What Is Supination?
ما هو الانحناء للخارج ؟
Your feet are the foundation of your body. Your feet have 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 muscles. You take between 8000-10000 steps every single day and healthy, pain free feet are essential to leading a happy and active life.
Your feet have two main jobs – stability and mobility. They keep us stable and upright and act as a lever to help move us forward. The help us to be mobile through shock absorption and at different paces (or ‘gaits’) from walking to sprinting. About 30% of people have a ‘normally’ functioning foot. The rest of us will probably over-pronate (95% of those remaining), or more rarely‘over-supinate’ (5%).
قدميك هي أساس جسمك. تحتوي قدميك على ٥٢ عظمة و٦٦ مفصلاً و٢١٤ رباطًا و٣٨ عضلة. تتخذ ما بين ٨٠٠٠ إلى ١٠٠٠٠ خطوة كل يوم، وتعتبر الأقدام الصحية الخالية من الألم ضرورية لعيش حياة سعيدة ونشطة.
للقدمين وظيفتان رئيسيتان – الاستقرار والحركة. تحافظان على ثباتنا واستقامتنا وتعملان كرافعة لمساعدتنا على المضي قدمًا. تساعدنا على الحركة من خلال امتصاص الصدمات وبخطوات مختلفة (أو “خطوات”) من المشي إلى الركض. حوالي ٣٠٪ من الناس لديهم قدم تعمل “بشكل طبيعي”. من المحتمل أن يعاني بقيتنا من الاستلقاء على الأرض (٩٥٪ من الباقين)، أو نادرًا ما يعانون من الاستلقاء على الأرض (٥٪).

Supination happens in 3 stages:
(1) Inversion is where the sole of the foot is turned inwards,
(2) then plantar flexion is where the foot and toes point downwards and
(3) adduction of the ankle involves the toes pointing across the body.
Combine all three movements and you have supination.
يحدث الانحناء للخارج في ثلاث مراحل:
الانقلاب هو عندما يتجه باطن القدم إلى الداخل،.١
ثم الانثناء الأخمصي هو عندما تتجه القدم وأصابع القدم إلى الأسفل و .٢
تقريب الكاحل يتضمن توجيه أصابع القدم عبر الجسم .٣
اجمع بين الحركات الثلاث وستحصل على الانقلاب.
Why do our feet pronate and supinate?
Pronation – within normal limits – is an entirely normal and in fact necessary function of the foot. Pronation allows the forefoot to make complete contact with the ground, absorb shock and stabilise.
Supination is the opposite of pronation. Supination is when your foot rolls outwards. Like pronation, some supination is also a necessary part of your natural gait. When you supinate, you lift your arch and shift your weight to the outer (lateral) edge of your foot. In a pronated position the joints within the foot can move more freely which allows the foot to adapt to the ground it is on. In a supinated position the foot is more rigid which improves its function as a lever when walking and prepares the foot to ‘propel’ your body forward.
لماذا تنثني أقدامنا إلى الداخل ثم تنثني إلى الخارج؟
الانثناء إلى الداخل – ضمن الحدود الطبيعية – هو وظيفة طبيعية تمامًا وضرورية للقدم. يسمح الانثناء إلى الداخل للقدم الأمامية بالاتصال الكامل بالأرض وامتصاص الصدمات والاستقرار.
الانثناء إلى الداخل هو عكس الانثناء إلى الداخل. الانثناء إلى الداخل هو عندما تتدحرج قدمك إلى الخارج. مثل الانثناء إلى الداخل، فإن بعض الانثناء إلى الداخل هو أيضًا جزء ضروري من مشيتك الطبيعية. عندما تنثني إلى الداخل، ترفع قوس قدمك وتنقل وزنك إلى الحافة الخارجية (الجانبية) لقدمك. في وضع الانثناء إلى الداخل، يمكن للمفاصل داخل القدم أن تتحرك بحرية أكبر مما يسمح للقدم بالتكيف مع الأرض التي توجد عليها. في وضع الانثناء إلى الداخل، تكون القدم أكثر صلابة مما يحسن وظيفتها كرافعة عند المشي ويجهز القدم “لدفع” جسمك إلى الأمام.

What are the signs / symptoms?
Supination, like its more common counterpart over-pronation, can be the underlying root cause behind a range of other foot, ankle and leg problems. Supination causes the foot to be less able to deal with shock and causes your leg knee and shin to twist. Most oversupination injuries are related to your foot being unable to deal with shock forces during walking and running. If your foot oversupinates, by default it underpronates.
Common injuries you are at risk from, if you oversupinate are:
- Stressfractures (typically the tibia, calcaneal or metatarsals)
- Corns,callous as the foot tries to protect itself from abnormal pressure
- Shinsplints
- Lateral knee pain
- Hip pain
- Lowerback pain
- Achilles tendonitis
- High arches
- Clawed toes
ما هي العلامات/الأعراض؟
يمكن أن يكون الانبطاح، مثل نظيره الأكثر شيوعًا وهو الإفراط في الاستلقاء، السبب الجذري الكامن وراء مجموعة من مشاكل القدم والكاحل والساق الأخرى. يتسبب الانبطاح في جعل القدم أقل قدرة على التعامل مع الصدمات ويؤدي إلى التواء ركبتك وساقك. ترتبط معظم إصابات الانبطاح بعدم قدرة قدمك على التعامل مع قوى الصدمة أثناء المشي والجري. إذا انبطح قدمك بشكل مفرط، فهذا يعني افتراضيًا أنه انبطاح أقل.
الإصابات الشائعة التي قد تتعرض لها إذا انبطح قدمك بشكل مفرط هي:
• كسور الإجهاد (عادةً قصبة الساق أو الكعب أو مشط القدم)
• مسامير القدم، حيث تحاول القدم حماية نفسها من الضغط غير الطبيعي
• آلام قصبة الساق
• آلام الركبة الجانبية
• آلام الورك
• آلام أسفل الظهر
• التهاب وتر أخيل
• أقواس عالية
• أصابع القدم المخلبية
How can a Podiatrist help?
The Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre are biomechanical experts and renowned Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin is a biomechanics and orthotics specialist.
Mrs Champlin advises commencing custom orthotic therapy under the supervision of a qualified and experienced biomechanics podiatrist, who will carefully examine and assess you and take a mould / cast of your foot in order to hand-make custom prescription orthotics. These should be corrective, based on your individual prescription and made by the Podiatrist, in order to actually address and correct the foot and ankle malalignment causing the supination. It is important that the Podiatrist sees you back at regular intervals to progress your prescription as required and monitor progress until end of treatment. Check that your Podiatrist is podiatry degree qualified by a recognised University and licensed by the local health authority (e.g. DHA).
Orthotic therapy has advanced greatly in recent years, with Dubai Podiatry Centre being a centre of excellence in developing innovative custom prescription orthotics to be worn discretely within most footwear, from regular sports and school shoes to work shoes. Nobody else will know that you are wearing orthotics.
كيف يمكن لطبيب الأقدام أن يساعدك؟
• أطباء الأقدام في مركز دبي لطب الأقدام هم خبراء في الميكانيكا الحيوية، وطبيب الأقدام الرئيسي الشهير ميشيل شامبلين هو أخصائي في الميكانيكا الحيوية والتقويم العظمي.
• تنصح السيدة شامبلين ببدء العلاج التقويمي المخصص تحت إشراف طبيب أقدام مؤهل وذو خبرة في الميكانيكا الحيوية، والذي سوف يقوم بفحصك وتقييمك بعناية وأخذ قالب/جبس لقدمك من أجل صنع تقويمات العظام الطبية المخصصة يدويًا. يجب أن تكون هذه التقويمات تصحيحية، بناءً على وصفتك الفردية وصنعها طبيب الأقدام، من أجل معالجة وتصحيح سوء محاذاة القدم والكاحل الذي يسبب الانحناء. من المهم أن يراك طبيب الأقدام مرة أخرى على فترات منتظمة لتطوير وصفتك الطبية حسب الحاجة ومراقبة التقدم حتى نهاية العلاج. تأكد من أن طبيب الأقدام الخاص بك حاصل على درجة في طب الأقدام من جامعة معترف بها ومرخص من قبل هيئة الصحة المحلية (على سبيل المثال هيئة الصحة بدبي).
• لقد تطور العلاج التقويمي بشكل كبير في السنوات الأخيرة، حيث أصبح مركز دبي لطب الأقدام مركزًا متميزًا في تطوير تقويمات العظام المبتكرة التي يمكن ارتداؤها بشكل سري داخل معظم الأحذية، من الأحذية الرياضية العادية وأحذية المدارس إلى أحذية العمل. لن يعرف أحد أنك ترتدي تقويمات العظام.
Why should you correct over-supination?
Supination does not just affect your feet, but can also affect the rest of your alignment up to your knees, hips and lower back and places extra stress on your legs. This is why foot alignment should be corrected, both to address any foot pain and also to prevent any further problems later in life throughout the rest of the body. This is similar to making sure the foundations of a building are strong and sound, therefore preventing the rest of the building higher up from being out of alignment, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Years of walking and running over-supinated can cause subsequent problems with the ankles, knees, hips and back. We advise checking children’s feet when they start school, so that any malalignment can be caught and treated early. If you feel any form of leg, foot or ankle pain, early intervention is key. So if you notice any tell tale signs such as a high arch, foot pain, clawed toes or forefoot pain, make an appointment with an experienced Podiatrist for a gait assessment, biomechanical assessment and possible orthotic treatment to correct the supination and return your walking and running to its dynamic, ergonomic best.
لماذا يجب تصحيح فرط الانحناء للخارج ؟
لا يؤثر فرط الاستلقاء على القدمين فقط، بل يمكن أن يؤثر أيضًا على بقية محاذاة القدمين حتى الركبتين والوركين وأسفل الظهر ويضع ضغطًا إضافيًا على ساقيك. لهذا السبب يجب تصحيح محاذاة القدمين، سواء لمعالجة أي ألم في القدم أو لمنع أي مشاكل أخرى في وقت لاحق من الحياة في بقية الجسم. هذا يشبه التأكد من أن أساسات المبنى قوية وسليمة، وبالتالي منع بقية المبنى الأعلى من الخروج عن المحاذاة، مثل برج بيزا المائل.
يمكن أن تتسبب سنوات من المشي والجري في حالة فرط الاستلقاء على القدمين في حدوث مشاكل لاحقة في الكاحلين والركبتين والوركين والظهر. ننصح بفحص أقدام الأطفال عند بدء المدرسة، حتى يمكن اكتشاف أي سوء محاذاة وعلاجه في وقت مبكر. إذا شعرت بأي شكل من أشكال آلام الساق أو القدم أو الكاحل، فإن التدخل المبكر هو المفتاح. لذا، إذا لاحظت أي علامات تحذيرية مثل القوس العالي، أو آلام القدم، أو أصابع القدم المخلبية، أو آلام مقدمة القدم، فحدد موعدًا مع طبيب أمراض القدم ذي الخبرة لتقييم المشية والتقييم البيوميكانيكي والعلاج التقويمي المحتمل لتصحيح الانحراف وإعادة المشي والجري إلى أفضل حالاته الديناميكية والمريحة.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
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WhatsApp : +971 50 355 3024 | Call: +971 4 343 5390
أرسل لنا رسالة على تطبيق WhatsApp الخاص بنا لتحديد المواعيد والاستفسارات الأخرى
WhatsApp : +971 50 355 3024 | الاتصال: 043435390


Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Your feet are designed to do two main jobs – provide stability and mobility. They keep us stable and upright and act also as a lever to help propel us forward. They absorb shock and carry us forward at different paces (or ‘gaits’) from walking to sprinting.
In cycling, your foot (in conjunction with a high quality, rigid, well-fitting shoe) needs to act more as a rigid lever.
Custom orthotics and cycling
Orthotics or insoles for cycling are very different than those for walking, running or other sports. A cycling orthotic will be very rigid, as the aim is to lock the foot into place, with the ankle and knee in straight alignment. When there is too much movement in the foot, the intrinsic muscles of the foot have to ‘waste’ energy working to keep the foot in position. Therefore, when your leg is in the correct alignment, with your foot locked in place, you minimize leakage of energy and power. Thus, your energy is efficiently focused on transferring into power through your pedal.
How Dubai Podiatry Centre works with Cyclists
We not only want to maximize your performance with minimizing wasted movement and ensuring good leg alignment and rigid foot posture, we also want to minimize the risk of injury.
Cycling injuries to the foot that we most commonly see are either ‘hot spot’ injuries such as blisters from ill fitting shoes creating friction or compression type injuries damaging the nerves of the feet, commonly across the widest part of your foot, the forefoot or ‘ball’. This tends to be a combination of factors such as too tight cycling shoes, ill fitting cleats, and pressure from the narrow pedal through a thin sole.
To address and avoid these issues, cyclists will be looking to customize their bike to ensure optimum bike fit for their body, high quality well fitting cycling shoes and perhaps a custom orthotic to replace the existing insole that is provided with the shoe. Here, we’l look at how podiatrists in particular can help with the area of foot/leg alignment improvement and footwear related issues.
When walking, we have three main stages of gait – heel strike, into a mid-foot stance and finally toe-off. When cycling, our foot most closely resembles the ‘mid-foot’ type stance. When mid-foot, this is when the foot is most unstable and ligaments loosest, to help with shock absorption. In cycling, the foot needs only to act as a lever rather than absorb shock. Because your foot and legs aren’t fully weight bearing when cycling either this actually exaggerates the instability of this mid-foot type cycling stance. In cycling, we do not want instability as we’re not having to absorb shock.
This is where your Podiatrist can come into play with improving your lower limb biomechanical alignment for cycling and foot posture. Orthotics from your Podiatrist for cycling will only be designed for cycling and used within your cycling shoes, due to the very unique and specific job they are designed for, as well as being designed for only your foot structure and biomechanical anomaly.
One main issue that we commonly address amongst our cyclist patients is reducing internal tibial rotation. This rotation causes excess load through the knee, rotation of the femur and causes your glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors and quads to work hard against this, again wasting valuable power.
Foot & Shoe Tips for Cyclists
Our tip would be to avoid internet shopping for shoes if possible – nothing beats trying on cycling shoes – fit will vary across brands, so try out as wide a range as possible – shoes will be constructed differently for type of cycling, type of feet and so on and there is no pair of feet on the planet that are absolutely identical.
Your shoes must lock your foot in position and be well fitting without being too tight. Otherwise, this is where we tend to see most of our cycling inefficiency and eventually injury occurring.
Some cycling shoes come with built in forefoot wedges and sometimes even rearfoot posting. Generally, we would advise looking for a ‘neutral’ cycling shoe and if you do need any kind of ‘structural engineering’ your Podiatrist will build this into your prescription custom orthotic. Here at Dubai Podiatry Centre, after a very thorough biomechanical assessment, we will correct your alignment to the precise degree required and also monitor you thereafter.
Contact Us Today
If you’re experiencing any pain or injury, whether sudden or chronic, or even if you’d like a thorough biomechanics assessment to ensure you’re cycling at optimum efficiency, make an appointment with Dubai Podiatry Centre. We’ve been helping the UAE’s cyclists for 15 years and understand the unique stresses and demands of cycling, especially in the heat of the desert! We can be reached on +971 4 3435390.
Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Valentine’s Day is coming up and given that we are lucky enough to live in the lovely warm climate of Dubai, a romantic barefoot stroll along the beach could well be on the cards.
It’s at times like this that you can become self-conscious of any issues with your feet, whether visible and unsightly – corns, callous, bursas or yellowed toenails; or ailments that nobody else can see but cause you excruciating pain, affecting how you walk – such as heel pain (commonly plantar fasciitis). Don’t let your Valentine’s date be turned off by smelly feet or cracked heels – your Podiatrist has the answer for these turn-offs (and more). Read on for our most common (and easily treated) foot related mood killers.
Are your feet lovely?
Unsightly foot problems that cause you embarrassment, such as discoloured toenails, cracked heels, callous, verrucas or smelly feet aren’t just a cosmetic issue, but may indicate an underlying health issue, cause you pain, or lead to something more problematic in the future. So gentlemen, if your wife thinks you should see a Podiatrist – she’s right (as always). Read on to find out how to get loveable feet.
Toenails
• Yellow Toenails
Toenails may become yellowed with excessive nail polish use, or cracked and flaky with a fungal infection. Toenails yellowed by nail polish use are eventually more likely to become susceptible to fungal infections.
• Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails can be caused by shoes that are too tight in the toe box, or even hosiery pressing into the nail. Some ingrown toenails are just ‘genetic’ – too wide for your toe, or very curved – and your mum or dad may have also experienced problems with painful nails. You will experience pain, redness, inflammation and if left untreated, infection.
Don’t worry – there’s good news!
The good news is that all of these are treatable. There’s no reason to put up with unsightly or painful toenails and at our clinic, we believe in explaining all the options available, the pros and cons, and always aiming for long term, permanent fixes. We do everything we can to treat your toes like we do our own – pain free, gentle and one-off treatments to avoid repeatedly having to see us (much as we hope you enjoy your visit with us, we know you have better things to do with your time than visit the Podiatrist!) Conditions such as yellowed or fungal toenails are a common and easily treated complaint for us to fix, in most cases in just one visit.
Cracked heels, dry skin and secret fungal infections
Sometime the white, dry skin we see on feet is actually a fungal skin infection, unique to the desert climate we live in and harboured in the sand. We see patients who have been moisturizing or buffing their skin and understandably end up frustrated when despite all their best efforts, there is limited improvement. A fungal foot infection can look red and itchy or may also just look like very dry, powdery skin.
I’ve tried over-the-counter lotions, potions and insoles…nothing works
Especially if other treatments have not worked for you, make an appointment with us and we can start the correct treatment straight away to resolve it – we can buff your feet to perfection and also treat the actual underlying fungal infection, as well as advise on the cause and how to prevent it recurring. We see tens of fungal skin infections every single day in the clinic, and after 15 years of podiatry practice in Dubai, we’re experts in the various strains and sometimes deceptive appearances. We love difficult, stubborn or complex cases – it’s what we specialize in at Dubai Podiatry Centre.
Of course, sometimes very dry skin is not due to an underlying fungal infection – as Podiatrists, we’re experts in the whole range of possible causes. We’ll be looking to explore possible undiagnosed thyroid or diabetic conditions, vitamin deficiencies or even a biomechanical anomaly (how you walk and run). Patches of callous or corns tell us a lot about your feet. We work a bit differently at Dubai Podiatry Centre – we forensically analyze every telltale sign on your feet, such as callous, to understand why it is building up, discuss the cause with you and decide an action plan with you.
Foot Pain
You don’t have to put up with foot pain. Your feet are a biomechanical miracle and designed to carry you easily on your recommended 10,000 daily steps. If you suffer frequent or ongoing foot pain, you should get this checked out by a Podiatrist, or your GP may refer you to a Podiatrist. Feet are all we see all day, every day. The most common cause of heel pain we see at our clinic in the UAE is a very painful condition called plantar fasciitis.
The Great News!
There are solutions for foot pain to give you long term, permanent relief. One of the main reasons for plantar fasciitis is when your foot and ankle alignment is ‘out’ – usually your ankle rolling inwards and causing the long arch of your foot to collapse. This also gives the impression of a ‘flat foot’. Not many people have proper ‘flat feet’ but in fact ‘over-pronate’ or roll in too much when they stand or walk. The great news is that this can generally be corrected, mostly with a discrete slim-fit little corrective orthotic (looks like an insole, but is rigid and not available over-the-counter).
What now?
So from flat feet, to heel pain or problematic nails, your first step to healthy feet in Dubai is to give us a call on 04 3435390. Love your feet and they will love you back!
Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Who visits a Podiatrist?
At Dubai Podiatry Centre, we work very differently to other Podiatrists. Our patients have busy, demanding lives and come to us because they want results quickly and effectively, with the best treatments, with treatment plans explained in detail. When you are experiencing foot pain, we understand the unique demands placed on feet – from bankers at DIFC looking for the latest custom orthotic to be worn within slim fitting Gucci or Prada menswear work shoes, to professional athletes – each sport having vastly different demands on the feet, ankles and legs.
Our aim is always to work with the patient to achieve their goals, from injury rehabilitation for a tennis player recovering from an ankle sprain; to runners looking to be free from the pain of shin splints; or a busy mum with heel pain so severe she is limping as soon as she gets out of bed in the morning.
Unfortunately, the majority of adults will experience some form of foot pain during their life (77% according to a recent APMA study*) but only a third of those would actually seek qualified help. You shouldn’t have to suffer from foot pain, and any issues are best dealt with early – there is more than likely a straightforward solution and at Dubai Podiatry Centre we believe in thoroughly assessing and discussing your diagnosis and treatment options, backed up with your detailed written medical report within 24 hours.
We’re changing the way patients with foot pain are treated
Our qualified Podiatrists (led by Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin) will assess you, measuring the exact degree that your alignment needs to be corrected. We then take a mold of your feet to get an exact 3D model of your feet, and make our orthotic from scratch in-house in our own laboratory.
We don’t send away to get orthotics made by a factory, as we don’t believe mass produced insoles give the best results. These tend just to be just insoles that are made to a generic shape, and at most are ‘customized’ by adding on a wedge by the practitioner. We believe only true custom prescription orthotics achieve the exact prescription results we’re looking to achieve for our patients, and having our laboratory in our clinic means that we can adjust and modify our orthotics while the patients wait. You wouldn’t let anyone else but a qualified dentist assess your teeth and fit your orthodontic braces, and your feet should be treated with the same care by the appropriate professional.
Can’t I order a cheap pair of insoles over the Internet?
Of course you can – if it alleviates your pain and you’re happy. If they don’t, we’ll be here for you. We work very uniquely in this way – we’re the only clinic with our own in-house lab, combined with qualified Podiatrists who expertly assess, treat, make your orthotics and monitor your progress through to correction and discharge.
Nothing rivals the person who has trained to degree level in foot medicine at University being the same person who sees you, assesses your feet, then goes into their own lab to physically make your prescriptive orthotics from scratch, and then fits them to check they are perfect, then remains managing your case and treatment until the desired results are achieved.
Why do we make our own orthotics?
Fully equipped laboratories are very expensive to set up and operate with the specialist equipment and materials required, so Podiatrists have understandably tended to outsource orthotics, fitting either generic pre-made ‘chairside’ insoles or sending away to external factories to have insoles machined.
Making orthotics is also a time consuming and very skilled, expensive process, requiring years of training. Thus, most Podiatrists will prefer to outsource their prescription to a wholesale production facility. The downside is that adjustments cannot be done on premises whilst the patient waits, and the orthotic is not made specifically for that patient’s feet (no two feet are the same).
We don’t expect one brand of shoe to fit everyone’s feet, even if your Internet or shop purchased insoles are the right ‘size’ it’s unlikely they’ll address or correct your biomechanical malalignment. Over-pronation, the most common biomechanics issue we see, is similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa – people who over-pronate will do so a ‘little bit’ or ‘a lot’ to anywhere in between – we’ll measure you to the precise degree. And we also take into account any other factors such as leg length discrepancy and so on, which no machine will notice.
Podiatry is a complex, skilled profession, and not one that a foot scanner, factory or machine can replace. A foot scanner takes a fancy looking image / read out of your standing, weight-bearing feet. Great! If that’s all you do with your feet… Real life people also like to walk, run, take the weight off our feet, play different sports, grow, experience pain at different times of the day and doing different activities…. Different and sometimes subtle points matter when the Podiatrist is taking careful note of all your signs and symptoms, analysing your health history and most importantly – listening to you – this is all putting the pieces of the jigsaw together to form your diagnosis. A scanner gives a snapshot of your feet, and we are interested in the whole movie!
What happens if I am advised to wear corrective orthotics?
The most common reason we prescribe custom corrective orthotics is to treat collapsed long arches (or ‘flat feet’). You will literally see your arch begin to form and your whole foot tightens, tone and lift up over the course of a couple of months. Much like braces to realign your teeth, we will then see you again after a couple of months generally to either ‘tighten’ up your feet further by changing your prescription, or finalizing your treatment plan and ‘neutralizing’ your prescription. All you need to do is wear your orthotics! Don’t worry – these aren’t a lifelong thing you need to wear, although ours are only a few millimeters thick and no one knows they’re inside your shoes. Most people are finished with corrective orthotic treatment in only 12 weeks.
If you are experiencing foot, toenail, ankle or leg pain – there is no need to put up with it – make an appointment with your Podiatrist and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.
Specialist appointments for feet, ankles and legs at Dubai Podiatry Centre, including with Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin, can be made by calling us on 04 3435390.
*Source: American Podiatric Medical Association, Today’s Podiatrist Survey on public attitude to foot health, 19 May 2014.
Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
With the summer heat still to hit, runners in our desert climate are still able to get out and about, whether jogging a couple of laps round Safa Park or Yas Marina Circuit, or keeping up with your running after marathon season. One of the most common injuries to interrupt runners’ training however is knee pain. Let’s look at the most frequent causes and how to treat it.
What is Runner’s Knee?
One of the most common running related issues seen in our Clinic is ‘runners knee’ – irritation of the cartilage underneath the patella (kneecap), advises Dubai Podiatry Centre’s Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin. About 40% of running injuries are to the knee, with Mrs Champlin tending to see an increase in running injuries with marathon season in Dubai.
You may notice that the knee pain is worse coming down hills or stairs, after long periods sitting, or during / after a long run.
Commonly, runner’s knee pain is due to the kneecap tracking laterally due to over-pronation (the foot and ankle rolling in) and a weak medial quad, hips or glutes. This lateral tracking causes the kneecap cartilage to wear down, be sore when the quad contracts (going down stairs or down hills) and it may fluid.
What can be done to treat Runner’s Knee?
Unfortunately, no running shoe alone or even trying to coach yourself to alter your running style will correct the issue.
The good news is that if you correct the biomechanics of the tracking, the cartilage in the back of the kneecap will self-regenerate and heal within a month or so. Make an appointment with your Podiatrist if you are experiencing even mild knee pain. A Podiatrist specializing in biomechanics is vital, and here at Dubai Podiatry Centre we understand that any runner is looking to minimize their downtime. Just remember to bring your shorts and running shoes with you to your appointment with us!
The most effective way to address the underlying biomechanical anomaly (the over-pronation) is due to a combination of custom corrective orthotics and strengthening your hip and glute muscles (such as side stepping, squats and stretching your hip flexors).
A period of rest also if the pain is moderate or severe is also advisable – better to have a relatively short time off running now than trying to ‘run through’ the injury, which will ultimately only result in enforced, longer time off later. Even if the pain is only mild, reduce your running program, ice post-run and of course go straight to your Podiatrist.
But the correct orthotic is key! When you run, every step magnifies your biomechanical disadvantage. You must also be very sure to see only a qualified health professional, such as a Podiatrist, to carry out a detailed lower limb biomechanical assessment (find out more about that here), and to make your own specific custom running orthotics, if advised, and carry out reviews thereafter to monitor your recovery. Off-the-shelf insoles can sometimes not correct the over-pronation at all (and definitely not precisely address your specific degree of over-pronation), or actually over-correct and give you a ‘new’ problem. Your Podiatrist will assess your gait in motion (not just static load bearing on a foot plate), analyse your hips, legs, ankles and feet, running style, running shoes (and discuss the best running shoes for you) and so on to provide a comprehensive understanding, diagnosis and treatment plan to get you back on the road.
The good news is runner’s knee pain is easy to get under control, as we see and treat this issue almost every single day. It’s just a case of wearing your custom running orthotics and doing a few strengthening and stretching exercises!
Contact Dubai Podiatry Centre on 04 3435390 for a biomechanical assessment if you’re suffering from any form of knee, hip or ankle pain, or even just for a general runner’s MOT!
Walking is a great way to not just get from A to B, but to burn calories, improve heart health and if you’re one of our orthotics patients, to get your muscles engaged and working with the orthotic, toning and tightening your foot.
How much should I walk daily?
Most of us walk 3,000 – 4,000 steps every day. In hot climates such as Dubai, the high temperatures of summer can mean we walk less than that – parking our cars closer to the mall entrance and staying inside in air conditioned homes and offices.
Increasing the amount you walk to 10,000 steps a day gives you a specific daily goal to aim for and is an easy, free way to increase your activity levels and overall health, including heart heath*. As a guideline, adults are advised to exercise for 150 minutes per week. The good news is that if you’re walking 10,000 steps per day, you will probably exceed this. 10,000 steps is about 5 miles / 8 km per day. This is about one and a half laps of Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi (5.5km lap distance).
An easy way to monitor your daily steps is by clipping a pedometer onto your waistband. Smartphones such as iPhones also have a useful Health App built in that counts your steps. Try searching the App Store too for free step counting / health Apps.
Benefits of Walking
Michelle Champlin, Chief Podiatrist of Dubai Podiatry Centre, recommends daily walking as a great source of improving overall fitness and health for all her patients, and is especially important for her diabetic patients. She also sees much faster improvements in her custom orthotic patients who walk or jog frequently, as engaging the muscles of the foot (and leg) on the orthotic (by walking or jogging) forces these foot muscles to work harder, tighten, tone and lift the arches of the feet, pulling foot posture back into it’s correct alignment much faster than someone who is not physically as active on their feet.
Michelle says “The diabetic patients I see who incorporate an evening brisk walk into their daily routine, and make little changes such as parking their car further from the mall or their work entrance, taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, tend to be more in control of their diabetes, maintain healthy weights and ultimately show less complications in the long term – generally leading long, happy and healthy lives, by staying in control of their diet and exercise.”
The average 45 year old, weighing 70kg will burn 400 calories walking briskly for 10,000 steps. Combined with a healthy diet, walking is a great, freely available way for most people to stay healthy – it doesn’t require fancy exercise or gym equipment or spending money on anything except your sports shoes.
Other than the benefits to your overall health, walking is a great way to spend time together as a family with the kids, to get back into shape after having a baby and to see the sights of the UAE that would otherwise pass you by in a car.
It’s a great way for diabetics to exercise (talk over your exercise plan with your GP) – reducing stress hormones, burning calories and helping blood circulation.
What do I need to get started?
It’s easy! All you need is comfortable, loose clothing and a good, comfortable pair of sports shoes (check out our helpful sports footwear advice here) and socks (and a hat / sun protection If outdoors during the day). Bring a bottle of water to sip from too to prevent dehydration on longer walks.
Some walking ideas in the UAE
We are spoilt for choice for walks both indoors and outdoors throughout the UAE. Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, for example, has a walking group every weekday morning, Sunday to Thursday at 8.30am. You could also enjoy the scenery and sights outdoors whilst you walk – plan a route say through historic Bur Dubai, starting at Herib Bin Harib Mosque and taking a tour creekside, stopping at the Heritage and Diving Village, Al Shindagha Square Fort, the Al Fahidi Fort Museum and the Gold Souk.
For the more adventurous, plan day excursions around the UAE to other Emirates. There are plenty of options for keeping on the flat, avoiding more strenuous uphill / downhill terrain. There’s certainly no need to launch yourself up the Stairway to Heaven in Ras Al Khaimah or Wadi Bih, and most definitely not without lots of prior safety preparation, kit and appropriate fitness level.
There is also the fabulous 5 metre wide walking track of the newly developed Jumeirah Corniche project, some 14km long running from Dubai Marine Beach Resort up to the Burj Al Arab. Family friendly, with loads of facilities and stops along the way.
Even at the height of summer, try for a walk either early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature drops. So many of Dubai’s municipal parks have lovely walks and shock absorbing tracks, from Mushrif Park, Creekside Park to even our own little Satwa Park behind our building (Saeed Tower 2 on Sheikh Zayed Road). Look out for ladies days too for women only days.
What if I feel pain in my feet or legs?
If you are worried about your joints or overall health, go to see your GP for a check-up before starting any new fitness regime.
Build up to 10,000 daily steps gradually – don’t throw yourself into achieving this goal straight away as you could end up with blisters (find out about preventing and treating blisters here), joint or muscle pain or even a sprain if you twist your ankle.
If you experience any pain in your feet or legs, do discuss this with your Podiatrist. Walking for longer can show up any previously unnoticed issues, such as a leg length difference, over-pronation (ankles rolling in), supination (rolling out), or even a stress metatarsal fracture if you’re not wearing appropriate footwear for walking.
Here at Dubai Podiatry Centre, we can identify the reason for your foot, leg or hip pain and provide the right treatment so that you can get back out enjoying your walks – whether you might require custom orthotics to correct a biomechanical issue, expert footwear advice or treating a painful corn or verruca.
Contact Dubai Podiatry Centre on 04 3435390 if you do notice any aches or pains. Don’t let injury stand in your way from getting out and about. Happy walking!
* Source: NHS (UK)
Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Maybe your Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Surgeon has told you that you have ‘hallux rigidus’? But what exactly does this mean and do you need to do anything to treat it? Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin lends us some insight into this toe condition.
What is ‘hallux rigidus’?
Hallux rigidus is the medical name for having a ‘stiff big toe’. Your hallux is your big toe; ‘rigidus’ means ‘stiff.’
Mrs Champlin, Chief Podiatrist at Dubai Podiatry Centre explains: “Every one of us will get some amount of osteoarthritic changes to our bones as we age. This is completely normal and to be expected as we go through adulthood. Hallux rigidus occurs when these arthritic changes occur in the joint of your big toe – what we call the ‘metatarso-phalangeal joint’, to the extent that it can cause symptoms such as pain or stiffness in the joint”. We’ll just call it the MTP joint from now on!
Symptoms of hallux rigidus
• Stiffness and pain in your MTP joint (worse in cold, damp weather and when walking or running)
• Swelling and inflammation around the joint
• Difficulty flexing the joint when you’re walking, squatting etc.
What causes hallux rigidus?
Osteo-arthritic changes happen to all of us as we age. This is the kind of arthritis that is due to normal wear and tear. However, these changes can be worsened in the MTP joint for some of us for the following reasons:
• A foot / ankle biomechanical issue affecting how your foot moves and functions. (Commonly seen in the many of us who over-pronate and/or have lowered medial long arches)
• Inherited from your mum or dad (genetic)
• Increased ongoing stress on the MTP joint from a job or activity that requires a lot of squatting type movement
• An injury to the big toe area – such as stubbing the toe
• An underlying condition such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
What happens if I don’t treat it?
Hallux rigidus can worsen over time, causing increasing pain in the MTP joint, even at rest. It can also affect how you walk, causing you to limp. This in turn places more strain on other joints, causing knee, hip or lower backache. You may also develop bone spurs causing irritation to the skin of the area in tight footwear, leading you to buy broader footwear to accommodate.
What can be done to help hallux rigidus?
Seeking advice from a Podiatrist early on is advisable – if you’re in the UAE or travelling through, contact us.
Mrs Champlin advises that “In mild to moderate cases, the symptoms can be alleviated with custom corrective orthotic therapy, worn in your shoes to correct how your foot functions (commonly over-pronation or collapsed long arches). This corrects the underlying cause of the hallux rigidus, and takes weight away from the MTP joint, rather than just superficially treating the pain with steroid injections or anti-inflammatory medication, which will not fix the issue in the long run.”
In more severe cases, surgery by a specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon with expertise in foot surgery may be advised. After surgery (there are different procedures which the surgeon will discuss after consulting with you), the Orthopaedic Surgeon will refer you back to your Podiatrist for a post-surgical custom orthotic to maintain his/her good work in the operating theatre and stop the foot posture reverting, supporting your correct foot posture and alleviating pressure from the MTP joint.
If you are experiencing any pain at all in your big toe joint, you should always seek advice from a Podiatrist without delay. Early intervention is best, and there is always a way forward to reduce or eliminate the pain.
Contact the foot experts at Dubai Podiatry Centre on 04 3435390 for friendly informative diagnosis, explanation and treatment options.
Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)