2:22 p.m. - 2010-04-13
Podiatry - Treatment For Your Foot
Podiatry is a branch of medicine that is devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
The term podiatry originated in the US where it now refers to a Doctor of Podiatric medicine who is qualified to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the feet. There are many branches of podiatry including surgery, geriatrics, sports medicine and biomechanics. In English speaking countries podiatry is known as chiropody and is practiced by chiropodists but the jobs are very similar with minor differences. Plantar fascia is a thick fibrous mass of tissue that originates in the heel bone and goes along the sole of the foot towards the toes and the painful condition that occurs in this tissue is known as plantar fascists. This condition which is usually caused by long hours of standing related to occupation is said to affect nearly two million Americans. It can also be caused by too much weight constantly bearing down on the feet. The condition which starts with a pain in the heel is usually more intense when taking the first steps in the morning. Another symptom of plantar fasciitis is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are bent upwards towards the shin which restricts movement in the ankle. The condition also increases the likelihood of pains in the knees mainly amongst runners but not just runners. A podiatrist will generally examine the foot and the way a patient stands and walks, before making a diagnosis, and the treatment will involve rest, stretching, special shoes and in some cases may require the use of corticosteroids. Medial tibial stress syndrome is the formal name for a painful condition of the shins known as shin splints.
It can be caused by running, sprinting and jumping. One reason for the problem is the overuse of one muscle which is often suffered by athletes repeating a particular activity regularly thus putting too much stress on the shins. If the condition is untreated it can lead to a stress fracture. It is usually diagnosed as increasing pain that worsens rather than eases during exercise when warmed up. The usual treatment for this condition is rest and the application of cold compresses and anti-inflammatory drugs. Barefoot running is not the norm in modern times though famous athletes such as Zola Budd were well known for it. With the advances in running shoe design it is generally believed that running shoes are more beneficial than running in bare feet. When running barefoot, the emphasis is based on the balls of the feet whereas the emphasis is changed to the heel and the area around the back of the heel when wearing running shoes. It has been argued that wearing running shoes with the stress on the heels may cause repetitive stress problems but barefoot running is thought to be healthier because the weight distribution is more evenly spread.
There is no concrete evidence as to which is better though most sports authorities recommend that running shoes be worn. Additional Resources Podiatry Arena plantar fasciitis

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