Posts

MUSCULOSKELETAL CHANGES TO THE FEET IN MENOPAUSE

/in , /by

Musculoskeletal Changes to the feet in Menopause

The following are just some of the common difficulties in Menopause that may affect joint and soft tissue injury in women, due to a reduction in Oestrogen levels. 

Collagen reduction

When hormone levels drop during menopause, the production of collagen slows. Collagen is a blend of elastic tissue that’s a very important ingredient that enables the supporting structures of the feet to stay strong. When collagen is reduced our ligaments that connect our joints and engage muscle function, and our fascia, can become strained more easily and more prone to injury. An example of an injury that relates to this scenario is Plantar Fasciitis, pain at the heel that sometimes extends into the arch due to the elasticity of the fascia being reduced sometimes from lack of collagen. 

Increase in body weight

Unfortunately it has become well known that women in their 50s and 60s can be prone to an increase in body weight depending of course on many genetic and lifestyle factors. An increase in body mass increases the strain on joints and soft tissues of the foot which can eventuate to injury risk due to tissue stress and can also generally increase pressure to the foot. With a lifetime of wear and tear most feet will have some existing biomechanical factors that predispose these risks, and unfortunately weight gain is common and can exacerbate the above potential for injury. The key in treatment of a foot that is suffering under a recent weight gain is to redistribute and share pressure around the foot to ease strain on vulnerable areas and there are many ways this can be done. Feel free to talk to your Podiatrist about your concerns and we can get you back on your feet in no time! 

Fatty pad displacement

Did you know? In our feet we have a natural fat layer that runs throughout the sole of the foot. This fat layer known as “fat pads” provides the feet with natural shock absorption. However, it is a common feature in Menopausal women that the fatty pads dissipate or are displaced slightly, so they no longer apply their cushioning effect to the balls of the foot or areas of the foot where there are bony prominences that need that impact absorption! Having cushioned shoes (wearing runners is great) or cushioned liners (the best are made of a special ingredient called Poron) helps to sooth this issue. Choosing soft surfaces also may help when you are active, and avoiding being barefoot around the house too much. 

But if you are having ball of the foot or heel pain, consult your Podiatrist for a comprehensive examination as fat pad reduction may well not be the predominant issue. 

Reduced bone density

Sometimes, unfortunately Oestrogen reduction can precede a higher risk of bone density problems such as Osteopoenia and Osteoporosis. Especially if you are active, it is important to be aware of this risk so that no acute bone stress reactions or fractures are encountered due to the loads of activity being too high for a reduced bone density to cope with. 

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, please call us today for an appointment on 5223 1531

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL PODIATRIC ADVICE. TREATMENT WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DEPENDING UPON YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND PRESENTING COMPLAINT. AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOLLOWING PERSONAL CONSULTATION WITH A PODIATRIST.

 

CHILDHOOD OBESITY LINKED TO FOOT PAIN

/in , /by

Childhood Obesity linked to Foot Pain

Did you know? Our body weight, if not evenly distributed through our skeleton by the help of normal alignment, can result in changes in the way the foot reacts to the forces acting on the foot from the ground up. The higher the BMI (Body Mass Index) of an individual, the more difficult the role of the foot to evenly distribute pressure, hence some areas of the foot and lower limb can be exposed to greater amounts of pressure and thus be prone to injury or tissue stress.

In the growing foot, the above scenario exacerbates. Growth in children’s feet involves fragility of the tissues as they develop. For example, the heel bone of a 14 year old child who is of a BMI within a normal range is still developing and already potentially under stress. When we look at a child of the same age who is obese, this heel bone under a greater amount of body weight will be unable to cope with the normal stresses of growth and development and be more likely to injure, sometimes even a heel stress fracture can occur. 

If a child with obesity is exposed to a foot problem or pain, this will render them less active which can impair physical fitness that is even more important in a child suffering from problems with their weight in their development. 

Mythbusting- are flat feet the problem?

High validity evidence from recent research has found no significant relationship between a flatter foot type and foot pain  in obese children however they did find a high prevalence between children with obesity and having a “flat foot”. From this we can infer that in overweight or obese children although foot problems or pain may not be due to a flat foot, the presence of a flat foot may suggest other biomechanical faults that could be the root cause of the presenting pain. 

This is because we know the foot pronates most often to compensate for other asymmetries or faults in the body which are sometimes in the upper chain. 

So, what effect does Obesity in a child have specifically on the feet?

However, research has found that obesity in children does specifically impact on the foot’s arch by creating disproportionate loading and increased loading particularly affecting the medial longitudinal arch and midfoot. This can mean that regardless of the arch being flatter or not in an overweight child, regardless, the arch will be strained more.  Plantar Fascial heel & arch pain is a common foot condition for children although less common than in adults. 

One contributing factor to excessive strain on the plantar fascia can be a flatter foot type as the arch band of the plantar fascia stretches more in movement. 

Think your child has a foot problem? See our friendly Podiatrists for our monthly free Paediatric foot check and screening held on a Wednesday each month. Contact our helpful Reception team for details, you can also get a referral from your Paediatric nurse. PH: 52231531

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL PODIATRIC ADVICE. TREATMENT WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DEPENDING UPON YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND PRESENTING COMPLAINT. AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOLLOWING PERSONAL CONSULTATION WITH A PODIATRIST.
Link to research: doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149924
Link to research: doi: 10.1111/cob.12091

CHILDREN’S INJURED FEET

/in , /by

Children’s Injured Feet

Problems causing injury to paediatric feet are often correlated with the maturity level of bone development and can be categorized based on the age of your child. 

The following may predispose a child to a gradually developed injury: 

  • Congenital anomalies
  • Variation in development
  • Bone maturation
  • Lower leg alignment 

… but otherwise, given the nature of children with high physical activity levels, acute injury to the foot can occur. 

What does pain/injury look like, sometimes if subtle in a child?

It is important to be aware of the difference in pain presentation between older and younger children. 

Toddlers and young children: a child may limp, tire easily or refuse to walk or weightbear due to pain or injury. 

Older children and adolescents: their ability to compensate or isolate the pain may be better so injuries may go along unnoticed for a longer period. 

Acute vs Developmental Injury

Acute injuries are more likely in children (the younger they are) to result in stress reactions or fractures to the bone and often at the growth plate, rather than ligamentous strain or injury due to the fact children are undergoing stages of bone maturation as they develop into early adolescence and have relatively stronger ligaments than adults. 

Growth Phases

If your child is noticeably fatiguing or lagging behind other children, it is important to get an understanding of what may be the cause, and a Podiatric initial assessment can be a great starting point, to rule out any biomechanical insufficiences or growth abnormalities that for any reason haven’t been picked up on.  

When children go through growth phases, muscles can become fatigued easily as they can tug at the ends of the bone as the bone lengthens and grows; resulting in discomfort and fatigue not unlike the traditionally known “growing pains”. 

Common Paediatric specific injuries to the foot include: 

Sever’s Disease (Apophysitis of insertion of Achilles tendon into Calcaneus/heel bone)– Age: 7-14

-Commonly known as children’s heel pain-pain at the back of the heel towards the bottom, associated with children experiencing growth phases. 

Osgood Schlatter’s (Apophysitis of insertion of Patellar Ligament into Tibial tuberosity)

Age: Ages 10-14

-Painful lump growth just below the kneecap, associated with children experiencing growth phases but more common in children playing sports involving running and jumping. 

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) 

Age: Anywhere from 6 months to 16 years of age

-Joint pain, stiffness and inflammation or region warmth most commonly affecting the Ankle Joint as well as other joints in the body. 

Osteochrondritis Dissecans (OCD)

Age: Children & Adolescents 

-Often affecting the ankle after an ankle sprain or injury where a reduction in blood supply to the bone region affected causes a small fracture. The fragment of bone may remain attached or become detached. 

Sesamoiditis or Sesamoid Pathology

-Pain under the ball of the big toe joint which can be due to inflammation of the two sesamoid bones (small pebble sized bones situated under the metatarsal head that allow the gliding effect of the tendon of the muscle that flexes the big toe downward). 

-A common sporting injury in young athletes who push off the ball of the foot such as in jumping sports, ballet or karate. 

A reminder, Total Care Podiatry has a monthly free Paediatric Screening clinic where your Podiatrist will run through a free assessment to check on developmental norms in your child. We ask that to book into this clinic, a small donation be made to Kids Plus foundation upon attending. Kids Plus offers programs that include early treatment and specific intervention strategies to improve children’s abilities across a range of developmental areas. 

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, please call us today for an appointment on 5223 1531

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL PODIATRIC ADVICE. TREATMENT WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DEPENDING UPON YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND PRESENTING COMPLAINT. AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOLLOWING PERSONAL CONSULTATION WITH A PODIATRIST.

Some information from today’s blog obtained from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2323000/

WHEN TO FIX KIDS FEET?

/in , /by

When to fix kids’ feet?

 

Worried about your child’s feet? It is important to know what is a normal presentation for a child in their age group, as opposed to what actually may be considered a “red flag” in their development. When asking the question of whether to “fix my child’s feet” it is crucially important to make an informed decision with the professional advice and assessment of health professionals. Our Podiatrists will thoroughly assess your child and determine what treatment, if any, is suitable at that time of the child’s development and will reassure you what is normal! Depending on your child’s age and the presenting condition, there are treatment windows within a child’s normal physical development within which to correct any structural abnormalities.

Did you know? Recent evidence based research on thousands of children aged 3-15 years shows the most common foot posture or foot type is a ‘flat’ or pronated foot.* From this it can be concluded that a flat foot without any other abnormal characteristics is not abnormal. So, not all “flat feet” need to be fixed as such. Foot pronation in itself is often a compensatory response to other biomechanical and structural adaptations or elements of the lower limb and rest of the body. Hence overpronation of the foot may not be a causative element but an end result, and there may be other elements of the lower limb that are better addressed first before treatment of the flatfoot is considered. 

Did you know? At birth, only some bones of the foot are formed. By only age 5, the last major bone of the foot is formed, the Navicular, which structurally forms the “arch” of the foot. 

Total Care Podiatry believes in the value of assessing children at an early age or at any age in their development to rule out any abnormalities or red flags in musculoskeletal development in particular and to reassure parents what is normal. Total Care runs a Paediatric screening clinic once monthly to offer a free assessment. We ask that to book into this clinic, a small donation be made to Kids Plus foundation. Kids Plus “offers programs that include early treatment and specific intervention strategies to improve children’s abilities across a range of developmental areas.” 

On Friday July 9th 2021, we have a Complimentary Family Foot Check clinic scheduled. If you have any concerns about a family member’s foot health, especially your child of any age; please book in for your free assessment! PH: 5223 1531

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL PODIATRIC ADVICE. TREATMENT WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DEPENDING UPON YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND PRESENTING COMPLAINT. AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOLLOWING PERSONAL CONSULTATION WITH A PODIATRIST.

 

FIT FEET FOR A BETTER YOU!

/in , /by

Take the first steps to get back on track

The human foot is a marvel of biomechanical engineering that most of us take for granted until the system fails or breaks down. The average person will walk the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime, which is a long time on your feet.

Tips to Maintain Healthy Feet

Inspect your feet regularly and pay attention to changes in color, texture or appearance.

 

Maintain good foot hygiene, including washing and drying between the toes.pumice bar foot health age upkeepHydrate the skin. Australian weather and open shoes can cause rapid loss of moisture from the skin and may result in cracking or the formation of fissures. It is helpful to replace the moisture content by using lotions or creams on a regular basis.
toe foot ailment dry skin peeling toe fungus

Buy proper-size shoes. You may not wear the same size in shoes made by different manufacturers. Purchase new shoes late in the day, when feet tend to be at their largest. Always buy the shoes that feel the best.too small shoes black ballet flats heel pain

Don’t ignore foot pain Symptoms that increase or do not resolve within a reasonable period of time need to be evaluated by your podiatrist. Podiatrists get you moving, pain free and living an active life.

foot pain maintenance ailments upkeep heel pain

Cut toenails straight across. Never cut into the corners — this could cause an ingrown toenail. Gently file away sharp corners or rough edges with an emery board.proper toe nail cutting technique

Exercise – Walking is a great way to keep weight under control and is an excellent conditioner for the feet. Be sure to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising.

Alternate your shoes each day. Since the feet have sweat glands, your shoes will absorb moisture from your feet, so it is important to allow your shoes to dry out completely.Avoid walking barefoot to help protect your feet from injury and infection

Put sunblock on your feet while wearing sandals during the day to avoid sunburn.

Source: UCLA Health System, Happy Feet Plus, foothealthaustralia.org.au

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, please call us today for an appointment on 5223 1531

 

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL PODIATRIC ADVICE. TREATMENT WILL VARY BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DEPENDING UPON YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND PRESENTING COMPLAINT. AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOLLOWING PERSONAL CONSULTATION WITH A PODIATRIST.

 

ARCHIES HAVE LANDED AT TOTAL CARE PODIATRY

/in , /by

The thongs are made out of an unbelievably comfortable, high quality foam material and really have a “wow” factor for anyone that tries them on. Once you get used to them, you will never want to take them off your feet and most people say that they simply cannot wear ‘normal thongs’ after wearing Archies Thongs!

With up to 2.2cm of orthotic support, Archies Thongs incorporate the same amount of support that you would find from an ‘off the shelf’ orthotic, however with the patented design, they look just like normal thongs. The support found within Archies Footwear may help to support the foot in a more biomechanically appropriate position thereby easing the stresses and strains that would otherwise be transferred to the musculoskeletal system.

Come in and see our team to find the perfect ARCHIES fit for your feet!

For a no charge shoe fitting please call 5223 1531