March 9, 2023
Plantar warts and sports are an "iconic" duo of foot conditions and risk factors. Many athletes are looking for a quick fix for their plantar wart woes. But the truth is, switching your mindset towards prevention and medical foot care is just as important.
Let's look at our plantar wart guide for athletes and gym-goers! We'll answer some of your most pressing questions and dive into the following:
What are plantar warts?
Why are athletes prone to plantar warts?
Preventing plantar warts: foot hygiene and foot care
Prevention plantar warts: shoe choices
What are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are viral skin infections caused by the Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) that appear on the bottom of the feet.
Many people assume that HPV is solely a sexually transmitted infection, but there are over 200 strains, some causing warts and others causing cancer. People usually contract this virus strain by walking or running barefoot on an infected surface, which enters the skin via contact or through small cracks in the skin.
Warts appear round and look deceptively like corns, calluses and blisters. They result from the body's failure to fight off the HPV, which can sometimes disappear on its own depending on the strain. Symptoms and signs of plantar warts include:
A hard and "grainy" growth on the bottom of the foot, often on the ball of the foot or base of the toes
On dark skin, it may appear lighter than the surrounding skin
Calluses surrounding the wart if it has started to grow inward
"Wart seeds" - which look like a small black dot in the wart
Pain when walking or touching the wart
Mosaic warts or a cluster of warts
Treatment options from a foot clinic include cryotherapy and needling. You can read about treatments in more detail here.
Why are Athletes Prone to Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts have the potential to debilitate athletes and gym-goers and severely impact their physical progress. But why are the physically fit more likely to contract them in the first place?
HPV loves warm, moist environments. These include communal showers and locker rooms where sports teams typically congregate without shoes or socks. So without adequate foot protection, members of the same team can unknowingly pass on this troublesome skin infection to each other.
Competitive swimmers are also at risk since the walking area surrounding the swimming pools is also communal with heavy, barefoot traffic. Furthermore, the rough surfaces of pool decks may cause micro-trauma to the bottom of the feet, increasing the risk of viral contraction.
Athletes and fitness lovers are also more likely to experience hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating of the feet, which can increase the risk. Athletes often also share infected gym equipment, such as mats, without thorough cleaning.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
Plantar Wart Prevention: Foot Hygiene and Foot Care
The best way to prevent plantar warts is to strictly monitor your foot health and keep your feet clean. If you already have plantar warts, these practices can help prevent the condition from worsening.
Here are some practices to abide by:
Follow a daily foot care routine, being careful not to miss days when you play sports or go to the gym. It should include cleaning, exfoliation, moisturizing, and more. Here is an excellent one to follow!
Lightly dust your feet with baby powder. This can also help with foot odour! You can also try Gehwol Foot Powder.
Wear moisture-wicking socks, foot pads or other protective products.
Never go barefoot in a communal area like a locker room, shower or pool deck. Always wear protective footwear like sandals or shower shoes while in these spaces.
Don't scratch or pick at any pre-existing plantar warts.
Air out your shoes after using them.
Always wash your hands if you touch one of your plantar warts.
Don't share shoes, socks, towels and other products with other people.
Plantar Wart Prevention: Shoe Choices
Athletes can't avoid keeping their feet cooped up in runners all day. What they can do, however, is make shoe choices that help to prevent the growth of plantar warts.
Shoes should be breathable and waterproof. You know how some runners have those mini holes in the upper that let air enter and escape? Those are the ones you should be on the hunt for! The ventilation keeps your foot environment fresh and healthy while you spend the day exerting energy. When shopping for shoes or attending a shoe fitting, stress the importance of finding shoes like these by asking for breathable options.
You can also look for shoes made with GORE-TEX fabric, which repels moisture while letting water vapour from sweat exit the shoe.
Looking For More Info on Plantar Warts?
We know that athletes are at risk of developing plantar warts, but did you know children are also vulnerable? If you're a concerned parent, check out this blog on managing plantar warts in children.
January 30, 2023
As a parent, your children's health is a top priority. When it comes to their feet, it may be trickier to tell whether anything is wrong. Our feet are often covered; even then, certain conditions can be tricky to recognize.
Plantar warts can be a painful and unsightly problem, especially in children. But don't worry - you're not alone as a parent. Fortunately, plantar warts aren't severe. Most of the time, there is no cause for concern. Several effective treatment methods exist for children and teenagers, who are particularly susceptible to getting plantar warts.
Many types of warts exist. They can also target various parts of the body. Wart variations include common warts, flat warts, mosaic warts, filiform warts, and plantar warts. Warts on the feet are the focus of this article.
In this blog article, our medical team provides a complete guide for parents to recognize, prevent, and effectively treat plantar warts in children. With this guide, there's no need to let plantar warts interfere with your child's active lifestyle.
What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts are viral skin infections that grow on the feet's underside. HPV (human papillomavirus) causes plantar warts. HPV can infiltrate the body through skin contact, sometimes via a cut or break in the skin on foot. It's important to note that only certain types of HPV cause plantar warts. After all, there are 100+ types of the virus. (The HPV strain responsible for plantar warts differs from the HPV that targets the reproductive tract.)
Plantar warts get their name because of their location (plantar is another word for the sole of the foot).
The warts are small, flat, and hard circular growths. Plantar warts resemble a corn, callus or blister but may also contain tiny black spots. Bearing weight (like when you walk or run) adds pressure to the wart. The added pressure against the bottom of your foot causes the wart to grow inward. Thus, walking or standing on warts may also hurt. In response, your body builds a layer of skin on top of the wart to try to protect itself. This skin buildup resembles a callus.
Plantar warts are not a skin condition specific to the youth. Anyone can get plantar warts. They are not a severe health condition and may go away independently, especially in children under 12. However, they are contagious. It's best to treat plantar warts as soon as possible to prevent spreading to other body parts.
If left untreated, warts can last a few months to two years in children.
How do children get plantar warts?
Children get plantar warts by catching a specific type of HPV. The virus enters the body through direct contact between the skin and an infected surface. Since viruses thrive in warm, moist areas, shared spaces like spas, hot tubs, pools, or showers put children at risk.
Not everyone who catches the HPV strain gets plantar warts. Your immune system may be able to fend off the attack. If not, a plantar wart may surface.
Are children more likely to get plantar warts?
Yes, children and teenagers are more likely to get plantar warts than adults. According to the National Library of Medicine, various studies show that up to 33% of children and teenagers have warts. Between 3-5% of adults, by comparison, have warts.
Children and teenagers may be more likely to get plantar warts because of their environment. For instance, children and teenagers often use communal showers at pools or in locker rooms. If one child has a plantar wart, they may spread the virus to others. In some cases, children and teenagers may also get plantar warts due to a weakened immune system.
How can a parent help a child get rid of plantar warts?
A parent has several treatment options for their child if the child gets plantar warts. One is to allow plantar warts to go away on their own. Warts sometimes disappear in a few weeks or a few months on their own. During this period, parents should take precautions to avoid children spreading plantar warts to other body parts and people.
But warts can be uncomfortable (and aesthetically displeasing), and may persist or even spread and multiply. In these instances, a parent or child may desire more immediate action. Fortunately, that's doable.
A chiropodist or foot doctor can provide wart removal treatments. For children, parents may prefer less invasive treatment methods. We've ranked various treatment methods from less intrusive to more intrusive.
Prescription Topical Solutions
Cryotherapy
Cantharone/Cantharone Plus
Needling
Excision
How do I prevent my children from getting plantar warts?
The key as a parent is to limit your child's exposure to HPV when in shared spaces. Fortunately, there are many measures you can take.
Provide your child with sandals at school, the pool, or practice. Limiting their time barefoot in a locker room, a shower, or on deck at the pool can reduce their chances of catching HPV.
Encourage healthy foot hygiene. Use positive reinforcement and teach your child to keep their feet clean and dry.
Do not use instruments like pumice stones or nail files if previously used on a wart.
Inspect your child's feet. Minor cuts or cracks in the skin put your child at greater risk of catching the plantar wart-causing virus. Apply a bandage or waterproof plaster on the area to reduce their exposure
If your child partakes in activities requiring them to be barefoot, like gymnastics or dance, cover any warts with a bandage to preventspreading to other children.
November 3, 2022
Medical pedicures are no ordinary cosmetic pedicure. And while the procedure skips the pretty toenail polish, they offer numerous foot health benefits that you won't get from your favourite nail salon and spa.
Regular medical pedicures work wonders for nail health and keep your skin in good condition. What's more, chiropodists know the warning signs of foot conditions, so they can keep their eyes peeled for potential problems while performing your pedicure.
Let's take a look at the top 5 benefits of medical pedicures!
Medical pedicures prevent ingrown toenails
Your chiropodist can detect foot abnormalities and conditions
Say goodbye to foot odour
Enjoy a thorough moisturizing session
Safe and sterile environment
Medical Pedicures Prevent Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are something to avoid at all costs. Ingrown toenails grow into and pierce the skin, so while they may start out as a tiny problem, the pain can be immense if the ingrown toenail isn't properly dealt with. Not knowing how to cut your toenails properly can trigger ingrown toenail growth, so you should opt for a professional trim if you don't know what you're doing.
Of course, medical pedicures include thorough nail trimming and filing. Cutting and filing straight across ensures smooth edges and lets the nail re-grow in the right direction. This can prevent ingrown toenails but also serves as a treatment for any pre-existing ones.
Bonus tip: Try researching the best toenail clippers for added protection against ingrown toenails.
Your Chiropodist Can Detect Foot Abnormalities and Conditions
When you get a medical pedicure, a trained professional examines every inch of your foot. This is one of the most beneficial aspects of getting a pedicure at a foot clinic vs. a nail salon.
If you have diabetes, getting a foot examination is even more crucial. Due to diabetic neuropathy, irregular glucose levels, and peripheral vascular disease, undetected foot abnormalities can make way for severe complications. These may include skin and bone infections, gangrene, abscesses, and even amputations.
Here are some examples of what a chiropodist can look for during a medical pedicure:
Warts
Corns and calluses
Signs of proper blood circulation
Fungal infections
Nerve function
Signs of additional infection
Say Goodbye to Foot Odour
A medical pedicure includes sanitizing and thoroughly cleaning your feet. The process starts with cleaning the feet with alcohol, so the chiropodist has a clean base. This eliminates dead skin and bacteria on the bottom of the feet, eliminating unpleasant foot odour.
To ensure foot odour doesn't come back, wash your feet regularly, wear socks with sneakers and use high-quality foot deodorants.
Safe and Sterile Environment
Everyone likes to feel pampered sometimes. But while salon pedicures are fun and relaxing, there can be a lack of cleanliness in some establishments. Manicure and pedicure salons can be breeding grounds for foot fungus and other concerning threats.
When you go to a foot clinic, all eyes are on you. You have a space dedicated to your treatment, and your chiropodist only pays attention to your medical pedicure. Your foot specialist also uses only steam sterilized equipment that is sterilized after each use, and has plenty of time to ensure all medical practice standards are followed.
But a salon may be jam-packed full of customers, and employees can easily forget to thoroughly clean tools when they're too busy. This is when viruses, fungus and bacteria come into the picture.
Enjoy a Thorough Moisturizing Session
If you think moisturizing only happens at a nail salon, think again.
A chiropodist will use medical-strength moisturizing creams at the end of the medical pedicure.
This intense treatment works to keep skin feeling soft and clean, restore natural elasticity, and fight common nuisances like dry, itchy skin.
September 15, 2022
Warts can occur anywhere on your body. These small, circular growths are a type of skin infection that stand out because of their roughness, slight discolouration, and sometimes pain. When it comes to your feet, the soles are a common place for warts. This skin condition is known as plantar warts.
Although warts on your feet are a common occurrence, this condition comes with very treatable solutions. From self-care remedies to visiting a foot specialist, the scale of treatment methods varies based on the persistence level of warts. If you're looking to avoid plantar warts altogether, learn about what causes them, or how to get rid of them, you've come to the right place.
In this article, we explore plantar warts, their causes, how to get rid of plantar warts, and finally how to book an appointment with a foot specialist if you have persistent plantar warts.
What are plantar warts?
Plantar warts are common viral skin infections that grow on the bottom of the feet. They are small, flat, and hard circular growths that look like a corn, callus or blister. Walking puts pressure on the wart, which makes it grow inward and builds a hard layer of skin overtop. Applying pressure to plantar warts (walking, standing, or running) may be uncomfortable, if not painful.
Anyone can get plantar warts: they are not a severe health condition and sometimes go away on their own. However, they are contagious. If they persist, they can grow, spread and cause foot pain when you stand or walk on them.
What causes plantar warts?
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes foot warts by infecting the foot's outer layer of skin. HPVs are a group of more than 200 related viruses. In the case of plantar warts, the strain of HPV causing this foot condition is not severe and varies from the strain that infects the reproductive tract. If you think plantar warts and herpes or genital warts, are related, don't worry - the HPV strains are different.
Usually, the virus enters the skin through a perforation like a cut or small breaks in the skin. Frequenting high-traffic common areas like showers, change rooms, and pool decks increase your likelihood of contracting the HPV that causes warts because the virus can spread more easily in these areas. Understandably, the wart-causing virus thrives in warm, moist environments. (This can be said for several other foot conditions, actually, including athlete's foot.) Wearing Crocs or flip-flops will help lessen your chances of catching this virus by ensuring your bare feet do not come in contact with the virus.
Children and teenagers are more likely to get plantar warts because of their hobbies; additionally, those with weakened immune systems are at heightened risk. That said, like many foot conditions, anyone can get plantar warts.
So, what happens when you get plantar warts? Fortunately, there are several treatment options, including DIY methods as well as visiting a foot specialist.
Plantar warts treatments
Sometimes, plantar warts will treat themselves and go away with time. If that's not the case, a foot specialist like a chiropodist can easily remove plantar warts. There are also different treatments depending on how resistant the wart is to certain methods. For instance, if the wart is not responding to one treatment, a more aggressive treatment may be tried.
Regardless of the treatment method you choose, it's best to follow these practices:
Cover the wart to help prevent it from spreading to either other people or another part of your body
Wash your hands any time you touch the wart, accidentally or intentionally
Below you'll find a mix of at-home treatment methods and procedures done by a foot specialist at a local clinic:
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a method by which extreme cold is used to freeze and remove a plantar wart. This procedure is quick and easy, and generally low risk. Instead of cryotherapy performed in a cold tank, this kind is slightly different and more concentrated. Cold therapy is performed via liquid nitrogen on a cotton swab. This treatment is performed every two weeks, and often requires several treatments to eradicate the wart.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a topical medication that is applied to the wart. It softens the skin and helps shed layers of skin (and the wart) bit by bit. It is found in many over-the-counter wart removal products, and a chiropodist can prescribe a high-strength salicylic acid topical solution that you can apply regularly at home. The higher the dose of salicylic acid, the better its treatment.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment involves cauterizing blood vessels. Ouch, that sounds intense. But, your medical practitioner will numb your skin first. To be effective, this treatment can be repeated every 2-4 weeks.
Blister-inducing medicine
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A foot specialist can help induce a blister under the wart by applying cantharidin, a type of burn agent. This is applied every 2 to 3 weeks by a chiropodist. The cantharidin forms a blister over the wart and separates the wart from the skin covering it and brings the wart to the surface. The blister then dries over the next few days and the wart falls off. The treatment is repeated until the wart is fully removed.
Needling
Needling is a simple, but more invasive wart removal procedure with roughly 70% effectiveness. After a local anesthetic is administered, a specialist punctures the wart with a sterile needle about 100 times. This method pushes the HPV away from the surface of the skin and internally where an immune reaction is triggered. If successful, your body's immune system will do the rest.
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Excision
Excision is used for plantar warts that resist other treatments. The foot is first numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, as the name implies, the wart is cut away (or “excised”) from the skin. The base is also cauterized to ensure no living viral tissue is left behind. There is a risk of scarring, so this method isn’t used unless other treatments have failed.
Duct tape
Duct tape is a common yet relatively unproven method for treating plantar warts (largely because plantar warts can disappear on their own, which makes it difficult to attribute to the treatment method). This DIY method relies on suffocating the plantar wart and stripping away the outer layer of the skin to help rid the virus.
June 6, 2022
When summer hits the city, many people don't have a care in the world! It's a time to shed the stress from the long winter and be carefree outside. That said, it's important to check on your feet as often as you can, as there are a few summer foot problems that can cast a dark cloud on your sunny days.
Below, we'll discuss the following 6 summer foot problems and how you can treat them:
Swollen Feet
Sweaty Feet
Blisters
Warts
Cracked Skin
Infections
Swollen Feet
Here's a confusing scenario: it's time to rock your favourite summer sneakers and sandals, but they don't fit? While perplexing, there could be a simple cause.
The summer temperatures in Toronto can be pretty sweltering. As a result, your blood vessels dilate when your body attempts to cool itself. This causes a chain reaction that leads to more swelling than you normally experience. While your body attempts to accommodate and move blood back towards your heart, fluids also accumulate, moving downward and trickling into the body's tissues. This is known as heat edema.
If your swollen feet are due to the blistering heat, there are several things you can do to manage and prevent swelling in the future!
Learn How to Manage Swollen Feet
Sweaty Feet
Having sweaty feet in the summertime is a given, but it's important to do your best to control it. Not only is it annoying on its own, but sweat and dampness are major contributors to other summer foot problems. These include blisters, fungal infections and persistently itchy skin.
Did you know that a wide array of products exist specifically for sweaty feet? From several types of deodorants to moisture-wicking socks, your solution is out there.
How to Tackle Sweaty Feet
Blisters
Blisters in the summertime are no stranger to most of us. Sweat accumulation can clog the pores in your feet, making them more damp and vulnerable to blisters. Additionally, many people excitedly ditch their socks in the summer. While that's to be expected with sandals, to avoid blisters, you should still wear socks with sneakers, trainers and runners -- even when it's hot.
Thin, unsupportive flip-flops and walking for long hours in the beautiful weather are also a recipe for blister formation. Supportive sandals are a much better option and come with the breathability and simplicity you're looking for.
As we've mentioned, high-quality footwear is a major way to prevent these painful nuisances. There are also other services and products that can help you walk without blister pain.
Treatment and Prevention For Blisters
Warts
Plantar warts are another common summer foot problem. Summer activities like swimming and hanging out at the beach often involves going barefoot. However, walking barefoot in public places puts our feet at risk of contracting the human papilomavirus (HPV) that causes warts. The highly contagious HPV thrives in our favourite summers spots. Swimming pools (especially the pool deck), public bathrooms at the beach, showers and locker rooms are just a handful of the riskiest areas.
The best way to prevent yourself from getting warts is to wear sandals or water shoes in public places where people often go barefoot. This will keep your feet from coming into contact with the virus. If you do get plantar warts and don't tend to them, complications like bleeding, severe pain, infection, and difficulties walking can ruin your summer. So be sure to take care of the problem right away!
How to Treat and Prevent Plantar Warts
Cracked Skin
Dry skin isn't just a winter problem! Your feet can become cracked and dry when it's hot outside too. Whereas winter dries our feet out with hot water and blasting heat, summer dries out our feet because of how often we expose them.
Thong sandals and flip flops without much coverage leave your feet more susceptible to drying out from walking on the sandy beach and hot pavement. Furthermore, you're more likely to become dehydrated in the summer and forget to hydrate when you're out and about. If you don't drink enough water, the skin can lose moisture and start to dry out.
While there's not much you can do about the heat and elements, there are many ways you can keep your feet as smooth as possible.
What to Do About Dry Skin and Cracked Heels
Infections
Fungal Infections
The most popular summer spaces are a breeding ground for fungal infections like fungal toenails and athlete's foot. Fungi like dermatophytes thrive in moist, warm environments and are super easy to contract, targeting our skin and toenails. They can also spread between person-to-person with direct skin contact. Like HPV and plantar warts, these infections are more common in the summer as Torontonians frequent public pools, changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, etc.
Fungal infections can become chronic if you don't pay serious attention to them. Athlete's foot and toenail fungus, in particular, are notorious for coming back time and time again. It's best to treat these nagging infections and do your best to prevent them in the future!
How to Avoid Athlete's Foot
Toenail Fungus Services
Skin Infections
Skin infections are another common summer foot problem. Our feet are more exposed during the summer from wearing sandals or walking barefoot. That increases the likelihood of cuts and scrapes. And since we don't cover our feet up in hot weather, open wounds remain exposed, which can lead to skin infections. Not only can an infected wound be irritating, but it can also lead to severe complications if you have diabetes.
Accidents happen, so there's not too much we can do to prevent cuts and scrapes (save for not walking barefoot on broken glass). So, if you do happen to cut your foot, put a bandage over it until the wound closes up. And if you have diabetes, you should avoid open-toe shoes all together.
How to Keep Your Feet Safe From Infection This Summer
September 1, 2021
Happy Anniversary!
Today, Feet First Clinic celebrates its 12th anniversary! Since 2009, our goal has been (and continues to be) to set the best standards for our patients' foot care needs.
It's been a pleasure serving the community with the following services:
Medical pedicures
Nail care
Diabetic foot care
Footwear
Foot care products
Custom orthotics
Skincare products
Informative content
Biomechanical Video gait analysis
Wart removal
To celebrate 12 years of foot care, we want to give you a glimpse at some of our favourite and most popular articles of all time. Below you'll find 12 of our picks from the last 12 years.
Feet First Clinic's Top-12 Blog Articles: Our Picks
How-Tos
How To Cut Your Toenails Like a Professional
As simple as it may seem, trimming and filing your toenails correctly is an important part of maintaining proper foot health. It can save you from pesky and rather painful nail problems, such as ingrown toenails, broken toenails, and toenail-related infections.
In this timeless article, learn about the dos and don'ts of cutting your toenails like a professional. Then, check out our picks for the best tools for the job.
Stubbed Toe: What To Do When It Happens
Ouch. We all know that feeling. Stubbing your toe, whether it's on the side of the bed, on the coffee table, or while barefoot on the lawn or at the beach, the pain is intense: Your toe swells like a balloon, and the area is throbbing. So what do you do? One thing’s for sure: you need to do something. Even if that means intentionally doing nothing at all. In this article we break down:
What Classifies as a Stubbed Toe?
How Long Does it Take For a Stubbed Toe to Heal?
Cold or Warm Therapy: What’s Better For Your Feet?
Generally, cold therapy should be used for acute injuries and foot pain as ice constricts blood vessels and swelling. Heat has the opposite effect. Applying heat to an area increases blood flow, relaxes the muscles, and encourages an extended range of motion. As such, muscle soreness or tightness may benefit from the warmth, rather than cold therapy.
This article will teach you about what the differences are between warm therapy and cold therapy, and each of the use cases.
Foot Conditions
Ankle Popping And Cracking—Causes, And Remedies
Does your ankle crack or pop when you rotate it? You’re not alone. Ankle cracking and ankle popping are quite common, and there’s no immediate need to worry. In fact, joint popping has a medical term. Crepitus is abnormal popping or crackling of a joint, which may be sometimes uncomfortable or painful. After reading this article you'll discover whether it's bad or good that your ankles crack, whether it's doing damage to you, and how to get rid of cracking ankles.
Do You have a Corn or a Plantar Wart?
You have an odd lesion on your foot: it's circular, painful at times, hard, and yellowish in colour. Is it a corn or a wart? These two skin lesions are commonly confused with one another. Check out this article to learn how to tell the difference.
Hallux Rigidus or Bunions: What’s The Difference?
If you have a lump on your big toe, you may wonder whether it’s a bunion or hallux rigidus. Both these foot conditions are characterized by bumps on the big toe and can be painful when wearing improper footwear. They are also both progressive conditions that can get worse over time if not properly treated. In this article, we'll elaborate on how these two conditions are different from each other, and what you can do about them.
Want to learn more about various foot conditions? Read our complete guide on the As to Zs of foot conditions.
Footwear and Biomechanics
Are Your Shoes Too Small? Here Are the Warning Signs
Blisters, bruised toenails, hot feet, calluses, and corns are all signs of ill-fitting shoes. If you are unsure of your size, have your feet measured. Keep in mind: the right fitted shoe will have about a finger's width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. If you can feel the end of the shoe with your toe, it's too small! Pro top: Bring your orthotics with you when you try on shoes to account for the added volume.
Shoes With Zero Drop, High Drop, And Everything In Between
Our goal is to find the shoe that's right for you. Drop, defined as the difference between the height of the heel and toe in a shoe, is an important consideration when shopping. The point of a shoe’s drop is to reduce stress on certain parts of your body. By artificially keeping your foot in a certain position, a shoe’s drop can reduce pressure on the Achilles tendon and calves. In this article, we offer our selection of choices for various brands and models that best suit you and your feet.
Everything You Need To Know About Your Gait
Have you ever wondered if you are walking properly? Or why your feet feel easily tired from an activity?
Did you know that a lot of the time, you can attribute the pain you experience in your feet (such as the arches, heel, and balls) to abnormal walking patterns?
This blog explores the body's gait (defined as a person’s manner or pattern of walking), the gait cycle, and how faulty foot mechanics can affect your entire body, not just your feet. Additionally, we look at how overpronation and over supination can affect your gait. Finally, this blog outlines how gait can change when running versus walking.
Our clinic prioritizes a preventative approach to foot care. You, the patients, are empowered to be active participants in your treatment. Our on-site store provides patients with therapeutic tools and resources, including orthopaedic footwear, insoles, medical devices, and over-the-counter solutions.
Services
Is There A Difference Between A Chiropodist And A Podiatrist?
Chiropodist and podiatrist are terms that refer to regulated foot specialists in Ontario. Rest assured, there is no need to worry about potentially booking an appointment with the wrong specialist. In this blog post, we answer the following questions:
What type of foot specialist should I book an appointment with?
What are (if any) the differences between a Chiropodist and a podiatrist?
If I book an appointment with one or the other, is it a mistake?
What Happens During A Medical Pedicure?
A pedicure is a wonderful thing to treat yourself to when you’re in need of a little self-care and relaxation! We’re all aware that many people enjoy a standard cosmetic pedicure from a spa or nail salon, as they’re a good way to pamper yourself. While this is true, did you know that there is such a thing as a medical pedicure? That’s right! A licensed Chiropodist performs medical pedicures. There are numerous benefits to this specialized service, and this article provides the lowdown on how our downtown Toronto foot experts perform a medical pedicure!
Custom Made Orthotics: What to Expect on Your First Appointment
A custom foot orthotic is a device derived from a three-dimensional representation of a person’s foot and also made of suitable materials with regard to the individual’s condition. It addresses structural or functional foot conditions that lead to faulty foot mechanics and abnormal gait patterns by providing support, stability, and balance. Custom orthotics are removable devices that can be transferred between shoes.
In this article, we outline what you can expect for your orthotics appointment, anything you might need to bring, and how you can go about booking one.
12 Years Of Serving You, Here's to Many More!
Toronto's Feet First Clinic specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic conditions that affect the tissue, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints of the toes, feet, and ankles.
We’re confident in our ability to help inform you and solve your concern with the least amount of discomfort possible.
Call us at 416-769-3338 or Click Above to Book Your Assessment Today!
