Foot biomechanical and podiatry

Who is the podiatrist?

It is the sanitary university professional with knowledge, skills and aptitudes to perform activities directed to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders and deformities.

Functions:

• Chiropody: Skin disorder treatment (callosity, hardness, etc.) and nails (incarnated, thickened,etc.)
• Ortho podiatry and Biomechanics: Study and exam of the biomechanical pattern of the walk through plantar pressure tests and footprint valuation. Plantar support confection that improve support distribution and favour the good foot working, as well as silicone orthotics bespoke for toes deformity.
• Sports podiatry: Application of biomechanical, physical, kinetic and kinematic knowledge to improve sports efficiency in activities in which foot are important (athletism, football, basketball, cycling…) as well to prevent and treat podiatry lessions that affect athletes.
• Foot pathology: Foot pain (metatarsalgia, spur, neuromas, etc.), infections (fungus, papilloma, etc. ).
• Risk foot: Prevention and treatment of foot lessions in risk patients, special attention to diabetic population, implementation of specific podiatry protocols, based in clinical experience and continuous update and research in this area..
• Foot surgery: Surgical approach of congenital and acquired diseases as bunion, claw toes or incarnated nails, with use of additional diagnosis tests and applying surgical techniques from podiatric surgery.

Why you should visit your podiatrist?

• It is recommended to go to the podiatrist in different stages of kids development to detect and prevent important problems with consequences that will remain and be worst at adult age.
• A small discomfort treated in time can avoid worst problems long term.
• To use non suitable shoes can be bad for your health. Shoes should fit your foot. Check with your podiatrist.
• It is recommended a frequently check-up of the walk. To walk in a incorrect way can cause problems not only on your foot, but also in knees and hips.
• If you are an athlete you should visit a specialist to check suitbility of your footprint, because during sports activity the same gesture is made a million times and can only cause joint wear.
• When you arrive to elderly age it is important to be really careful with foot because they are the base to have an active life. A monthly visit to cut nails and remove callosity help to keep a good quality of life.