Do you suffer from heel pain, pain in your big toe joint or have been told that you have a neuroma? Cortisone injections may be a great option to relieve your pain and discomfort!

Cortisone shots are commonly used to treat inflammation and pain in the shoulders, back, hands, hips, and knees. Did you know they can also be used for the feet?  A cortisone shot is an injection of a medicine that treats inflammation and relieves pain. It is a manufactured corticosteroid that closely resembles the naturally occurring hormone in our body known as cortisol. Corticosteroids are not to be mistaken for anabolic steroids which are widely frowned upon in sports due to their performance enhancing ability.

How does cortisone treat inflammation and pain?

If you suffer from heel pain or plantar fasciitis, pain in your big toe joint or have been diagnosed with a neuroma, a cortisone injection may be a viable treatment option for you! All three of these ailments can be successfully treated with a cortisone shot with the same mechanism of action – it decreases inflammation and offers a localized relief from pain. This is accomplished by delivering the cortisone directly to the site of concern by injection. In doing this, it works faster and more effectively than an oral anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Taking a pill to treat pain in the foot isn’t always successful because it must travel throughout the body with only a fraction of it actually reaching the foot. Cortisone injections are usually a mixture of the corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. The local anesthetic offers immediate pain relief, numbing the area for a few hours afterwards.

Is a cortisone injection right for you?

A cortisone injection can significantly reduce localized inflammation anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months. It is a great adjunct to other treatments like custom foot orthotics, as it allows damaged tissue to heal.  Most people are good candidates for a cortisone injection into the foot, except for children, those with an allergy to cortisone or local anesthetic, or if they’re already taking corticosteroids to treat another issue.

There are minor risks with these injections, such as infection, bruising, numbness, a temporary increase in blood glucose levels in people who have diabetes and plantar fascial/tendon rupture. A cortisone “flare” is a possibility but only results in an increase in pain and inflammation for approximately 48 hours following the treatment. If this happens, rest, ice and elevation can help.

It’s important to remember, after a cortisone injection, rest is best! It’s a good idea to try to stay off your foot for 24 hours following an injection and refrain from strenuous activity and exercise for a few days. Resting is crucial to achieving an effective reduction in inflammation and pain. If another cortisone shot is needed to offer relief, you must wait at least 6 weeks after your last one. Generally, a maximum of 3-4 injections per year is advised and considered safe.

Come See Us!

If you are unsure as to whether cortisone is safe for you, it is best to ask your primary care professional or one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians. Cortisone injections are offered at select BioPed clinics where Chiropody services are provided. To find your nearest location, or to request an appointment today, visit www.bioped.com/locations.  We are here to help!

There is a reason your Pedorthist asks if you are experiencing any pain in the hip, knee or ankle during your biomechanical evaluation – even though you may have only booked an appointment for them to assess your heel or toe pain. The reasoning behind that is that everything is connected. A lot of the pain we experience higher up in our bodies, is a result of how our foot moves (range of motion) and based on the structure of the foot (arch type). Having a low arch height or a high arch height can contribute to excessive or lack of movement in the larger joints of the lower extremity.  This lack of movement can also result in a reduced ability to absorb shock. As a result, the ankle, knee and hip joints have to take on more of this added stress, resulting in pain and instability.

Conditions that result from a lower arch foot type:

• Medial ankle pain
• Medial meniscus strain
• Medial knee osteoarthritis
• Hip bursitis
• Sciatica
• IT band pain
• Shin splints

Conditions that result from a higher arch foot type:

• Lateral and anterior knee pain
• Lateral ankle instability
• Osteoarthritis in the hip and the knee
• IT band syndrome

The goal of custom-made orthotics and properly fitted orthopedic footwear, is to help better align the lower body by providing the proper amount of support under the foot. When we better align the body, it takes added stress that our joints are not meant to work under and redistributes it elsewhere. In the long-term this will help relieve pain and allow our joints to function more efficiently. Helping us to do more in our lives whether it be performing regular daily walks, taking up a new activity of interest, or even allowing us to perform our jobs without getting tired or experiencing pain.

Additional treatments might also be needed to help support these joints; these include bracing (over-the-counter or custom) or referrals to other specialists (i.e. Physiotherapists, Registered Massage Therapists, Osteopaths, etc.). We are here to help develop a treatment plan to help improve these areas of concern and to follow-up to make sure progress is moving in the right direction.

Come See Us!

If you are experiencing hip, knee and/or ankle pain it might be time to book an appointment today with a lower limb clinician at your local BioPed clinic.

Vacations are a time for relaxation, exploration, and making memories. Whether you’re embarking on a long-haul flight, a road trip, or even just spending a while on your feet exploring a new destination, the journey itself can sometimes take a toll on your body. One often-overlooked travel companion that can make a significant difference in your comfort and well-being are compression socks. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of compression socks and why they should be a must-have item for your next vacation.

Reduce Swelling and Improve Circulation

One of the primary benefits of compression socks is their ability to improve the circulation of your blood from your legs. Prolonged sitting during travel can lead to blood pooling in the legs, since the larger muscles in your legs “turn off” when you are off your feet. This pooled blood can cause discomfort and swelling in your lower legs and ankles and can lead to aching and muscle cramps as well. Compression socks apply gentle pressure to the ankles and legs, aiding in the proper circulation of blood back to the heart. This can help prevent conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and alleviate the discomfort associated with swollen feet and ankles.

Minimize Fatigue and Discomfort

Long journeys, whether by plane, car, or train, can lead to tired and achy legs. Compression socks provide support to the muscles, reducing muscle fatigue and discomfort. The graduated compression design ensures that the pressure is highest at the ankles and gradually decreases towards the knees, promoting optimal blood flow and minimizing the impact of prolonged sitting or standing.

Prevent Varicose Veins

Travel-related activities, especially long flights, can contribute to the development of varicose veins. Compression socks exert pressure on the walls of the veins, helping to prevent them from over-stretching and bulging. Wearing compression socks during your journey can be a proactive measure to maintain the health of your veins and reduce the risk of developing varicose veins. If you already have varicose veins, compression socks are your primary treatment to manage your symptoms and to minimize their progression.

Enhance Comfort During Exploration

Vacations often involve a fair amount of walking and exploring new places. Whether you’re wandering through historic streets, hiking scenic trails, or navigating crowded attractions, a long day of walking can be taxing on your legs. Compression socks provide extra support to your muscles, reducing the amount your muscles must work and lessen your fatigue. This added support can make a significant difference, allowing you to enjoy your destination to the fullest without the distraction of achy or tired legs.

Adaptable and Stylish

Compression socks come in a wide variety of styles, colours, and materials, making them a versatile and fashionable accessory for any traveler. From knee-high socks to compression sleeves, thigh-high, and pantyhose styles, you can find options that suit your personal style and the climate of your destination.

Come See Us!

As you prepare for your upcoming vacation, consider the benefits that compression socks bring to your journey. If you’re in the market for compression stockings or seeking advice based on your health needs, our certified compression fitters at BioPed are here to assist. Contact us today to discover how we can help make your upcoming vacation a more comfortable and enjoyable experience!

Dealing with sore knees can be a difficult experience, especially when you are unsure of what’s causing it and how to make it go away. Don’t let knee pain stop you from doing the things you love to do and start working towards a solution today. Let us help you address your knee pain and guide you on your way to figuring out what the potential causes could be.

Signs and Symptoms of Knee Pain:

• Swelling and inflammation
• Stiff and achy joints
• Feeling of instability during movement
• Pain with sharp changes in direction
• Limping during gait
• Reduced range of motion

Common Knee Injuries

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis a degenerative disease that worsens as time progresses. Often osteoarthritis is caused by increased stress on knees, often from prolonged time on feet and heavy impact. Generally, osteoarthritic pain is a more common complaint in the older population.

Treatment: Custom made orthotics, orthopedic shoes, physiotherapy, and knee braces are effective in offloading painful areas, reducing pain, and improving overall biomechanics.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome:

Most will know of this condition as runner’s knee. The occurrence of patellofemoral pain is often associated with imbalances or weaknesses in the muscles surrounding the hip and knee, resulting in a lack of proper alignment for the kneecap.

Treatment: Physiotherapy and patella strap bracing are effective treatments, and compression sleeves may help reduce pain.

Sprains and Tears

Injuries to the ACL, MCL, or LCL due to general wear and tear or injury can cause pain that occurs well after the date of injury. This is especially true if nothing was done for rehabilitation.

Treatment: Bracing is often the best treatment method as they work to stabilize the knee and take pressure off of the affected area. Physiotherapy is also recommended to aid the knee in strength development.

Meniscus Injury:

Meniscus injuries are caused often from twisting motions occurring at a fast pace. As the foot is planted and the knee twists while it bends, shearing forces are placed on the meniscus, which can cause tears.

Treatment: Bracing is often the best treatment method as they work to stabilize the knee and take pressure off of the affected area. Physiotherapy is also recommended to aid the knee in strength development. Taking time off high intensity activity is advised as well to limit further injury to the knee.

Patellar Tracking Disorder

Patellar tracking issues occur when there are muscular imbalances or deficiencies that cause the patella to track improperly. Often this causes the patella to glide out of its normal path and causes pain.

Treatment: Physiotherapy and knee braces with a patellar cushion or donut can help maintain proper patella alignment and support joint structures.

Come See Us!

Don’t let knee pain get in the way of doing the things you love to do. Please book an appointment with us today! At BioPed Footcare, whether its orthotics, footwear or bracing, we are here for you. With our on-site lab there is nothing we can’t do! Meet with one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians to see how you can keep your feet and legs healthy!

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.

A few weeks ago, a new client to one of our BioPed clinics called to book an appointment as they were suffering with pain and discomfort in both of their heels.  At the start of their assessment, we sat down together and heard about their new passion for getting into shape and achieving a more healthy body weight.  This passion drove them to get outside and get going hard and fast!  Unfortunately, exercising and training that is not done gradually and in increments can cause unexpected and unwanted injury.

This client was so eager to get started, they dug out a pair of old running shoes last worn almost a decade ago.  They felt comfortable at first while walking around the house, but after a week of running on concrete neighbourhood sidewalks, their heel pain became increasingly worse.  When questioned, they indicated the pain was worse when they first got out of bed in the morning, with the pain easing up slightly as the day progressed.  When they booked this appointment, they were asked to bring in the running shoes they had been wearing.  At first glance we noticed these shoes were worn out and had lost their integrity, including the support and cushioning they may have had at one point years ago.

Heel pain is one of the most common foot complaints we treat in our BioPed clinics.  Plantar fasciitis is often the culprit of heel pain and can result for a variety of reasons including a sudden increase in activity level, new or overused footwear, transitioning from indoor to outdoor training or recent weight gain.  It is usually concentrated on the bottom centre of the heel where the plantar fascia inserts onto the heel bone.  The plantar fascia is a strong band of connective tissue that is attached to the bottom of the heel bone and extends to the toes.  It acts as a truss or support for the arch and foot.  If left untreated, a bone spur on the heel may develop over time.

During an appointment like this, a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis are always conducted in order to figure out what is going on in a person’s lower body mechanics and how we can help them heal and perform better.  This particular client had a higher than normal arch and when they walked we noticed a heavy heel strike.  Naturally this client was guarded when walking that day during their assessment as their heels were sore with every single step.

How did we address this heel pain?

The pain this client experienced was caused by inflammation.  R.I.C.E is a well-known combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation.  The first recommendation we made was taking a rest from running to prevent further trauma to the insertion site of the plantar fascia.  We also advised this client to apply ice or cold therapy directly to the heel.  Inflammation causes an increase in temperature therefore ice and cold counteract.  Freezing a water bottle and rolling it under the heel will deliver cold therapy and massage at the same time.  Massage balls can be purchased at all BioPed clinics and are effective in breaking up scar tissue that may have formed with the inflammatory process.  The Orthosleeve FS6 helps ease and reduce swelling with 6 zones of compression to increase circulation and reduce inflammation.  If done properly, stretching can also be helpful to increase flexibility and keep the soft tissue supple which can help heal an injury and prevent a new one from forming.

his client of ours had reduced shock absorption when walking and running and we decided to prescribe and make them custom foot orthotics (CFOs).  We designed their CFOs to help control the amount of rotation in their heels and add needed shock absorption in the lower body.  Our overall goal was reducing the strain on the plantar fascia.  The importance of properly fitted and activity-specific footwear must never be underestimated.  It is vital to remember that not all shoes are created equal!  Our client’s running shoes were worn out and not benefiting them whatsoever.  Not only did we fit them for a new pair of running shoes with cushioning and stability features suitable for their fitness journey, we also recommended wearing an indoor pair of shoes or sandals with a moulded footbed around their home.  Suffering with an acute episode of plantar fasciitis like our client was, it was imperative to have supportive footwear with a stable platform under their feet at all times.  At BioPed, we have many options to choose from and will always take the time to find the best fit for you!

After a week of R.I.C.E and wearing supportive footwear at all times, our client’s pain started to dissipate.  After sufficient healing was well underway, we gave the go ahead to start running again wearing their new CFO and running shoe combination.  We discussed guidelines for training and how to do so safely to avoid re-injury and downtime.

If you’ve tried all the aforementioned treatments and are still suffering with plantar fasciitis, a cortisone injection could help.  This injection delivers an anti-inflammatory steroid directly to the site which ensures the medicine will work where it needs to work.  There are minor risks with a treatment like this such as infection, numbness and fascial rupture.   Most importantly, always remember pain is not normal.  If you are suffering with heel pain, book an appointment at your local BioPed with one of our lower limb clinicians today to determine the cause of your pain and the best treatment(s) for you!

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!

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.

In walks a client suffering from pain in their big toe joint…

As a Registered Chiropodist, I recall a particular client who arrived to see me because of pain in their right big toe joint. This pain did not occur suddenly, it progressively worsened over a couple years. When they arrived for their initial assessment, they were unable to walk without pain and because of this, tried to put more weight onto the left foot. When they sat down in the clinic room chair, we had a chat about their medical history and their foot pain. After examining both feet, I noticed a significant bump on the side of the right big toe and a callus on the bottom.

This bump or bony prominence on the side of the big toe joint is called a bunion. Bunions develop over time as the joint becomes misaligned and it is common for osteoarthritis to occur. Osteoarthritis is painful because of joint degeneration. As a result, it will eventually limit the joint’s range of motion and its ability to move when walking. A callus is hardened and thickened skin that results from the way the foot moves in relation to the ground. It can also be painful as it is a focused area of pressure.  

In order to determine how best to address my client’s pain and discomfort, I performed a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis after performing routine footcare. I noticed a flattened arch on both feet but more on the right. The arch flattens when excess pronation or “rolling in” occurs. Consequently, there was quite a bit of pressure placed on the big toe joint. I often consult with my Certified Pedorthist team member for her opinion and together that day, we decided custom foot orthotics would provide needed arch support, help redistribute pressure on the bottom of the foot and improve balance when walking.  

We also felt this client’s footwear could be improved. Some footwear is designed with a rocker bottom sole to encourage momentum forward thereby offloading the pressure on and movement in the big toe joint. Increased stability and control of pronation also help to relieve pain and discomfort in the foot and lower body.

In order to make walking more efficient and balanced for this client, I recommended regular routine footcare, custom foot orthotics, and appropriate footwear. Custom foot orthotics often require a break-in or adjustment period, but for this particular client, their pain started to improve with their first steps. Their big toe joint pain dissipated quickly to be mild and under control and the need to put more weight on the opposite side decreased as they felt relief with this new combination.

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is irreversible once it has developed, but it can be managed well with the modalities mentioned above.

If you are suffering from joint 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!