below

RheumaBuddy App approved by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society for those who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Helps sufferers monitor their own pain patterns and gain a better understanding of potential triggers.

For those tempted to go sockless in Winter!

Something silly....
How Smart is Your Right Foot?
This is so frustrating! Give it a go. And if you are anywhere near as stubborn as I am, you will keep trying at least a few more times to see if you can outsmart your foot, but you can't.
... 1) While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
2) Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand.
3) Your foot will change direction. I told you so. And, there's nothing you can do about it! Go ahead: KEEP TRYING ALL YOU WANT.
Now get back to work.
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Always love fitting a new pair of orthotics ! These insole are designed for a local tennis player complaining of ankle and heel pains.
If your suffering with any foot, ankle and leg pains, Why not see if we could help?

Do I need orthotics? Why might I be prescribed insoles?
If you suffer from chronic and debilitating lower limb pain which gets worse when you've been on your feet or participating in sporting activities then it might be worth exploring your lower limb biomechanics.
Biomechanics is the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces. If there is an imbalance or inefficiency in your lower limb biomech...anics it can cause pain in soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments or tendons or cause joint pain through excessive loading and cause accelerated wear and tear (osteoarthritis). Poor biomechanics can also lead to stress fractures or nerve irritation (Morton's neuroma).
Insoles or orthotics can be prescribed to offload forces acting on those structures and can help relieve painful symptoms. Here at Andy Fryer podiatry we will also work with you to develop lower limb strength and flexibility as a package of care. Book now for an appointment to find out more about our routine and biomechanic assessments.
We're here to keep your Life in Motion.
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