Foot Health Friday

Staff

May 10, 2013

Overpronation or excessive pronation can be a problem that leads to a range of problems, especially in athletes. Overpronation occurs when the ankle collapses inward and the arch of the foot flattens. This creates alignment and weight bearing problems that can be painful if combined with higher levels of sports activity. There are many different causes of this problem and many different treatments. The treatment has to match the cause. The treatment might involve a change in running technique; exercises for muscle retraining; foot orthotics or other forms of rehabilitation. The important thing is note about ‘overpronation’ is that there is so much nonsense written about it online that you need to be careful (see this for a good understanding and this about the problem of the myths).

Cracks in the Heel Skin

Staff

May 4, 2013

These hurt and they do not look good! The thicker dry skin around the heel can often crack if not kept moist. Once the crack occurs it pulls on the normal skin below it and it is this that becomes painful and may even bleed. If it does bleed, then there is a risk for an infection. This means that the problem is potentially a serious one, so having cracks around the heel need to be taken seriously. The best way to deal with this problem is to self manage it. If it is serious, then a podiatrist is probably the best place to get help. The dry skin needs to be removed on a regular basis and an emollient applied to keep the skin moist. The use of closed in shoes is also important.

Foot problems in cyclists

Staff

April 27, 2013

When you think of cycling at the moment, Lance Armstrong and the drugs scandal come to mind. What is less likely to come to mind are the sorts of problems that happen in the feet of cyclists. A look around the cycling communities show that problems with the feet are common and cyclists are often asking about them in forums. The biomechanics of cycling are so important to prevent injury and improve performance. The foot is the basis for that biomechanics, so every thing need to be right at that level. The shoes used for cycling are tight and large loads go through the foot when cycling, so they are subjected to a lot of force that can cause foot problems. Pinched nerves in the ball of the foot a common problem and is pain further up the leg if the foot alignment on the pedal is not optimal.

Should you try Chi Running?

Staff

April 19, 2013

Chi running is a particular approach to running that involves a more of a midfoot strike of the ground as opposed to the more usual heel strike. There are a number of books on Chi running, DVD’s and courses that you can take. A number of benefits have been claimed for this running technique, but there is no evidence to support it and all the claims are anecdotal. There are also anecdotes of people getting hurt when they transition to chi running for more of a forefoot or midfoot strike of the ground. So, if you are a runner should you try it? There is no compelling evidence that anyone would benefit from it, but its is assumed that some runners will benefit from more of a midfoot strike and other runners would not. It is going to be an individual thing. A lot will depend on what injury history a person has and it the change in running reduces the stress on the parts of the body that they are having a problem with or increase it. There is no harm in giving it a go, but if problems arise, then advice is probably needed.

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