Ground Up Strength

Pitted and Smelly Feet: Pitted Keratolysis

Pitted Keratolysis is an infection of the skin of the feet caused by a bacterial infection. Excessive sweating and tight, unventilated shoes can predispose you to this condition. The primary symptoms of this foot infection are bad foot odor and shallow pits on the bottom weight-bearing (plantar) surface of the feet. It is their smelly feet that leads most people to seak treatment since there are rarely any other symptoms. However, reaness, soreness, and itching of the feet are possible. This infection rarely occurs on the palms of the hands.

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What is Tinea Pedis?

Tinea Pedis foot is a fungal infection of the skin of the foot. It is also known as Athlete’s Foot. Dermatophytes are the fungal agents responsible for these infections. The most common form of fungal infection, these infections can be acute or chronic.

Acute Tinea Pedis usually has symptoms such as itching, burning and blisters, while chronic Tinea Pedis can be with out these symptoms. Fungal infected toenails are most often associated with chronic and re-occurring Tinea Pedis. The acute form can present with moist scaling around the sloes of the feet or between the toes. Often there are small blisters filled with clear fluid and cracks or fissures present. As the blister break the fungus spreads but the fungus can also spread between the layers of the skin. In addition to the blisters it is not unusual to develop pinkish red circular lesions on the top or bottom of the foot; if found elsewhere on the body the lesions are called by there common name ringworm.

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Turf Toe Taping: How to Tape and Protect a Sprained Big Toe

Turf toe, which is actually a sprain of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), is one of the most common athletic foot injuries. You may not realize how important your big toe is until you sprain it. This seemingly little sprain is a big problem and it can take you out of the game for three or more weeks. If you expect it to heel quickly you have to be able to protect the toe from the constant aggravation of walking.

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What is Diabetic Joint Disease?

Diabetic Joint Disease is a destructive arthritis facilitated by neurological (nerve) disease. It is also known as Charcot Joint Disease. It is named for Jean-Marie Charcot a French neurologist who observed a severe pattern of joint destruction in patients with advanced syphilis. This advanced (tertiary) syphilis commonly causes absence of normal sensation; especially in the lower extremities (foot and ankle). Charcot noted this in 1868. For the last seventy years this has also been observed in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (nerve disease). This neuropathy also causes a loss of normal sensation. Feet can become totally insensate (without feeling). It’s common for these feet to have normal arterial circulation. The last predisposing factor to Diabetic Joint Disease is trauma. Trauma can be acute as an injury like a fracture or sprain; or it can be subtle like a repetitive stress injury. A person whose foot musculoskeletal structure is even slightly dysfunctional is at a much greater risk for this destructive arthritis.

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Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome of the Foot?

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is condition where the posterior tibial nerve in the ankle is compressed. In many ways, this condition is analogous to carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand where the median nerve is compressed. The posterior tibial nerve divides into three branches that include the calcaneal, medial plantar, and lateral plantar nerve branches, all of which innervate different parts of the foot and ankle.

With tarsal tunnel syndrome, compression of the tibial nerve occurs within a tunnel created by a floor consisting of the calcaneus (heel bone) and bounded by the medial malleolus- the bump on the inside part of the ankle- and the far corner of the heel bone. The roof of the tarsal tunnel is formed by a retinaculum- a tough piece of fibrous tissue.

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Adult Flat Foot

By Jonathan Blood-Smyth

Flat footedness is divided into acquired flat foot which is a condition which develops after we have attained maturity and congenital flat foot which is a common condition and often not of pathological significance. Adult flat foot has many potential causes which include dislocation and fractures, foot abnormalities, arthritic changes and neurological conditions. The commonest cause however of this foot problem is a dysfunction of one of the foot tendons, the posterior tibial muscle tendon. The methods by which the tibialis posterior tendon malfunctions are varied and ascribed to degeneration, inflammation or trauma.

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High Heels and Your Health

Now, I like to dress up for an evening out as much as the next girl. But I have a love/hate relationship with my high heels.

When I worked in an office, I wore heels almost constantly. I started to become immune to the aches, pains and cramps in my feet, and the tiredness in my legs. These days I spend as much time as possible bare foot. But on a special night out, I like to doll up, and the outfit is only complete with a suitable pair of heels. But don't I notice it though. And I am acutely aware of the changes it makes in my posture and gait.

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