Foothealthcare.com News

Government 'failing' on elderly foot care

Lack of chiropody services is leaving thousands of older people housebound, a report has claimed.

Age Concern's Feet for Purpose warned older people are adversely affected by long waiting lists for foot care services in the NHS, with many being forced to pay for private care or rely on charitable help.

The charity found one in three pensioners cannot cut their own toe nails, resulting in two million older people who may require NHS services.

Overweight kids have greater risk of foot problems

Kids who carry excess pounds may be doing permanent damage to their feet, a group of foot and ankle surgeons warns.

"When there is an increased amount of weight and stress being placed on the foot, that can cause some significant changes in foot structure," Dr. Darryl Haycock, a foot and ankle surgeon in private practice in Lima, Ohio, told Reuters Health.

Stretch Away the Pain of Plantar Fasciitis

Something as simple as a stretch could ease the pain of plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes heel pain and difficulty walking.

The newly developed stretch targets the plantar fascia, the flat band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is strained, resulting in weakness, inflammation and irritation.

A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that the stretch was 75 percent successful in relieving pain and enabling patients to return to full activity within three to six months. After doing the exercise, about 75 percent of patients needed no further treatment, the study said.

Special Socks May Ward Off Diabetic Foot Sores

The difficult-to-heal foot sores that people with diabetes are prone to develop might be prevented with double-layer socks, going by the results of a small study.

The foot-care socks apparently reduce in-shoe pressure on the underside of the foot, which "is an acknowledged risk factor in the development of (foot) ulcers" in people with nerve damage related to diabetes, report Dr. Adam P. Garrow, of Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK, and colleagues.

The Shoe May Look Great, But Does It Fit Your Sport?

The shoe may feel and look great, and even fit into your budget, but how does it fit your sport?

�Various sports place different demands on the foot, and sports-specific shoes are designed to withstand those increased demands,� explains Dr. Dean Nakadate, a Scripps Clinic podiatrist.

Foot and fitness experts explain what qualities to look for in a sport-specific shoe:

Flipflops; They may be cute, but they can be a real pain

Even though she has had severe cuts, stitches, bruises and toenails that have broken off, Stephanie Gates refuses to say goodbye to her flip-flops.

"I love flip-flops," the 22-year-old said. "I wear them all the time. They're comfortable, convenient, and they're cute."

Although tall platforms and spike-heeled stilettos seem like the obvious cause of foot pain, doctors say those flat thongs are just as bad, if not worse. Why? Because they offer little, if any, support and completely expose the feet.

Walk while you work!

Fueled by research conducted by a Mayo Clinic obesity specialist, some U.S. workers are spending their days on treadmills or indoor tracks, walking as they talk on the telephone, send e-mails and even hold meetings.

"I'm speaking to you at one mile an hour on a treadmill in my office in front of my computer," said Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Rochester, Minnesota, medical college, whose research has fueled the nascent movement. "I do all my work here."

Rheumatoid arthritis costly for employers

Considering direct medical expenditures and indirect costs -- like disability payment and lost work days -- RA was second only to kidney failure in expense. Nearly all of the excess costs of RA were for direct medical care.

Still, lost productivity was not "unimportant," lead study author Dr. Ronald J. Ozminkowski told Reuters Health. The typical RA patient, he said, lost about 12 days of work per year for sick days, and three to four more due to short-term disability.

Vibrating shoes aid stroke and diabetic patients

Vibrating insoles can improve balance in patients with stroke or diabetic neuropathy, a common nerve problem that affects sensation in the feet and elsewhere, Boston researchers report.

The vibration, adjusted to a sub-sensory level, appears to "tickle" neurons, making them more sensitive to stimuli that are present during standing, Dr. James J. Collins of Boston University, said.

Foot pain should not prevent obese from exercising

Obese people should seek immediate treatment for chronic foot and ankle problems that limit physical activity, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) urge.

"As our body weight increases, more load and stress are put on the feet," foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Sean Wilson of Aspen Ortho & Rehab Specialists in West Allis, Wisconsin, and ACFAS spokesman, told Reuters Health.