Category: Sport Medicine

Get Your Feet Ski Ready: Pre-Ski Skin & Nail Care

With a great deal of uncertainty about where we can and can’t travel this winter, there’s one place that many families are excited about heading to – their snow trip! While there’s a lot of information out there on how to best prepare your body for the ski season to help minimise your risk of injury – today we’re sharing one secret weapon our patients are loving that’s helping them to not only move better on the slopes but look and feel great too: pre-ski medical pedicures.

How do medical pedicures help prepare feet for the slopes?

There are a few common pains that our patients experience from the slopes that medical pedicures can help improve or prevent altogether – and the difference can make or break your ski experience. These include:

Trimming and thinning toenails

Bruised, bleeding toenails are something that many skiers and snowboarders have experienced – and often it’s from something as simple as leaving their toenails that little bit too long so they spend the day pushing against the ends or tops of the boots if they’re thick. It seems simple – but given the number of changes nails undergo with age, they can become extremely tough to cut, difficult to reach, and seemingly impossible to thin. By safely and effectively trimming toenails, reducing their thickness and smoothing them during your medical pedicure, you can avoid this bleeding and bruising – and the pain that goes with it. 

Removing corns

Corns are small, hard areas of callus that protrude into the foot and can feel like walking on small pebbles. They develop from areas of rubbing and friction in everyday life – often from shoes. They tend to appear on the heels, the ball of the foot, and around the toes.  When paired with tight ski or snowboarding boots, corns can become incredibly painful, and further rubbing against the corns can quickly make them worse. We’re able to remove corns entirely, leaving you without any pain or problems in your boots.

Reducing callus and cracked heels

Much like corns, callus develops in response to rubbing and pressure, but in larger areas on the surface of the skin. Callus can take up a lot of extra space in properly fitted boots, quickly making them uncomfortable. When callus builds up thickly and dries out, cracks can form, often in the heels. This can become very painful for snowboarders that spend half their time on their heels. If the cracks are deep, they can also crack the healthy skin beneath, causing bleeding.

Preventing itchy feet from Athlete’s foot

Ski boots create the perfect conditions for fungus to grow and thrive – they’re moist from the perspiration of your feet, enclosed and dark. These conditions can amp up your fungal infection and leave your feet feeling itchy and uncomfortable on the slopes. During your medical pedicure, we’ll provide you with information about your Athlete’s foot infection and team you with the right products to help manage it, so you can focus on your ski trip, not your itchy feet!

More than medical pedicures…

While medical pedicures are a favourite with our patients, there are more ways that we work with our patients to help them on the slopes, including: 
  • Checking the size and fit of your ski boots
  • Making custom slimline orthotics for your ski boots
  • Conducting comprehensive biomechanical assessments to improve your comfort and performance and minimise your pain on the slopes
Read how we help with all of these here.

Ready to have the best season yet?

If you’re planning to hit the slopes, we recommend booking your medical pedicure within three or so weeks before you leave. To make your appointment, call us on 09 523 2333 or book online here. 

Treating Foot Drop With A Brace

Foot drop is the term given when weakness in one or both feet makes you unable to point your toes up towards the sky, otherwise known as dorsiflexing the foot. When this happens, your foot remains in a dropped position when you walk, with your foot pointing downwards. This makes it difficult for your foot to clear the ground as you walk, putting you at risk of tripping and falling – or forcing you to compensate for the foot drop by excessively lifting and bending your knee and hip – which can cause a new series of problems over time.

Why does foot drop occur?

Foot drop can occur suddenly following a specific event like trauma or an accident, or can gradually worsen over time. Often, the cause is related to the nerves in the feet and legs as they innervate the muscles of the feet and legs and help them function. This may be a symptom of a stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or peripheral neuropathy. You may even find that you have short-lived foot drop and numbness or tingling when you temporarily compress your nerve from sitting for too long in one place. Foot drop may also be related directly to the muscles, where your muscles weaken over time, which may be from periods of being inactive like after surgery, or from conditions or diseases like muscular dystrophy.

Why bracing for foot drop?

A brace, or an ankle-foot orthotic (AFO), is a gold standard tool for helping manage a foot affected by foot drop because it supports the foot and ankle in a way that allows the toes and foot to clear the ground while the affected leg is swinging in gait, while also helping keep the foot stable and supported when the affected foot is planted firmly on the ground. Braces for foot drop have a frame that keeps the foot on a 90-degree (or thereabouts) angle relative to the leg. This frame extends beneath the ball of the foot, and doesn’t let the foot drop low enough to hit the ground, while also preventing the foot from slapping into the ground as you walk. Both of these features mean that not only is the risk of regularly tripping and falling greatly reduced, but the overall injury risk is also reduced from the improved stability and reduced forces through the foot compared to what it would take on if it slapped against the ground with every step.

Which braces are best for foot drop?

When it comes to braces for foot drop, it’s more the features of the brace itself than one particular brand, in our opinion. There are many factors to consider aside from the design of the brace or AFO, including: 
  • The materials they’re made from and the weight of the material (which can range from plastics, metal, leather, carbon composite and more)
  • Whether they’re custom-made from a scan or cast of your foot or off-the-shelf
  • How much skin contact is best for you (if you have diabetes or are predisposed to foot/pressure ulcers, this is a biggie)
  • Your weight and activity levels – and hence the longevity of your brace
  • How much flexibility and motion the brace should allow
  • Any existing swelling (and changes in swelling) in the feet and legs
  • Any function requirements – like greater energy return with a spring, a rocker sole
  • How the brace will function with your existing footwear

Our podiatrists select the best brace for you

With so many features to consider – as well as ensuring the optimal fit of the brace being a #1 priority – it’s important not to take any chances and have your brace professionally fitted. We help our patients with foot drop select the best brace for their feet, and have a range of options to choose from. Much more than the brace, we also use our expertise to ensure that the brace you choose supports healthy function of your feet and legs, and help you with caring for any other factors that may put you at risk of lower limb pain or injury by considering and managing the effects that your brace is likely to have on your whole body. For an experienced podiatry team that genuinely care about your health and well-being, give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online.

Getting Pain At The Ball Of Your Foot?

If you’ve been getting pains, aches, or the feeling that you’re constantly walking on a stone, then capsulitis could be the culprit. Capsulitis is a common condition we often see in those that spend a lot of time on the ball of their foot (like when bending down on one knee for work, doing a lot of heel raises at the gym, or wearing heeled shoes). The pain is a result of injury to the joint capsule that surrounds the metatarsophalangeal joints at the ball of the foot. Let’s just call these ‘forefoot joints’ for simplicity. While all our joints are encapsulated, these specific joints take on a LOT of direct pressure about 10,000 times (steps!) a day – and more if you’re exercising. The joint capsule is made from ligaments that surround two bone ends and facilitate its movement.

The Symptoms

The main symptom is forefoot pain, as well as:
  • Redness
  • Heat
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • A feeling like you are walking on a hard pebble
  • Callus formation beneath the joint at the ball of the foot
  • Instability at the affected joint
  • Altered/abnormal gait because of the pain

The Cause

The three most common causes of capsulitis is repetitive impact/heavy loads, direct trauma, and poor footwear. Other factors that can contribute to the development of this injury include:
  • Running sports
  • Abnormal foot biomechanics (high arched or flat foot type, drop in the transverse arch)
  • Foot deformities such as retracted toes, hammertoes and bunions
  • Prolonged time on hard surfaces
  • Footwear such as high heels
  • Having a long second metatarsal bone (long bone of the foot) or a short first metatarsal
  • Tight calf muscles
  • Fat pad atrophy

The Treatment

If you’re reading this and haven’t yet sought professional treatment then start by:
  • Resting the foot
  • Applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the top and bottom of the forefoot
  • Using anti-inflammatories as directed
Once you get in to see your Podiatrist, they’ll tailor your care to your precise injury, the cause and your rehabilitative needs. This may include:
  • Orthotics with a metatarsal pad
  • Strapping
  • Padding
  • Change in footwear where support and stability is lacking
  • Stretching and strengthening exercises
  • Activity modification

The Do Not’s

The last thing you want is to make the injury worse before it starts getting better. So don’t:
  • Wear heels or tight, narrow footwear that places pressure on the ball of your foot
  • Continue with high-impact sports until you’ve sought professional advice
  • Continue any activity that causes forefoot pain
  • Ignore it

What should you do?

You must seek professional help, ASAP. There’s a substantial risk for the injury to worsen if proper care is not taken. You also risk remaining in pain for much longer than necessary. If you want to get rid of your pain and feel great on your feet again, give our expert team at Perform Podiatry a call on 09 523 2333 or book online here.

Easily Fix Your Forefoot Pain! Our Podiatrists Explain How

There’s nothing worse than feeling pain shoot up your foot with every step you take – especially if you’re like us and don’t have time to stop or slow down! Our lives are busier than ever and this calls for pains like these that interfere with our everyday lives to be treated quickly and effectively. So how can forefoot pain be simply and effectively managed to not only alleviate pain now but also keep it gone in the future? Our podiatrists share their secret weapon when it comes to forefoot pain – custom foot orthotics!

Why are custom foot orthotics the PERFECT tool for treating forefoot pain?

We know, forefoot pain can be caused by MANY different conditions and injuries. However it was caused, the area now needs to heal and repair. In order to do this effectively, painful pressure (such as from constantly walking on it) must be removed from the equation. After all, would you continue to catch and throw cricket balls if you had a broken wrist and still expect it to get better efficiently? Exactly. This is where orthotics come in. Orthotics are designed specifically for your feet and your injury after a comprehensive examination and diagnosis of what has happened and is causing your pain. They’ll then work to redistribute pressure away from the injury, support the foot, cushion certain areas and whatever other functions are deemed beneficial for you by your expertly trained Podiatrist. This means that you can continue to walk, work, and continue with your day without continually putting pressure on the injured part of your forefoot and making your injury that much worse – and not to mention more painful!

Don’t wait for the pain to get worse

If you’re suffering from pain in your forefoot – or anywhere in your feet and ankles for the matter, use the expertise of our team to get it sorted quickly and efficiently before it gets worse! Our team are proud to be a cornerstone of our community here in Remuera and Newmarket, and is located at the One Health Building at 122 Remuera Road. To speak to our team or book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online here.

About to hit the slopes this winter? This is for you!

Winter is coming! Yep, after a long and hot summer, winter is now just around the corner and with it comes the opportunity to partake in all the best winter sports and activities. We’re not talking about Netball, but the much *chillier* winter sports – including skiing and snowboarding! These brilliant activities are enjoyed by many Aucklanders each year as we make the drive down to Mt. Ruapehu for the weekend or are even lucky enough to fly down to the South Island ski fields. With the fun and excitement, come the massive physical demands, especially on the legs and feet. That’s why we highly recommend having your feet and legs, as well as your ski or snowboarding boots assessed before starting the season so you can continue to feel your best throughout! Here are a few of the ways we can help you have a comfortable ski season:

We can check the size and fit of your boots

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, you’ll be very familiar with the effect that having a pressure point in the boot or ill-fitting boots will have on your feet, pain levels and comfort. When you bring your boots to us, we can check the fit of the boots in combination with any symptoms you’re having (if any), your foot posture, walking style (gait) and any signs of rubbing or a poor fit. We can then look for ways to improve the comfort in your boots, or if you’re after a new pair, let you know what you should be looking out for and feeling for when you’re buying them. Even if you’ve had your boots for years, as our feet can change over time with things like bunions developing or our arches flattening, this can make even your favourite and trusty pair of boots much less comfortable – so don’t be surprised if it feels different from one season to the next! We’re also one of the only podiatry practices in New Zealand with the expertise and facilities to make footwear modifications – though ski boots will need to be assessed on a case by case basis to assess their suitability for any modifications.

We make custom slimline orthotics that can fit comfortably inside your boots

We understand the extreme size constraints that come with ski and snowboard boots – we’ve felt them for many seasons ourselves! These boots struggle to fit regular orthotics without compromising the comfort and space available for your feet. We not only create slimline orthotics that do fit comfortably inside your boots but also make them specifically tailored for your feet to optimise the way you move and help you perform at your best when hitting the slopes. In order to create these custom orthotics, we…

Conduct a comprehensive biomechanical assessment of your feet and legs

This helps us to not only see exactly what’s going on with the movement and function of your feet and legs, but also see how this function is helping or impairing your performance and enjoyment on the slopes. During the assessment, we check your:
  • Muscle strength in the feet and legs
  • Muscle and tendon overuse
  • Available range of motion at your joints, especially any restrictions that are impacting the way your feet and legs move
  • Your foot posture
  • The way you walk (gait)
  • Structural abnormalities
  • Any areas of high pressure that are or may become problematic
  • Footwear
We use this to answer why are experiencing certain problems, as well as form a prescription for the right orthotics and other treatment modalities that will help solve your problem. Our team have had decades of experience in sports medicine, orthotic prescription and injury and pain management and prevention when it comes to a variety of sports. We’re proud to serve our local community and be recognised as leaders in the field of Podiatry in Auckland. We’d love to help you have the best winter season in 2018! If you have any questions or you’d like to book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online.

Shin pain when running? You could have shin splints!

As we approach the colder winter climate here in New Zealand, some us will start to struggle when it comes to staying active and continuing, or beginning, our exercise regimes. We don’t blame you – the temperatures are dropping, the rain is starting to set in and the mornings are getting dark. But when you DO find that motivation to go for a run, hit the gym, or engage in your favourite sport, the LAST thing you need is shin and leg pain stopping you in your tracks. Because shin pain affects many of us each year, we thought we’d tell you a little about it and what you can do to treat it and reduce the risk of it coming back or even starting! Let’s start with the basics:

It’s called shin splints

Well actually, it’s called medial tibial stress syndrome if we’re going to get technical. It’s often coined as “too much, too soon” because of the tendency of it develop when people suddenly increase their exercises intensity or duration without working up to it over time.

There’s a reason your symptoms have started

Shin splints would never occur without a cause, which is usually relatively simple to identify when we complete a biomechanical assessment and have a chat through your medical and exercise history. This is especially true if you’re a runner (or are attempting to be one!). Associated causes can include:
  • Lots of physical activity
  • Flat feet and pronation
  • Unsupportive or worn-out footwear
  • Issues with your foot biomechanics (mechanical functioning of the feet and legs as you move)
  • Tight or weak muscles

The pain can come and go

For some, the pain, tenderness and swelling around your shins can come and go with activity, as well as being worse in the mornings. Others may instead feel a persisting tenderness and discomfort. The pain tends to affect one leg, but can affect both. Regardless of what you are and aren’t experiencing, if you think you have shin splints or have developed shin pain, come and get it checked.

When it’s not shin splints…

Both stress fractures and compartment syndrome have similar symptoms with pain around the front of the lower leg. That makes it important to get the right diagnosis and treatment from an experienced podiatrist.

It’s about treating your symptoms and your cause

I feel we need to highlight the word ‘your’ because the experience of shin splints can be very different. Some will find it a temporary discomfort, while others may struggle to run and do the things they enjoy because of a crippling pain. That’s why treatment needs to be specific to your clinical assessment, goals, symptoms and circumstances. It also needs to address the initial cause of your shin splints to reduce the likelihood of it happening again in the future. Our podiatrists have years of experience in sports medicine and the biomechanics of the feet and legs, so will give you the best care to optimise your outcomes. Our goal is to help you exceed your goals and get you back to feeling your best! For more information or to book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online

A slight difference in leg length – does it really matter?

limb length discrepancyA lot of us have heard that it’s not uncommon to have a slight difference in the size of our feet or even legs. We often advise patients to buy shoes to the size of the larger foot so that toes don’t get cramped and cause pain. But when it comes to having a slight difference in the length of the legs, does it make any difference or have any effect on the body? Let’s start with the basics about limb length discrepancies.

What effect does a leg length difference have on a person?

For some, having a small difference in leg length won’t cause any problems, and they may not even be aware of the problem. For others, it can cause painful symptoms, alter their gait pattern (the way they walk), contribute to the development of other complications and negatively impact their quality of life. The extent of the effect largely depends on the measurable difference between the two legs and how the body is functioning (or not functioning) to compensate for the difference.

What causes a difference in leg length?

Differences may be caused by:
  • Growth abnormalities
  • Bone injury that results in healing in a shortened position (like a break or a fracture)
  • Damage to the growth plate during childhood
  • Bone disease and infection
  • Neurological conditions
  • Inflammatory conditions affecting the joints (like arthritis)
  • Abnormal foot biomechanics
  • Tightness and contractures of tissues
  • Ligament laxity and weakness
You’ll notice that some of the above are talking only about muscles and tissues and not the bones – don’t worry, we haven’t made a mistake! This is because differences in leg lengths can have either a structural or a functional cause. Structural differences describe a difference in the bone length of the thigh bone or the shin bone. This can result in a tilt of the hips and affect various joints and bones throughout the feet and legs, as well as the spine. Functional differences describe an observed length difference when standing because of biomechanical issues involving the way the muscles, connective tissues and jones function together. These occur even if the bone length of the shin bone and thigh none are identical. This is often due to muscular contracture, particularly at the hips, as well as ligament laxity or tendon dysfunction that affects one foot more than the other.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can vary greatly depending on the extent of the difference and the resulting misalignment of the lower limbs. This position of the bones, joints, muscles and connective tissues will determine what structures are overloaded, stressed, stretched and limited in the way they move. Because of this, it is difficult to pinpoint precise symptoms, but may include:
  • Altered gait pattern such as limping
  • Shorter steps on the affected leg
  • Slower walking speed
  • Uneven loading and pressure distribution between the legs
  • Stress fractures
  • Muscular strain and tendinopathies
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Back pain

What should you do?

The first step is to get your leg length difference professionally assessed by your Podiatrist. We measure both structural and functional differences and ensure to get to the root of the problem and can address any factors playing a role in the difference to get the best results for you both now and into the future. After determining the presence or absence of a difference and its extent, we’ll be able to formulate the best treatment plan for you, your age, your symptoms and the risk of future problems. This may include: Orthotics to help correct any functional abnormalities and help bring the limbs into alignment with one another Footwear modification, such as building up one shoe to bring the joints of the lower limbs into alignment Stretching and strengthening tight or weakened muscles to help improve biomechanical function If the case that the difference is severe and cannot be managed conservatively, surgical correction may be required – though this is much less common so don’t worry and just start with getting it checked out, so we all know what we’re dealing with. Either way, our expert team at Perform Podiatry will be right alongside you every step of the way! We specialise in clinical biomechanics and restoring great foot function and health. For more information or to book in, give our team a call on 09 523 2333 or visit us at the One Health building in Remuera, just up from Broadway, Newmarket.

Losing Weight & Your Feet!

It’s 2018, and for many of us, one of our resolutions is to finally lose that extra bit of weight. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Currently, 1 in 3 adults aged 15 years and over in New Zealand are classified as obese, with a further 34% of adults overweight, according to the NZ Health Survey 2017. You may have the right workout gear ready, signed up to the gym, but what about your feet? They’re the ones that will carry you through all your workouts, runs, pump and aerobics classes. Any injuries or pains will see a halt in your progress – and a big dent in your motivation and positive attitude. This being said, if there’s one thing we can recommend to see you succeed and reach your goals, it’s this:

Get your feet and legs assessed by a Podiatrist.

We call this a biomechanical assessment. We look at everything from:
  • Your foot posture
  • The way you walk (gait)
  • Your muscle strength
  • The range of motion available through your joints, and importantly any limitations that may be hindering you or causing you pain
  • Areas of high pressure that we can redistribute to keep you comfortable and out of pain
  • Muscles and tendons that are being overused and causing you to tire faster
  • Your footwear
Having this assessment and being fully informed of exactly what’s happening with your feet and legs means that:
1. Your risk of previous injuries and pains returning will be reduced
We identify what is currently happening with your feet and legs in combination with any past injuries or pains that may have stopped you from reaching your exercise goals. This allows us to see why those previous injuries occurred, and therefore take precautions to ensure that they don’t happen again. This could be through changing your foot function with orthotics, strengthening certain weaker muscle groups, stretching tight muscles and much more.
2. The likelihood of new injuries developing will be reduced
Similarly to the above, we identify areas where you are at risk of developing issues and talk you through these. Perhaps you are rolling on your big toe with every step you take for much longer and with much more pressure than is normal. Short-term that might be okay, but long-term there’s a chance that area can get injured from overloading, where the bones/joints/tissues can no longer handle the large pressure. Perhaps one of your muscles is being overused with every step you take because of flat feet, resulting in your feet and legs tiring much faster than they otherwise would. Or perhaps your feet are lacking some shock absorbing qualities, contributing to generalised aching at the end of the day which can significantly worsen once you start your exercise routine. Whatever it is, we’ll talk you through your assessment and our findings to find the best solution for your feet to keep you healthy, happy and active.
3. You can get the best shoes for your foot type
If you’ve wondered about the legitimacy of having certain shoes for your particular foot type, it’s very much true! Shoes will have different features and can either help, or sometimes hinder, your feet. A common example we see is those that have high arches and are prone to rolling their feet out (and unfortunately spraining their ankles). Because a large majority of popular shoes are aimed at flatter (pronated) feet that have more support in the arch, these can actually tip you out and further risk you injuring your ankle. We’ll give you the low-down on your feet, foot type and what shoes are best for you! By reducing your likelihood for injury and knowing how to best take care of your feet while you’re exercising, you’re preparing yourself for the best chance of success and trust us – the preparation pays off when you can keep going and going injury-free! It’s just like the quote by Abraham Lincoln:

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree,

and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”.

  Our team at Perform Podiatry are experts when it comes to sports medicine, the biomechanics of the feet and legs and getting you back on your feet from injury as quickly as possible! Give our friendly team a call on 09 523 2333 and start the journey to feeling great and reaching your exercise goals!

Achilles Tendinopathy – The pain at the back of your heel!

Achilles Tendinopathy: Why the pain at the back of your heel needs to be treated as soon as it starts!

If you’ve ever suffered with pain at the back of your heel from your achilles tendon, you’ll know that it’s not only uncomfortable and painful but can also be very limiting to daily activities because of the massive role your achilles tendon plays in taking each step and the large amount of force it takes through every step. What you may not know,is the importance of getting any issues or pains with your achilles tendon seen to quickly and effectively – more so than other muscles and tendons of the feet and legs. This is because unlike damage to other tendons that follows a process of swelling and inflammation, achilles tendinopathy follows a more degenerative pathway where the tendon fibres will degenerate and weaken over time. This means that unlike other conditions where you just need to reduce the swelling and wait for it to heal, with achilles tendinopathy you actually need to actively work to strengthen the tendon as part of your rehabilitation. It also means that the longer the injury is left unmanaged, the worse it’ll get, and the more recovery time and rehabilitation it’ll require. So don’t put it off! If you’re unfamiliar with achilles injuries, here’s a little recap on achilles tendinopathy: What is it? Achilles tendinopathy describes damage to the achilles tendon where it inserts into the back of your heel from your calves. Overloading and high forces cause the tendon fibres to sustain micro-tears, or in worse case scenarios partial tears or even complete ruptures. What causes it? Activities that put a lot of force and strain through the tendon. This includes:
  • Increasing your training intensity – particularly up hills
  • Abnormal foot biomechanics that result in a pull at the achilles tendon
  • Tight musculature, especially the calves
  • Unsupportive footwear and low set heels like in footy boots
  • Jumping sports and running
What are the symptoms? Pain and discomfort at the back of the heel that may radiate up the back of the leg is the biggest symptom. The back of the heel and leg may feel stiff, and there may be some initial inflammation. The achilles tendon may be tender to pinch at the back of the heel. So, what’s the verdict? If you’re getting pain, discomfort or even a persistent niggle at the back of your heel that you’re worried may turn into something then come in and see us. This is particularly important if you’ve recently started exercising or increased your running or training schedule. Achilles injury can quickly stop you in your tracks if it’s not taken seriously and effectively managed so early intervention is key! Our team at Perform Podiatry specialise in sports injuries and clinical biomechanics. We pride ourselves in providing the best care to all our patients. Join our team of happy patients! Give us a call on 09 523 2333

Morton’s Neuroma: The pebble at the bottom of your foot

Does it feel like you’ve been walking around on an uncomfortable small stone beneath your foot for some time now?  Have you been feeling pain at the forefoot that seems unusual? And that while Google tells you this pain should be located beneath the big toe joint or at one of the other toes along the ball of your foot, you’re actually feeling it up from there, through the long bones of the foot? Perhaps around your 3rd and 4th long toe bones? And maybe instead of the usual pain, redness and swelling, the pain and discomfort comes with a twinge every so often that may tingle or feel numb? If this sounds familiar then you, my friend, may have a Morton’s Neuroma.   What is a Morton’s Neuroma? A neuroma describes a thickened or inflamed nerve in a space between the toes (interdigital space). Just like rubbing and irritating a muscle, the same can happen to your nerves! It often occurs between the 3rd and 4th toes, though can occur in between the 2nd and 3rd toes , and may be a palpable round mass. The cause of a neuroma is often repetitive compression of the nerve which may occur from:
  • Faulty foot biomechanics that overload and increase pressure to the area of the nerve
  • Ill-fitting footwear that squeezes the forefoot such as high heels
  • Trauma/Injury
  The symptoms The sensation of a neuroma is often described by our patients as the feeling of walking on a pebble. Symptoms are often experienced when weight-bearing on the feet and may include:
  • A sharp or burning pain at the ball of the foot
  • Numbness/tingling at the foot that can spread to the toes
  • Feeling a ‘click’ when walking or moving the metatarsal bones
  What should you do? Pain can initially be alleviated by removing footwear and resting the feet. Unfortunately that won’t make the irritated nerve bundle disappear. To get you on the best course for treatment as quickly as possible, we highly recommend coming in to see your Podiatrist. At Perform Podiatry we:
  • Assess the foot and neuroma (if present)
  • Examine the biomechanics of your feet and legs that may have contributed to the development and progression of the neuroma
  • Identify any other causes or contributing factors
  • Address contributing factors to relieve current pain and minimise the risk of growth in size of the neuroma and future recurrence
  • Look after you and your foot health!
If you’re worried you may have developed a neuroma or you have any aches and pains through your feet and legs that you’re sick of putting up with then give us a call! Our friendly team at Perform Podiatry will help you perform at your best and get back to feeling great!