What Causes Shin Splints and How Can You Prevent Them?

If you engage regularly engage in high-impact activities such as running or playing football and baseball, you may be at risk of suffering from shin splints. Shin splints are the pain that occurs in the front part of the leg when too much force is exerted on the tibia. The condition is common in people who have just started taking part in physical activity, as their legs aren't yet strong enough for the sport.

Three Crucial Considerations for Footwear Insole Selection

Shoe insoles (also called orthotics) are beneficial if you are prone to foot pain. These products will provide proper foot support and minimise the stress and pressure exerted when walking or standing. It is also advisable to acquire insoles if you are planning on taking up activities which involve high feet impact such as running and tennis. In addition, these elements are beneficial for restoring the comfort of old shoes. If you are planning on purchasing insoles for the first time, you should consider the below-outlined factors before choosing the ideal inserts.

Top 5 Healthy Tips for Runners

Running has been the easiest and most practical form of exercise for most people. It is a great way to work out while at the same time getting some air and clearing your head. But did you know you can get serious injuries from running? Here are top 5 tips from the world-class podiatrists for healthy running; Invest in Right Footwear There are right and wrong shoes for running, and getting it wrong will cause you tremendous pain in your joints, muscles, and tendons.

Common types of foot conditions that podiatrists can treat

A podiatrist specialises in the medical treatment of conditions related to the lower legs, ankles, and feet. Read on to learn more about the way in which they may approach the treatment of two of the most common kinds of foot problems. Bunions A bunion is a type of deformity, which develops when the joint nearest to the base of the big toe becomes enlarged. The resulting bump can make it difficult for the sufferer to wear shoes without experiencing pain, as the bunion rubs against the sides of their footwear until the skin becomes raw and blistered.

Don't Be Dismissive of Your Heel Pain: Things to Consider

Heel pain can be an annoyance, and in extreme cases it can even be debilitating. It's not something you should have to live with, although in many cases it can be attributed to a particular incident, meaning that the discomfort will subside as the area heals itself. There can be a number of reasons for heel pain, and if your pain seems to be ongoing or returns periodically, you should see a doctor or podiatrist.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Approach

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) is a common running injury that's associated with overuse and strain on the iliotibial band, which leads to it becoming inflamed and tight. This band, which is actually a ligament, starts at the pelvis and runs along the outside of the thigh to the knee. It helps stabilise the knee joint, and when it's inflamed, runners experience pain on the outside of their knee. Causes As ITBS is related to overuse, it can be caused by running too many miles, and you can develop the condition whether you are a beginner or an experienced runner.

Functional Footwear for Healthy Strength Training

If you're planning on developing muscle mass and strength, then weight training is certainly the way forward. However, it's not just as simple as turning up to the gym and grabbing the heaviest pair of dumbbells you can find. A lot of thought and preparation needs to go into your posture and lifting technique and, as any good podiatrist will tell you, your footwear and lower body flexibility. Ensuring your body has a solid base from the ground up can reduce the risk of knee and ankle problems, whilst helping to protect your back in a variety of different ways.

Could Your Child Have Sever's Disease?

Sever's disease is a foot condition that can affect children during their adolescent growth spurt. It's a painful heel injury and is typically seen in children who are very physically active. In children, the growth plate in the heel is in two sections that are joined by cartilage, and these two sections join together and harden when children stop growing. Sever's disease causes the cartridge between the two sections of the growth plate to become inflamed.

What's Good for the Heart May Not Be Good for the Feet

Frequent training at the gym is clearly beneficial to your fitness but not always for your feet. Wearing the same gym shoes every day leads to a build up of bacteria, which not only causes foot odour, but also contributes to a number of different foot conditions that can cause embarrassment and discomfort. There should be a qualified podiatrist in your local medical centre, and if you find that you're suffering with any of the following conditions, it's advised that you visit sooner rather than later, before the conditions become difficult to treat.

Curing Fungal Nail Infections with Essential Oils

If you're a regular gym goer and suffer from thick, brittle or yellow nails, you may be suffering with Onychomycosis, otherwise known as fungal nail infection. Anyone can get a nail infection, however people who frequently wear sweaty trainers may be at higher risk, due to the warm, damp conditions that surround the toes. Whilst some conditions are certainly liveable and may require no treatment, if it causes pain when you walk or trim the nail, or leads to feelings of self-consciousness then professional help from a registered podiatrist is advised.