Category: Podiatrist

Corns and calluses are not only painful but can also be annoying at times. The painful condition develops from thickened skin. They mostly occur in areas which have undergone repeated pressure for a longer time. If you too are experiencing such painful skin problem, don’t waste a minute. Go ahead and make an appointment with a podiatrist in Surrey. Some of the major symptoms for corns and calluses have been mentioned below:

• When you suddenly come across bump on your skin
• A hard and thickened patch on your skin
• Flaky skin
• Tenderness in the area where the skin has thickened

Most corns and calluses are treated by a podiatrist in Surrey. However, the skin problem can also be treated at home. Some medicated products are available these days which when applied in an appropriate way can instantly bring down the pain and help a person find relief. In order to treat corns and calluses at home, you will firstly require applying a topical cream to break down the thickened skin. Salicylic acid is the major component which is used for treating such hardened skin. The best way to reduce such occurrence is by avoiding circumstances leading to increased pressure causing corns and calluses. The problem is common among people who suffer from poor circulation. Even people suffering from fragile skin have a tendency to suffer from corns and calluses.

An insight into corns and calluses 

While corn is referred to the thickened skin at a more localized area, calluses take place over a flattened area. Corns are either circular or conical in shape. Corns often appear translucent, waxy and even dry.

Corns, as well as calluses, mostly occur in various areas, especially the feet and fingers. It’s true that corns are smaller structures but they can be very painful and will need immediate intervention by a podiatrist in Surrey.

Some common areas where corns develop include: 

• Bottom of your feet
• On exterior of the pinky toe which gets rubbed mostly by the shoes you wear
• Sometimes it can occur between your fourth and pinky toe

Some corns are hard to identify. They appear like flesh making them hard to distinguish. These types of corn are mostly messy and whitish and are soft by nature. Hard corns, on the other hand, occur in various other areas. If you are suffering from corns and calluses on your foot, visit a podiatrist in Surrey and get the problem corrected.

Despite their strength to carry the upper part of the body, our feet are known to be intricate. They need care for proper functioning. It is a fact that regular wear and tear takes a toll on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones of the feet. This particular area of the body is also considered to be the most complex of all. Hence, people who undergo various types of foot-related problems are recommended foot surgery in Surrey. Here is what you should know about the different types of foot surgeries that are conducted by podiatrists:

Metatarsal surgery: The metatarsal bones are a cluster of five bones. These bones are long and are generally found among tarsal bones and phalanges. Arthritis may cause small joints on the foot to become sore and swollen. They turn arthritic as a result of which inflammation occurs along the joint lining. Further, this leads to MTPJ dislocation. As a result, a person may experience intense pain as well as discomfort. However, a podiatrist may or may not recommend foot surgery in Surrey depending upon the intensity of injury which a person has experienced. While there are other treatments that can help control such painful situations, Surgery is indeed considered a highly effective medical option. Situations turn controllable after the surgery.

Bunion surgery: Bunions are a common form of deformity which occurs on the foot. A study has shown that women are more likely to be affected by bunions. A common reason is that they often choose footwear affecting the alignment of the feet. As a result, bony structures protrude from the first toe of the foot which again cause the former to get inclined towards other toes. Bunions are also called Hallux valgus. This deformity turns out to be really painful unless a foot surgery is conducted. The metatarsals, as well as the big toe, get affected due to this deformity. During surgery, the toe is straightened along with the metatarsal bones. It takes around 6 weeks to recover from the surgery.

Plantar Fasciitis: There is a tissue that extends from your heel to your toes. It is otherwise termed as plantar fasciitis. When the tissue turns inflamed it becomes difficult for a person to move freely without much difficulty. However, podiatrists may not always recommend foot surgery to cure plantar fasciitis. As the condition worsens, it prevents a person from carrying out daily activities. An expert may then recommend surgery.

Achilles tendon: The Achilles tendon is delicate and in case of an injury it may get badly affected. Regular wear tear is often considered a major reason for rupturing of the tendon. It helps you to walk and run. Hence if the tendon gets affected, a podiatrist may recommend surgery in the worst of cases.

There are various other foot conditions which may demand foot surgery in Surrey. Seeking expert advice on any kind of discomfort or deformity of the foot is crucial.

Most of you who have heard about sports physiotherapy and yet lack knowledge. Sports physiotherapy is a particular segment of physiotherapy. It deals with the injuries and various types of issues that athletes or sportsmen experience. The problems are mostly addressed by sports physiotherapists. Such types of injuries differ with the kind of sports they are involved in. Athletes participate in high-level performances which demand higher physical movements. These types of performances are extremely demanding. The activities trigger stress in the muscles, bones and joints. The role of a sports physiotherapist is to help sportsmen recover from various injuries which they undergo in their daily lives. The physiotherapist will especially educate an athlete on areas such as sports injuries, chances of their occurrence, situations and stances which may lead to such problems and physical damage that may be brought upon by a sport. Their role is not just limited to treating an individual.

For every sport, there is a physiotherapist who is responsible for treating sport-specific injuries and addressing various problems that arise due to such activities. They dedicate their knowledge and skill in evaluating and treating sports injuries. Athletes from different age groups may face injuries during the game, which are further looked into by these specialists.

A specialist in sports physiotherapy will count on the years of experience he has accumulated and the knowledge he has gained over the years. His major objective is to help sportsmen from different age groups attain an optimum level of efficiency and to help them enhance performance level. Sports physiotherapists are recognised professionals who help in the following:

• Educating sportsmen on safer physical activities
• Advising them on active participation
• Contributing to an athlete’s sports performance level
• Restoring their physical strength
• Training intervention

Sports physiotherapists offer advice on prevention of injuries and ways to improve performance. Meanwhile, these specialists are also responsible for imparting knowledge on ethical sports practices, diagnosis of sports injury, exercise protocols, recovery from injuries and prevention techniques. These educated and experienced professionals deal with various musculoskeletal disorders. They seek different techniques for treating injuries and pain. The main objective of a sports physiotherapist is to ensure an improved quality of life for athletes. Sports physiotherapists have the knowledge and skills to assess and diagnose various injuries, delivering personalised treatments, maximising physical independence and helping athletes manage chronic injuries.

This is an alert for people who care less about their foot hygiene and footwear. Yes! Fungal toenails are vicious spores that live long in your toenails without letting you know, till the time the condition turns severe. These spores thrive in shoes, clothing, bedding, furniture and even rugs. So, next time you step onto a rug, slip into shoes or put some clothing on making sure these spores are not penetrating into your body. The most common foot condition people face is a fungal toenail. However, it can be treated by a chiropodist or a podiatrist in Surrey.

How fungal toe nails infest your feet

Fungal nail infections can occur at any time and may take months to cure. Sometimes when the infection is too severe, an individual may require visiting a podiatrist in Surrey for medical examination and treatment. Treating a severe fungal toenail is not easy. It may even take years to heal up completely. Sometimes, the condition can cause further complications by giving rise to cellulitis which may proceed towards other parts of the skin and allow bacteria to spread in the body. Hence visiting a foot care clinic becomes a necessity. At times a podiatrist may suggest minor surgeries in order to get rid of fungal toenails completely.

Cellulitis may enter the bloodstream when not treated on time, and all of this can happen because of wearing shoes which are already infested with the fungus. The fungus called tinea pedis causing athlete’s foot lives in shoes mostly. They can thrive in a moist environment and sometimes in dryer surroundings. So, it’s not quite a good idea to overrule your sandals or flip-flops from the list. Tinea pedis stays in the footwear and believe it or not they live for days. Our feet like other parts of the body shed dead skin which may be affected by tinea pedis. Hence the fungus may wait inside the shoes till the time you again slip into them.

Fungal spores thrive mostly in moist conditions. However, they can also thrive in a dryer environment, which makes it obvious why everyone should take care of their shoes and keep them clean. Also, if an individual faces this threatening condition, it is advisable that the person should seek the advice of a podiatrist in Surrey.

If the toe nails are causing pain almost every time you try to walk, then there is a high chance that your toe-nails are invaded by a certain kind of fungus. Fungal infection can spread really fast and it needs to be checked by a medical intervention of a Podiatrist in Surrey or Dorking region. Adults, however, face this problem more than young individuals. The worst part is that fungal infection in toe nails can get adverse to a point where finger nails can get affected. The problem is scientifically derived as onychomycosis.

Several Symptoms of Fungal Nails

Most often people suffering from onychomycosis have reported of the following symptoms:

• Nail thickening
• Nail discolouration
• Nail crumbling
• Scaly skin

Generally, people ignore these symptoms until it becomes too hard for them to deal with the pain. Fungal nails hurt a lot. The fungus starts to invade a certain part of a nail and rapidly continues to spread.  If you consult a podiatrist in Surrey or Dorking you will gain an understanding of the syndrome. Under a majority of instances, the fungus starts attacking the sides or tip of the nail, slowly crumbling them.

Experts who have shared their opinion on this have said that under most situations, the upper part of the nail starts showing white marks which is a common symptom of onychomycosis. The basal part of a nail is rarely affected by the fungus. Situations turn worse with time, causing pain in the foot, inhibiting one’s mobility to a great extent.

Micro Organisms That Cause Fungal Infection

If you were about to blame yourself for onychomycosis then here is something you would like to know. Fungal infections in toe and fingernails are caused by microorganisms namely a fungus referred to as dermatophytes. However, specialists say that even moulds and yeasts contribute to such infection. The problems arise when an adjoining skin area gets infected. A lot of times, doctors blame fungal skin infection of the feet for toe-nail infections.

There are, however, other conditions that trigger the organism to destroy your toe-nails. These may include damages or decreased flow of blood and diabetes. Also, at times the problem gets transferred to a human body genetically. Various other viruses can cause such issues to arise. Sometimes a podiatrist in Surrey may detect an infected toe nail by the appearance of it and may prescribe medication for the same.