Most often than not, we tend to notice a problem once we start to experience pain. The same goes for our feet. Foot pain is usually the tell-tale sign that something isn’t right. Unfortunately, when you start to feel pain, it’s usually too late. The problem has started its course and sometimes its irreversible.
Try to tackle the problem before you start to develop symptoms. How? Start by observing your feet. Look down at your feet occasionally and check to see if you notice anything usual. Look for things like calluses, corns, bunions, hammertoes. Check your arch profile when you are standing -maybe your feet are unusually flat or perhaps your feet are very rigid and high arched. Do your toes point inward (also known as in-toeing or pigeon-toed) or point outward resembling the stance of a penguin? Maybe your feet roll inward towards your arches as you walk.
If you aren’t sure if you have any issues with your feet just by looking at them, check your shoes. Your footwear, including how quick they wear down may contain good clues on the general position of your feet as well as where your feet are taking on the greatest amount of stress.
Finally, pay attention at the feet of your family members (i.e. parents, grandparents, great grandparents), if they have horrible bunions then there is a good chance you may develop them yourself.
Once you are convinced something is not right with your feet but you’re just not sure exactly what it is, it may be worth your while to book an appointment with a licensed chiropodist to take closer look.
A Chiropodist is a health care professional who specializes in the assessment, management, and prevention of dysfunctions, disorders, and diseases of the foot. At your appointment, he or she will perform a biomechanical assessment that concludes your gait analysis to examine any foot and lower limb abnormalities that need to be addressed.
Biomechanical assessment will consist of examining the range of motion of all the major joints in the foot, ankle, hip and knee, looking for abnormal angulation of the bones/joints, and checking for symmetry between the left and right sides of the body. Abnormalities usually lead to compensations and compensations lead to problems. Overall, a chiropodist will be able to determine and pinpoint where you may be exhibiting faulty mechanics that can eventually lead to foot pain and foot deformities.
Have a professional look at your feet through the lens of years of education and experience. Book an appointment today with one of our chiropodists at Feet First Clinic to help prevent any complications or issues in the future.
Don’t just manage the pain, prevent it.
