Sever’s Disease or Calcaneal Apophysitis is the most common cause of heel pain in the growing child and is due to overuse and repetitive micro-trauma of the growth plate within the heel bone (calcaneus). Sever’s is most common between the ages 8 to 14 and is more common in boys than girls.

Although every child goes through the stage of having an open growth plate in their heel, not every child will develop pain. (A growth plate is a layer of cartilage usually found at the end of a bone, allowing the bone to grow in length. It is weaker and more vulnerable to injury than the rest of the bone. When the child has finished growing the growth plate disappears and the bone becomes one complete bone).

Contributing Factors to Growing Pains

There are various factors that can contribute to growing pains in children such as

• Sudden increase in activity or high volume of exercise – strenuous activities such as running, jumping and sports may result in muscle tiredness and pain in the feet and legs.
• Flat feet – children with flat feet may experience more stress on their legs and are often more prone to suffering growing pains.
• Tight muscles –tight muscles place more stress on tendons, bones and joints and can contribute to more generalised pain.
• Poor footwear choices -lack of shock absorption and support can lead to discomfort.
• Joint hypermobility – when the ligaments are “more stretch” than they should be, they cannot provide adequate support to the joints. This means that muscles in the feet and legs have to work harder to provide stability, often resulting in generalised pain.

Management for Children with Heel Pian

Calcaneal apophysitis is a self-limiting condition – meaning it will go away completely when the two parts of bony growth join together. There are no known long-term complications associated with children’s heel pain.

However, calcaneal apophysitis can be very painful and limit the child’s sporting ability while they are waiting for it to go away. Symptoms may last for several months and may recur on many occasions until the growth plate fuses.

I hope you find some value in this month’s blog. If you would like your child to have just a check-up or have a particular issue with his/her feet, our staff at Medipod Clinics can help you. Our experienced podiatrists will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you or your child may have.

Thank you for reading – Growing Pains in Children.

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Growing Pains in Children appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Orthoses or orthotic devices (insoles) are shoe inserts that slide into your shoes to help with foot and ankle function, reduce the risk of injury and improve your posture. Conditions that orthoses can help include flat feet and high arches, bunions and hammer toes, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, and last but not least, back pain and arthritis.

A lot of people are using orthoses in their shoes. As a podiatrist, I see different conditions, that can improve with regular use of orthoses. But which is better? Shop bought orthoses or bespoke ones?

This time we are exploring the pros and cons of different types of orthoses. I hope that this will guide your decision regarding whether off the shelf orthoses, will address your foot pain appropriately.

Over-the-counter insoles

1. 1. Low cost
   2. Soft and flexible
   3. Available straight away
   4. Multiple options available especially if you have flat feet

But they also are:

1. 1. Not designed for your foot type or foot pathology
   2. There are hardly any options if you have high arches
   3. Low durability – only last up to 6 months max
   4. Some of them are thick and bulky, and therefore difficult to fit into footwear
   5. Some of them can do more harm than good

Custom-made orthoses (Bespoke Orthoses)

1. 1. Biomechanically designed and engineered for your foot type
   2. Durability – they can last up to 10 years
   3. Adjustments can be made
   4. Fit better into shoes
   5. They contour to your arch profile so suitable for both flat feet and high arches
   6. Comfortable and supportive

However, they also are:

1. 1. Expensive – minimum £200 plus assessment and casting fees
   2. Delay in issuing them to you
   3. Not all shoes will accommodate orthoses

So, what should you get?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. The answer depends on whether you are looking for more comfort whilst walking or standing, or have a more serious condition that needs to be addressed. In any case, it is recommended that you have an assessment by an experienced podiatrist before you decide. During a biomechanical assessment, we take specific measurements from your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back, look at the overall structure of your whole body, examine posture, assess muscle weakness and strength in your lower limbs. There is a lot of observation and measurement involved!

If you experience pain in your feet, or legs, the podiatrist can assess the way you walk and recommend a management plan. Pain is the body’s way of informing you that something is not right. You should not ignore pain, even if it is occasional. If pain is left untreated, it can lead to other compensation patterns elsewhere in the body, such as ankles, knees, hips and back.

Leonardo da Vinci said that “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a piece of art”. This comes as no surprise, if you consider that the foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Foot function is very complex, and every foot is totally different.

At Medipod Clinics, our podiatrists understand how your foot works. Claire is our MSK (Musculo-skeletal) specialist and foot supports guru!

We also offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenail management, fungal infection treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations. Our staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also, welcome to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA. We will be delighted to see you!

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading – Bespoke Orthoses vs Shop-Bought Insoles: What is Best?

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Bespoke Orthoses vs Shop-Bought Insoles: What is Best? appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Children can get many of the same foot problems as adults. But some conditions may take on different characteristics, and some may occur more frequently in children due to their active lifestyles. Or sensitive skin, and developing bodies. The most common foot and ankle issues seen in children and teens include:

Heel Pain (Sever’s disease)

Heel pain in children is often caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate in the heel bone.

Running, jumping, and pounding on hard surfaces can irritate the heel’s growth plate. Causing muscle strain and inflamed tissue. It is very common in active children from 8 to 14 years of age. The new bone is still forming at the growth plate and doesn’t fully develop until at least age 14.

Treatment for heel pain typically includes taking a break from activities that put stress on the heel bone. Using orthotics to support the heel, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain symptoms. Or having supportive and correctly fitted footwear, and stretching the Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Immobilizing the foot and ankle may be necessary for severe cases of paediatric heel pain. If the heel pain persists or reoccurs, other treatments may be explored.

Flexible Flatfoot – Common Foot Problems in Children

Flexible flatfoot is most common in young children. It is characterized by an arch that disappears when the child stands up (so the feet appear flat) but reappears when sitting.

The condition usually occurs in both feet. Most children do not experience any symptoms from the condition, but those who do may feel pain or cramping in the feet or legs while walking. In most cases, children outgrow the disorder without treatment by the age of 7.

If your child does experience symptoms, they can usually be alleviated by wearing supportive shoes and custom-made shoe orthotics for arch support. Seek advice from an experienced podiatrist if your child stops playing sports or withdraws from other physical activities or is in pain as a result of flatfoot symptoms.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrowing toenail is a toenail that grows into the skin surrounding the toenail. It usually occurs on the big toe and causes tenderness, redness, and swelling around the corners of the toenail. Ingrown toenails are often caused by tight shoes and improper cutting of toenails.

Treatment typically involves soaking the affected foot in warm water and using an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection. If the problem persists, your podiatrist may cut or lift the corner of the nail to allow the toe to heal more easily. A minor surgical procedure may also be considered in some cases.

Plantar Warts – Common Foot Problems in Children

Plantar warts usually develop on weight-bearing areas of the foot, such as the heel or ball of the foot. They are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection – human papillomavirus (HPV) – in the top layers of the skin. Warts are transmitted easily through person to person contact as well as indirectly, such as from floors in communal areas (locker rooms and public showers). They are highly contagious.

Plantar warts may eventually go away on their own without treatment, but if they are painful, your podiatrist can remove a plantar wart easily and more effectively than an over-the-counter remedy.

Athletes Foot

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is a common and contagious fungal infection. It can cause a scaly rash that can burn, sting, and itch and may lead to blisters or dry, cracked skin on your feet.

Athletes foot usually appears between the toes and on the soles of the feet and can spread to the toenails and cause fungal nail infections. It occurs after direct exposure to fungi (including yeast), typically in a moist environment like a locker room, public shower, or swimming pool or from the skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

Treatment involves over-the-counter antifungal creams and sprays. You should also make sure that you dry your feet well, especially in between the toes and change socks daily.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you or your child may have.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Common Foot Problems in Children appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

However, there are a lot of reasons why flip-flops can cause damage to your feet. Below I have listed some interesting facts about flip-flops that you never knew!

5 reasons why flip-flops are bad for your feet

1. They Cause Bunions and Hammer Toes
   Bunions are painful, bony protrusions on your feet, usually right on the side of your foot below your big toe. Flip-flops are a major culprit because they create an unnaturally flat surface and force your ligaments and tendons to tug in the wrong spots and your toes to curl. When your toes curl to keep the flip-flops in place, the small muscles around your toes weaken, leading to hammer toes over time.
2. They don’t support your arches
   One of the biggest problems with flip-flops is that most of them have virtually zero arch support. Every foot has a bit of a natural arch to it in the middle. Shoes with arch support inside carry the weight of your foot and preserve the shape of your arch. Without arch support, your ligaments and tendons will start to tug in all the wrong directions to compensate. All that tugging on the ligaments translates to one thing: pain in your feet, which might trigger bunions, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis.
3. They allow fungus to grow and fester and they cause blisters
   If your flip-flops have a soft foam base, you are very likely looking at fungus city, especially if you ever wear them in the water. You wear flip-flops to avoid catching fungus, but the fungus and bacteria get in anyway, and make a nice cosy home in the porous foam, and from there to your feet. To avoid this keep them dry and clean, and replace them often.
4. They are a common cause of tripping over and slow you down
   It is incredibly easy to trip and fall while wearing these floppy shoes. Any shoe that doesn’t fully stay on your foot is a recipe for twisted ankles, stubbed toes, and trip-and-fall accidents. Running / or even just walking in flip-flops will slow you right down, because it’s hard to keep them on your feet as you move. You have to continuously grip and re-grip them with your toes to make progress, which means that they can be a serious liability if you need to move fast.
5. They hurt your heels
   We all know the sound flip-flops make when you walk in them: “Slap-slap-slap.”
   That’s the sound of the soles hitting your heels, and your heels hitting the pavement, over and over again. Flip-flops basically force you to step in such a way that all your weight comes down hard on your heels. This makes your feet ache and the added pressure on the skin can also lead them to develop calluses and cracked skin.

Medipod Clinics – Flip-flop responsibility

I know it sounds all “doom and gloom”! As a podiatrist, I have the responsibility to inform you of what is appropriate for your feet so that you can make the right choice. Most of us have the luxury to buy loads of pairs of shoes over the years, but we only have one pair of feet!

If you don’t look after your feet, you may experience foot problems in the future such as, bunions, claw toes, heel pain, shin splints, tendinitis, fungal infections, ingrowing toenails, and many more.

Podiatrists at Medipod Clinics are trained to help you choose the right shoes for your feet. We understand how your foot works and we can also advise you about your children’s feet.

If you are already experiencing any foot pain, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our podiatry services, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot related questions.

Thanks for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou
medipodclinics.com

The post Why flip-flops are bad for your feet appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Heel pain can be quite complex and it is not always due to plantar fasciitis. There are other structures around your heel that can become inflamed and cause discomfort. Your podiatrist will be able to assess your feet and give you advice on the best options for you.

Happy feet need to be pain free as well as comfortable, so you can do the things that matter to you the most. Here are our top 5 tips to avoid heel pain:

Medipod Clinics – Top 5 Tips to avoid Heel Pain

The main cause of heel pain is a combination of abnormal foot function and footwear choice. Therefore, we would advise you to consider the following.

1. 1. We suggest avoiding flip-flops, ballet-type shoes, and high heels. These types of shoes do not offer any support and can lead to a number of foot pathologies including heel pain, bunions, toe deformities and shin splints.
   2. Avoid walking barefoot for a long time. Although walking without shoes has benefits, it can change the structure of your feet as ligaments and muscles become overstretched.
   3. If you are carrying weight, make sure it is well balanced. Carry your bag on both shoulders and avoid placing children on your hip as this causes postural changes. Abnormal posture leads to heel pain.
   4. Consider some over the counter foot supports. They can improve your posture and function of your feet. It is better to discuss your needs with a podiatrist who will advise you on the most appropriate support for your feet.
   5. Wear shoes that give you enough cushioning and shock absorption. Trainers and walking boots are the preferred type of footwear.

Podiatrists at Medipod Clinics are trained to treat heel pain. We understand how your foot works and we tailor a treatment plan to your needs. In most cases a combination of stretching exercises, foot supports, footwear advice, physical therapy and strapping can alleviate your discomfort. We would advise you to avoid a steroid injection unless other measures have not helped.

If you are already experiencing heel pain, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.
We also offer other podiatry services, beauty and physiotherapy services. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our podiatry services, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot related questions.

Thanks for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
http://medipodclinics.com

The post Top 5 Tips to avoid Heel Pain appeared first on Medipod Clinics.