If you are suffering from any musculoskeletal injuries, foot wounds, and, skin and nail conditions, a podiatrist will design a treatment plan customised to your problems.
Most podiatry treatments are non-invasive, and they mostly use non-oral medication and treatment methods such as custom insoles for podiatry in Singapore. This treatment option works to rehabilitate dysfunctional lower limbs or pain and swelling in part of or the entire leg. This article discusses some podiatry conditions and their respective treatment methods.
Bunions
Often referred to as a bump, a bunion is formed on the big toe as a result of misalignment of bones within the toe. Various factors lead to the formation of a bunion. These include; genetically inherited bunions, walking style influenced bunions, and bunions developed from wearing inappropriate or ill-fitting footwear. When forming, you will see a bony protrusion by the side of your big toe. It may be swollen, red, tender and painful, or not painful at all. After diagnosis, your podiatry may recommend the use of custom insoles, bunion correctors, or bunion splints for treatment, depending on the severity of your bunion.
Ingrown Toe Nails
Sometimes, the toenail edge can grow into the adjacent skin resulting in extreme pain and inflammation on your toe and foot. This may occur due to lack of or improper trimming of the toenails, injury, or trauma to the nail, previous fungal infections, wearing of high heels and tight fitting shoes, or wearing of closed shoes for long periods.
For the first time and not so severe cases, a podiatrist will remove the irritating nail spike with special clippers. For management purposes, the podiatrist may recommend frequent professional trimming and filling as well as the application of cotton packing to the nail borders. In case the ingrown nail becomes recurrent and severe, your podiatrist may recommend surgery.
Plantar Warts
Also referred to as verrucae pedis, plantar warts are characterized by tiny bumps appearing on the feet soles. It is caused by exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus that gets to the body through cuts, bruises, and abrasions. The result is the formation of some bumps that grow rapidly up to an inch forming small clusters with cauliflower-like shapes. A podiatrist treats plantar warts by debriding the foot surface and applying medicine that exposes the wart tissue. Alternatively, they can use cryotherapy, a treatment technique involving freezing of the tissue in temperatures as low as -60°C. However, the latter requires a minimum of 4 sessions to resolve a standard plantar wart.
Flat Feet
Also referred to as fallen arches, flat feet occurs in at least 30% of people in the entire population. They occur due to the lowering of the arch contour towards the inside of the sole. Apart from genetically inherited flat feet, one may also develop flat feet due to factors such as injuries, muscle overuse, age, weak arches, diabetes, and pregnancy. To treat flat feet, your podiatrist may recommend the application of foot orthoses, use of custom insoles, strapping, and immobilization.
Everyone deserves to live a pain-free and comfortable life. Podiatry treatments aim to achieve precisely that. For fast recovery and efficient treatments, ensure to visit your podiatrist as soon as you sense a problem.
