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!

Diabetes is a condition whereby the body does not make insulin or has trouble recognizing it. Insulin is crucial for storing food sugars. With diabetes, the sugars are not stored properly and remain at high levels in the blood stream. This can lead to damaged nerves and it’s the smallest (in our fingers and feet) to be affected first. We call this “neuropathy.”

Precautions for diabetic nail and skin care

The biggest concern with neuropathy is that it causes a loss of sensation. But, did you know that this loss of feeling typically happens later in the disease process? The early signs of nerve damage are actually dry skin and thick, brittle nails.

If you are diabetic, it is important to visit with a Chiropodist or Foot Care Nurse regularly for skin and nail care. They will pick up on these subtle indicators and alert your family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner when something is wrong before it’s too late. The best medicine for diabetic foot problems is prevention!

Treatment for diabetic nail and skin care

If you have calluses, cracks, fissures, warts or corns on your feet and you are diabetic, you should never use an off-the-shelf drugstore medication without first consulting a medical professional. These skin troubles put diabetics at risk for infection, wounds and amputation and should be taken very seriously. At BioPed, we carry diabetic friendly skin and nail products to help keep your nails healthy and your skin soft and free of fungus.

If your toenails have become too thick to trim yourself or have begun to dig into the border, it is time to visit with a BioPed Chiropodist or Foot Care Nurse for assistance. No referral is needed and your family Doctor will be happy to see you being proactive.