Corns and Calluses: How Orthotics Can Help

BioPed Footcare — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:06:32 +0000

Corns and calluses are common skin lesions that occur in the feet, resulting from pressure and/or friction. Fortunately, foot orthotics can be an effective option to prevent and treat these issues. Let’s explore how corns and calluses are caused, how to distinguish between them, and how orthotics can play a key role in relieving discomfort and lessening the chance of recurrence.

What are Corns and Calluses?

Corns are cone-shaped lesions that present as circular and thickened areas of skin. They are usually found on the tops, sides of or in between toes. They often develop because of excessive pressure or friction from poorly fitting shoes or deformities, such as bunions. Corns tend to be more painful than calluses due to their size, location, and a central core or nucleus. Calluses, on the other hand, are larger and typically form on the bottoms of feet, especially on weight-bearing areas, such as the heel or ball of the foot. Unlike corns, calluses generally cover a more diffuse area and tend to be less painful, but if left untreated, they can become uncomfortable over time. These hardened skin lesions are natural defense mechanisms that develop to protect the skin from excessive rubbing and pressure.

Common Causes of Corns and Calluses

Ill-fitting footwear: Shoes that are too tight, loose, or have high heels can cause the skin to rub against the shoe, leading to the formation of corns and calluses.
Foot deformities: Structural abnormalities like hammertoes, bunions, or flat feet can create pressure points that increase friction and cause corns or calluses.
Activity level: Walking or standing for extended periods, especially on hard surfaces, can result in calluses developing on weight-bearing areas.
Inefficient gait / walking: An issue with the way you walk can lead to uneven distribution of body weight, contributing to areas of excessive pressure on the feet.
Not enough cushioning: If the fat pads on the bottom of feet are atrophied or thinned, the feet are more susceptible to developing calluses.

How Can Orthotics Help with Corns and Calluses?

Orthotics can be custom-made or prefabricated (off-the-shelf insoles). They are devices that are placed inside shoes to provide support and offloading. They are effective in managing foot lesions, such as corns and calluses by addressing the cause…pressure and friction.

One of the primary functions of an orthotic is to redistribute pressure in the foot. This is crucial for individuals who experience localized pressure that leads to corns or calluses. By spreading the load more evenly, orthotics can reduce the friction and pressure points that cause these skin issues.
Poor alignment or gait issues can cause an uneven distribution of weight, leading to excessive pressure on certain parts of the foot. Custom foot orthotics are designed to help correct biomechanical imbalances and realigning foot joints. The goal is to minimize pressure on vulnerable areas, reducing the formation of corns and calluses.
Custom foot orthotics are designed specifically for YOUR feet. A customized fit will offer more comfort as it will provide adequate support and relief on specific areas. Off-the-shelf orthotics, while not custom-made, can also provide significant relief for some conditions, especially when designed for people with specific foot issues like flat feet or high arches.
Orthotics can help treat existing corns and calluses but can also help prevent them from forming in the first place. By maintaining proper foot alignment, providing sufficient cushioning, and reducing friction, orthotics are effective at reducing the recurrence, allowing you to walk and stand more comfortably.

Additional Tips for Reducing Risk for Developing Corns and Calluses

Always wear properly fitted shoes. Avoid tight or narrow shoes that cause excessive pressure on the toes.
Moisturize regularly to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
Examine your feet on a regular basis and pay attention to any changes or discomfort in your feet so you can act early to prevent small issues from big issues.

Come See Us!

Corns and calluses can be a source of discomfort, but with the right approach, they are manageable and even preventable. If you suffer from corns or calluses, book an appointment today at BioPed Footcare. Our lower limb footcare clinicians can address your concerns and help you do more in life!

The post Corns and Calluses: How Orthotics Can Help appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

Foot Pain Solutions That Are As Unique As You Are!

BioPed Footcare — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:08:27 +0000

Foot pain can be debilitating! Where you go for help can mean the difference between living with foot pain (which can also include leg, hip, and back pain), and finding ongoing relief so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle. In choosing BioPed Footcare to help with your foot pain, you’ve made the decision to put your feet in the right hands. Here’s why!

You wouldn’t take your car to an unlicensed mechanic, or your vision care to someone who has never studied the eyes, so why would foot pain be any different? At BioPed, our Canadian Certified Pedorthists are trained in the anatomy and biomechanics of the foot and lower limbs, and provide customized treatments for each patient.

Let’s begin.

At your initial evaluation, the Pedorthist will ask you a variety of questions. It’s important to establish the origin and frequency of your foot pain, how long you stand on your feet (at work, playing sports, participating in hobbies) and the type of footwear you generally wear (at home, work and play).

After the detailed history taking, you’ll be asked to participate in a number of tests ranging from a walking gait analysis, to various range of motion tests that evaluate joint flexibility and strength. The Pedorthist will educate you on the root cause of your foot pain and will propose customized solutions for you. This commitment to educating clients is something that differentiates BioPed from other providers. Pedorthists typically use custom orthotics to offset pressure away from pain points and compensate for alignment issues that are causing foot pain. It is crucial that custom orthotics are manufactured properly though, as even slight degrees of error can render the orthotics ineffective, or worse, cause more pain.

The first step in correctly manufacturing your custom made orthotics is taking a mould of your feet. As industry leaders, BioPed only uses 3-dimensional techniques to take the mould. This allows us to build a true 3D representation of your foot, which we then build your custom orthotic to the replica model foot. A simple foot imprint on a mat is colourful, but is not enough to achieve accurate results, where small degrees of error can lead to large consequences.

The next step is one that makes BioPed’s approach to foot care truly unique. Your BioPed Pedorthist personally hand-crafts your custom orthotics on-site! What does this mean? Well, for starters, who better to build your custom orthotics than our lower limb clinicians who actually saw your feet and performed your evaluation tests!? Your custom orthotics should never be sent out to a third party bulk manufacturing plant, only to be given back to you in a plastic bag. At BioPed, once your orthotics are manufactured, your Pedorthist schedules an appointment to personally evaluate the fit of the orthotics and how it sits in your shoes. They want your feedback! In fact, it’s crucial to the process. If it doesn’t feel quite right, our on-site lab allows us to make any necessary adjustments on-the-spot to ensure you will find relief from your foot pain! There’s no waiting for your orthotics to be sent out again to yet another third party you’ve never met, only to get it back in several days or weeks, to find that they still don’t feel quite right!

Note that with more chronic conditions of foot pain, the orthotic may need to be built up in stages throughout the year as your joints and muscles may not tolerate full correction right away. While the process of achieving the best fit could require more visits, this level of dedication and amount of time and care, results in a better solution. Your Pedorthist will follow up with you to determine your comfort and identify if any further adjustments need to be made.

We will also outline a tailored approach for breaking in your new orthotics with many people being encouraged to wear their orthotics only a few hours a day the first week.

At the end of the day, what does all of this mean for you? It means that our solutions for your foot pain (and other lower limb pain) are truly as unique as you are! Our fully “individualized” process is specifically designed to deliver greater comfort and a custom solution that is for YOU. At BioPed Footcare, we’re different… and it will make ALL the difference for your comfort!

The post Foot Pain Solutions That Are As Unique As You Are! appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

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