KC Podiatry Ltd.

02/09/2022

Are your feet tired when you wake up?

These movements may be a great way to wake up your feet before they even touch the ground.. let’s see what needs to be done! 😊

Please note, they do not need to be done in any particular order & after a little practice may take 5-8 minutes.

1. Toe stretch - this one has been explained many times (apologies) but is extremely useful for big toe alignment & in fact this particular move is great for simply stretching this joint. Perform slowly & allow the foot to relax whilst doing this.

2. Ball rolling - simply raise one knee & begin rolling the foot on the ball whilst still in bed. This can be useful for many (especially in pain) but by now you may already be out of bed seeking a harder surface. Both are acceptable & each come with their benefits of course.

3. Pain management - after rolling a little you may have discovered some painful areas. It’s now time to take your thumbs & simply press in those areas for 20-30 seconds whilst slowly raising your toes up & down. This should be a little uncomfortable but be sure to enter into this slowly.

4. Toe splay - either placing all your fingers between your toes or separating a few at the time, your goal is to create a little more spread within your toes. Over time you’ll see & feel a great difference here whilst your feet become more supple & less squished together.

5. Top foot massage - in the small sections between your toe bones simply massage with the tips of your fingers, starting from the top & ending as you reach the toe joint. This excellent movement allows the toes to separate a little from a life time of restrictive footwear.

Try these out for 14 days to see how you’ve improved! For those who want an additional challnge: perform this when you go to bed also 😊

Good luck!

02/09/2022

Do you treat your feet to a massage?

Did you know that regular massage can health improve circulation, stimulates muscles, reduces tension & can ease painful symptoms.

With this illustration you should be able to follow a programme which you can do each day

1. Gently pull your toes
Hold your foot with one hand & gently pull the toes with the other hand, keep the foot relaxed & increase the pulling strength just a little for 10-20 seconds per toe.

2. Massage the top of the foot, specifically in between your metatarsal bones. Begin at the top of the arrow in the image & slowly run the finger down to the joints of the toes. Spend 1 minute here.

3. Massage the bottom of the foot, beginning near the heel & massage towards the forefoot, use your thumbs, small golf ball or similar. During this phase, take a mental note of any sore areas in preparation for phase 4. Spend 1minute - 90 seconds here.

4. If you’ve located sore /painful areas then we proceed to treat these. Using a thumb, press fairly hard on the area whilst alternatively pointed toes up, then toes down. Perform this with each painful area up to 30 seconds with a maximum of 3 minutes spent per foot on all areas. Note here, if you’ve been diagnosed with other conditions please be careful doing this phase.

5. Massage the top portion of the foot. Please refer to other posts when we particularly press within this area. This is a critical area for improving the squat, people who are signed up for our workshops should know this area well. 45 seconds per foot is ideal.

6. Grabbing your foot with one hand or simply relaxing the feet with crossed legs, proceed to bend the toes back, towards the bottom of your foot & then in the opposite direction. This should be done slowly & relaxed. The exercises previous to this should already result in this final phase being easier.

Doing this 2 times per day should leave your feet a little more supple & will help you improve your overall foot function.

06/29/2021

06/05/2021

Total nail avulsion (TNA) with phenolization that I did approximately 5+ years ago. TNA is a procedure that involves the safe removal of the entire toenail.

*consent given by patient for photo

05/22/2021

Bilateral Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) with phenoloization.

1st pic (pre-op) - Nov. 2019
2nd pic (post op 18 months)- May 21, 2021

Patient has had no issues with that greater toenail since surgery was done.

*consent for picture from patient*

05/20/2021

Another ingrown toenail - PNA (Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenolization)

*patient consent for photo*

Pre/Post op

05/20/2021

Ingrown toenail - Partial Nail Avulsion with phenolisation (PNA) is the most common procedure; the side of the toenail is permanently removed. Safe, simple and effective, it uses phenol (a mild acid) to destroy the nail matrix, with low levels of post-operative pain and infection. With a high success rate (98.5 per cent) and a natural-looking nail.
*patient consent for photo*

Before/After (4 weeks post op)

More photos to follow…

02/25/2021

Plantar fascia stretch

02/27/2020

5 Basic steps for Diabetic Footcare

Do you find foot care overwhelming? Don’t know where to start? Here are five basic steps to caring for diabetic feet:

1. Keep your toenails trimmed and smooth. The best way to cut your nails is to cut the nail straight across then file rounded corners with an emery board.
2. Wash your feet daily with lukewarm water and soap. Do NOT soak your feet; it dries out your skin!
3. Dry thoroughly after washing with a soft towel, making sure you get in between all of your toes.
4. Apply a 10-15% urea lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet after each washing to reduce dryness. Do not apply lotion in between the toes!
5. Wear clean socks every day. They should fit well without any tight elastics or bulky seams.
6. Check your feet daily for any redness, changes in skin temperature or injuries. Check the top and bottom of your feet. If you can’t reach the bottom of your feet, use a hand mirror or ask a loved one or caregiver for help.

For information, visit Wounds Canada’s site for patient resources: http://ow.ly/7uUp50ysHQG