In today's fast-paced world, foot and ankle problems can be a major hindrance to our daily lives.

Whether it's a sports injury, chronic pain, or a persistent condition, finding effective treatments is essential.

Shockwave therapy has emerged as a solution for various podiatric issues such as heel pain  Plantar Fasciitis, achilles tendinopathy and leg pain. As well as soft tissue accelerated healing, shockwave can help to heal stress fractures. 

In this comprehensive article, we will explore the ins and outs of shockwave therapy and how podiatrists utilise it to heal you.

When traditional treatments fall short, shockwave therapy steps in as a non-invasive and innovative approach. This article is your definitive guide to understanding the world of shockwave therapy.

We'll cover everything from its definition to how it's used by podiatrists to heal you. Let's embark on this journey towards healthier, pain-free feet.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a...

Foot pain can be frustrating and confusing as to how it started, and what the problem is. It can stop you from enjoying your favourite activities when you are used to being pain-free. 

Sometimes walking can be painful and awkward and you find that other parts start hurting also. 

What is hurting in your Arch?

There are many different structures that can be painful, usually as a result of what we call 'overuse'. Apart from the plantar fascia (a fibrous, ligament-like tissue that functions to support the arch of the foot).

You should be able to feel the plantar fascia at the bottom of your foot, especially if you extend the toes. It is a fibrous tissue that inserts into the toes. 

Is it always the Plantar Fascia that is Painful?

No, of course, there are many other structures that can hurt, such as the flexor tendons to the toes. The posterior tibial tendon inserts into the midfoot, a swollen nerve (Mortons' neuroma), or osteoarthritis of the midfoot....

SWIFT THERAPY FOR VERRUCAE

South London Foot Clinic is now providing treatment with SWIFT THERAPY for verruca on the foot (and hands). SWIFT microwave technology has been developed in the UK for the treatment of verrucae. This technology uses the body's own immune response to detect and eradicate the human papillomavirus (HPV virus), commonly known as verrucae.  

WHY Can Verrucae Be So Difficult To Eradicate?

The HPV virus (verrucae) has an anti-inflammatory protein attached to it that allows the virus to evade detection. This can result in verrucae colonising the skin for years, causing cosmetic disturbance, pain and discomfort. 

What is Swift treatment? 

Swift Verruca treatment uses microwave energy that is delivered through a  probe that is applied to the skin. The skin is heated a few degrees, at the site, only a few mm depth. This elicits inflammation and an immune response. 

There are no bandages, toxic chemicals or...

What does a podiatrist do?

To become a podiatrist you must study a 3 year degree before you can start treating patients. Podiatrists have been trained to diagnose and treat all lower limb, feet abnormalities, knees and hip conditions. The focus during training is on helping to prevent or correct different kinds of deformity and pain and to help to keep people mobile, active and pain free. The training is also focused on rehabilitation in lower limb injuries.  

Many people have heard about us, but do not have a clear indication on what we do. people with foot injuries are unsure on who to turn to for help or where to go, most people will turn to their gp’s for help, or go to the nearest hospital or physiotherapist. But you should see a podiatrist, they work with all ages including, children, adults, and the elderly. Most of the time that foot pain is left untreated or undiagnosed there can be further problems or complications.

Now that we are called podiatrists...

Ingrowing Toe Nail Treatment

In-growing toenails are more common than you think. We often see patients who have struggled with a painful toenail that became infected. They then go and see the GP who offers them antibiotics. This can sometimes just temporarily solve the problem, and the pain returns once the antibiotics wear off.

This article should inform you of what an ingrown toenail is, how you might get an ingrown toenail, and how to treat this problem.

Characteristics of an in growing nail

• Painful toe with or without wearing shoes. Can be painful when walking
• red and inflamed skin on side of the nail

Infection in the Toe

Infection may be present where the nail may have the following addition of symptoms:

• Strong odour
• Swelling
• Redness
• Puss produced from the bulging skin
• Very painful to touch, in shoes or walking

Causes of an Ingrown Toenail

• Tight shoes or shoes that are not your size
• Trauma to the nail, this could be a sports injury, dropping heavy...

Footwear- Chose The Right Shoes 

As podiatrists we get questions every day on what type of shoes are going to help their foot work better and help them to get pain free. We are getting this question more and more frequently.

This suggests that podiatrists are doing their job of educating the public and is a reason to be encouraged! 

As foot wear is the cause of up to half of all foot problems, it certainly is a pertinent question. Studies have shown that 75% of women wear a size too small!! Sorry ladies ... it's true.

A quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet and all these structures should be allowed to have some natural movement when we walk and stand during the day. Too much restriction and you will start getting foot pain. 

Podiatrists are experts at checking and recommending shoes and making sure you get the right shoe size for your feet!
High-heeled shoes are probably the worst type of shoes to wear if you have foot pain as they transfer all your...

Foot pain can be very difficult to understand. One day there is no pain...and the next... your limping .. 

The foot contains 26 bones 30 joints and more than 100 muscles tendons and ligament... so there are a lot of structures that can go wrong. The problem we have is that the foot lands heavy on the ground every time we take a step... and we need to stand up and walk... right ?

And therein lies the problem; if you've managed to get yourself an injury the body has no way of getting better as your constantly taking steps on the ground..and stopping the foot getting better. 

As a podiatrist we see this very often in the clinic. The mere act of walking aggravates the pain and the problem. 

This is where orthotics come in.. orthotics - arch supports - are shaped in such a way as to support your foot. They fit into your shoe and help support your injured areas. They put the pressure elsewhere or redistribute the pressure from the ground to a bigger area of the foot.