Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
What is Ankle Equinus?
Your ankle is a ‘hinge’ joint that is designed to move in only two directions: foot up (dorsiflexion) and foot down (plantar flexion). You’ll notice when you point your toes up and then down that your foot has much more range downwards than it does upwards. Normal range of motion is about 20° when pointing toes up and more when pointed down – about 50°.
Ankle equinus is the term used to describe reduced range of upwards motion, or dorsiflexion, in the ankle. It can occur in one or both ankles and to various degrees. Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin explains “The term ‘equinus’ was borrowed from horses – equine – whose feet are plantar flexed and essentially walking on their toes.”
What are the signs?
People will not tend to know that they have ankle equinus. Instead, they tend to visit a Podiatrist or Doctor complaining of other foot, ankle or leg problems. At Dubai Podiatry Centre, we thoroughly assess patients for any underlying biomechanical causes in order to thoroughly treat and address the root cause.
Patients with ankle equinus will commonly compensate (or alter) for the reduced upwards flexibility or motion of their ankle joint, without realizing it when they are walking or running. This ‘compensation’ in walking style often results in other foot, leg or back problems.
Heel strike with your toes pointing up off the ground is the first part of how we take a step when walking. With reduced ability to point the toe up, this means that people with ankle equinus may:
• Be prone to toe walking
• Pick the heel up early when walking
• Bend abnormally at the hip or knee when walking
• Have flattened foot arches
Causes of Ankle Equinus
• Tight Achilles tendon
• Tight calf muscle(s) – the solus and/or gastrocnemius
This tightness can be
• Inherited (congenital)
• Acquired due to injury – especially after being in a cast or on crutches
• Bone fragments from an old ankle break can block or adversely affect full range of motion
• Excessive use of high heels (Dolly Parton famously cannot walk without high heels due to overuse and tightness of the Achilles)
• Diabetes – can cause tightness of the Achilles
• Due to a significant leg length discrepancy
• As a result of an underlying neurological disorder
Ankle Equinus can result in other foot and leg issues, largely due to the ‘compensation’ when walking as other muscles, tendons and ligaments change how and when they move to help walking:
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Metatarsalgia
• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Callous or sores on the forefoot (behind the toes)
• Ankle pain
• Shin splints
• Collapsed medial long arch of the foot
• Calf muscle cramps
Treatment for Ankle Equinus
When you see your Podiatrist, most likely for one or more of the above symptoms, she will identify a reduced range of motion in the ankle and diagnose ankle equinus, if that’s the underlying cause. There are many other causes of any of the issues above, so it’s important to see a qualified, reputable biomechanics Podiatrist for a thorough and specialized lower limb assessment and diagnosis as well as appropriate treatment.
Treatment to address ankle equinus will aim to address the muscle / tendon imbalance and tightness, as well as the resultant increased pressure on your forefoot. Depending on each person, this may include heel lifts to reduce strain at the back of the heel / calf, custom orthotics to redistribute pressure from the forefoot and correct foot posture and gait. A custom orthotic will be designed to control your foot motion when walking or running and you’ll normally be asked to return to the Podiatrist for review to check on your progress. The Podiatrist can also advise on stretching exercises for your calf muscles. In some cases, Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin says “you may be referred to a specialist foot and ankle surgeon in cases where the equinus is due to bone fragments, for example.”
If you are concerned about stiffness in your ankle joint, or pain in your legs or feet, contact the UAE’s leading foot and leg specialists, Dubai Podiatry Centre, on +971 4 3435390.

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

What is a verruca?

A verruca is a skin infection commonly on the feet or hands and is caused by a virus. Also sometimes called a plantar wart, they are caused by the human papilloma virus. The virus causes your skin to produce excess keratin, a hard protein that helps build your skin, nails and hair.

Michelle Champlin, Chief Podiatrist at Dubai Podiatry Centre explains, “Depending where the verruca is on your foot, it will either stick out, causing a bump or remain pushed into your skin. If it’s on an area that you stand on – your heel or ball of your foot for example – it’s likely to be pressed into your skin. It’s more likely to stick out on the arch of your foot for example, or your fingers or toes, as they aren’t being pressed in when you stand.”

How do you catch a verruca?

The virus enters your body through even invisible scratches, cracks or abrasions in your skin. It survives best in moist areas, such as poolside, shower trays and damp towels. You can also catch it through direct skin-to-skin contact. It is not uncommon for us to see a person with a verruca on their foot then report that it has spread to their fingers, from picking at or touching the verruca.

Warts are much more likely to affect children and young people.

Are verrucas painful?

Whether a verruca is painful or not mainly depends on where it is on your body. Mrs. Champlin advises “If it’s on an area that takes weight – such as your heel – it’s more likely to cause discomfort when you’re standing or walking, just like a corn in the same area would or even a little stone in your shoe.” On areas such as your finger, it can be painful or bleed if you catch it on an object.

Will a verruca go away on its own?

Some verrucas do go away on their own, in time. It will depend on the person’s immune system. However, it is not uncommon for patients to report that they have had a verruca for ten years or more.

 

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Verruca

What does a verruca look like?

Sometimes people will confuse a wart from a ‘corn’ but they are two very different things, with different causes and treatments. It’s important to get the right diagnosis and treatment – a Podiatrist is very used to dealing with both corns and verrucas every day and can easily distinguish between the two and explain how, as well as what to do to treat it.

A verruca is caused by a virus, whereas a corn is build up of hard skin due to excess pressure on an area of skin – from friction in shoes on top of your toes, or maybe in the middle of your forefoot from pinched skin, due to a collapsed transverse arch. So corns can be traced back to constant friction from an outside force, such as tight shoes, or a biomechanical problem in your feet such as collapsed arches or retracted toes. Therefore – you can catch a verruca; you can’t ‘catch’ a corn. (Your Podiatrist can safely and painlessly remove a corn, identify what caused it, and how to help stop it from coming back, from footwear choices to protective toe sleeves or custom orthotics).

A verruca (plantar wart) on your foot can:

• Look either raised or flat and be pale/white
• Have one or more tiny black ‘dots’ in the centre (these are blood vessels)
• Be painful when you stand on them or squeeze them.

Another type of wart (verruca vulgaris) is more common on your knees, fingers etc. and can be:

• Hard and raised
• Rough and misshaped, almost like a ‘cauliflower’
• Less than a few millimeters to the size of a dirham coin
• One or many grouped together

Other types of warts include ‘plane warts’ that tend to occur on the legs and be more yellowish, smooth and flat. Another type of wart we see in the clinic are ‘periungal’ warts that occur under or around the nails of the fingers or toes. They are quite rough, and can affect the shape of the nail, causing discomfort. Mosaic warts tend to grow on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. They grow in groups, or clusters, and have a ‘tile’ like pattern.

 

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Verruca Treatments

Verrucas sometimes go away on their own. However, if it spreading, becoming painful or causing you embarrassment, you can have it treated.

It’s important to note that because a verruca is caused by a virus, no virus of any sort can be killed by any medicine. What any verruca treatment tends to do is harm the verruca site, to trigger your body’s immune system into recognizing the virus and attacking it. Podiatrists can also safely reduce the hard skin over the site to make it less painful to walk on, but this doesn’t remove the virus and the hard skin will build up again if left untreated.

Older treatment options included:

• Cryotherapy
• Salicylic acid
• Homeopathic treatments (thuja)

Dubai Podiatry Centre is renowned for research and innovation in the field of foot, toe and nail health. The clinic has moved on from treatments such as salicylic acid or cryotherapy, due to their relative ineffectiveness.

Cryotherapy can be quite painful for the patient, as the skin is basically being ‘burned.’ It tends to require quite a few follow up visits over many months – sometimes 10 or 12 sessions.

Salicylic acid, whiter painted on or in a plaster, can also burn healthy skin and tissue outside of the verruca site, causing healthy skin to become ‘macerated’ – soft, tender and mushy. No further or alternative treatment can take place if a site is macerated, infected or damaged and this must be left to heal before reviewing for any other treatment strategy.

Cryotherapy is not recommended for children, as it can be too painful and distressing. If after 12 weeks of cryotherapy the verruca has not gone away, it is unlikely to be successful and therefore should be discontinued. Treating verrucas under or near nails requires extra care and expertise, so that the nail growth is not damaged – cryotherapy should be avoided in these areas.

Dubai Podiatry Centre specializes in difficult to treat foot and nail problems, especially verrucas that have not responded to other treatments such as salicylic acid or cryotherapy.

Latest Treatment

Sometimes, your Podiatrist may recommend a short course of specific, targeted Vitamin therapy prior to and during verruca treatment, which can aid the body’s healing process and address any vitamin deficiency that can contribute to the body’s reduced immune response.

Dubai Podiatry Centre recommends the latest in verruca therapy – Dermojet. This is a needle-less device that looks like a steel pen, which discharges a range of medicines depending on what it is being used to treat. It is sometimes, for example, used by Doctors to administer vaccines virtually pain free and quickly.

Dermojet can also be used to specifically target specialized areas such as small verrucas on the feet and has been adapted for use by Dermatologists in treating a range of skin conditions. It only takes a few seconds, is sterile and has proven highly effective in the fight against verrucas, with generally only one follow up visit required to either deliver a ‘top up’ treatment or to check that the verruca is gone and discharge the patient.

 

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Caution

It is very important that verrucas should never be surgically removed or ‘cut out’. Not only is this in an ineffective way to tackle a virus, this can lead to long term issues that are far more problematic than the original verruca – particularly scar tissue on weight bearing area of your feet, which can cause ongoing pain and require long term scar reduction therapy.

Also, if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding, leave the verruca alone. If it’s painful, see a qualified, licensed Podiatrist, such as at Dubai Podiatry Centre, to safely reduce the hard skin of the verruca to reduce pain when walking or standing on it. You can also seek advice from your midwife or obstetrician.

Avoid catching / spreading verrucas

• Do not touch or pick at your (or anyone’s) wart – this is a great way to spread it! Wash your hands thoroughly straight away if you forget.
• Do not share towels, shoes or socks.
• Wear flip-flops around the pool and in shared shower / changing areas.
• Avoid pedicures or manicures in salons if you have a wart or verruca on your hands or feet to avoid spreading it to the pedicurist’s hands or to other customers through contaminated instruments.
• Only attend accredited salons that have been inspected for hygiene standards and which properly sterilize and autoclave instruments between customers.
• Avoid sharing razors or waxing/sugaring materials as these can harbor the virus and introduce it into tiny cuts or breaks in your skin when removing hair.
• Follow a good daily foot care regime – dry skin is more prone to crack and allow in infections such as viruses. File feet to keep hard skin at bay, moisturize with a urea-based foot cream and try silicone gel based moisturizing socks around the house for baby soft feet.

 

If you think you, your child or partner has a verruca, contact the UK qualified Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390 or book an appointment online (click here).

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

What is gout?

Gout is a medical condition caused by increased levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The uric acid crystallizes, and these crystals then collect in joints, tendons and surrounding soft tissue. Gout has been called the ‘disease of kings’ due to its association with a rich diet. King Henry VIII of England was a well-known sufferer.

The joint at the ball of the big toe – the metatarso-phalangeal joint (MTP joint) – is most commonly affected. Gout results in recurrent painful ‘flare-ups’ of inflammatory arthritis. The affected joint, in over 50% of cases at your big toe, becomes hot, swollen and tender. However, other joints such as the heels, knees, wrists and fingers can be affected.

Gout is unfortunately becoming more common, with 1-2% of the population being affected. This increase may be due to:
• Longer life expectancy
• Dietary changes
• Increase in metabolic syndromes (such as hypertension, diabetes)

People with gout frequently have other conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. It’s therefore important to see your GP as soon as you suspect you may have gout. They will carry out necessary diagnostic tests, recommend a course of short-term medication to alleviate and advise on longer term dietary and lifestyle changes to control the gout as well as any other co-existing conditions such as diabetes.

Symptoms

• Pain usually worse at night (due to the body’s lower temperature)
• Long-term gout can cause permanent hard, painless deposits of crystals at the joints, called tophi
• Tophi can result in damage to the bones – arthritis
• Crystals collecting in the kidneys can cause kidney problems, including kidney stones

 

Causes of Gout

• Lifestyle (including diet rich in seafood, alcohol, fructose-sweetened drinks, meat)
• Physical trauma / surgery
• Genetics
• Under-excretion of urea by the kidneys

Gout is confirmed by a test at your GP – the characteristic uric acid crystals will be visible in your joint fluid. X-rays can be helpful in someone with chronic gout.

Gout Treatment

During an acute attack, treatment tends to consist of:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Steroids
• Colchicine

Long term, gout is controlled by diet and lifestyle changes. Consuming coffee, Vitamin C and dairy products are understood to lower the risk. Being more active and increasing your fitness also helps. Aim to lose weight if you’re overweight. Avoid fructose based drinks and other food triggers such as alcohol (especially beer and spirits), meat and seafood.

If you do experience pain to your big toe joint, or any area of your foot or leg, you can also make an appointment with the expert Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390. Your Podiatrist can also rule out any other issues that can appear similar to gout, even biomechanics issues causing big toe pain such as hallux rigidus or bunions. If necessary, they can also refer you to an appropriate specialist, such as a rheumatologist, your GP or an orthopaedic surgeon, depending on diagnosis, investigation and treatment required.

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

Find out what our feet have in common with frogs
• It’s normal for baby feet and legs to bow inwards – this is because of how they are lying in the womb
• All babies have ‘flat feet’ with fatty padding where their arch will eventually form
• Arches start to form at about 2½ years old
• By 12 years old, a child’s foot is about 90% of its adult size
• That foot-measuring device in kids shoe shops? It’s called a Brannock Device, after its inventor
• Average clothes sizes are getting bigger – and so are shoe sizes! Shoe sizes are up by one full size compared to 30 years ago
• About 35% of us underestimate our shoe size (and are wearing the wrong size – here’s our tips on sizing work shoes)
• Toenails grow about 1mm per month – but they speed up during teenage years, pregnancy and in hot climates like Dubai
• Louise Hollis of California holds the world record for the longest toenails – 6 inches long!
• Toenails can tell your Podiatrist if you’re anaemic (indentations), have psoriasis (pitted) or have decreased blood circulation (hairless toes)
• In 2008, 25 year old Jessica Cox of Arizona who was born without arms, became the first person to pass her pilot’s license by using her feet at the controls
• The palms of your hands and soles of your feet have the thickest skin on your body
• A third of all the bones in your body are in your feet (26 in each foot)
• Each foot has 33 joints, 19 muscles, 10 tendons and 107 ligaments (and your Podiatrist at Dubai Podiatry Centre knows what each of them are, how they should work and how to fix them!)
• Humans are plantigrades – walking on the entire surface of their feet. Just like alligators, bears and frogs. Digitigrades walk on their toes – like horses, dogs, cats and birds
• There has never been a ‘centipede’ found that actually has 100 feet
• Rock climbers know all about ‘Elvis foot’ – where your feet and legs shake on a rock hold from muscle fatigue. All shook up….
• Elephants use their feet to hear – picking up ground vibrations
• Butterflies taste with their feet
• When you run, the force through your feet can be 3-4 times your body weight
• Smoking cigarettes can harm your feet – causing peripheral vascular disease with problems healing, poor circulation, even ulcers and gangrene
• The 250,000 sweat glands in your feet produce about half a pint of sweat daily
• Ancient Romans were the first to make different shoes for the left and right foot – before that shoes were interchangeable
• King Edward II of England invented shoe sizes that we still use today. In 1324, he stated that he diameter of a barley corn (1/3 inch) would equal one shoe size
• There are an estimated one trillion (1,000,000,000,000!) bacteria on each foot – it’s bacteria breaking down sweat that can cause smelly feet.
The best source for foot facts and healthcare tips are your expert Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre, led by Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin. Contact the UAE’s leading foot and leg clinic on +971 4 3435390 for every foot problem: from kids’ feet, to flat feet, verrucas and ingrown toenails

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

Osteoarthritis in the knee joint
Osteoarthritis is a condition affecting the joints of our bones, where the surfaces of the bone become damaged over time and don’t move quite as smoothly, or to the full range, that they should.
The protective covering of our joints is cartilage and this can become thinner and rougher as we age. Osteoarthritis is a fairly normal part of the aging process, which is why it’s also sometimes called ‘degenerative joint disease’ or even just ‘wear and tear.’
As the cartilage covering the joints become thinner and rougher, other tissues in your joints may try to help repair the area. The bones at the edge of the joint may grow outwards, creating ‘spurs’ or osteophytes. The joint capsule containing ‘synovial fluid’ may become enlarged, causing the joint to appear swollen. The ligaments that surround every joint in your body and help to stabilize and control its movement can thicken and contract, as they help the joint stabilize.
Symptoms
Mostly, the body copes with most osteoarthritic changes with no problems or symptoms – we all will develop some degree of joint wear and tear as we get older. It tends to be as the damage gets more severe that you may notice symptoms, although some people with relatively ‘minor’ appearing damage on x-rays can experience great pain advises Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin. Symptoms can be similar to rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms include:
• Pain at the joint(s) – tends to be worse when you move it or at the end of the day
• Stiffness – you may feel more stiff after resting, easing as you move
• A grating or crunching sound in your joints – called ‘crepitus’
• Swelling around the joint(s) – either soft (from the fluid build up) or hard (from the bony spurs)
• Reduced range of motion in the joint – all of our joints are designed to move in certain specific directions and within a certain maximum angle each way. For example, the knee is a hinge joint designed to extend (calf to hamstring) and flex (straighten the leg out). It is the body’s biggest joint and also the joint most commonly affected by arthritis. You may notice you can’t bend a joint as far as you used to.
Risk Factors
There are certain things that can increase the risk of developing arthritis, make it worse or cause it to develop earlier. These include:
• Excess bodyweight (places more force through the weight bearing joints, such as knees and ankles)
• Hereditary / genetic
• Previous injury or trauma to the joint
• Muscle weakness
• Biomechanical misalignment – musculo-skeletal imbalances in how we walk or run. Most commonly, people over-pronate which is likely to cause increased forces through the medial (inside) of the foot and leg joints. On the other hand, supinators are likely to have increased force through the lateral (outside) of their foot and leg joints. Both supinators and over-pronators are at higher risk of arthritic damage to their ankle, knee and hip joints.
Treatment
Your Doctor may refer you to a Podiatrist for a full biomechanical lower limb assessment to diagnose any contributing misalignment, and to make your own discrete orthotics to wear within your work or casual shoes. Alternatively, you can present straight to the foot and leg experts at Dubai Podiatry Centre without a doctor’s referral (unless your health insurance requires it). Custom orthotics re-distribute the weight and forces through your feet, legs and hips without any conscious effort from you, tightening and toning muscles that have been previously underused, such as raising the arch of your foot if you have fallen arches (sometimes called ‘flat feet’).
If you are experiencing pain or any of the symptoms described above in any of your joints – hip, knee, ankle or toes, make an appointment with your Podiatrist or Doctor. They will be able to diagnose osteoarthritis and rule out any other conditions that can have similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hallux rigidus (of your big toe), stress fractures, runners knee or gout. Joint pain in children, such as knee pain, should always be investigated with your Paediatric Orthopaedic specialist or Podiatrist, to rule out rheumatoid arthritis, Severs Disease and other possible causes of joint pain in children.
Custom corrective foot orthotics, prescribed and made by competent and experienced biomechanics Podiatrists such as the team at Dubai Podiatry Centre can reduce osteoarthritic damage, alleviate pain and increase activity levels by correcting the biomechanical alignment.
It is important that all children are checked at school age for any foot/leg biomechanical anomaly as a matter of routine, to correct any issue that may damage their joints in later years if left untreated. Your Paediatrician or Podiatrist will be glad to carry out this routine screening.
Contact the team at Dubai Podiatry Centre today on +971 4 3435390 to start on the road to recovery, or to have a kid’s foot and leg screening.

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
What is ‘Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome’?
The ‘tarsal tunnel’ is the canal between one of your ankle joint bones and a special band of ligaments that stretch across your foot. The ankle bone involved is called the medial malleolus – that’s the bone that sticks out on the inside of your ankle. The band of ligaments is called the ‘flexor retinaculum’ – also known as the internal annular ligament. It’s a strong band of fibres that extends from the malleolus at the tibia bone to the calcaneus (heel bone). It encloses the tendons of the muscles that help your foot to flex, as well as blood vessels and nerves for your tibia. This important tunnel holds the nerves, blood supply and tendons that control the foot’s movement and flexibility.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is the ankle equivalent of ‘carpal tunnel syndrome’ which is caused by compressed nerves in the wrist joint.
Symptoms
The main nerve contained in the tunnel is the tibia nerve. This nerve’s job is to provide the feeling, or sensation, for the sole of your foot. When this nerve gets compressed, this can lead to:
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Burning sensation or pain
usually along the sole of the foot or inside of the ankle. Symptoms may come and go, getting worse after long periods of standing or walking. Symptoms can go beyond just the one ankle area, to reach the toes, heel or even calf area.
Causes
Tarsal tunnel syndrome results from a compressed tibia nerve, so anything that compresses or squeezes this nerve can cause it:
• Flat feet – whether over-pronation or pes planus. The biomechanical malalignment from a fallen long arch in your foot causes your heel bone to tilt out, in turn putting pressure on the tarsal tunnel.
• Pressure on the area from a varicose vein, cyst, ganglion, swollen tendon or osteoarthritic bone spur.
• Injury such as an ankle sprain causing swelling and pressure on the nerve
• Diabetes or arthritis – related swelling at your ankle joints / lower limbs
Diagnosis & Treatment
See your Podiatrist if you experience any of the symptoms above. (S)he will carry out a number of tests as part of a complex lower limb assessment to test your nerve function and any sensation problems. (S)he will be able to differentiate between any other ailments and distinguish the underlying cause.
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the compressed nerve. Usually, non-surgical treatment will resolve it, including:
• Rest – limit your activity until the Podiatrist gives you the all clear
• Ice – protect the skin with a damp towel and ice for 20 minutes, allowing 40 minute breaks between icing
• NSAID painkillers
• Custom orthotics have proven especially effective where an underlying biomechanical issue is the cause. By correcting the over-pronation, or lifting the collapsed arch for example, the heel bone will be aligned correctly with the rest of the bones of the foot and ankle to maintain correct posture. This alleviates pressure on the tibia nerve.
• Sometimes, surgery may be recommended and your Podiatrist can refer you to the correct specialist orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in feet and ankle surgery, whether here in the UAE or abroad.
Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin of Dubai Podiatry Centre says, “I’ve seen quite a few cases of tarsal tunnel syndrome linked with biomechanical causes here in Dubai, possibly due to the number of patients with collapsed arches that we treat. The symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome can be very worrying for patients, and we work pro-actively with the patient to resolve these as soon as possible.”
If you are worried about any new or different sensation in your feet contact the UK trained Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390. If you are diabetic, remember to see your Podiatrist at least every year for your annual foot sensation tests too as part of your diabetic assessment

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Dubai Podiatry Centre is the renowned foot clinic established by Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin over 15 years ago. As a footwear expert, and self-confessed high heel wearer, Mrs. Champlin offers her advice on how to protect your feet when wearing high heels.
“When buying high heel shoes you should always buy shoes that fit the larger foot. Everybody has one foot that is larger than the other. If you buy shoes that fit the larger foot, the toes will be comfortable and you avoid getting blisters, corns or callous to the lesser toes,” advises Mrs. Champlin. Corns to the little 5th toes are a common problem when toes are squashed into a too cramped high heel.
Mrs. Champlin also says that “In order to keep the shoe nicely fitted to the smaller foot, use a heel grip at the heel of the shoe and a silicone toe sleeve to protect the 5th toe of the smaller foot also. This helps to fill up the space in the smaller foot of the shoe so that it doesn’t slip from the heel.”
Try varying your heel height every day, packing a comfortable pair of flats in your handbag if you’re going to be walking a lot, and rewarding your feet with a foot massage and refreshing balm at the end of the day. These little tips will help your foot remain healthy, even in high heels!
If you do experience any foot or ankle pain, including after wearing high heels, contact the expert UK Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390 today.

 

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)
Using an oscillating electric toothbrush is the best way to clean the toenails, advises Dubai Podiatry Centre’s Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin. Dead skin, moisturizer and other products tend to gather at the edges of the toenail where it meets the skin folds. This can lead to a build up of moisture, bacteria, fungus and debris that can cause toenail problems such as fungal infections or painful ingrown toenails.
https://dubaipodiatry.com/blog/178-onycholysis-toenail-lift-offMrs Champlin offers her tips for how to best care for your toenails, without causing damage: The best way to clean this delicate area is to buy an electric toothbrush that has an oscillating head. The head of this toothbrush should be ‘extra soft’. The nails can be safely cleaned daily, just as you would brush your teeth every day for good hygiene. It also helps to polish the top of the nail plate and removes all the dead skin and debris out of the edges of the skin fold and nail area.
It also helps to keep the cuticle intact. Use a drop of nail oil or pure peppermint oil, which is naturally fungicidal to help keep the nails healthy. Harsh soaps should not be used in this case as they can be too drying on the nail. Nail oil or peppermint oil is the best to use.
Peppermint oil can be bought from specialists such as Dubai Podiatry Centre or online.

Avoid over-pedicuring your toenails. You should avoid cutting down the sides of your toenails and never put any hard instruments underneath or around your nails to help minimise the risk of damaging your nail. Cuticles should be left intact, as they help to protect your nail from infection. Using an electric toothbrush daily on your nails will help give you beautiful, healthy, natural nails without drying, staining nail polish.
Should you notice redness, pain or inflammation at your nail borders, this can be a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection, ingrowing toenails or excessively curved toenails. Read our article on foot care for further information on caring for your feet.
Contact Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390 for an immediate appointment for any toenail concern.

بقلم ميشيل شامبلين

إن استخدام فرشاة الأسنان الكهربائية المتذبذبة هو أفضل طريقة لتنظيف أظافر القدمين، كما تنصح ميشيل شامبلين، رئيسة أطباء الأقدام في مركز دبي لعلاج الأقدام. يميل الجلد الميت والمرطب والمنتجات الأخرى إلى التجمع عند حواف أظافر القدم حيث تلتقي بطيات الجلد. يمكن أن يؤدي ذلك إلى تراكم الرطوبة والبكتيريا والفطريات والحطام الذي يمكن أن يسبب مشاكل في أظافر القدم مثل الالتهابات الفطرية أو ظهور أظافر مؤلمة تحت الجلد.

https://dubaipodiatry.com/blog/178-onychology-toenail-lift-off تقدم السيدة شامبلن نصائحها حول كيفية العناية بأظافر قدميك بشكل أفضل، دون التسبب في أي ضرر: أفضل طريقة لتنظيف هذه المنطقة الحساسة هي شراء فرشاة أسنان كهربائية التي لها رأس متأرجح. يجب أن يكون رأس فرشاة الأسنان هذه “ناعمًا جدًا”. يمكن تنظيف الأظافر بشكل آمن يوميًا، تمامًا كما تفعل مع تنظيف أسنانك يوميًا من أجل النظافة الجيدة. كما أنه يساعد على تلميع الجزء العلوي من صفيحة الظفر وإزالة كل الجلد الميت والحطام من حواف ثنية الجلد ومنطقة الظفر.

كما أنه يساعد على الحفاظ على بشرة سليمة. استخدمي قطرة من زيت الأظافر أو زيت النعناع النقي، وهو مبيد طبيعي للفطريات للمساعدة في الحفاظ على صحة الأظافر. لا ينبغي استخدام الصابون القاسي في هذه الحالة لأنه قد يجفف الظفر كثيرًا. زيت الأظافر أو زيت النعناع هو الأفضل للاستخدام.

يمكن شراء زيت النعناع من متخصصين مثل مركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل أو عبر الإنترنت.

تجنب الإفراط في باديكير أظافرك. يجب عليك تجنب قص جوانب أظافرك وعدم وضع أي أدوات صلبة تحت أو حول أظافرك للمساعدة في تقليل مخاطر إتلاف أظافرك. يجب أن تترك البشرة سليمة، لأنها تساعد على حماية أظافرك من العدوى. إن استخدام فرشاة الأسنان الكهربائية يوميًا على أظافرك سيساعدك على الحصول على أظافر جميلة وصحية وطبيعية دون تجفيف طلاء الأظافر أو تلطيخه.

إذا لاحظت احمرارًا أو ألمًا أو التهابًا عند حدود أظافرك، فقد يكون ذلك علامة على وجود عدوى فطرية أو بكتيرية، أو أظافر غائرة أو أظافر منحنية بشكل مفرط. اقرأ مقالتنا عن العناية بالقدم للحصول على مزيد من المعلومات حول العناية بقدميك.

اتصل بمركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل على الرقم ٠٤٣٤٣٥٣٩٠ للحصول على موعد فوري لأي مشكلة تتعلق بأظافر القدم.

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

Runner’s toe usually affects the second toe, which can become bruised and the toenail ultimately falls off. There are two main causes for runner’s toe, explained by Dubai Podiatry Centre’s Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin.

The second toe can claw inside the shoe, for grip whilst running and this is always due to the collapse of the transverse arch across your forefoot (which is one of three arches in your foot). By using a custom orthotic that lifts the transverse arch up, the metatarsal will no longer drop down and the toe will not claw.

Another explanation for runner’s second toe is that in some cases the second toe can be longer than the first toe. A sock will pull on the forefoot and bend the second toe, causing the end of the toe to tap the shoe, causing bruising and even for the nail to fall off. In this case, Mrs. Champlin advises that “toe socks should be worn instead of regular socks. Toe socks independently enclose each toe and allow for independent toe movement, especially useful for runners. This can also help prevent runner’s toe problems.

You should visit a podiatrist for a full biomechanical foot and leg assessment to see if the runner’s toe is due to either the length of the second toe, or if it due to a collapse of the transverse arch. Other common problems affecting runners that the Clinic treats are runner’s knee, over-pronation, supination, shin splints and IT band pain.

Either way, it is straightforward for the Podiatrists at Dubai Podiatry Centre to spot and prevent or treat any runner’s issues. To get your training back on track, contact Dubai Podiatry Centre for an appointment on Call: +971 4 3435390| WhatsApp: +971 50 3553024 | Book Online (click here)

عادة ما يؤثر إصبع قدم العداء على إصبع القدم الثاني، والذي يمكن أن يصاب بكدمات ويسقط ظفر القدم في النهاية. هناك سببان رئيسيان لإصابة إصبع قدم العداء، حسبما أوضحت ميشيل شامبلين، رئيسة أطباء الأقدام في مركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل.

يمكن لإصبع القدم الثاني أن ينخل داخل الحذاء، من أجل الإمساك به أثناء الجري، ويرجع ذلك دائمًا إلى انهيار القوس المستعرض عبر مقدمة قدمك (وهو أحد الأقواس الثلاثة في قدمك). باستخدام جهاز تقويم العظام المخصص الذي يرفع القوس المستعرض لأعلى، لن ينخفض مشط القدم للأسفل ولن يخدش إصبع القدم.

تفسير آخر لإصبع القدم الثاني للعداء هو أنه في بعض الحالات يمكن أن يكون إصبع القدم الثاني أطول من إصبع القدم الأول. سوف يسحب الجورب مقدمة القدم ويثني إصبع القدم الثاني، مما يتسبب في نقر نهاية إصبع القدم على الحذاء، مما يسبب كدمات وحتى سقوط الظفر. وفي هذه الحالة، تنصح السيدة شامبلن بأنه “يجب ارتداء جوارب أصابع القدم بدلاً من الجوارب العادية. جوارب أصابع القدم تحيط بكل إصبع قدم بشكل مستقل وتسمح بحركة مستقلة لأصابع القدم، وهي مفيدة بشكل خاص للعدائين. يمكن أن يساعد هذا أيضًا في منع مشاكل إصبع قدم العداء.

يجب عليك زيارة طبيب الأقدام لإجراء تقييم ميكانيكي حيوي كامل للقدم والساق لمعرفة ما إذا كان إصبع قدم العداء يرجع إما إلى طول إصبع القدم الثاني، أو إذا كان بسبب انهيار القوس العرضي. المشاكل الشائعة الأخرى التي تؤثر على العدائين والتي تعالجها العيادة هي ركبة العدائين، والإفراط في الكب، والاستلقاء، وجبائر قصبة الساق، وآلام شريط تكنولوجيا المعلومات.

وفي كلتا الحالتين، من السهل على أطباء الأقدام في مركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل اكتشاف مشاكل أي عداء ومنعها أو علاجها. لاستعادة تدريبك إلى المسار الصحيح، اتصل بمركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل للحصول على موعد على الرقم: ٠٤٣٤٣٥٣٩٠| واتساب: ٠٥٠٣٥٥٣٠٢٤

Written by Michelle Champlin BSc Pod., M.Ch.S., S.R., Ch., (UK)

For fungal skin infections to your feet, follow our guide to get rid of it (and stop re-infection). Fungal skin infections such as Athlete’s Foot are very common, particularly in dry, warm climates such as ours in Dubai. Your feet may be powdery white, red and scaly, itchy or smelly when you have a fungal skin infection on your feet.

• Firstly, visit the Podiatrist to remove all callous so that any antifungal treatments will be successful. Fungal spores feed off of the keratin in dead skin, and it also stops topical medication from acting on your skin underneath.

• You then must use a topical antifungal medication to both feet such as Lamisil.

• Then spray all your shoes with an antifungal spray to reduce the fungal spores from all your shoes. You also must use an antifungal powder into all of your socks. If you don’t treat your shoes and socks, your treated feet will simply get reinfected. The best way to do this is to apply a half teaspoonful of antifungal powder to each sock in your sock drawer. This way the antifungal powder can work on the socks resting in your drawer and also it comes out of the sock as you walk and into your shoes, thus treating your skin, shoes and socks in one go.

• Antifungal medication will be prescribed by your Podiatrist. It may be an oral antifungal tablet (such as Lamisil) or a topical antifungal applied to your skin. Oral antifungals require a liver function test and it is important to see your Podiatrist or GP for a prescription.

• Throw away any used foot files or pumice stones as they can also harbor the fungal spores and lead to a constant cycle of reinfection. Also throw away any old shoes that are fur or wool lined, or spongy foam lined, such as fur slippers or sports shoes. Leather shoes can be sprayed inside with the antifungal foot and shoe spray. (Check out our essential footcare package compiled by our Podiatrists containing all the essential items required for healthy feet).

• Try not to wear the same pair of enclosed shoes two days in a row, to allow them time to dry out between wears.

Get rid of your old trainers to stop fungal reinfection

Visit your Podiatrist to find out what are the best medications to use for your feet, and to have a callous removal treatment. You can also check out our advice on a healthy foot care regime – dry, cracked skin is more at risk of developing fungal infections, so keeping feet healthy and moisturized is not just a cosmetic concern.

The Podiatrist will also check your toenails to make sure there is no fungal toenail involvement also, which is common with fungal skin infections such as Athlete’s Foot.

Contact the UAE’s renowned foot and leg clinic, Dubai Podiatry Centre on +971 4 3435390 for an immediate appointment and treatment.

بقلم ميشيل شامبلين

بالنسبة للعدوى الجلدية الفطرية في قدميك، اتبع دليلنا للتخلص منها (وإيقاف إعادة العدوى). تعد الالتهابات الجلدية الفطرية مثل قدم الرياضي شائعة جدًا، خاصة في المناخات الجافة والدافئة مثل مناخنا في دبي. قد تبدو قدميك بيضاء اللون أو حمراء ومتقشرة أو مثيرة للحكة أو ذات رائحة كريهة عندما تكون مصابًا بعدوى جلدية فطرية على قدميك.

• أولاً، قم بزيارة طبيب الأقدام لإزالة كل مسامير القدم حتى تنجح أي علاجات مضادة للفطريات. تتغذى الجراثيم الفطرية على الكيراتين الموجود في الجلد الميت، كما أنها تمنع الدواء الموضعي من التأثير على الجلد تحته.

• يجب عليك بعد ذلك استخدام دواء موضعي مضاد للفطريات في كلا القدمين مثل اللامسيل.

• ثم قم برش حذائك برذاذ مضاد للفطريات لتقليل الجراثيم الفطرية الموجودة في حذائك. يجب عليك أيضًا استخدام مسحوق مضاد للفطريات في جميع جواربك. إذا لم تعالج حذائك وجواربك، فسوف تصاب قدميك المعالجة بالعدوى مرة أخرى. أفضل طريقة للقيام بذلك هي وضع نصف ملعقة صغيرة من المسحوق المضاد للفطريات على كل جورب في درج الجوارب. بهذه الطريقة، يمكن للمسحوق المضاد للفطريات أن يعمل على الجوارب الموجودة في درجك ويخرج أيضًا من الجورب أثناء المشي ويدخل إلى حذائك، وبالتالي يعالج بشرتك وأحذيتك وجواربك دفعة واحدة.

• سيتم وصف دواء مضاد للفطريات من قبل طبيب الأقدام الخاص بك. قد يكون قرصًا مضادًا للفطريات عن طريق الفم (مثل لاميسيل) أو مضادًا للفطريات موضعيًا يتم تطبيقه على الجلد. تتطلب مضادات الفطريات الفموية إجراء اختبار وظائف الكبد ومن المهم مراجعة طبيب الأقدام أو الطبيب العام للحصول على وصفة طبية.

• تخلص من أي مبارد قدم مستعملة أو أحجار الخفاف لأنها يمكن أن تؤوي أبواغ الفطريات وتؤدي إلى دورة مستمرة من الإصابة مرة أخرى. تخلص أيضًا من أي أحذية قديمة مبطنة بالفراء أو الصوف، أو مبطنة بالإسفنج، مثل شباشب الفراء أو الأحذية الرياضية. يمكن رش الأحذية الجلدية من الداخل باستخدام رذاذ القدم والأحذية المضاد للفطريات. (راجع حزمة العناية بالقدم الأساسية التي جمعها أطباء الأقدام لدينا والتي تحتوي على جميع العناصر الأساسية اللازمة لأقدام صحية).

• حاول ألا ترتدي نفس زوج الأحذية المغلقة لمدة يومين متتاليين، لإتاحة الوقت ليجف بين مرات الارتداء.

تخلص من حذائك الرياضي القديم لوقف عودة العدوى الفطرية

قم بزيارة طبيب الأقدام الخاص بك لمعرفة أفضل الأدوية التي يمكنك استخدامها لقدميك، ولعلاج إزالة مسامير القدم. يمكنك أيضًا الاطلاع على نصيحتنا بشأن نظام صحي للعناية بالقدم – الجلد الجاف والمتشقق أكثر عرضة لخطر الإصابة بالعدوى الفطرية، لذا فإن الحفاظ على صحة القدمين وترطيبها ليس مجرد مشكلة تجميلية.

سيقوم طبيب الأقدام أيضًا بفحص أظافر قدميك للتأكد من عدم وجود فطريات في أظافر القدم، وهو أمر شائع في الالتهابات الجلدية الفطرية مثل قدم الرياضي.

اتصل بعيادة القدم والساق المشهورة في الإمارات العربية المتحدة، مركز دبي لعلاج الأرجل على الرقم ٠٤٣٤٣٥٣٩٠  للحصول على موعد وعلاج فوري.