Footwise Newsletter July/August 2010
Volume 2, Number 4
Welcome… Welcome to FootWise, the newsletter from your friendly Podiatry team at ‘A Foot Above®’, Beeston.
How to get perfect summer feet Too ashamed of your calluses or stained toenails to consider sporting a sandal this summer? If so, then “A Foot Above®” has the answer!
In This Issue
Perfect Summer Feet
Cracked Heels
Heel Pain
Contact us A Foot Above 8 Wollaton Road Beeston Nottinghamshire NG9 2NR 0115 9223377
A Foot Above 96 Bath Street Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 8FE 0115 9328832 info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
An Orderly File - File your nails straight across, no shorter than the natural ridge you can see just underneath the toenail. Do not use clippers, as it's easy to take too much off, increasing the risk of infections. Invest in a crystal-glass file - the grain is much finer than regular emery-boards and will not snag or damage your nails. Buffer Zone - Darker nail varnish can stain the nails yellow, so once you've removed all polish gently rub away any discoloration with a nail buffer. Try not to leave colour on for longer than 10 days, and always apply a clear base coat first. Watch out when applying fake tan too - dab some Vaseline over your nails beforehand, to stop the colour creeping Brought to Heel - Exfoliating foot scrubs can feel luxurious, but the best way to rid yourself of tough callused heels is to use a foot file once per week. File away from you, following the natural curve of your foot and making sure that your feet are completely dry beforehand - wet skin is prone to tearing. You can afford to be a bit brutal, but if you are diabetic, or have poor circulation or cracked skin, you should see a professional Chiropodist/Podiatrist. Cream it on - After filing away any dead skin, apply a moisturiser - the skin on the feet is much thicker than the rest of the body, so choose a specially formulated product. If you suffer from blisters, avoid thick balms that just sit on the surface of the skin and instead use trans-dermal lotions that feed the inner skin cells. Aqueous Cream is an excellent every day moisturiser. Stretch it Out - The feet are made up of bony metatarsal structures that need plenty of exercise to keep them supple. Bunch your toes downwards, as if you were making a fist with your feet. You may feel a slight spasm or cramp at first, but hold for 10 seconds, before stretching your feet out and spreading your toes wide. Vary Your Shoes - To prevent calluses developing, alternate your shoes rather than wearing the same pair day in, day out. There's no need to stop wearing heels, but make sure you vary the height - all the more reason to have plenty in your wardrobe! The same rule goes for flip-flops, ballet pumps, Ugg-style boots and any shoes that don't provide sufficient arch support. If you run regularly, the friction of your toes against the trainer can cause your nails to thicken - up your buffing, make sure your shoes are long enough and invest in proper running socks.
Cracked Heels
Contact Us A Foot Above 8 Wollaton Road Beeston Nottingham NG9 2NR 0115 9223377
A Foot Above 96 Bath Street Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 8FE 0115 9328832 info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
This is a source of great embarrassment and discomfort for many people. A crack or fissure may be due to having excessive dry skin. Many people may simply be more prone to dry skin, as the sweat glands in the feet do not excrete as much as they once did. Sometimes the person may have a development disorder such as flat feet, an abnormal stride and step pattern, or may have heel spurs; which can all cause problems with the heels, including dry skin and cracking. Other possible causes include being overweight, standing for long periods, smoking and diabetes, which compromises the oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissues. Prevention Ensure bath water is not too hot. This may also dry the skin. Apply a good quality moisturizer at least once a day – Aqueous Cream is ideal for this. Use a wet pumice stone or foot file once per week whilst in the bath or shower. However, avoid ‘cheese grater’ style devices. For those who prefer to wear sandals, keep the wear time short and apply extra moisturizing cream around your heels. If you already have cracked heels, make an appointment at ‘A Foot Above®’ for professional Chiropody/Podiatry care and advice.
Heel Pain Pain in the heel can also occur suddenly as a shooting pain or be a low level constant discomfort that drives you mad. There can be many reasons for heel pain but often it’s caused by a change in the biomechanics of the foot i.e. in its structure which includes our gait, or way of walking. Generally the pain is caused from two main reasons, plantar fasciitis or a heel Spur. The Plantar fascia is like a strip of connective tissue that attaches from the ball of the foot to the heel bone. The pain comes when tiny tears develop in it, occurring from sports like running, tennis or being overweight. A Heel Spur occurs when similar damage occurs where the fascia joins the heel bone, causing the area to become inflamed. This spur can be very visible on X-ray, however a large number of people have heel spurs that will never cause them to have any problems. Both conditions can be aggravated or initially caused when the foot is flat (pronated) where the arch of the foot is lower than its normal position rolling inwards causing the fascia to be stretched and the small tears to develop. Pain may feel worse on rising first thing in the morning.
Chiropody Treatments Good foot care makes sense! For continued foot health, consult your Podiatrist at ‘A Foot Above®’ and try our Chiropody Treatment today.
For Appointments call ‘A Foot Above®’ on 0115 9223377 Visit us online… http://www.afootabove.co.uk