At Walk Right Podiatry we are thrilled to bring you the full range of Dr Comfort shoes. We have on display at our Rochdale clinic the ‘core’ range of shoes available to try on. We are also able to order any of the entire range of shoes from the catalog or online delivered to our clinic for you to try.

Dr Comfort Shoes

Dr Comfort shoes are specially designed to deliver the ultimate comfort for a range of different wearers, offering half shoe sizes, up to four width fittings and extra depth in the toe box – perfect for swollen feet, bunions or hammertoes. Dr Comfort shoes also come with a superior quality gel insole to provide extra comfort. They are made from the finest quality top grain leather and a padded leather lining reduces friction and keeps feet cool and dry. All Dr Comfort shoes have a non-skid hard wearing outsole included.

It is extremely important that you wear the correct size and fitting shoe to ensure you gain the maximum benefits from the shoe. We strongly recommend that you visit our clinic so we can fit, prescribe and order your shoes on your behalf at no extra cost.

Dr Comfort have plenty of styles to choose from for both men and women. Ladies can choose from elegant, traditional, casual and active styles, whilst the Men can select formal, casual, everyday and athletic styles – so there’s shoe for every occasion. Dr Comfort also provide a range of slippers which are ideal for sensitive feet and offer superior support making them extremely comfortable to wear around the house.

When purchasing direct from Walk Right Podiatry our Dr Comfort shoes come with free professional fitting from a HCPC registered podiatrist, a free shoe horn and a pair extra insoles to ensure the perfect fit. Visit our online store www.drcomfortshoes.co.uk to see purchase the lastest styles or visit Walk Right Podiatry to see them for yourself and order your very own pair.

Towards the end of January ‘Algeos’ based in Liverpool which we work closely with for our Podiatry materials and Orthotics, invited us to a Biomechanics training day.
As Biomechanics is one of our main services at Walk Right Podiatry we strive to ensure that we  have up to date knowledge and the very best Insoles and Orthotics to offer to our patients. The day was centred around reaffirming our knowledge of Biomechanics and also learning new cutting edge  techniques that we can utilize in our clinical  assessments and gait analysis.

The day started with a recap of our knowledge, including foot types – ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’, Roots Theory, Sagittal Plane Theory, Subtalar Joint Axis Location, the 3 Body Rockers and the ‘Windlass Mechanism’. All of these are essential to really understanding the foot and its functions during the gait cycle. This session was highly productive and we had the chance to discuss all of the above with other Podiatry colleagues and the tutors on the day who included, Heidi Meckler (BSc, MChS, HPC Reg) and Michelle Weddell (MSc, Dip Pod M, HPC Reg).

The later session continued with case studies of patients with foot pathologies and a demonstration of the use of the ‘Foot Posture Index’ a technique in which figures can be attributed to the amount of pronation or supination that a patient may have in their feet. This then allows us to insert an orthotic into the footwear and assess whether it is having the desired effect using the appropriate scoring system.

Overall it was a very informative day and we will be using the very latest techniques as always in our clinic at Walk Right Podiatry where we strive for clinical excellence every time for our patients!

We are thrilled to announce that last Friday Rebecca Schofield owner and Senior Podiatrist at Walk Right Podiatry won Rochdale Business Woman Of The Year 2012! With over 100 entries for all categories and three finalists for Business Woman Of The Year Rebecca was delighted to be chosen as the winner.

All the team at Walk Right Podiatry had an excellent evening at Rochdale Town Hall where we enjoyed a gala evening and great entertainment. We are proud to have a thriving business in Rochdale and with over 25 years presence in the town we intend to continue treating current patients and new offering excellent Podiatry services.

Rebecca would like to thank the Walk Right Podiatry team including Carl Ainley (Podiatrist), Eric Schofield (Reception), Michael Lomas (Refined Internet), and wishes to dedicate her award to Patricia Schofield her mother who sadly passed away in August whose help at Walk Right Podiatry will always be remembered and appreciated.

Congratulations to all the winners and Finalists, take a look at our photos from the night below! you can also see us at www.rochdalebusinessawards.co.uk

A biomechanical assessment is an assessment of the lower limbs to look at their strengths, weaknesses, structure and alignment to decide where problems could occur. The examination does not only include assessment of the feet, but the Pelvis, Knees, Legs and Ankles. This is very important because they are all closely connected and a problem with one could directly influence another part of the body.

Your foot is made up of a very complex set of bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves which work together to allow a person to walk over most types of grounds and terrain. Biomechanical assessments consist of weight bearing examinations, non-weight bearing examinations, static analysis and gait analysis. The assessment is used to establish a cause of the problem that is effecting the patient and their ‘gait cycle’.

During the assessment the Podiatrist will examine joint range of motions in your Hips, Knees, Ankles and Feet. The Podiatrist will also examine the foot structure and function whilst looking at the forefoot and rearfoot for any abnormalities. Leg length can also be checked as ‘leg length discrepancy’ can be a factor in gait abnormalities.

A pair of Insoles or custom made Orthotics will be prescribed to cure the pain or injury, alongside a specific stretching and exercise program. Patients come in with a wide variety of complaints ranging from painful hips and backs to sore feet in a morning. Biomechanical assessments can be beneficial to all types of people. People who run or train every week, or possibly people who are on the feet all day for their job or people who like to walk and are finding it increasingly difficult because of a specific pain.

If you would like a biomechanics assessment by one of our skilled Podiatrists contact us at Walk Right Podiatry, we are always happy to take on new patients at our clinic.

Proposals have been put forward to change legislation which will see podiatrists given Independent Prescribing rights. This means that HPC registered Podiatrist will be able to undertake a course to allow them to prescribe relevant medicines for their patients.

If the legislation is agreed then Podiatrists will be able to attend training courses, anticipated to start in the autumn of 2013 and could be able to prescribe by the start of 2014.The idea is that this will allow a more efficient service for the patient and also free up GP’s time to deal with their ever increasing timetable.

Some of the potential benefits of this new legislation will be that the quality of care for the patient will be greatly increased. The new legislation will benefit patients with Diabetic Infections of the Foot and Ankle, wounds, Ingrowing Toe Nails, Rheumatoid and Osteo-arthritis and Fungal Infections. It will enable us to gain access to the medicines our patients require much faster.

Health minister Lord Howe said ‘By introducing these changes, we aim to make best use of their skills and allow patients to benefit from a faster more effective service with compromising on safety.’

Dr Alan Borthwick, Senior Lecturer from the University of Southampton said ‘These planned changes to legislation will mean that patients will be able to receive more prompt and better access to treatment, helping to reduce the pressure on other healthcare professionals. It will provide the podiatry profession with greater flexibility to prescribe and supply appropriate treatment to meet individual patients needs.’

Here at Walk Right Podiatry we are thrilled with this decision and will as always keep our training up to date and cutting edge so that we can provide for our patients in the future the medicines required quickly and effectively.

Gout is a type of Arthritis that causes painful inflammation in one or more joints, often in the big toe. The pain that Gout causes can be very severe. It affects around 1 in 200 people and men are more likely to be affected. People suffer from Gout because Urate builds up in the joints and forms crystals of Uric Acid which causes the joint to feel extremely painful.

Normally the body can rid itself of the Uric Acid through the Urine. However, in people with gout the Uric Acid builds up and forms grit-like crystals that collect in the joints. These crystals irritate the joint which causes the toe to become red, swollen and very painful.
The build up of Uric Acid can be caused by a number of factors:-

• It can be inherited. However it doesn’t mean that all the members of a family will have an attack.
• Drinking too much alcohol can cause a build up of Uric Acid.
• A lack of vitamin C.
• People with certain medical conditions have an increased chance of developing Gout. Including high blood pressure, obesity, kidney damage, and vascular disease.

Gout usually occurs in attacks. An attack normally develops over a few hours sometimes causing what looks like a boil near the joint. It can become extremely painful even a light touch can be painful. The attack typically affects the big toe joint however Gout can attack the Knee, Elbow or Ankle Joints.

A small number of Gout episodes causes no lasting damage,  however if the Joint is repeatedly attacked then it may cause long term Arthritis. In a few circumstances the Uric Acid Crystals may cause kidney stones or kidney damage.

Your doctor may take some fluid out of the swollen joint and examine it to confirm the gout diagnosis. The GP may also take some blood samples to measure the amount of urate in the blood.
Generally the treatment is to reduce the inflammation, this includes raising the Joint above heart level, and wrapping  with an ice pack (avoid direct contact with the skin) for 20 minute periods. Your GP can also prescribe a short course of anti-inflammatory pain killers which will quickly ease most gout attacks.

There a few other treatments that your GP can prescribe including Allopurinol which works over a period of time to reduce the amount of Urate in your body. However preventive treatment is the best method to fight gout. Lifestyle changes including:-

• Losing weight if you are overweight.
• Eat a sensible diet, try to avoid a high protein intake and rich food including liver, kidneys and seafood.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink.
• Reduce the amount of sugary drinks you have.
• Drink plenty of water, try to avoid dehydration.
• Have your blood pressure checked regularly.

At Walk Right Podiatry we can help Gout sufferers by offering advice on Footwear, Orthotics and more to keep you comfortable, as well as working alongside you GP to get you on the best management plan to prevent further painful episodes.

If you would like any advice on gout or any other problems contact Walk Right Podiatry on 01706 655110 or visit www.walk-right.co.uk to book your appointment.

Fungal Nail Infection are common and around 3 in 100 people will have one at some point in their lives. The infection often only affects one nail but can affect all the nails of the feet.

The nails become thick, discoloured and usually a yellow colour. If the infection is left untreated the nails can become soft and crumbly, it is not usually painful though the thickening of the nails can place more pressure on the nail beds which can be uncomfortable.

Fungal Nail Infections can develop in a number of ways.

• If the nail has been damaged it is more likely to become infected.
• A fungal skin infection such as athlete’s foot can spread to the toenails causing a nail infection.
• You are at risk of catching a fungal nail infection if your immune system is low or you have poor circulation.
• It can also develop for no apparent reason because the fungi are common and can occur unexpectedly.

Treatments include Anti-fungal Nail Lacquer that has to be painted on the nails according to the directions of the treatment. However this treatment has to be continued until the infection has gone, this is usually around 6-12 months. Oral medication can be taken if the nail infection has affected all of the nails,  is painful or is impacting on a person lifestyle.

If you would like any advice or treatment for Fungal Nail Infection, call our clinic on 01706 655110 or visit www.walk-right.co.uk to book an appointment for any of your foot needs.

You may have read in one of our earlier articles about Adam Kutereba, a local boy from Littleborough who’s family is attempting to raise £60,000 for a life changing operation in Amercia. The fundraising has been going amazing well and we are thrilled to announce that so far an incredible £40,000 has been raised!

Here at Walk Right Podiatry through kind donations from patients we have managed to raise £113 over the last few weeks, we will continue to collect any donations on behalf of Adams family, and thank you so much for your kind support. We have another £20,000 to raise but many events are coming up that you can read about on Adams website.

Rebecca & Adam

If you would like to donate to Adams SDR Fund you can do so by visiting:

www.adamkuterebasdrfund.co.uk

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease which causes Joints in the body to become painful and inflamed. This inflammation and pain is caused by an increase in blood flow to the joint causing it to redden and feel warm and an increase of synovial fluid within the joint causes pain as the joint swells.

Inflammation in the joints is usually produced to destroy things such as bacteria but with Rheumatoid Arthritis the inflammation attacks the tissue around the joint. This can cause damage to cartilage and sometimes bone. The amount of damage caused varies from person to person but once the joint has been damaged it is very difficult for it to heal back to its original state, causing lasting destruction within the joint.

Sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis often report periods of ‘flare ups’ these are usually unpredictable, trying to suppress the inflammation in the early stages is an important way to treat the disease. There are several different types of medication that can be taken to treat the pain and inflammation in the joint. Including DMARDS (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs),NSAID’s (non-steriodal anti inflammatory drugs) or a course of steroids to calm the inflammation.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect the joints in the feet, usually the joints in the toes. They can be very painful and become disfigured due to the inflammation, this can cause problems getting shoes to fit or even walking. Podiatrists form an integral part of the management team of a person with Rheumatoid Arthritis, enabling mobility and preventing wounds and ulceration.

For example, Insoles and Orthotics can be prescribed to cushion the shoe and accommodate any foot deformities.This is a simple technique that can make a big difference in a person’s day to day life. Podiatrists can also help with things that can become a struggle including toe nail cutting, corns and callus treatment, and advice on shoes and other footwear.

People who suffer with Rheumatoid Arthritis need to take care of their own joints through regular exercise. This however is a balancing act, not enough exercise and your joints will stiffen, too much and you will be doing harm to the joints. There are particular signs you should look out for: if the joint becomes warm or swollen then it is time to stop. Swimming is my top tip for people suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is the exercise that puts the least strain on your joints but utilises the muscles well.

The Arthritis Care Helpline 0808 800 4050 can offer you help and support with any issues regarding your Arthritis that you may have, or call us at WalkRight Podiatry on 01706 655 110 or visit www.walk-right.co.uk to book an appointment and discuss any issues that you may have.

Many people suffer from ingrowing toenails at some point in their lifetime. Ingrowing toenails are most common on your big toe nails but actually can occur on the smaller toes too. Typically they are extremely painful, very inflammed and swollen, and puss can be present. If this is the case it is essential that you see the Podiatrist urgently.

Ingrowing toe nails can be caused by a number of things including:

• Ill fitting footwear
• Hereditary Problem
• Trauma due to Injury
• Bad nail cutting technique over time

An ingrowing toe nail is caused when the nail cuts into to the skin at the side of the nail known as the sulci. This is then aggravated when the nail continues to grow into the sulci causing a wound that cannot heal. Without the wound healing it is a portal for infection, this infection continues to get worse until the nail is dealt with and the wound can heal.

Podiatrists can treat Ingrowing Toenails in a number of ways by either conservatively managing the problem by removing any ‘spikes’ and with routine nail care management including packing underneath the nail, to alleviate the pressure on the sulci.

The more long term and often more successful treatment is Toenail Surgery. This involves removing part of, or the entire nail. A partial nail avulsion (PNA) involves removing a small slither of nail on the side that is the problem. A total nail avulsion (TNA) is removal od the whole nail. This tends to be a rarer procedure and is only carried out when either both sides of the nail are particularly bad or the nail is already deformed in some way.

Nail surgery involves a local Anasthetic into the toe that numbs it completely. Then the slither of the nail is removed or the whole nail, depending on what was agreed by the patient and podiatrist. An acid called phenol is then applied and neutralised, in most cases this prevents that part of the nail ever growing back. It is then dressed and managed by the podiatrist and patient over the next few weeks. The surgery usually only takes up to an hour in total and is a minor operation that can be done in clinic.

We regularly carry out this procedure at Walk Right Podiatry and our patients report a pain free experience and instant relief.  If you are having problems with ingrowing toe nails or any other issues with your feet call WalkRight Podiatry on 01706 655110 or visit www.walk-right.co.uk to arrange an appointment.