Footwise January/February 2011
Volume 3, Number 1
Welcome… Welcome to FootWise, the newsletter from your friendly Podiatry team at ‘A Foot Above®’, Beeston.
New Year’s resolutions could bring foot pain! Get your feet fit for the New Year
In This Issue
Foot and Ankle Pain caused by exercise
Your foot health and the shoes you wear
Simply nails
Gift Vouchers
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
You’ve signed up for the Gym Membership? You’ve made a promise to yourself to stick to your New Year’s Resolution to exercise and lose weight? You hit the Gym, you work hard for a week, then you wake up one morning and pain is shooting through your heel. Exercise now hurts so much you stay at home on the couch! Soon after the last gulp of New Year’s bubbly, Podiatrists often see an annual influx of patients with foot pain caused by exercise. The most common problems are pinched nerves, Achilles tendon and heel pain. When starting a new activity, gradually increase the time and duration. Take a day of rest between workouts initially, and be sure to warm up and include stretches before and after. The most common conditions Podiatrists see due to a sudden increase in activity are: Pinched Nerves – Have your feet measured before you buy sports shoes. Foot and ankle surgeons say many people wear shoes that are a half size too tight. Exercising in tight shoes can cause a neuroma, or a pinched nerve. Patients with this condition say they feel pain in the ball of their foot and tingling in their third and fourth toes. Achilles Tendon Pain – Is where the back of the foot becomes painful. Foot and ankle surgeons recommend first using RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). Heel Pain – Most heel pain cases are caused by Plantar fasciitis. Podiatrist Stephen Gardiner at “A Foot Above”, recommends using sports shoes and insoles that support the arch and cushion the heel. To treat heel pain, performing stretching exercises two to three times a day can help. There is also a lot the Podiatrist can do to prevent injuries recurring, or indeed developing in the first place. Your Podiatrist at “A Foot Above” has undertaken extensive training in Biomechanics – the study of the application of science to the way we walk or run. Therefore, the Podiatrist can assess and diagnose if your particular walking or running style may be causing any problems or injuries.
Contact Us A Foot Above 8 Wollaton Road Beeston Nottingham NG9 2NR 0115 9223377
Your foot health and the shoes you wear Your foot health and the shoes you wear make an enormous difference to your posture and whether or not you are likely to suffer back pain or wear and tear on the joints in your feet, knees and hips. Wearing heels kicks out your “bum” and puts a dip in your lower back, which puts stress on your hips and extra pressure on your knees. Anything higher than a kitten heel and you could be risking injury. High heels can also increase your chances of getting arthritis quite early in life.
A Foot Above 96 Bath Street Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 8FE
Orthotics – molded insoles that are contoured to the sole of the foot can help aid posture. Gel pads are also good to relieve the pressure. A widebased heel is better than a stiletto because it helps spread your weight more evenly. Ugg-style boots and totally flat shoes are not meant to be walked in all day and can result in tendon injuries and very tight calf muscles. This may lead to more serious foot problems, as these styles of footwear don’t support your feet… so wear them around the house, not out and about.
0115 9328832
For Appointments call ‘A Foot Above®’ on
info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
Plantar Fasciitis
0115 922 33 77
Plantar fasciitis causes pain under the heel. It means inflammation of your plantar fascia. Your plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue that stretches from your heel to your middle of your forefoot. It supports the arch of your foot and also acts as a shock-absorber in the foot. Plantar fasciitis is common; around 1 in 10 people suffer with this condition. The main symptoms are pain anywhere on the underside of the heel and the pain is often worst when you take your first steps in the morning or after long periods of rest where no body weight is placed on your foot. Your qualified Podiatrist at “A Foot Above” can diagnose and recommend a treatment plan to help you overcome this condition, which is quiet common in the new year when people take up exercise again.
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
SPECIAL OFFER Purchase any two Laufwunder Foot Creams and receive a re-usable Foot File
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Visit us online… http://www.afootabove.co.uk