HEALTH Loving your feet

Health

Love your feet

Chiropodist, Podiatrist or Foot Doctor. Whatever you call him, this is your man! Health expert Gareth Bullock meets Anthony Mason

Believe it or not, spring will be here soon, wellies off at last and time to show those feet!! But are yours healthy and in good enough condition to have on display? It’s not just about painting the nails, as I have now found out. I have been searching high and low for a reputable Chiropodist for my readers and here he is, Tony Mason. 1 What is a Chiropodist? Podiatry, (previously known as Chiropody) is the diagnosis and treatment, by Podiatrists, of diseases and other disorders of the feet. Podiatrists are highly skilled health professionals who have been trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. They also prevent and correct deformity, keep people mobile and active, relieve pain and treat infections. Registered Chiropodists or Podiatrists (these are British Qualifications) may be checked out at www.hpc-uk.org

OSTEOPATHY

For muscular and articular problems, treated by harmonising and resetting the body’s structure. CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY MASSAGE SERVICE

•All massages are performed by health professionals using biologic essential oils for aromatherapy •Swedish massage,Quiromassage, Reflexology, •Lymphatic drainage, Traditional Thai massage, •Local massage for legs and feet or neck back and shoulders. CATHERINA PAUWELS, ILSE BRENNER

31 Rua da Silva, Tavira (next to Vila Gale hotel) Tel: 281 321 700 Mail: catherinapauwels@clix.pt

2What do your treatments

consist of?

Anything from basic nail cutting to nail surgery.

3Do you ever carry out

surgery?

Podiatry, on its own, is a form of surgery, but yes, we do corrective nail surgery, either to permanently remove the nail or its sides, due to its shape (growing-in) or disease.

4Where can people be treated

by you?

Modern Podiatry requires a surgery and a lot of quite heavy and bulky equipment, so treatment is only available in a surgical setting. We hold surgeries in Amendoeira (just north of Loulé), Vilar do Golfe in Quinta Do Largo, and Oura in Albufeira.

5Can you do house visits? Not really, it’s a bit like a dentist trying to do house calls. You would be very limited in what you could achieve.

Health

6What is the most common

complaint you deal with?

Probably athlete’s foot and the associated fungal nails.

7What is the most unusual? You really don’t want to know. Anything can present at the surgery from a simple corn to a crushed foot.

8Should we go regularly to

a Chiropodist like you do a dentist?

They say that prevention is better than cure, so the answer is yes. Many conditions are picked up by Podiatrists in their early stages, some are referred on and some dealt with by the Podiatrist. Regular checkups are especially important for certain groups of people. Diabetics and people with peripheral vascular disease must be seen on a regular basis to ensure the feet remain clear of anything that could result in ulceration as this can lead on to, in some cases, subsequent amputation.

9How can you prevent an in

growing toe nail?

Ingrowing toe nails are caused by cutting the nail too short and cutting out the corners. Growing in nails (nails which are abnormally curved) can in some cases be retrained to grow flatter (the Podiatrist can bend the nail under heat or apply a brace (much the same as a dentist would to your teeth).

10Corns! Are they for ever or can they be got rid of? Corns can be got rid of, but it is not that easy. Cutting them out with a scalpel is the easy part but stopping them regrowing is more difficult. If you “remove the cause the effect will cease”, and the cause might be a change in your gait through weight gain or injury, or footwear.

11How long have you been here in the Algarve? Bear Foot Podiatry was established in 2002.

12Where are you from? The Home Counties (South Buckinghamshire), England.

13What languages do you speak? The Queen’s English. But we have many foreign patients, Portuguese, French, Irish, German, Dutch, Spanish and we seem to be able to communicate. Of course in the clinics there are multi lingual staff so communication is generally not a problem. 15What is the best bit of advice you can give our readers for

happy, healthy feet?

If your feet hurt, something is wrong, you should visit a Registered Podiatrist, who will advise you on the best course of treatment, and hopefully prevent foot problems before they occur.

16What is the worst thing we do to our feet? Ignoring pain, corns and hard skin especially if diabetic.

17Have you ever treated a celebrity here in the Algarve

and can you give us a clue who?

Sorry, patient confidentiality prevents me from divulging names of patients.

18How much does it cost for a treatment? Initial Consultation, about I hour with treatment €50.00 Follow-up visits usually €40.00...

19 What are your contact details? Anthony H Mason. FSSCh. D.Pod. M. MChS, Bear Foot Podiatry Tel: 289 416 336. E-mail; europod@gmx.com

14What do you like about your profession? Being able to keep people mobile is one of the most important aspects of primary care.

I am still keen to get more local people onto these health pages, so if you would like to be featured please call me, Gareth Bullock on 912 540 071.