Claw Toe Education

                                VS                     
Claw Toe (involves two joints)                                        Hammer Toe (only involves one joint)




Definition

Essentially a person is said to have claw toes, if his/her toe is contracted at the middle and end joints.  This can lead to severe pain and pressure.  Caused by the tightening of the ligaments and tendons that curls down the toe joints.  Except for the big toe, other toes can be deformed into a claw toe.

Description  / Types

Educational Video / MyBadFeet.com

A claw toe is a toe that is contracted at the PIP and DIP joints (middle and end joints of the toe), and can lead to pressure and pain.  Ligaments and tendons that have tightened over time cause the toe's joints to curl downwards.  Often there is discomfort at the top part of the toe that is rubbing against the shoe and at the end of the toe that is pressed against the bottom of the shoe.  This pressure area can cause an increase in skin commonly called a corn.  Unfortunatly a claw toe can cause a double corn since two joints are involved, unlike your basic hammertoe.   It is important to remember that claw toes might become a permanent deformity if not treated in time.

Based on the mobility of toe joints, claw toes are classified by flexibility. They are broadly categorized as flexible and rigid.  In case of a flexible claw toe, the joint has the ability to move and can be manually straightened.            

Those with a rigid claw toe, lack the ability to move their toe. causing pain.  At times, it restricts the toe movement completely and leads to stress on the ball-of-the-foot.  It might cause painful calluses and corns due a mechanism called retro-grade plantar-flexion.  This is when the toes contracts while at the same time the ball of the foot is pressed harder to the ground.

Cause

Most people believe that claw toe is a foot deformity caused by wearing shoes that squeeze the toes.  Wearing tight shoes can cause the toe muscles to become unbalanced.  Over a period of time an imbalace can occur that can only be fixed surgically.   They can be caused by shoes with short or high heels worn consistently over time. Surprisingly claw toes often result from diseases such as diabetes, alcoholism, poor blood flow, spine injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, nerve damage and arthritis (typically rheumatoid).   Bunions pushing the second toe is another  common cause.

 .
Treatment

There are several types of treatment for claw toe, including surgery.  The most effective treatment seems to be changing the type of footwear worn if no serious medical conditions exist (as listed above).  Some feet and toe problems arise from the type of shoe you choose to wear.  Make sure that toe area (toe box) is broad and high offering enough space to accommodate the toes. This will reduce the friction and pressure against the toes.

There are several forefoot products designed to relieve claw toes, hammer toe splints and toe crests.  Such products alleviate the pain by holding down the claw toe.  Gel toe caps or gel toe shield can also be applied to marginalize the friction between toe and shoe, providing cushion and relieving the pain of claw toe.  However, if your pain is unbearable and interferes with your daily activities, it is important to consult a podiatrist.

  Dr. Maasi J. Smith / Foot Surgeon

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Will the pain increase?
What are my treatment options?
Can you recommend appropriate footwear or an orthotic device?
Can surgery cure the claw foot completely?

Ask Dr. Smith / Click here

Claw Toe Education

                         Diabetic neuropathy

Sandals in the City

Written by KATIE DEL BALZO

Prepping Your Feet for Summer I confess that I am a sandal addict. I love all shoes, as a rule, but my sandals are most dear to me for several reasons: super-high heels that lift my 5’0” frame up to another climate level; delicate, funky straps that carry me through town with surprising comfort; and, of course, open toes, which give me an excuse to primp my toenails with unbelievably fun colors and designs. Unfortunately, open toed sandals can also prove to be a challenge—especially on the first day that you bring your feet out of their wintry, sock-covered slumber. Many women are mortified that their feet are going to be out-and-about for an entire season. Philadelphia’s Dr. Maasi Smith, a Rittenhouse Square podiatrist, is quite familiar with the gripes of women whose feet are less than perfect (i.e., all of us!), and he has several solutions to rid us of our foot-fear and bring our toes confidently out into the sun. Dr. Smith sees a lot of Philadelphia women who suffer from bunions, hammer toes and unsightly toenails. The good news is that these conditions can all be treated and corrected—and within ample time to enjoy the rest of the warm weather. “Bunions and hammer toes are surgical options—it’s difficult to avoid surgery,” says Dr. Smith. It does, however, depend on the severity of the condition. For instance, Dr. Smith performs a flex tenotomy on hammer toes, which is a procedure that releases the tendon under the toe to give a little more flexibility, and it is quite useful for early cases of hammer toes. As for ugly or uncomfortable nails, a condition that he sees quite frequently in Philadelphia women, Dr. Smith is a fan of topical anti-fungal treatments that “destroy the stuff directly,” but it’s important to remember that this, too, depends on the severity of the condition. “Sometimes, there’s no way that an oral or topical procedure will help.” In these cases, Dr. Smith might remove the entire nail completely—something that seems a bit more drastic than it actually is. “Women just cover the area with nail polish,” he explains. “You can’t tell. Eventually, it looks normal.” Dr. Smith has a line of several products that he gives to his patients to help their conditions. Dr. Smith recommends a special foot cream to use in combination with a topical treatment. This cream, made with soy, aloe and vitamin E, helps reduce skin inflammation. There is also a foot soak with vitamin C that Dr. Smith recommends to reduce wrinkles in addition to being excellent for wound care. If your condition is foot odor, Dr. Smith carries a deodorizer that is made with tea tree oil. “You have to hit it from all angles,” says Dr. Smith about foot care. To follow that train of thought, Dr. Smith has all of his products available in packages so that they can be used together for optimal results. The best part is that Dr. Smith’s treatments are natural. Nail treatments include tea tree oil, a natural anti-fungal, and almond oil, which is packed with antioxidants and is an excellent moisturizer both for the nail and for the skin. “These products are all about prevention,” says Dr. Smith. “A lot of people use chemical-based products, and that’s really not a great thing—topical products like these are made to penetrate the skin.” And luckily for the patients, his treatments do not take too long to show results. If you have surgery on bunions or hammer toes, there’s about a week or two of discomfort and about a month before all traces of the surgery disappear. “Topical treatments take about 2-3 months, even with oral treatments, because you have to wait until the nail grows out before you see improvement,” he explains. Remember that you have to be diligent about taking your medicine—take it all, like you would any prescription, if you want to see results. As for us high heel-lovers out there? Dr. Smith’s advice is: “Keep it in moderation! Shoes with a wide toe box are best. Try to stay away from really pointy-toed shoes that squish the toes. Alternate your heels with flats, if possible, throughout the day.” And for athletic women who are constantly in socks and sneakers? “Be aware of aches and pains,” he cautions. For athletes, it is very important to remember that running and walking adds weight to your natural body weight that falls on your feet, so you have to make sure you are wearing the right kind of foot gear to take care of that weight. And, of course, remember to take care of your feet as early as possible. Once you see the slightest thing going awry, take action and get it checked out. 80% of Dr. Smith’s surgeries are on women, so don’t hold off if you feel something wrong. Go into the podiatrist just to be sure that everything is okay.  Above all, remember that if your feet hurt, everything else will hurt. Since you walk on your feet, you need to take care of them. Keep in mind that an infection in your foot can travel to the rest of the body if it’s not properly treated, so keep your feet front-and-center when it comes to health. If you are interested in learning more about foot care or about Dr. Smith and his products, I recommend visiting Dr. Smith's webpage, www.MyBadFeet.com. Keeping yourself informed and aware is key when it comes to health, especially with your feet. It’s summer, after all, so invest in your feet—keep them happy, healthy, and beautiful for those strappy sandals that have been waiting in your closet all winter long!  Questions and comments can be sent to Katie at: dance@philadelphiamaven.com">Dance@philadelphiamaven.com Click here for information about the writer: Katie Del Balzo

                                         Shin Splints – Details and Description


Shin splints are a common lower extremity complaint, common among the sprinters and athletes.  It’s associated with pain inside or in front of the lower leg caused by over stressing the muscles.  Pain develops with time even if the patient has no history of trauma.  It leads to severe pain along the front or inside the shin (Tibia) after running, walking or intense training.          

The area in and around the shin bone develops some small bumps and tender regions.  If the pain is not addressed in time, it may become intense.  Shin splints should not go untreated as this makes the patient more vulnerable to stress fractures.   

Shin splints can lead to small tears in the leg muscles, which are attached to the shin bone. There are of two types – posterior shin splints that appear inside the leg along the tibia and the anterior shin splints occurring along the lateral (outside) leg of the tibia.  

Symptoms of shin splints

Pain in front of the leg below the knee. Characteristically, shin splints result in pain on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg next to the shin bone (tibia). The area of discomfort extends up to 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in length. Pain is often felt in the early period of the workout. Although the pain is reduced for a while, however it reappears when the training ends. The discomfort due to shin splint is dull at first.  If the activity continues, the pain can become so severe that the patient will have to stop working out for a period of time.   

Sometimes shin pain is due to inflammation of connective tissue like periosteum (periostitis, thin covering over bone).  It can be quite painful due to a stress fracture in the bone or any other problem such as osteosarcoma (bone tumor). However, pain in the lower leg may also erupt from a different area of the body, for example the lower back.        

What causes shin splints?

Usually the major cause of shin splints is a sudden bump up in the intensity of workout or activity.  Shin splints might also result from a weak ankle muscles or a tight Achilles tendon.  

There are several factors responsible for shin splints. These include:

Over stressing – Doing tough exercises, or over exercising above your normal level of fitness may lead to strain tendons, bones, muscles and joints.  Overuse is one of the major causes of shin splints.  
 
Flat feet – The shin muscles sustain arch of the foot. Those with flat feet suffer the risk of pulling shin tendons, which might lead to slight tearing.    
 
Incorrect technique – Poor style of running such as rolling the feet inwards (pronation) might lead to straining of muscles. This also causes straining of the muscles or tendons.       

Wrong running shoes – Wearing wrong type of shoes while running can lead to injuries in the shin muscles and tendons.

High impact activities – Shin splints might also occur due to running on the hard or uneven surfaces.   
 
Diagnosis of shin splints

Usually shin splints are diagnosed during examination. Through a careful review of the patient’s medical history, the doctor can determine a case of spin splints. A physical examination is conducted to check the local tenderness of shin and legs. If necessary, specialized tests such as bone scans, X-rays or MRI scan can be used to detect fracture in the tibia bone.  

Treatment of shin splints  

There are two different conventional strategies for treating shin splints - "run through it" approach and total rest. The first is not quite effective and may lead to worsening of the injury. 

 MyBadFeet.com

                                             A Short Guide To Cosmetic Foot Surgery 

Cosmetic foot surgery is one of the much-sought surgeries in the world of cosmetic surgeries. It is a craze with the people who are conscious of their overall look and appearance. Cosmetic foot surgery as a treatment for the enhancement and perfection of the beauty of the feet is riding the waves of popularity with women. They are as careful of their feet as they are of their faces.  


 

Women yearn for perfection. They wish to look infallibly beautiful from head to toe. They long for flawless feet with beautiful toes to display the charm and grace of their physical assets. They undergo cosmetic foot surgery to remove bumps and spurs from their feet. Therefore, cosmetic surgery includes treatment for the feet and the toes. 

 Cosmetic foot surgery varies with foot conditions. Foot conditions vary and may need foot surgery that will offer a cosmetic result.  Therefore a better way to discuss cosmetic foot surgery is to say “cosmetic results of foot surgery”.   

The most common of foot conditions is a bunion.  It appears as a boney extrusion in form of a large bump on the side of the foot. Bunions may be highly painful. They make it difficult to wear shoes. Certain shoes that do not fit your feet properly lead to the development of bunions. Bunions are also formed when the bit toe loses its flexibility to bend during walking.  This is the perfect condition when discussing “cosmetic results of foot surgery”.  For example a large painful unsightly bunion, once surgically removed will have a cosmetic result.

Cosmetic foot surgery may become necessary when the need to shorten a long bone of the foot arises, a long painful hammertoe perhaps.  It is an embarrassing foot condition. It creates difficulty for your feet to fit your shoes. You may suffer acute pain while wearing shoes.  There is a procedure that removes the painful hammertoe (arthroplasty) and also causes mild shortening of the toe.  Therefore you have the best of both worlds, a surgery that fixes a problem and offers a cosmetic result.

Hammertoes, bunions and bone spurs top the agenda of foot conditions that require a surgical solution ending with a cosmetic result. They may become debilitating if they are not treated properly and timely.

 The various foot problems (general)

1. Distortion of the feet

2. Pain in the feet

3. Improper shape of the feet or disfigurement

4. Flaws in appearance of the feet

5. Bumps of the feet (Bunions, Spurs, Excess Bone)

6. Dark areas or scars in the skin of the feet

7. Painful toes (Hammertoes, Claw Toes, Mallet Toes)

Treatments offered

 Foot Surgery is of different types. These are corrective cosmetic surgeries to set your feet and toes in their normal position and shape. Some of the popular foot surgeries are as follows:  

1. Big toe straightening surgery

2. Bunion and corn removal surgery

3. Lesion removal surgery

4. Hammertoe surgery

5. Fungus toenail removal surgery

6. Toe slimming and shortening surgery    

 

Summary: Foot surgery is a treatment for the problems of the foot.  Cosmetic results are secondary.   Correction with enhancement is the goal of cosmetic foot surgery. It is performed to enhance the functionality of your feet and give them an immaculate look by removing the painful flaws.

Remember you should only undergo surgery of any kind to correct a problem.  Usually the bunions, hammertoes, lesions, corns and etc., are causing a level of pain and discomfort.  Hence the term, “cosmetic results of foot surgery”. By nature many of my surgical procedures result in a cosmetic improvement.

Be careful and well informed before undergoing any surgical procedure. 

      Ask Dr. Maasi J. Smith

www.MyBadFeet.com

                          All You Need To Know About Turf Toe

Turf toe occurs when the big toe is bending upwards to an abnormal degree and it causes pain at the bottom of the toe. A turf toe damages the ligaments connecting the big toe to the foot and damaging the joint capsule in the process. These ligaments are a tough group of tissues attached to the joint bones and prevent uneven movement of the joints. Two bones contact each other in the joints.   

The condition of turf toe is also known as hallux limitus. It is associated with decrease in the range of mobility of the joint of the big toe and leads to severe pain in the big toe. The range of mobility is the degree to which a particular body part can be moved. Turf toe is a common problem with people who play games like football on tough surfaces like artificial turf (fake grass).



Turf Toe Educational Video

Different types of turf toe

There are three different types of turf toe ranging from least severe to the most severe. The severity depends on the type of the damage to the ligaments and joint capsule. The severity depends on the type of damage to the ligaments and joint capsules. Following are types of turf toe:

Grade I –The ligaments and joint capsule get stretched in this case

Grade II – The ligaments and joint capsules are partially torn 

Grade III – The ligaments and joint capsules are completely torn

Causes of turf toe

The major cause of turf toe is direct injury to bone below the cartilage or the articular cartilage. The signs and symptoms of the turf toe might erupt suddenly and get worse within 24-hour period. In some cases, the symptoms get worse as the season progresses. Turf toe might be caused by a direct injury to bone beneath the cartilage. 

Due to turf toe, the shoe grip becomes hard on the surface and gules to it. This is especially true for the shoes having cleats on them as the cleats help the shoe grip the ground. The shoe sticks to the ground as the person tries to stop quickly  in motion. The gripping of such shoes onto the surface causes the body weight to be transferred forward and big toe to hit the interior of the shoe. This jams the big toe. While doing this the big toe, its ligaments and the joint capsule is bend upwards. The most common cause of turf toe is overextension of big toe.             

Just one time jamming of the toe might lead to turf toe, however, repeated jamming of the toe is sure to cause turf toe. In either case, the bone of the big toe has to undergo excessive stress.       

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of turf toe is not difficult. For this, the doctor has to go thorough the medical history of the patient. This will assist in determining the cause and time of injury. The patient might need to describe, how the big toe extended in the upward direction causing pain and swelling. Bruises on the toe determine severity of the injury. The decline in the range of motion is also examined. An X-ray of the foot might be taken to ensure that there are no breaks.          

Treatment of the turf toe

The doctor would recommend the turf toe to be treated in the following way. After the injury, the toe must be immediately iced. After this, the toe should be bandaged with a tape to compress or squeeze the area, reducing the swelling. Sometimes it is also important to apply heat to relieve pain in the toe. There is another technique called the contrast bath. This process involves placing the foot in hot and cold water alternatively, repeating the method for a certain period of time. Most importantly, patients suffering from turf toe are recommended to rest as much as possible.


For more  on foot health log onto our website www.MyBadFeet.com.            

 

                                                                             Gout   

Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, monosodium urate or uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the blood stream. This provokes an inflammatory.

Gout is characterized by excruciating, sudden, unexpected, burning pain, as well as swelling, redness, warmth, and stiffness in the affected joint. This occurs commonly in men in their toes but can appear in other parts of the body and affects women as well. Low-grade fever may also be present. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause intense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore if it is even slightly touched. For example, a blanket or even the lightest sheet draping over the affected area could cause extreme pain.

Gout usually attacks the big toe (approximately 75 percent of first attacks); however, it also can affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine. In some cases, the condition may appear in the joints of small toes that have become immobile due to impact injury earlier in life, causing poor blood circulation that leads to gout.

Chronic joint changes
For extreme cases of gout, surgery may be necessary to remove large tophi and correct foot joint deformity.

 

 

Prevention / Medications

Allopurinol is a xanthine-oxidase inhibitor, widely used in the prevention of attacks of gout, and well tolerated. It is safe to use in patients with renal impairment and urate stones.

Sulfinpyrazone is an uricosuric. It is less widely used than allupurinol, and must not be used in patients with renal impairment, or a high urate excretion rate.

Allopurinol and azathioprine (Imuran) used together present a risk of a potentially fatal drug interaction, a severe risk of allopurinol use which is of importance to transplant patients being treated with azathioprine for immunosuppression.[1]

Febuxostat ((2-[3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl]-4-methylthiazole-5-carboxylic acid) - a non-purine inhibitor of xanthine oxidase seems to be an alternative that is superior to allopurinol at reducing serum urate levels, but not at reducing attacks of gout; it is currently in Phase III trial.

Probenecid, a uricosuric drug that promotes the excretion of uric acid in urine, is also commonly prescribed - often in conjunction with colchicine. The drug fenofibrate (which is used in treating hyperlipidemia) also exerts a beneficial uricosuric effect

As arterial hypertension quite often coexists with gout, treating it with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, might have an additional beneficial effect on uric acid plasma levels. This way losartan can offset the negative side-effect of thiazides (a group of diuretics used for high blood pressure) on uric acid metabolism in patients with gout.

Gout is suspected to be secondary to untreated sleep apnea in some cases, caused by the release of purines as a by-product of the breakdown of oxygen-starved cells. Treatment for apnea can therefore be effective in lessening incidence of acute gout attacks.

A 2004 study suggests that animal flesh sources of purine (such as beef and seafood) greatly increase the risk of developing gout. However, high-purine vegetable sources (such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, and green peas) did not. Dairy products such as milk and cheese significantly reduced the chances of gout. The study followed over 40000 men over a period of 12 years, in which 1300 cases of gout were reported.
 

Reduce intake of purines
 

Consumption of beer is associated with a 49% increase in relative risk per daily 12-oz serving. By contrast, consumption of spirits was associated with only a 15% increase in relative risk, and no association at all was found with consumption of wine.

 

Diet should be low fat and low protein.

Follow your physician instructions.  Only for informational purposes.

Wikipedia

 

                                                                    Diabetic foot  



Diabetic foot is an umbrella term for foot problems in patients with diabetes mellitus. Due to arterial abnormalities and diabetic neuropathy, as well as a tendency to delayed wound healing, infection or gangrene of the foot is relatively common. Ten to Fifteen per cent of diabetic patients develop foot ulcers at some point in their lives and foot related problems are responsible for up to 50% of diabetes related hospital admissions.

Diabetic foot infection is a disease that is generally associated with damaged nerves and restricted blood supply due to diabetes, thereby causing deep sores and infections in the skin, muscles, or bones of the foot region.

Description

Diabetic patients are more vulnerable to foot infections. As the disease is often associated with low blood circulation and nervous disorders, people with high diabetes are more likely to be infected with foot diseases.
However, there is very little chance for the patient with a foot infection to realize the real importance of the situation; as he hardly gets a chance to feel any pain or discomfort in the region. In most of the cases, the ailment remains undiscovered, until, marked by some kind of weakness or fever occurring at frequent intervals.
Since, the root of the problem is related with the malfunctioning of the nerve cells, there are a number of problems that can arise due to the cause of the disease. Often it is found that the nerve cells controlling the sweating of glands do not work and as a result, the skin becomes dry, giving way to form calluses. These calluses are later on found to be the root of ulcers and other detrimental infections.

Diabetic foot disease is more commonly spread amongst those above 60 years of age. It is also found to be prominent amongst those with kidney or vascular disease, foot infections, excess and uncontrolled diabetes. People who have lost their sense of feeling or sensation or with some nervous disorder are all the more vulnerable to the effect of the disease.

Causes

One of the most predominant things behind the cause and spread of the infection is bacteria. Bacteria enter the skin conveniently through the cracks and fissures that are developed in the dry skin around the heels, corns and other regions of the foot . This in turn causes a slow and steady damage to the skin, tissue and bone in the various parts of the body. The bacterial sites may include, the blisters, corns, calluses on the skin; bunions, hammertoes, in the bones of the foot; any scar tissues from some earlier infection; and even in the ulcer affected regions of the foot.

Prevention

Prevention is by frequent podiatry review, good foot hygiene, diabetic socks and shoes, and avoiding injury.

Foot-care education combined with increased surveillance can reduce the incidence of serious foot lesions.
Footwear.

All major reviews recommend special footwear for patients with a prior ulcer or with foot deformities. One review added neuropathy as an indication for special footwear. The comparison of custom shoes versus well-chosen and well-fitted athletic shoes is not clear.

A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "there is very limited evidence of the effectiveness of therapeutic shoes". The date of the literature search for this review is not clear. Clinical Evidence reviewed the topic and concluded "Individuals with significant foot deformities should be considered for referral and assessment for customised shoes that can accommodate the altered foot anatomy. In the absence of significant deformities, high quality well fitting non-prescription footwear seems to be a reasonable option". National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has reviewed the topic and concluded that for patients at "high risk of foot ulcers (neuropathy or absent pulses plus deformity or skin changes or previous ulcer" that "specialist footwear and insoles" should be provided.

Treatment

Foot ulcers in diabetes require multidisciplinary assessment, usually by diabetes specialists and surgeons. Treatment consists of appropriate bandages, antibiotics (against staphylococcus, streptococcus and anaerobe strains), debridement and arterial revascularisation.

It is often 500 mg to 1000 mg of flucloxacillin, 1 g of amoxicillin and also metronidazole to tackle the putrid smelling bacteria.

Specialists are investigating the role of nitric oxide in diabetic wound healing.  Nitric oxide is a powerful vasodilator, which helps to bring nutrients to the oxygen deficient wound beds. Specialists are using forms of light therapy such as LLLT to treat diabetic ulcers.

In 2004, The Cochrane review panel concluded that for people with diabetic foot ulcers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduced the risk of amputation and may improve the healing at 1 year. They also suggest that the availability of hyperbaric facilities and economic evaluations should be interpreted.

The appropriate treatment includes prior culture and proper detection of the infection. Then accordingly, some antibiotics are prescribed or if required, the infected tissue is removed from the site. Sometimes the doctors also make surgeries in the region of the ulcers to ensure an increase blood circulation in the region. In addition, the patients are also advised to keep a good diabetes check on their health.

Acupuncture is also practiced on the respective patient with a foot infection, in accordance with the degree of ailment. To enhance the body’s ability to fight infections, doctors often prescribe several vitamin-enriched herbs and vitamin C to the concerned patients. 

Questions to ask your doctor

Will this get worse?
What sort of daily care is needed to ensure a healthy foot?
What else can be availed, apart from regular treatment, to heal the wound?
Is there any Medicare coverage for diabetic shoes?
What kind of shoes are best to avoid any foot problems?

 

                                                                       
                                                   




                                                                      Corns Education

Definition

The accumulation of the dead skin cells lead to corns on the foot, which causes the area to harden and thicken. These look like projections of the feet. It has a cone-shaped core with a point, which can press on a nerve below causing pain. These are very common ailments affecting the tips, tops and sides of the toes. Constant friction with the footwear leads to inflamed corns and some corns are formed between the toes and are referred as soft corns.

Description

Corns appear like small rough mounds containing firm dead skin that grows between the toes. It has a hard waxy core that extends down, presses the tissues and nerves under it, and thus causes pain. Sometimes the corns affect the bursae - fluid-filled sacs that cushion the juncture of two or more bones, causing irritation and results in bursitis.     

There are two types of corns – soft corns and hard corns. Most common type of corns is hard corn. These are usually caused due to toe deformities and ill-fitting shoes. Usually such corns develop on the top and tips of the toes and on the side of the feet. On the other hand, soft corns also known as heloma molles are usually caused by abnormalities in toes. Sometimes it is also referred as kissing corns. 

The corns are usually caused due to pressure or friction on the toes, which comes from ill-fitting shoes or high-heels. Our skin protects the body, and corns are formed when the body attempts to protect the troubled area from more pressure. Heaps of dead skin cells are accumulated and a hard substance called keratin is secreted. The person having abnormal bone structure in their feet or certain types of arthritis may also develop corns. You should avoid tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes, if you do not want corns on your feet.

The corn core of foot and hand are made of constant pressure or disturbances. It has a corn-shaped projection inwards, which is referred as core, root, nail, or seed. Depending on the place it occurs on the skin, the corns might appear white, grey, yellow or brown in color. With a corn in the toe, it feels as if there is pebble in the shoe causing irritation.

If the corns are inflamed, they become quite painful. Especially the small corns. Due to initial abrasions or friction, blisters may occur. On continued rubbing or friction, a callosity or corn may be produced.   

Cause

Tight fitting footwear, high heeled shoes, tight fitting stockings and socks, deformed toes, are some of the major causes for development of corn on the feet. Usually the soft corns are seen on the bony prominences, which are located between the toes. If the corns are neglected complication may arise leading to bursitis and in some cases ulcer.   

Treatment and Prevention

Corns can be prevented and treated in a number of simple ways. The first suggestion would be to wear fitting footwear with enough space in the toe box. It would be better to avoid too loose or too tight shoes. It is also advised not to wear tight shocks or stockings to provide a healthier environment to your foot.        

It would be better to steer away from corn removing solutions and medicated pads. Further, the solution may lead to discomfort and irritation. Individuals with poor circulation and diabetics should never use any chemical agents to remove corns. However, if the problem persists you should immediately consult a podiatrist.      

There are many acid preparations, which are available for calluses and corns. One of the widely used solutions is a mixture of lactic acids, salicylic acid and collodion (Salactic Film, Duofilm and Viranol). There are some over-the-counter products such as trichloroacetic acid, which are used for treatment.  
 
Questions To Ask Your Doctor

What would be the best way to treat the corns?
How much time is required for complete treatment?
Is application of acid suitable for everyone? 
How much and how often should the preparation be applied?
What is the best way to prevent the inflammation of corns?
Is surgery needed for the treatment? 

 Or, Ask Dr. Smith

www.MyBadFeet.com
Click Here........Corns, Education Video

      
                                             

        Patella Tendon Strap – Best Solution for Your Patellar Tendonitis
 
Patellar tendon strap is an effective tool to relieve the pain erupting from patellar tendonitis. Patellar tendonitis is inflammation and irritation of tendon, which causes extreme discomfort while sitting, jumping or squatting. It causes severe pain as well as swelling. In such cases, a patella strap is applied to provide a gentle but firm support to the key areas, which relieves the aches and speeds up healing.

Due to an overuse injury, the tendon connecting your patella (kneecap) to your tibia (shinbone) gets affected and leads to inflammation and pain. Patellar tendon is an important part of the leg muscle that has an important role in movement of the legs. It has various functions. It helps to perform various activities, it allows the muscles to extend so that you can jump, kick a ball, and ride bicycle.           

The main cause of patellar tendinitis is repeated stress on the patellar tendon. This occurs especially when you increase the frequency or intensity of your activity. Due to over-stressing tiny tears occurs on the tendon, which gets repaired gradually. However, if there are numerous tears on the tendon, the body is unable to repair it, aggravating inflammation in the tendon. Initially the pain may not be severe and infrequent; however, continued stress and damage to the patellar tendon may lead to patellar tendonitis, which results in constant ache. Sometimes performing a strenuous activity can lead to ruptured patellar tendon or it may tear completely.

The most common victims of patellar tendonitis are athletes playing volleyball, basketball, soccer, any sport which involves jumping. This is why, patellar tendonitis is also known as jumper's knee. Further, there are cases of recurring patellar tendonitis, which are termed as patellar tendinosis and patellar tendinopathy.     
 
                            Functions of a Patellar Tendon Strap

The most widely used tool for stabilizing patellar tendonitis is patellar tendon strap, which not only improves patellar tracking, but also relieves conditions of tendonitis by compressing the patellar tendon moderately. Moreover, the patellar tendon strap is easy to put up. Just place the kneecap at the center of your knee, and then by adjusting the hook-and-loop closure you can secure it. The strap reduces the stress and pain felt while walking or climbing stairs by distributing the pressure uniformly across the patella.

Essentially the patella tendon straps compress the knee region focusing on the patella tendon just below the knee cap or patella. This tendon is located at a position where the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh converge and it is attached to the shin bone. The user can tailor the level of compression according to his level of comfort, while supporting the patella tendon.

Compression of the strap helps to reduce the area of cross section in patella tendon. This can be simply interpreted that less force is transmitted from Quadriceps muscles to the Patella tendon. It also saves from erosion of the undersurface of the kneecap that might result in misalignment of the quadriceps. The design and construction of the device is such that it applies constant force to the surrounding areas of the knee. It also reduces the possibility of overuse syndrome.

By reducing the stress placed on the patella tendon, the straps allow you to perform your normal activities. This patella tendon strap helps to achieve full mobility and gives you maximum benefits.

To learn more about medical issues with the lower extremity,  www.mybadfeet.com.