Shin splints and tendon dysfunction
Shin splints are common and do not affect runners and sports people alone. I look at the gait cycle to offer some explanation as to the origins of the problem and offer videos and self help information.
Ankle Sprains and Strains
Do you know why you sprain you ankle? Is this something we should worry about. Understanding the mechanism for a sprain can help. What is a strain, and is it the same as a sprain. In the first of this ankle series I hope to enlighten the reader so do check out the series written for the discerning lay reader or indeed the professional.
A common foot treatment device
This brief article covers orthotics or orthoses providing tips about what you might expect when this form of treatment for your foot is recommended. Can you buy your own for example and what is a prescription? Who should you avoid when being sold an orthosis. Read this article by podiatrist and a former orthotic director without adverts and sales pitch.
Painkillers for Foot Conditions
Using painkillers for foot conditions has a value in many cases for limited periods. This first article is intended to help support the reader’s knowledge about the basic four medicines known as painkillers.
What is a podiatric surgeon
What does a podiatric surgeon do and how do we distinguish this profession that is now over 40 years old in the UK. This brief article helps enquirers in the UK make that distinction with links to relevant sites. Further enquiries to the official bodies are recommended for those wishing to seek a career in podiatric surgery.
Heel Pain due to a bruised heel
Take bruised heel. Relatively unknown if not poorly described. The condition is mixed up with other forms of heel pain such as plantar fasciitis. David, a podiatrist and keen user of the gym writes about his own heel pain and how to deal with it.
Falls the Elderly and What We All Need to Know
It is known that approximately one in three people over the age of 65 living in the community will fall each year. This figure approaches one in two by the age of 80, and fall rates are even higher for residents of nursing homes and those in institutions.
Body Fat and Segmental Analysis
The idea of having knowledge about how your body is made up of muscle and fat seems appealing. It is easy to pretend I am young, fit and slinky when my bio data suggests I cannot abuse my body. In this article I look at some equipment for analysing our fat and segmental values and explain what these all are about. How the reliable the equipment can be. Taking measurement at face value can lead to misconceptions and I am in the health market and understand much of of how our body needs to work.
Fitness Word of Warning
When considering the fitness centre to stay fit it is important to be aware that not all are suited. This short article heightens your awareness and buddies up to my series on using the gym to stay fit. I cover organs and musculoskeletal systems in this article with some useful references.
Some days are more sluggish than others
I start my diary with that all too often knowledge I have no energy. A little discipline is important. I featured muscles and tendons in brief today with weights and resistance. Balancing groups of muscles is important to protect joints.
Am I Fit to Use the Gym?
Being fit to use the gym and all that equipment might be desirable but you might prefer to ask your doctor. In this article I have outlined some of the concerns that doctors might focus on to guide you. We all want to keep fit, not least after a pandemic like covid-19. But it is important to be alive to problems such as blood pressure, obesity, poor kidney function and the effects of dehydration.
The Health Professionals and getting advice
This short downloadable article briefly highlights conditions that might be best supervised before heading to the gym. Guidance from staff at the gym can be helpful as well.
The idea of crashing a gym session
The idea of throwing yourself into exercise is fraught with problems. Today David is taking care to protect his knee. His aim is muscle tone and strength so he can use other equipment safely.
It’s a fitness centre not a gym
I am a retired podiatrist and practiced foot surgery for over thirty years so I know a fair bit about body physiology and medicine. Plus, I took an additional degree in human movement and taught human biomechanics. Living life is a battle ground and most people do not realise injuries sustained when young live on with us. Just like a virus gone to ground, injury just waits to flare up. That means as we age and return to exercise to keep fit we develop old problems anew. In this series I am going to talk about my injuries so the reader can find a reference to being careful with some of the equipment. I am going to build up slowly and see where the journey takes me. My aim is to lose some weight, keep toned and stay fit.
Common forms of foot arthritis
In this short article I look at the most common of the arthritic type conditions which are medically based and not related to injury. Arthritis due to rheumatoid disease, gout and psoriasis, starting with osteoarthritis.
The Sesamoid Bone
The sesamoid bone or bones make up the 27th and 28th foot bone and are often forgotten. When they work well we forget they exist but they feature frequently in painful stiff toes and are often the reason why bunion surgery does not work always.
Feet their nature and what they do
Reading my newspaper I was drawn to Dr James Le Fanu’s article a Feet of Nature. Clearly feet are not a sexy subject but for those who know little this 230 word column mixed with two other topic is worth reading. However, Le Fanu almost has a hidden sub text and this is what I have found most attractive about this article.
First Aid Kit
Having written a couple articles on foot safety and accidents I wanted to talk about what to have in your First Aid Kit at home. It does not have to be complicated but better to have a stock of items to fit the need of that little mishap.
Foot injury & self-help
Had an accident to the foot? Well podiatrist David did. Fixing the problem was easy but then a good article was worthwhile and what better than a bit of self-advice from this former podiatric foot surgeon. He will take you through some pointers as how to manage and even prepare for that event you may never have happen – hopefully!
Hammer Toe Sounds like it belongs in a Tool Box
The toe deformity is often called a hammer toe because of the bent shape like a hammer. It causes problems in shoes from chilblains in cooler periods to corns after activity. Solving the problem can be assisted by a little more knowledge. David, a former clinician and podiatrist, takes you through some of the questions that you need to consider. Above all can you solve the problem yourself?
The foot bug that got out of hand
Wills liked to garden but developed a small tear in the skin at the base of his calf tendon. This soon developed into a serious leg infection which endangered his leg and life. With hospitalisation, he required a skin graft. His tale is one of warning and hope.
The concept of diagnosis
Fascinated by a problem with my pond leaking I realised this was a useful medium to describe how we might go about diagnosis with a few descriptions of the elements that can be applied to our human workings (physiology).
Footwear can be tricky
As a child of the late fifties, I had my feet measured with loving care. It was an independent shoe outlet called Pomfret’s. As the years went by the father moved on and left it to his son John, a smart forty-something man with tight but neatly creased trousers, and sharp-pointed slip-on shoes. His haircut might have come from the days of Elvis Presley.
Why look after our feet?
This brief overview of foot health might help readers understand a little more about why we should look after our feet.
Are walking poles another fad?
As far as health is concerned a walking aid provides stability by increasing support for the body under our feet. Walking aids offer different benefits and so I thought I would compare two types of movement. One is called trekking, the other Nordic walking. The aids or poles used are therefore called trekking poles or Nordic walking poles. For many, it might seem using a pole or a stick appears as a weakness. Serious walkers benefit from such aids.
The Story of the Professional Dancer
Professional dancing is a tough career. Not only does it require absolute dedication and sacrifice of education and some pleasures, but such extreme focus can lead to a plethora of injuries that can linger into later life. The life span of a dancer at the top of her game is dependent on many factors. Jenny Murray agreed was interviewed for ConsultingFootPain and agreed to share her experience as a professional dancer. She took me back through some her career and we discussed what this meant to her and of course for her health in particular
Big Toe Pain and Tom’s Story
This is Tom’s story and his ongoing stiff toe joint painWhen things don’t go to plan what do you need to know? Throughout, clinician comment will elaborate on the story line. Please read the other cases on ConsultingFootPain as these paint a different picture starting with the Introductory article.
I joined Tom two months after surgery in a UK National Health Service Hospital. Tom was 70 at the time of surgery.
Getting big toe surgery right
It might sound all very obvious, do we get big toe surgery right first time. Indeed yes this does happen.This series covers different patient stories taken from their own words. All had stiff big toe joint pain. Some have worked, others less so. This is Leah’s story.
Stiff Toes and Patient Stories
Medical jargon is often hard to follow but when it comes to surgery and the painful stiff toe it is a good idea to have some background knowledge. What better way than for that information to come from patient’s own reflections.
What you really need to know after bunion surgery?
When a colleague (HFP) sought this question, she was generous and mentioned her surgeon was busy and thought it an oversight. I am both an ex-patient and a foot surgeon, and I’m afraid I have to disagree. We often confuse nice with good, and all clinicians have a blip – but then don’t we all? So we have a patient leaving the hospital after bunion surgery. No post-operative information is apparent, so what does she do? Call a friend! This, in fact, is Facebook and jolly good it is as there is a heap of friendly advice.
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