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Chiropody
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot occurs when the tinea fungus grows on the feet. You can catch the fungus through direct contact with an infected person, or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments. It’s commonly found in showers, on locker room floors, and around swimming pools. Also called tinea pedis — is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet. It can also spread to the toenails and the hands. Athlete’s foot isn’t serious, but sometimes it’s hard to cure. Treatment usually involves prescription topical or oral medication. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect you have athlete’s foot, consult your Chiropodist.
Fungal Nails
Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first. A fungal infection of the nail may affect part of the nail, the entire nail, or several nails. Common signs of a fungal nail infection include: a distorted nail that may lift off from the nail bed, a brittle or thickened crumbly nail, an odour coming from the infected nail. It’s recommended you have your toenail fungus assessed and treated to ensure you maintain healthy nails and to prevent further infection. Treatment usually includes topical or oral anti fungal medications with regular removal of the fungal infected portion of the nail by a Chiropodist.
Ingrown Nails
Ingrown toenails (also known as onychocryptosis) are a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Ingrown toenails usually affect your big toe. Common ingrown toenail causes include improper cutting of your nails, injury, poor fitting footwear and having unusually curved toenails. Treatment consists of having your Chiropodist remove the underlying spicule and reducing the nails safely. Certain cases may require to have the entire or part of the nail permanently removed to prevent the ingrown from coming back. Conservative treatment can be done at the clinic, but due to infection controls and sterility, minor surgeries will be performed at an associated clinic.
Plantar Warts
Also known as verrucae, are a virus cause by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can occur all over the body, but quite commonly on the feet that typically resembles a small blister or cauliflower. Warts are contagious and are typically contracted from moist community areas such as showers and pools. Most warts disappear in 1 to 5 years without medical treatment, but treatment is available for warts that are large, numerous, or in sensitive areas. Different treatment options include topical medications, cryotherapy, laser and minor surgery.
Diabetic Footcare
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result, you could develop a blister or a sore. This could lead to an infection or a nonhealing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation. It is important to have your feet assessed and treated by a Chiropodist including all nail and corn/callus debridement. It is also recommended to have your feet checked annually by a Chiropodist to monitor any early signs of problems.
Geriatric and Routine Footcare
As we age, it can become more difficult to perform our daily tasks. Health complications can often contribute to decreased mobility, strength and vision issues. It is important to have your nails, corns and calluses safely taken care of by a Chiropodist to avoid injury to your feet.
Prescription Custom Foot Orthotics
- Biomechanical Issues (Flat feet correction, bunion prevention, Hammer Toes, Clawed Digits)
- Promotes Good Posture & Alignment (Patellofemoral Pain, Hip Pain, Low back Pain)
- Prevents Painful Feet (Heel Spurs, Plantar Fasciitis, Metatarsalgia, Shin Splints, Tendonitis)
Custom Foot Orthotics are made to control abnormal foot function, re-establish proper foot mechanics, weight distribution, and correct postural misalignment. Abnormal foot function and weight distribution of the lower extremities often cause many foot, lower leg, pelvic and spinal overuse or stress injuries.
Research has shown that foot orthoses are effective at reducing pain and disability in numerous disorders including flat feet, osteoarthritis, patellofemoral syndrome, medial tibial stress syndrome, bunions, neuromas, sesamoiditis, clawed toes, corns, in-toeing, sciatica and plantar fasciitis. In addition, foot orthoses have been found to be effective at reducing plantar pressures in neuropathic diabetic feet, relieving plantar pressure pain from metatarsalgia, preventing metatarsal stress fractures and for altering the kinetics and kinematics of running and walking gait.
This service is offered in the following clinics :
Ontario
