Footwise March/April 2011
Volume 3, Number 2
Welcome… Welcome to ‘Footwise’, the newsletter from your friendly Chiropody/Podiatry team at ‘A Foot Above®’ – covering the East Midlands.
Spring Cleaning… even for your feet?
In This Issue
Spring Cleaning
Diabetes & Foot Care
Laura Barnes
Foot Push Up Test
Special Offer
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 A Foot Above® Foot Solutions First Floor Suite 1 Market Square DAVENTRY Northamptonshire NN11 4BH 01327 706844 info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
The weather is changing, although some cold weather spells may keep us wondering, but the indications are that Spring is not too far away. Feet that have been confined in boots and winter shoes may soon be open to the air again. So, are your feet ready for Spring and Summer footwear, or maybe work boots during warmer weather? If you have corns or calluses on your feet, treatment may be necessary to improve their health and appearance of your feet prior to ‘showing them off’. Often in a shoe or boot the foot is unable to ‘breathe’ adequately and it may get a fungal infection. Funguses thrive in moist, dark places and the shoe is perfect breeding ground for fungal growth. If your feet itch, crack or even smell, it may be a fungal infection that needs treatment – for foot health and to avoid embarrassment in your desired footwear. As Spring approaches and you dare to bare those feet, they will dry out more as you wear open heeled shoes, sandals or even flip flops. You may get painful and ‘unattractive’ changes to your feet; including thickening of the skin, cracking of the heels and other seasonally/footwear change related issues. Regular appointments with your local Chiropodist/Podiatrist at “A Foot Above®” can help maintain active and healthy feet.
Diabetes and Foot Care Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes can cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet, so you may feel no pain to indicate there is a problem. To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot, or leg, follow these guidelines:
Inspect your feet daily Wash your feet in lukewarm, (not hot!) water Be gentle when bathing your feet Moisturise your feet, but not between your toes Visit your Chiropodists/Podiatrist regularly for cutting of toenails and the treatment of corns or calluses Wear clean, dry socks Shake out your shoes and feel the inside before wearing, removing any small stones or debris Keep your feet warm and dry Never walk barefoot
Get periodic foot examinations. Visiting your Chiropodist/Podiatrist on a regular basis can help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.
Laura Barnes joins the team
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 A Foot Above® Foot Solutions First Floor Suite 1 Market Square DAVENTRY Northamptonshire NN11 4BH 01327 706844 info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
Laura Barnes joins the team in Daventry HPC Registered Podiatrist Laura Barnes has joined the clinical team at "A Foot Above®" after previously working for several years in Melbourne, Australia. Laura graduated from Northampton University in 2008. Bolstering the "A Foot Above®" clinical skills base, Laura relishes the prospect of the types of patient treatments we encounter and the opportunity it brings. She will complement our existing team with her enthusiasm and clinical knowledge of general Podiatry, Nail Surgery, Gait Analysis, Biomechanical Assessment and Custom Made Orthotics. Stephen Gardiner, Clinical Director at "A Foot Above®", added “Laura will primarily be working within our new Daventry Chiropody Clinic in Northamptonshire, expanding and developing both new and existing services. Laura is a key addition to the team, bringing with her both general and specialised Podiatry skills – enabling "A Foot Above®" to continue providing stellar service and value for money foot solutions to our customers. Welcome on board Laura!”
Foot Push-Up Test Take this simple test to check how well your arches are performing their important functions. 1. 2. 3. 4.
In bare feet, stand facing a kitchen counter or solid table. Place your palms on the counter with slight pressure. Stand with your back straight, and lift one foot off the floor. Slowly lift the heel of other foot, placing all of your weight onto the ball of your foot. 5. Slowly lower your heel back to the floor. 6. Do 10 foot push-ups.
Repeat steps 1-6 with the other foot. And now the results... Did you have problems doing just one push-up? If you cannot rise up onto the ball of your foot without putting lots of pressure on your hands, leaning over the counter or experiencing pain, your arch may have a mechanical problem. The arch tendon can stretch or rupture, leading to lowering of the arch. Your Podiatrist should be consulted as soon as possible. Were you able to do all 10 without a problem? If you can easily rise up onto the ball of your foot, but have difficulty performing all 10 repetitions, you may be suffering from arch fatigue. Exercises focusing on strengthening and stretching leg muscles will help this problem. The foot push-up described above can also be used as an exercise technique. Did you have pain in your arch during the exercise? If you can easily rise up onto the ball of your foot but experience pain in your arch, your arch may be inflamed and may have been overworked. Consulting a Podiatrist for weak and overworked arches is recommended to manage the problem and keep your feet healthy and free of pain.
SPECIAL OFFER Purchase any two Laufwunder Foot Creams and receive a re-usable Foot File
ABSOLUTELY FREE
Visit us online… http://www.afootabove.co.uk