FOOTNOTES - March 2023
IF YOUR FEET COULD SPEAK, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
HELP!!!
After months of thick socks and heavy footwear are you looking forward to sandal season or are you of the opinion that your feet should not be exposed to the masses?
If you have a tendency to hide your feet away then we want to see you!?Whatever your reasons may be, there is nothing that we haven’t seen before nor anything that we can’t help with (even if it is a case of pointing you in the direction of a specialist).?
Our team of highly trained and experienced Podiatrists are experts at:
And then, once we’ve got your feet back in tip top condition, why not treat yourself to one of our Medical Pedicures just in time for summer!?You too can feel the grass under your feet, the sand between your toes and wear the latest in sandal fashion.
Click here to book online or call 01722 340057 to start your journey to beautiful, healthy feet.?
15 SUCCESFUL YEARS OF CARING FOR YOUR FEET
Total Foot Health, Salisbury's longest-standing and largest multi-disciplinary podiatry practice, cordially invites you to celebrate with us. We have planned a range of initiatives designed to spread good cheer and raise awareness of the important work we do.
Our first initiative is an opportunity to win a fabulous footcare hamper that includes:
This is a FREE RAFFLE that is open to all our patients.?One FREE ticket will be issued after every appointment attended from Monday 03.04.23 to Friday 30.06.23.?This 12 week period has been chosen to enable as many of our patients as possible to participate.?The winning ticket holder will be notified in the 1st week of July 2023.
JUSTINE'S CORNER
What Actually Happens at a Biomechanical Assessment?
(An honest review)
A lot of us don’t give our feet a second thought until something goes wrong – and there is a lot that can go wrong - The average foot is a complex structure that has 33 joints, 26 bones, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments.?Furthermore, musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the most common form of physical disability worldwide (source: rcpod.co.uk).
Only a skilled and experienced MSK podiatrist can accurately identify and treat the multitude of ailments that can occur and our very own biomechanical expert, David Owens, is on hand to do just that during a Biomechanical Assessment.
I had been unsuccessfully trying to ignore a pain along the underside of my right foot for a while so finally decided to give my hard-working feet the respect they deserve and find out what was going on.
David starts forming a diagnosis from the moment he sees how you walk to his Treatment Room and by the time you have settled down on the examination bed in his well-equipped Gait Lab, he already has a good idea of your main issue(s).
He then proceeds to take a carefully structured medical and social history, with each question being pertinent to his final conclusions.?Furthermore, these questions help David to make an informed decision about which diagnostic tools to use during the rest of the appointment.
Next comes a physical examination of the affected areas.?Despite being in pain, I am delighted to report that David was extremely gentle, applying just enough pressure and manipulation to give him the information he needed without causing me any physical discomfort.?
领英推荐
On this occasion he then decided to use an ultrasound to confirm his suspected diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.?With his patience and clear explanations, even I could see the noticeable swelling of my plantar fascia on the screen.
Although we now had a diagnosis, David wanted to see how my plantar fasciitis affected my mobility before discussing a treatment plan.?He asked me to stand in certain positions such as balancing on one leg and standing on tip toes before sitting me back down to discuss his recommendations.?I also noticed a Treadmill in his room and David explained that it is a particularly useful tool for treating patients whose gait has been affected by their foot condition.
I was so impressed with the professionalism and thoroughness of my Biomechanical Assessment and was really pleased to have both a confirmed diagnosis and a treatment plan by the end of the appointment.?David also gave me some sound advice regarding both footwear and exercises to help alleviate my symptoms.?Furthermore, he also wrote all his findings and recommendations in a letter so I don’t forget anything that was discussed.?
My only regret is waiting so long before taking action.?If you also suffer from any form of pain in your lower limbs, don’t delay and get in touch today.?Call 01722 340057 or book online.
BANISH THE VERRUCA BLUES
The long and endless dark nights and bleak daylight hours are known to plunge even the most stoic person into a grump, so adding the misery of a stubborn verruca has the potential to cause further despair.?Whilst no-one is exempt from catching one (or several), it is worth noting that they are more common in children and young adults.
It is true that they don’t actually cause you any ‘harm’ (which is why the NHS don’t usually treat them) but they can be painful; some people find them unsightly and they are very infectious.?They will eventually clear up by themselves, but it can take a matter of years.
The reason that these troublesome growths are so difficult to eliminate is their ability to go undetected by the body. Furthermore, as we bunker down in thick socks and fur lined boots, it is much easier to ignore their presence.
But don’t!?Now is the ideal time to take action and be verrucae free for sandal season.?Here at Total Foot Health we have a lot of experience dealing with these pesky warts as well as an excellent success rate – although please note that nobody is able to guarantee the total elimination of a verrucae nor promise that you won’t get a reoccurrence in the future.
We have several treatment options available.?Your Podiatrist will take into account your occupation and lifestyle as well as your medical history before recommending the most suitable course of action.?Take your first step towards banishing the verruca blues by making an appointment today.?
DIABETIC FOOTCARE
7% of the UK population has diabetes and that number is growing at a steady rate.?If nothing changes, it is predicted that 5.5 million people in the UK will have some form of diabetes by 2030.?Whilst it is perfectly possible for a diabetic to learn how to manage their diet in order to lead an active and fulfilling life it is also ESSENTIAL that they also look after their feet.
Over time the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage the nerves causing a serious condition called diabetic neuropathy (numbness).?
As a result, you may not notice any damage to your foot such – even a broken bone can go undetected.?
This can cause long term (and, in some cases, irreversible) damage to your foot.
As well as the usual foot issues such as hard skin and corns, diabetics are particularly susceptible to the following foot conditions:
Here at Total Foot Health we urge our diabetic patients to come for a yearly diabetic foot assessment.?This involves:
which will help ensure that you don’t develop any complications with your foot health.?Book yours today by clicking here to book online or call us on 01722 340057.
Prevention is better than a cure, especially if that cure is amputation
In February, we had the pleasure of celebrating a milestone birthday with one of our patients. During a home visit, Rebecca presented Audrey with our card and gift to mark the beginning of her 100th birthday celebrations.
Congratulations, Audrey!