Tag Archives: foot care services

Why Footcare for Seniors is So Important in Milton and Cambridge

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Feet are your foundation, no matter what your age.  When it comes to the health of seniors, a lot of attention is on mental, cardiovascular and immune health.  However, tending to the feet can be a really important way to promote comfort, mobility and dignity.

Your feet can also be the first sign that you have specific problems.  Diabetes and vascular disease, for instance, can lead to poor circulation, infections and poor healing of scrapes, cuts and bumps to your feet and lower legs.  Arthritis may also show first in the feet, as with gouty arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.  Foot problems can also lead to changes in how you walk, potentially increasing your risk of falls.

Steps to foot health in seniors:

  • Pay attention –  Make sure to be aware of how your feet feel and look.  Are there any cuts/ulcers, ingrown toenails, blisters, persistent itching?  If these are present, make sure to inform your physician and chiropodist for proper care.
  • Make sure the shoes fit –  Improper shoe size can contribute to foot pain, blisters, calluses and bunions.  Try shoes on before purchasing them; walk in them to make sure they feel right.  The back of the shoe should not slide up and down when walking, avoid tight fitting shoes.  Low-heeled shoes are safer, provide more comfort and are less damaging than high-heeled shoes.  Select shoes with uppers that are soft and flexible.  Don’t forget about getting correctly fitted compression socks and hosiery. (Click here to read our post on selecting a good shoe).
  • Regular footcare –  Walking, stretching, foot massage and warm foot baths can all assist in the proper circulation to your feet.  Make sure to keep your feet dry before wearing shoes.
  • Watch for common problems –  Fungal infections, dry feet, bunions, corns and calluses, in-grown toenails, swollen feet, hammertoes, neuromas, bone spurs, etc.  Seek the care of a foot specialist, known as a chiropodist – they can help prevent, assess and treat problems affecting your feet.

For more information, or to book an assessment, contact us at one of our two locations: 519-623-3000 (Cambridge), 905-878-6479 (Milton).  Or visit us at www.ontariofoot.ca.

Proper treatment and prevention of corns and calluses on your feet

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Many times a day, Chiropodists see patients with very rough and tough skin on their feet. In some cases they have already tried many over-the-counter products to burn or scrape off the dense skin tissue. They end up seeking professional help because their problems reoccur and they want a long-term solution. What they are usually suffering from is the pain from corns and calluses.

So what are corns and calluses? Corns and calluses are both forms of concentrated dead skin that form in areas where there is a lot of pressure or friction on the foot. Corns are denser and are inverted cones which are pushed into the skin, whereas calluses are more spread out and are appear as yellowish plaques. The pressure and skin reaction may be due to many factors such as poor-fitting shoes, high-heel shoe wear, abnormal gait or walking style that affects the pressure to the feet, protruding bones and particular skin conditions.

Chiropodists are the primary health care providers for foot care in Ontario. They are trained to properly assess and treat the feet and find lasting solutions to stop corns and calluses from continuing for once and for all. Some solutions to corns or calluses may be changing your foot wear choices. A Chiropodist may suggest how to resolve any walking abnormalities, also known as ‘biomechanical’ imbalances. They have additional training and expertise in biomechanical analysis and have really helped resolve long-standing foot issues, including corns and calluses and many other foot and movement-related problems.

For more information on relieving foot pain, or any other foot problem, or to book an assessment, contact Ontario Foot and Orthotics at one of our two locations: 519-623-3000 (Cambridge), 905-878-6479 (Milton). Or visit us online at www.ontariofoot.ca.