Footwise July/Aug 2011
Volume 3, Number 4
Welcome… Welcome to FootWise, the newsletter from your friendly Podiatry team at „A Foot Above®‟.
Summer Feet… In This Issue
Summer Feet Cracked Heels Ankle Sprains Klenz your shoes
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 A Foot Above : The Foot Pad 56 Theobald’s Road Holborn London WC1X 8SF 0207 4046942
info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
Cracks to the heels are often referred to as fissures and are usually caused by dry skin. For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem, but when the fissures are deep, the skin bleeds easily and can be very painful. The heels appear yellow or dark brown depending on the skin type and are normally accompanied by dry skin. Symptoms include a hard growth of skin, usually on the outer edge of the heel. Patients may experience pain while walking and increased discomfort in thin soles or open-back shoes. CAUSES OF CRACKED HEELS
Inactive sweat glands Dry skin Prolonged standing Obesity Open backed shoes can be a contributing factor Surgery to the lower extremities Heel Spurs Misalignment of the metatarsal bones (the bone structure of the sole of the foot) Flat feet and high arched feet Abnormalities of gait (walking) Using excessively hot water is a contributing factor Eczema and psoriasis can also be contributing factors
TREATMENT OF CRACKED HEELS
Visit your local Chiropodist/Podiatrist for removal of hard skin. Apply a moisturizing cream twice daily to the affected heels, such as Flexitol™ Heel Balm Use a wet pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. Avoid open backed shoes or thin soled shoes Buy shoes with a good shock absorbing sole Never try to pare down the hard skin yourself with a razor blade, pair of scissors or other cutting/grating device Diabetics must consult their Chiropodist/Podiatrist regularly
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
Ankle Sprains Summer is a great time to get outside and enjoy yourself. However, our increased activity level can often lead to problems with our feet and ankles; particularly ankle sprains. Many Accident & Emergency departments across the country see increases in sprained ankles in the summer months. Most of us have twisted an ankle at some point, either while doing something as simple as stepping off a curb, or while enjoying a specific sport such as tennis or running. However, sometimes these “twists” can be more serious and need to be treated as quickly as possible. If your ankle becomes swollen, painful or bruised after you injure it, you have most likely sprained your ankle. This means you have probably stretched and possibly torn the ligaments in your ankle. First, if an injury or accident does occur, the steps you can take to help yourself are easy to remember if you can recall the word “RICE”.
A Foot Above : The Foot Pad 56 Theobald’s Road Holborn London WC1X 8SF 0207 4046942
info@afootabove.co.uk www.afootabove.co.uk
REST - Restrict your activity and get off your foot/ankle. ICE - Gently place a plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the injured area in a 20-minute-on, 40-minute-off cycle.
COMPRESSION - Lightly wrap an elasticated bandage around the area, taking care not to pull it too tight.
ELEVATION - To reduce swelling and pain, sit in a position that allows you to elevate the foot/ankle higher than your heart.
Rest is particularly important in order to keep your weight off the ankle. In addition, anti-inflammatory medications will probably be suggested to reduce swelling and pain. Since it is import to make sure that the ankle is fully healed before returning to sports and activities, it may be recommended to tape your ankle or wear a supportive brace.
NEW @ ‘A Foot Above®’... „Klenz‟ Your Footwear... Only £2
This is a new machine used to sanitize your footwear in only 8 minutes, giving you the peace of mind that your feet are not being re-infected as soon as you put your shoes back on. Klenz kills the bacteria and fungal spores that cause bad odours, infections like Athletes Foot, Fungal Nails and even the deterioration of shoe materials. So, not only will shoes smell as fresh as when you bought them, they will not contaminate you & will last longer.
Visit us online… http://www.afootabove.co.uk