Items filtered by date: June 2021

For many, summertime means time to get out and get active. Before trying a new sport or physical activity, be sure to properly stretch and gradually increase intensity to prevent injuries.

If you need treatment for an injury or would like to learn about injury prevention, schedule an appointment.

High heels are a popular choice for many people as they can make you look taller and make your legs appear longer, your feet smaller, and your body thinner. However, none of these perceived benefits are worth the damage to your feet and ankles that high heels can cause. Over time, wearing high heels can alter the muscle balance around the ankle joint, making the ankles weak and unstable, affecting your balance, and raising your risk of ankle sprains. The Achilles tendon may shorten and stiffen. In people who wear high heels often, the tendons can become so short and stiff that switching to flats causes calf pain. Even if you aren’t quite ready to give up your high heels, there are measures that you can take to prevent further damage and reduce your risk of injury. Look for high heels that are no taller than two inches and have thicker heels, alternate between high heels and flats often, wearing your high heels for no more than two or three days per week, and stretch your feet and ankles regularly. To learn more about the connection between footwear and foot health, please consult with a podiatrist.

High heels have a history of causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact one of our clinicians from The Footcare Centre. Our podiatrists can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because of their many styles and societal appeal.  Despite this, high heels can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

Which Parts of My Body Will Be Affected by High Heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – May shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – Heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – They decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  The vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What Kinds of Foot Problems Can Develop from Wearing High Heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How Can I Still Wear High Heels and Maintain Foot Health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Weybridge, UK . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

As owner-director of The Footcare Centre it gives me immense pride and satisfaction seeing the wonderful, daily care our team delivers. For some patients this can be life changing as our team improves mobility, reduces pain, and enables return to activity.

For me, it was my skill as “healthcare manager” that was both recognized and wanted by Canada that enabled fast track application as a federal skilled worker all those years ago. This has enabled the growth of The Footcare Centre team both sides of the pond. Developing teams which spans two continents, with thriving practices in Weybridge, Surrey and in Niagara Falls, Canada.

I have been a podiatrist for 24+ years now and a healthcare manager for 17+ years. Over that time, I have loved the rewards developing people brings. Jayne Robertson (Practice Manager at Weybridge), David Good (clinical manager at Weybridge) and myself are collaborative leaders - we enjoys utilising the skills of the team in both undertaking tasks but also in making decisions. The whole team is relied on day in, day out, but as managers - always ensure they know we available and approachable.

This approach is key to everyone’s success: patients, team members, The Footcare Centre itself.

I love overseeing this process and developing a service that is unique.

Each team member thrives here through development. Our culture is built around improvement, and goals and objectives help (I have them and each team member has them), as a tool to further the whole team’s development. We grow together.

Jayne and David are key to this process. Indeed, If you ever attend our practices as a patient, you will experience a professional yet friendly approach - you will experience quality care, but hopefully enjoy the experience too! This culture is deliberate and is delivered by an exceptional team of skilled clinicians, who have their team ethic and a clear vision and mission.

Who are we as a team?

“By offering the Care, Professionalism and Time that feet deserve, our goal is to be the # 1 choice that comes to mind when people think about footcare.

WHAT WE DO: We treat patients who are suffering from various foot-oriented problems & help by providing structured plans to improve foot health, reduce pain & promote healthy active living, while maintaining a better level of care.

HOW WE DO IT: We combine a professional approach with evidence based, tailored care solutions. We take the time to clearly communicate with patients the various options available and suggest appropriate courses of action.

WHY WE DO IT: We believe all feet deserve to be healthy and we truly enjoy making an impact on people's lives.”

We love coaching, one-to-one development, inducting new team members, and mentoring those who need it. There is nothing more rewarding than mentoring a colleague to become a better version of themselves.

Personally, I truly thrive on managing “the business” too: the numbers, the statistics, testing, and measuring. I test and measure pretty much everything in our business. By measuring, we can improve as a team, as a service, and improve our outcomes on the care we deliver. This is where management-meets healthcare-meets science and I use my skills as a chartered scientist in my business management and care.

Do you think you are a good fit for The Footcare Team Centre team? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Stuart Berry

Whether you run for fun or are training for a marathon, you should always take measures to avoid common running injuries such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. Make sure that after you run, you take time to allow your body to rest and recover. Taking a day off from running to rest may help you avoid overuse injuries. Using foam rollers, massaging your muscles, and gently stretching your legs and feet after a run is suggested. Sleeping well and eating a healthy diet, wearing the right shoes, and increasing your training gradually over time are also beneficial. To learn more about how to prevent running injuries, please consult with a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our clinicians of The Footcare Centre. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Weybridge, UK . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection of the nail. This type of infection can be unsightly and uncomfortable, causing thickened, brittle, crumbly, and discolored toenails. Over time, the nails may begin to separate from the nail bed, leading to pain or discomfort while wearing shoes. Fungal nail infections can be highly contagious, so it is important to take measures to prevent infection. Maintain good foot hygiene by washing your feet daily and drying them thoroughly. Wear socks and shoes made with breathable, moisture-wicking materials. When using public facilities like swimming pools and locker rooms, where fungi tend to thrive, wear shoes to prevent exposure. You should also avoid sharing personal items, like towels or nail clippers, with other people. To learn more about preventing fungal nail infections, please consult with a podiatrist.

For more information about treatment, contact one of our clinicians of The Footcare Centre. Our podiatrists can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a condition that affects many people and can be especially hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating and avoiding it.

Antifungals & Deterrence

Oral antifungal medicine has been shown to be effective in many cases. It is important to consult with a podiatrist to determine the proper regiment for you, or potentially explore other options.

Applying foot powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – Wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Weybridge, UK . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Hammertoe is a progressive foot deformity in which the toe bends down at the middle joint, giving the toe a hammer-like appearance. This can be both unsightly and uncomfortable as the tops of your toes rub up against the inside of your shoes. The constant rubbing and friction can cause corns and calluses to form on the tops of the toes. Hammertoes can be caused by an imbalance of the muscles and ligaments in the toes, wearing shoes that don’t fit properly, toes that squish together, shoes that have excessively high heels or a narrow toe box, and even flip-flops. Flat feet may also be a risk factor that contributes to hammertoe formation. If you develop hammertoe, please consult with a podiatrist who can offer you treatment options to slow the progression of your hammertoes as well as correct them.

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact one of our clinicians of The Footcare Centre. Our podiatrists will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. It can be caused by the type of shoes you wear, your foot structure, trauma, and certain disease processes.

Symptoms

• Painful and/or difficult toe movement
• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Calluses/Corns
• Physical deformity

Risk Factors

• Age – The risk of hammertoe increases with age
• Sex – Women are more likely to have hammertoe compared to men
• Toe Length – You are more likely to develop hammertoe if your second toe is longer than your big toe
• Certain Diseases – Arthritis and diabetes may make you more likely to develop hammertoe

Treatment

If you have hammertoe, you should change into a more comfortable shoe that provides enough room for your toes. Exercises such as picking up marbles may strengthen and stretch your toe muscles. Nevertheless, it is important to seek assistance from a podiatrist in order to determine the severity of your hammertoe and see which treatment option will work best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Weybridge, UK . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.