Common Foot and Ankle Conditions:
- Skin and Nail Disorders:
- Corns and calluses: Thickened layers of skin that develop due to pressure and friction.
- Fungal nail infections (Onychomycosis): Infections that cause thickening, discoloration, and crumbling of the nails.
- Ingrown toenails: When the edges of the toenail grow into/pierce the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, and potential infection.
- Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis): A fungal infection of the skin on the feet, often causing itching, redness, and scaling.
- Verrucae: Viral infections that cause benign growths on the soles of the feet or around the toes.
- Blisters: Fluid-filled sacs caused by friction or burns.
- Dry skin (Anhidrosis): A condition where the skin on the feet lacks moisture, leading to cracking and discomfort.
- Sweaty feet (Hyperhidrosis): Excessive sweating of the feet.
- Chilblains: Small, itchy, red or purple swellings on the skin caused by poor circulation in cold weather.
- Psoriasis and eczema: Skin conditions that can affect the feet and nails.
Musculoskeletal Conditions and Deformities:
- Foot pain!
- Biomechanic issues and gait assessment
- Hallux valgus (bunions): A bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe.
- Hammertoe, claw toe, and mallet toe: Deformities of the toes caused by muscle imbalances.
- Heel pain: Including plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot) and heel spurs (bony growths on the heel bone).
- Flat feet (Pes planus) and high arches (Pes cavus): Conditions related to the structure of the foot’s arch.
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: is a condition where the posterior tibial tendon, which supports the arch of the foot, becomes inflamed, stretched, or torn, leading to pain, flattening of the arch, and difficulty walking.
- Morton’s neuroma: A thickening of the tissue around a nerve in the ball of the foot, often between the third and fourth toes.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons, such as Achilles tendonitis.
- Arthritis: Including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affecting the foot and ankle joints.
- Gout: A type of arthritis that can cause sudden, severe pain in the big toe.
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (Shin splints): Pain along the shin bone, often related to overuse.
- Stress fractures: Small cracks in the bones of the foot or ankle, usually caused by repetitive stress.
- Back/hip/knee conditions: If associated to gait
Other Conditions:
Diabetic foot problems: Including neuropathy (nerve damage), ulcers (sores), and infections, which can be serious complications of diabetes.
Poor circulation: Related to conditions like peripheral artery disease.
Growth plate disorders (in children): Such as Sever’s disease.
Gait abnormalities: Problems with walking patterns.
Leg length discrepancies: Differences in the length of the legs that can affect foot and ankle mechanics.
I use a variety of treatments, including:
- Prescribing medications: Including topical and oral drugs for infections and inflammation.
- Offering advice on footwear: To ensure proper support and prevent foot problems.
- Recommending exercises and rehab programmes: To improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
- Foot mobilisation: to restore proper joint movement and reduce pain and stiffness in the foot and ankle by addressing biomechanical imbalances
- Providing orthotics/over the counter insoles: Bespoke/semi shoe inserts to support and correct foot mechanics.
- Steroid Injection: Certain conditions only.
- Verruca needling: that involves repeatedly puncturing a verruca (wart) with a sterile needle to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight the viral infection.
- Nail Surgery: is a procedure to address problematic toenails, such as ingrown, thickened, or fungal nails, often involving partial or complete removal of the nail, then using a chemical to stop the nail regrowing.
- Wound care: For ulcers and other open sores.
- Nail care: Trimming, debriding (cleaning), and treating nail disorders.