Podiatry

Nearly a quarter of all bones in our bodies are in our feet and our feet are our bodies natural shock absorbers. Each foot takes one-and-a-half times our body weight while walking and up to five times our weight when we run, but painful feet are not a normal side effect from everyday activities.

The image below refers to some common foot and leg issues that our podiatry practice treats. Click on each of the highlighted areas to learn more.

Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue running along the sole of your foot, sustains damage. This tissue connects your heel bone to your toes and plays a key role in forming the arch of your foot.

A leading cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis often develops due to overstretching, overuse, or underlying medical conditions.

While plantar fasciitis is frequently linked to heel spurs – small bony projections on the heel bone – it’s important to note that many people with heel spurs experience no pain at all.

Achilles Tendon Pain

The Achilles tendon, the body’s largest tendon, connects your calf muscles to the bones in your heel. You can feel it as a firm, elastic band of tissue running along the back of your ankle and just above your heel. This tendon enables movements like pointing your toes downward or standing on your tiptoes. However, it is prone to injury, often referred to as tendonitis, which can cause a burning sensation or stiffness in the lower leg.

Forefoot Pain

Forefoot pain encompasses injuries affecting the long metatarsal bones and areas inside, outside, or beneath the ball of the foot. These injuries may occur abruptly or develop progressively over time. Acute injuries happen suddenly, often with an obvious cause, while chronic injuries gradually emerge or result from an improperly healed acute injury. Common overuse-related issues include tendonitis, stress fractures, and joint inflammation.

Ingrown Nails

Ingrown nails occur when a nail grows into the surrounding skin rather than over it. This issue is more common in toenails than fingernails, particularly in the big toe. As the nail begins to press into the skin, symptoms usually progress through stages, starting with swelling, sensitivity, and hardening in the affected area.

Shin Splints

Shin splints refer to pain experienced along the length of the shin bone, or tibia. The tibia is the large bone extending from beneath your knee down the front of your lower leg. The discomfort occurs at the points where the muscles connect to the shin. Shin splints are a frequent issue, especially for those engaging in high-impact activities that place strain on the lower legs.

Corns

A corn is a thickened patch of hard skin that forms near a bony part of a toe or between the toes. They often develop due to pressure or friction caused by shoes that rub against the toes or create irritation between them.

Dystrophic Nails

Dystrophic nails are toenails that appear deformed, thickened, or discoloured. They can result from several underlying issues, including fungal infections or certain skin conditions.

Diabetic Feet

Diabetes can lead to two significant complications that affect foot health:

1. Diabetic Neuropathy: Unmanaged diabetes can damage your nerves, reducing sensation in your legs and feet. This means you may not feel heat, cold, or pain, increasing the risk of unnoticed injuries.
2. Peripheral Vascular Disease: Diabetes also impairs blood circulation. Poor blood flow delays the healing of cuts or sores, which can lead to infections. In severe cases, this may result in ulcers or gangrene, where tissue dies due to inadequate blood supply.

Common foot issues associated with diabetes include swollen feet, ingrown toenails, foot ulcers, plantar warts, athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, corns, calluses, bunions, blisters, dry skin, hammertoes, and general foot pain.

Calluses

A callus is a thickened area of hard skin that typically forms on the underside of the foot. They develop due to uneven weight distribution, often on the ball of the foot or the heel. Calluses can also result from poorly fitting footwear or underlying skin conditions. It’s common for the soles of your feet to have some degree of callusing.

Bunions

Bunions are bony protrusions that develop on the joint where the big toe connects to the foot, known as the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. They form gradually over time, becoming larger and more prominent. This condition can cause the big toe to angle inward, occasionally overlapping the neighbouring toe.