Foot Care
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Foot Care
We have two foot clinics located in Thornhill and North York offering a range of services to treat whatever ails your feet. Please see all foot care below.
Bunions
Most often found on the inner foot near the big toe but sometimes located on the fifth toe, bunions are a painful yet common condition caused by inflammation of the bursa. Bursa resides in the connective tissues of the bodies and is essentially a small fluid filled sac. The inflammation and thickening of these sacs creates a problematic bone formation that forces the toe out of alignment and causes great discomfort.
If you are suffering from bunions, you are most likely familiar with the symptoms. Pain, redness and extreme sensitivity are to be expected as bunion growth progresses and the affected toe is pushed out of alignment. If allowed to progress, bunions can make it difficult to walk and eventually cause severe pain.
Bunions may be passed down from parents to children, which suggests that the shape and action of the foot may cause the condition. When proper alignment is not used while standing, walking and participating in athletics, the integrity of the feet may be compromised and pressure can build throughout the foot.
There are several viable treatment options available for bunions. Contact our foot clinic in Thornhill today to begin the process of freeing yourself from the pain that comes with this condition.
Calluses and Corns
The human body is incredibly adaptable, and corns and calluses are just one way your body defends you. While slightly different from each other, corns and calluses stem from the same root cause. They are both thick patches of skin that develop to protect you when the skin is subjected to excessive friction and pressure, but they can become problems themselves, particularly for diabetics or anyone with compromised circulation.
Signs Your Corn or Callus is a Problem
Identifying a troublesome corn or callus is relatively simple if they are bothering you or inhibiting your life in any way at all, see your podiatrist!
In some cases, the callus or corn may become sensitive or start to crack. Consistent foot care can help keep calluses supple and prevent them from growing large enough to be a problem. There are many products available to make foot care easier, including foot soaks and pumice stones.
For those with severe or recurring problems, the occasional pedicure may be in order. Of course prevention is always the most effective form of treatment. If you are experiencing calluses, take care to protect your feet, wear supportive footwear that fits correctly, and adjust your posture so your weight is distributed evenly across the entire foot. Contact us today to learn more about calluses and what you can do to manage them.
Compression Socks
The Foot Institute, Thornhill and North York locations, offers specialized hosiery to prevent swelling and assist in blood circulation. Our foot clinic provides you with compression stockings in Thornhill and North York.
We understand the importance of being healthy and pain free, because your feet and legs play the most important role during your daily activities.
What is compression hosiery?
As opposed to traditional socks or stockings, compression socks create significant pressure on the lower limb especially your feet, ankles and lower leg.
They are designed to be firmest around the ankles, gradually easing constriction around the lower legs towards the thighs.
The Foot Institute Carries a range of compression socks in North York from knee high to thigh high, panty hose, and maternity pantyhose.
Compression Stocking, which are fitted to the upper thigh or full pantyhose. Compression Socks, which reach the knee.
How it Works
By compressing the legs, the venous blood flow is positively affected and valve efficiency is improved. The resulting reduction in swelling eases the feeling of “heavy legs” and concurrent aches and pains.
How Compression Socks and Stocking Can Help You
Compression socks and stockings are designed to assist in the reduction and prevention of various venous problems such as thrombosis, edema, and phlebitis.
Conditions Relieved by Compression Socks Include:
- Tired aching legs – While the condition may just seem uncomfortable and even painful it could also be a precursor to deep vein thrombosis.
- Edema – This is a condition where excess blood plasma swells in the small blood vessels and capillaries causing swelling in the soft tissues.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency – The veins fail to pump deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
- Spider Veins – Mild venal weakness showing as tiny veins in the skin .
- Varicose Veins – These veins become distended and may be inflamed and painful through venal weakness and once formed do not repair.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis – A serious condition that may not be immediately obvious in which a clot forms in the deep veins of the leg.
- There is a possibility of blood clots forming which may cause serious problems if they then circulate through the body. There is higher risk of this occurring during high altitude flights with air pressure changes now commonly called “Economy Class Syndrome”, because cramped seating exacerbates the problem.
- Phlebitis – Occurs when inflammation and clotting occurs in a vein due a trauma or infection resulting inflammation.
- Pregnancy – Hormonal changes and the enlarging uterus applying pressure to internal veins can affect leg veins and their functions.
- Compression socks or stockings might just be the solution your aching feet are looking for!
Get Fit For Compression Wear
The Foot Institute carries a selection of compression stockings in Thornhill and North York that range from casual wear, active wear, and medical wear.
Book an appointment at our North York Office located in Lawrence Square, or in Thornhill for a prompt assessment to determine the best hosiery for you.
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes is a condition in which excessively high glucose levels in the blood can jeopardize the health of the liver, eyes, kidneys and blood vessels. One of the potential effects of diabetes is a weakened immune system rendering the body unable to effectively fight off infections. Additionally, the disease often leads to serious problems with the feet.
One common way that diabetics encounter foot problems is due to a damaged nervous system. Weakened nervous systems are not able to effectively convey messages from the feet, leading to an inability for the patient to feel the feet. This also impairs normal sweat secretion and oil production in the feet, leading to abnormal pressure on the feet during walking and skin problems that often result in sores.
Due to the suppression of the immune response in diabetics, the body is often unable to heal these wounds. If left untreated bacterial infections can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation to ensure that the infection does not spread to other parts of the body.
If you suffer from diabetes, it is crucial that you ensure foot health by working with your doctor to reduce the likelihood of infection and quickly treat any infection that arises. The Foot Institute is a foot clinic in North York and Thornhill that helps you with diabetic foot care. Our foot specialists and chiropodists in Thornhill and Richmond hill are highly educated and trained to provide professional diabetic foot care. Contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your feet for a lifetime.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to discomfort, inflammation, and, in some cases, infection. This condition most commonly affects the big toe and can result from improper nail trimming, tight footwear, injuries, or genetic factors. If left untreated, ingrown toenails can become increasingly painful and may lead to more serious foot problems.
Early symptoms of an ingrown toenail include redness, swelling, and tenderness along one or both sides of the nail. As the condition worsens, the affected area may become infected, resulting in pus, warmth, or heightened pain. Individuals with diabetes or compromised circulation are particularly vulnerable to complications and should seek care promptly.
If ingrown toenails are ignored, infections can spread to the surrounding skin and bone. Chronic inflammation or recurring infections may require surgical intervention to remove part or all of the nail. Addressing this issue early helps prevent complications and preserves the overall health of your feet.
If you're experiencing an ingrown toenail, prompt treatment is essential. The Foot Institute, with clinics located in North York and Thornhill, offers professional care for ingrown toenails. Our foot specialists and chiropodists in Thornhill and Richmond Hill are highly trained to assess, treat, and prevent recurring cases. Contact us today to relieve discomfort and restore your foot health with expert care.
Pediatric Foot Care
When caring for infants and children, taking care of their feet probably doesn’t jump to mind for a top priority. However, there are several ailments that can affect a youngster’s feet and proper steps should be taken to ensure good foot health. Here's why pediatric foot care is necessary.
As early as infancy, take proper measures to ensure good foot health for your baby. This can be achieved by ensuring a few simple steps:
- Provide exercise - lying uncovered provides kicking and other related motions which prepare the feet for weight bearing.
- Change the baby's position several times a day.
- Look at your baby's feet often to see if you notice something that looks abnormal.
- Cover the baby's feet loosely - tight covers restrict movement.
Young children’s feet are very resilient. Foot deformities that weren’t present at birth can result from a variety of factors including tight covers or shoes that restrict foot growth and development. It’s imperative that shoes be flexible and fitted properly.
As they age, be aware of your child’s walking patterns which may signal a concern. In addition, foot pain or swelling without explanation could be a sign of a serious condition and should not be ignored.
Good health is all-encompassing for infants and children. By adding a few simple steps, you can keep them healthy from head to toe.
The Foot Institute is a foot clinic in North York and Thornhill. Our Chiropodists are here to help your baby's foot health and make sure they have a strong and healthy feet foundation by addressing any foot issues that may be keeping them from their best self.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole, heel, or ball of the foot. Most plantar warts are diagnosed based on their appearance. They are generally rough and spongy, and most are gray, brown, or yellow with dark pinpoints—these are typically tiny capillaries that supply blood to the wart.
Plantar warts can occur when the human papilloma virus (HPV) invades the body through the skin on the bottom of the feet typically through cuts or breaks. The virus often is present on contaminated surfaces, such as the tile floors of public locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.
Some individuals are more prone to the virus that causes plantar warts than other people. Risk factors include:
Repeated HPV exposure. For example, walking barefoot in public locker rooms and common public areas.
Having a weakened immune system.
In some cases, the virus can be transmitted to the feet from other areas of the body. This is called remote location seeding.
When first diagnosed, individuals often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot when standing, similar to having a stone in the shoe. If left untreated, plantar warts can grow up to 1 inch in circumference and may spread into clusters (called mosaic warts). In severe cases, they cause a change in gait or posture that results in leg or back pain.
If you suffer from plantar warts, visit your Chiropodist to find effective treatment options for you.
Shockwave Therapy For Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis represents a medical issue of the occurrence of pain in the area of the heel bone (mostly under it) and the foot’s arch. It is caused by the irritation of the fibrous tissue that makes up the arch of the foot. A person who suffers from plantar fasciitis often feels discomfort and different levels of pain in the area beneath the heel which are triggered after longer walks and lengthy periods of standing.
Initially, plantar fasciitis is treated with relatively simple medical procedures. Most common are the short-term procedures which include appliance of anti-inflammatory agents and application of ice which can also reduce the inflammation. Medium-term measures include specialized shoe inserts that correct the way a person walks or stands and exercise which are devised to mitigate the effects of plantar fasciitis. But, unfortunately, with some patients, these measures are not enough. In those cases, shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis might be considered as a way of take care of both acute pain and further discomfort.
ESWT or Extracorporeal shockwave therapy presents a possible way of treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis that emerged in the recent years. ESWT is especially focused on those who suffer from a chronical variation of this condition and those who depleted other traditional methods. Simply put, shockwave therapy used in cases of plantar fasciitis is a way of delivering shock waves in a focused manner to the affected area of the heel of the patient.
The basic notion behind the shockwave therapy is the idea that the same waves produce microtrauma in the area affected by plantar fasciitis. The same trauma then triggers the healing processes of the body, including the formation of the small blood vessels and the increased presence of nutrients in the area that is affected. The same healing process is thought to reduce the symptoms of the condition and also repairs the fibrous tissue that was impacted by the plantar fasciitis.
Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis has two distinct variations. First one consists of low-energy waves which are completely painless, or produce only slight pain during treatment, which is why they are administered in a larger number (three treatments of more). High-energy waves, on the other hand, include a substantial amount of pain and are administered along with some form of anaesthesia. These are administered in a single session.
The reason why shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis was developed way back in 1996 was the fact that surgically treatment of this condition did not prove to be overly effective. Left with patients with a chronic condition that did not improve after the surgery, medical experts began searching for alternative solutions that would be more effective and less invasive than a regular surgery. At the same time, a surgery requires a long recovery process during which the patients need to rest and restrict their movements. Compared to any form of surgery, even high-energy shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis produces almost no long-term discomfort. Also, it is important to recognize that ESWT includes a minimal amount of potential side effects, as opposed to aggressive anti-inflammatory medications and especially orthopaedic surgery.
Because of these facts, it is clear that those suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis should definitely look into shockwave therapy for a way of easing their symptoms or even completely getting rid of their condition. Contact our foot clinic at North York or Thornhill to book an appointment with one of our orthopodists to learn more about the treatment options.
Sports Rehab
Whether you are a professional athlete, a dancer, a sports enthusiast, or just a regular person getting by with your day-to-day activities, it is very important to ensure the proper condition of your feet. Your feet help you attain stability and balance that impacts your overall health. Foot pain and discomfort can cause various issue, often times affecting your spine and other vital parts of your body. Sports rehab is a multi-disciplinary approach that helps you with the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of sport injuries that may occur. With this in mind, consulting a specialist can help relieve and eliminate these foot-related issues once and for all.
Reputable and Dependable Chiropodist in Ontario
Darryl Cohen, our licensed chiropodist in North York, is registered with Ontario's College of Chiropodists. With 21 years of professional practice, he has gained expertise in this field, with specific interests in diabetic and pediatric foot care, custom-made orthotics, sports rehab for foot injuries and biomechanics of the lower limb.
The Foot Institute, a sports rehab foot clinic in Thornhill and surrounded areas specializes in a wide range of foot conditions that affect people from all ages and various walks of life. We implement advanced and proven methods in evaluating and treating foot health issues, which include laser foot treatment, shockwave therapy, routine foot care, prescription medications, orthotic therapy and rehab programs. We offer sports rehab in Richmond Hill and depending on your condition, we will recommend the best and most effective mode of treatment to attain positive results.
Treatment of Foot Problems
We cover a number of issues related to foot health, and we provide diagnosis and treatment of several podiatric conditions such as bunions, achilles tendonitis, flat foot or fallen arches, Haglund's deformity, running injuries, metatarsalgia, heel pain or plantar fasciitis, Hallux limitus, osteoarthritis, sprains, tendonitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, posterior tibial dysfunction and rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to these conditions, we also offer suitable treatment to skin and nail conditions including allergic contact dermatitis, athlete's foot, calluses, ingrown toenails, nail fungus and xerosis. With a combination of treatment methods, we will help you obtain maximum relief from pain and discomfort in your feet and put you back on track as soon as possible.
Quality Results with our Foot Clinic in Richmond Hill
If you are suffering from foot pain and discomfort, you need to go to an expert who understands the cause, symptoms and best treatment for your condition. We make it a point to deliver top quality results that will restore the health of your feet through state-of-the-art techniques and methods.
Visit The Foot Institute, foot specialist in Thornhill today and schedule an appointment for consultation, so you can find out how we can help you.
