Bunion on the Foot (Hallux Valgus)

A bunion (hallux valgus) is a bony bump that develops on the joint at the base of the big toe. It occurs when the bone called “first metatarsal” moves away from the big toe. This causes the tip of the big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of the big toe to stick out. In its advanced stage, hallux valgus is often painful. Hallux valgus affects women more than men….

Ingrown Toenail (Onychocryptosis)

An ingrown nail occurs when the upper corner of the nail penetrates the surrounding flesh causing redness, inflammation, sometimes an infection and pain. This condition most commonly affects the big toe but does not exclude the other toes either.

In order to avoid infection, it is important to consult a podiatrist as soon as the first symptoms of an ingrown toenail appear…

Hammertoe and Mallet Toe

Hammertoe is a curved Z-shaped toe. The joint above the toe becomes excessively protruding so that it rubs against the inner wall of the shoe, causing pain.

Mallet toe is a relatively rare condition that usually affects the second toe, although the other toes can be affected. The affected toe bends downward at the outermost joint creating moderate pain. The nail changes shape and a small horn may develop.

The Achilles Tendon

Achilles tendonitis, also called Achilles heel tendinopathy, calcaneal tendonitis or Achilean tendonitis, is a lesion, most often related to mechanical overload, of the Achilles tendon, a tendon behind the ankle that connects the calf muscles (triceps sural) to the heel bone. By contracting, the calf muscle exerts traction on the tendon, causing plantar flexion and propulsion of the foot when you walk, run, jump, etc. With a sudden movement, the Achilles tendon can crack and rupture. The Achilles tendon in the heel becomes swollen, inflamed, and painful. Achilles tendonitis is very common in runners and athletes and can therefore occur at any age.

Achilles tendonitis is usually caused by repeated stress on the tendon. This often happens when your body is overworked, especially after exercising too hard….

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

The term foot ulcer describes an open wound located below the ankle anywhere on the foot. It is usually people with diabetes who are at risk of developing it. In this case, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before it is too late. Indeed, an untreated foot ulcer can create many long-term complications sometimes requiring amputation of the foot, one of the unfortunate consequences of diabetes.

What are the causes of diabetic foot ulcer?

The causes of diabetic foot ulcer are different, but each one contributes to the development of foot ulcer in people with diabetes. The causes are the following:

Calluses, corns, and ‘seed corns’

Calluses, corns and ‘seed corns’, what are they?

Calluses, corns and ‘partridge’s eyes’ are hardened layers of skin that can occur on the feet and toes when they become a subject to excessive friction and pressure. Calluses and corns are often painful. But this foot problem can be treated quite easily.

What are the differences between these three forms of pathology?

There are differences between these three pathologies:

Plantar Warts

A plantar wart is a benign, rough skin growth caused by a viral infection, the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Despite its harmlessness, plantar wart can be contagious which is necessary for medical assistance.

Although they can be confused with seed corns, the symptoms of plantar warts have their own characteristics:

• Appearance of one or more small, rough, well-defined skin growths, usually on the hands, back, toes, sole of the foot, face, knees or elbows;
• The growth is made up of spongy, yellowish or brownish tissue;
• Presence of small black dots in the growth…..

Pediatric Podiatry

When should you consult a podiatrist for your child ?

In order to reassure your child’s good development, the examination of his or her feet by the Podiatrist is very important. When you notice that your child:

• Sits in a ‘W’ position (W-sitting is a position when a child has their knees out in front of them, but their ankles and feet are to either side of their hips)
• Has an in-toe (pigeon-toed) gait (a condition where the toes are pointed inwards when walking)
• Falls frequently and Titres quickly during physical activities…

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis or dermatophytosis, is a very contagious skin infection of the foot, very widespread and caused by fungi of the trichophyton type. It usually affects the skin between the toes and is favored by moisture. Redness appears in the folds, then the skin dries and peels.

Athlete’s foot requires a medical consultation because, if left untreated, it can progress and affect the soles of the feet or even the hands and nails.

Athlete’s foot is caused by the following factors…

Pain in Feet, Ankles, Legs, Knees, Lower Back and Hips

Over the course of a lifetime, many aches and pains can be felt in various areas of the body, including “bones”, feet, ankles, legs, knees, lower back and hips. Some of these pains can be caused, among other things, by an imbalance in your feet.

Foot pain

The feet support the weight of your body. They allow us to stand, move, walk, run, jump and perform other specific movements. That’s why we recommend that you keep your feet healthy by seeing a podiatrist at the onset of any suspicious pain.

Foot pain, especially heel pain, is common. The best known is plantar fasciitis. In addition to the heel, it is the forefoot, top and center of the foot, soles of the feet, flat or hollow feet, and toes that can be painful. Many conditions can affect the feet, such as hallus valgus (foot bunion), ingrown toenail…

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (or tarsal tunnel) is caused by compression or damage to the nerve supplying the heel and sole of the foot (posterior tibial nerve). It results in pain in the ankle, foot and sometimes in the toes.

The posterior tibial nerve is located at the back of the ankle and passes through a fibrous duct (tarsal duct) behind the medial malleolus. The posterior tibial nerve is inserted on the calcaneus, bone of the foot and connects the triceps sural, muscle of the posterior superficial compartment of the leg or calf. Inflammation of the tissues near the tarsal duct compresses the nerve causing pain.

What are the causes of tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is most often happen due to extrinsic factors…

Flat Foot

Flat feet are a common disorder in babies and young children due to the softness of the foot tissues that hold the joints together. The internal longitudinal plantar arch collapses causing changes in the architecture of the foot. The heel is pushed out and it is deprived of its heel support. The forefoot is tilted out and the foot sags. Pain in the feet or joints is felt when standing.

The deformities can be reducible up to the age of 11. Around 12 or 13 years old, painful muscle contractures can appear and between 16 and 18 years old the deformities become irreducible.

Flat feet are often found in children who walk crushing the arch of the foot which causes pain in this region. However, the long-term consequences lead to muscle, skeletal, joint or postural problems…

Nail Fungus

Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection of the nail usually caused by microscopic fungi, the dermatophyte, or most commonly Candida-like parapsilosis. Onychomycosis mainly occurs on the toenails, but it can also affect the hands.

At the onset of the disease, a yellowish spot appears mainly on one edge of the nail of the big toe and then it will invade the entire nail. Over time, it can even take off and fall. This pathology then requires specific and rigorous treatment for several months.

The symptoms of onychomycosis are easily identifiable:

• Toenail yellowed, thickened and peeled off;
• If the patient scratches under the nail, a whitish and contagious powder appears…

Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)

Plantar fasciitis or plantar fasciitis is a pathology of the foot characterized by injury to the foot caused by stretching or rupture of the plantar fascia, a fibrous membrane that makes up the floor of the foot and extends from the heel bone to the base of the toes. It can cause severe pain in the heel and arch of the foot and become disabling. 

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

• heel pain that varies in severity from case to case, especially when you wake up in the morning. This pain may subside during the day

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is the medical term for pain in the region of the lumbar vertebrae, located under the last vertebra that has a rib (the vertebrae that go from D12 to S1). These pains can go down to the buttocks, or even to the back of the knees. It is a very common condition, usually not serious. It can happen at any age, especially in teens and in their 40s.

What are the types of lower back pain?

There are three types of low back pain, acute, chronic and recurrent.

• Acute lower back pain or lumbago refers to acute pain that can last one to three weeks. Despite its relatively short duration, the pain can lead to a great deal of discomfort, sometimes requiring that all activity be stopped…