At BioPed Footcare, people of all ages and all walks of life visit our clinic’s lower limb clinicians for help with foot and lower limb pain and discomfort. As a part of BioPed’s multidisciplinary team of Certified Pedorthists, Footcare Nurses and Registered Chiropodists, we enjoy providing footcare for new clients and for those they have known for years. By increasing comfort and function, we strive to improve the quality of life for all our clients.
One of our long standing clients called the clinic the other day to book an appointment to address pain in her left heel. When she arrived for her appointment, we anticipated the pain in her heel would be on the bottom of her foot and due to an issue such as plantar fasciitis. When we sat down together, it was clear that there was more callus than usual around both of her heels, but the left was considerably worse. Upon further inspection, we saw two cracks (also known as fissures) in her heel callus which were sore when we applied pressure.
This client has previously attended footcare appointments at BioPed every eight weeks for nail and skin care. The goal in footcare treatments is to ensure the nails and skin are as healthy as they can be when leaving and provide education on how to maintain foot health between appointments. Maintaining the integrity of the skin is vital as our skin is the largest organ in the body and its primary job is to protect everything underneath. The bottoms of our feet are extra durable to provide a thick barrier to endure friction and pressure from the ground when we walk. As long as the moisture balance of the skin is maintained, the skin is strong and resilient.
Skin that is too dry or too moist becomes weak, which can lead to cracks in this protective organ and risk of infection!
Our heels strike the ground with force. If our feet are supported with well-fitting footwear that is appropriate for the activity at hand, the heel will experience less pressure when striking the ground during walking or running.
We performed a routine footcare treatment that day, during which we removed the thick callus around her heel and carefully worked around the sore cracks, which was open at the base and was bleeding slightly. I knew we needed to make the skin on the heels more supple and soft in order to allow the crack to close and heal well. At the end of the treatment, we applied an antibacterial cream on the open crack and a dressing over top to protect from infection and facilitate the healing process. The patient was advised to wash their feet daily and apply a skin softening cream afterwards, while the skin was still moist to maximize absorption into the top layers of the skin.
We discovered that this client had developed the pain soon after starting a new running program for exercise
A biomechanical and gait assessment was conducted and we noted a heavy heel strike and an increased amount of pronation or arch flattening. When this happens, the heel moves around or rotates too much causing excess stress on the heel and the rest of the foot. We decided to make this client a custom foot orthotic to provide needed arch support and also control the amount of movement in the foot when walking. This provides stabilization and lessens the stress on the foot overall.
New shoes! This client was in need of properly fitting footwear designed for her new found passion, running. We fitted her for new shoes and when her custom foot orthotics were ready the following week, we made sure everything was comfortable and functional.
Within three weeks, her heels were completely healed and the texture of her skin was drastically improved. She was no longer suffering with discomfort and was making serious gains in her fitness and well-being. This is music to our ears! It is important to remember that dry heels and unsupportive footwear or walking barefoot are a recipe for disaster when it comes to the health of our skin and feet.
At BioPed, our lower limb clinicians will provide thorough assessments and make recommendations for treatment for your individual needs. Give us a call today to book an appointment today!
If you are suffering from heel pain or any other type of lower body pain, call BioPed Footcare today to make an appointment to discuss treatment options designed specifically for you to help you do more in life!
