Feet and ankles can affect mobility to a significant degree without proper care. For the unaware, each foot contains about 26 bones, becoming a complicated structure in the body. Studies predict that a person walks 150,000 miles in their entire life. However, certain circumstances can interfere with an individual’s walking experience. Diabetes, ageing, and wrong-fitting footwear are the most common causes. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to neglect this specific body part used most in walking, standing, and other activities. Please avoid this mistake. Feet- and ankle-related problems are handled by a particular medicine branch called podiatry. The specialists are known as podiatrists or foot doctors. They can test, treat, manage, and prevent many foot and lower extremities problems.
In Singapore, you can visit Feet First Podiatry Clinic for help. The benefit of going to a foot doctor is that they tailor treatments based on the patient’s needs instead of taking a cookie-cutter approach. You can expect them to analyse your pathological reports and symptoms and design a suitable management plan. Their techniques and technology are also advanced. Let’s look at what they can treat and how they help you regain your feet.
- Bunions
It’s a small bump on the joint of the large toe, causing it to move inwardly. Often, women suffer this problem due to wearing narrow or tight footwear that pressurises the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP). This specific joint is the meeting point of the foot and the big toe’s bones. People with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis can be susceptible. If you doubt having this issue, you can also look for other symptoms, such as difficulty with toe movement, pain in the big toe when walking, etc. A foot doctor can recommend a few fundamental changes to treat this condition. For example, you may be advised to avoid heels and wear the proper shoe size and fit. They can also suggest using a bunion pad for protection.
You can be asked to provide a cold press at the site to remove inflammation. Doctors can also recommend customised shoe inserts and splints to align the big toe. If nothing works, surgery can be an option.
- Ingrown toenails
Toenails growing into the nail furrow cause tremendous pain and distress. Common reasons for such an experience include improper shoe fitting, inadequate trimming, or heredity. Such in-growth can lead to infection, causing pain, swelling, redness, and discharge from the toenail. While mild ingrown toenail problems can improve with warm water soak and other things that encourage proper growth, severe cases often require medical intervention, whereby a podiatrist can trim or cut the troublemaking portion of the nail. Some patients may need surgery to excise part of or an entire nail due to infection.
- Plantar fasciitis
It’s one of the primary reasons behind heel pain. When the plantar fascia, a connective tissue or ligament in the bottom of the foot, becomes inflamed, you feel pain in the heels. While there is no specific reason behind its occurrence, this foot disorder can lead to obesity, high arch, and calf muscle tension. Someone with this condition usually wakes up with painful heels in the morning, which exacerbates with activities. Home remedies include plenty of resting and ice pack compression. A person can also do foot stretching and wear suitable shoes. When nothing works, a podiatrist can recommend physical therapy, orthotics, etc.
These are examples to tell you that you can fix your foot and lower extremities with the help of a foot doctor.
