FEW QUESTIONS TO STEPHANIE...
WHO CAN CONSULT A PODIATRIST?
" Absolutely anyone! Since the age of 1 we have spent most of our time standing, shod and moving. It is recommended to walk around 10,000 steps per day to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions like Heart disease, Obesity, Diabetes, Depression ...
10,000 steps represent 5 km per day, or 5 times around the Earth in a lifetime. It is therefore normal to develop pain or trauma on your feet, especially when the footwear is not suitable for everyone’s feet.
Therefore, I recommend an annual check-up, which is preventative. Athletes know the importance of good plantar support, but it is also true for pregnant women, growing children, adolescents, or those with diabetes."
WHEN TO CONSULT A PODIATRIST ?
" The foot is the part of body the most neglected. Most patients feel embarrassed to show the appearance of their foot, their pathology and therefore sometimes prefer to suffer in silence. Believe me I have seen feet; it takes a lot to shock me!
So please, don't be afraid to come for a consultation for any pain, infection, discoloration or deformity in your feet. The sooner the patient comes to consult their podiatrist, the less heavy the treatment will be."
I HAVE FLAT FEET. SHOULD I TREAT IT?
" It all depends on your age and your pain. It is normal for a child to have flat feet until the age of 5-6 years when the arch begins to form. Most of the time, flat feet in children are asymptomatic. However, be aware of any complaints, awkwardness in walking or frequent falls. Pay attention to internal ankle deformities that could hamper your child as they grow. If in doubt, come see your podiatrist prevention is the key.
In adults, flat feet cause severe pain in the heel and arch of the foot. To avoid any complications, your podiatrist will examine you to assess the stage of tendinopathy, ask for additional examinations and prescribe the treatment most appropriate for your pain. (Physiotherapy sessions, advice on how-to put-on footwear and sporting activity, stretching sessions, compression, custom-designed insoles and many other treatments can be offered to you."
WHY SHOULD DIABETICS PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEIR FEET?
" Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels in the bloodstream. The nervous system is glucose dependent, which means that the higher the sugar level, the more it is absorbed by the nerves. Glucose causes dehydration of nerve cells and therefore leads to their death.
It is therefore very common for a diabetic patient to complain of tingling, burning sensation or numbness. This is called Neuropathy. This complication reduces feelings of protection and very often begins with the big toe. It is not uncommon to see diabetic patients presenting with infected wounds and gaping without complaints of pain.
It is extremely important that every diabetic patient know their risk of complications and inspect their feet every day.
Your podiatrist can help you assess your diabetes-related complications. Each diabetic patient should visit their podiatrist at least once a year, to prevent the risk of complications. »
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CONSULTATION?
First, we will DISCUSS your reason for consulting. The objective is to define the history of the pathology, an analysis of sports practices, the type of shoes worn and the history of pain ...
Then we will proceed to the CLINICAL EXAMINATION. The tests will make it possible to search for the lesion tissue. pain can be muscle, tendon, skeletal and joint pain. It will follow a global morphological analysis in static.
Then I will record MEASURES This step of the podiatry examination consists of a series of biometric measurements that will allow a rigorous assessment of joint and muscle function.
VIDEO ANALYSIS. The purpose of a gait analysis is to uncover functional and dynamic abnormalities. The patient is walking on a treadmill and will be filmed. Using video analysis software, we will research the causes and consequences of anomalies.
STUDY OF YOUR FOOT PRESSURE. The foot when walking exerts pressure on the ground which can be measured via a pressure measuring system. The objective will be to analyze the quantity and the distribution of the pressure. All of this can be graphed quantitatively through the use of a plantar pressure analysis system. This plantar pressure information is essential to understand well your pathologie.
The goal for you is to better understand your pathology or your biomechanical imbalance.