Plantar warts are mild growths that form on the heels or balls of your feet. They normally go away on their own and do not represent a health risk. Plantar warts, on the other hand, may cause pain and discomfort and may need treatment with a particular drug. A tiny, fleshy, rough, grainy growth on the bottom of your foot with or without black pinpoints is the most typical sign of a plantars wart. Many people mistake a wart with a corn, however a wart disturbs the typical lines and ridges in your foot’s skin, but a corn does not.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the outer layer of skin on the soles of your feet causes plantar warts. Warm, damp conditions, such as a locker room or a swimming pool, are ideal for HPV to grow.

Plantar warts usually fade away on their own, however it may take a year or two. Please consult your Cambridge Chiropodist and foot care expert if your warts are uncomfortable or spreading.

Hammer toe, Mallet Toe, and Claw Toe are all different types of conditions that can result in serious discomfort.

Hammer Toe

A hammer toe is a toe that is contracted at the middle joint in the toe. Ligaments and tendons tighten and cause the toe’s joints to curl downwards. Hammer toes may occur in any toe except the big toe. There are two types – flexible and rigid. In a flexible hammer toe, the joint has the ability to move. A rigid hammer toe does not have that same ability to move. Both felxible and rigid hammer toes can be painless but on occasions may cause pain due to callus or corns caused by rubbing on the top of shoes.

Mallet Toe

Excessive rubbing of the mallet toe against the top of the shoe can lead to pain and the development of a corn. The tip of the toe is often turned down against the shoe causing pressure and discomfort.
A mallet toe occurs when the joint at the end of the toe cannot straighten. Mallet toes can cause extreme discomfort, and can be aggravated if restrictive or improperly fitting footwear is worn for a prolonged period of time.

Claw Toe

A claw toe is a toe that is contracted at middle and end joints in the toe and can lead to severe pressure and pain. Ligaments and tendons that have tightened and caused the joints to curl downwards. Claw can be flexible and/or rigid. In a flexible claw toe, the joint has the ability to move and can be straightend manually. A rigid claw toe does not have that same ability to move or has very little movement and is extremely painful.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet that is quite frequent. Fungi or fungal germs are often found in tiny quantities on human skin, where they do no damage. They may, however, infiltrate the skin, spread, and cause infection if the circumstances are appropriate. Warm, wet, and airless regions of skin, such as between the toes, are ideal for the fungus.

Athlete’s foot is a contagious infection that may be spread from person to person. Symptoms include:

• A rash that gets itchy and scaly as it progresses.
• It’s possible that the skin may become cracked and inflamed.
• Infected skin flakes may break off in little flakes.
• If left untreated, the rash may progress down the toes.
• It may even extend to the soles in certain situations.
• On the whole sole and side of the foot, there is a scaling rash.

Fungi seldom penetrate the body deeper than the epidermis. Other germs (bacteria) may enter the untreated athlete’s foot via broken skin. This may sometimes lead to more severe foot or leg infections. The infection might extend to a nail in certain cases. This is something that can be fixed.

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Shin splints are a recurring occurrence among sports, particularly runners. Overexertion of the muscles causes discomfort in the front or inner aspect of the lower leg or shin after running or simply walking. Without a history of trauma, the pain normally creeps on gradually. Because of the increased risk of stress fractures, shin splints should not be ignored.

Shin splints occur when the muscles in the front of the foot are overworked. Wearing worn-out sports shoes with insufficient shock absorption, flat feet that produce higher stress on the lower leg muscles during exercise, and high arched feet with inadequate shock absorption are all common reasons.

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Along the inside of the ankle and foot, the posterior tibial tendon runs. The posterior tibial tendon travels from the inside of the ankle to the bottom of the foot, passing through the instep. The tendon supports the arch of the foot and aids in turning the foot inward during walking. Flat feet are caused by post-tibial tendon disfunction, in which the tendon fails to keep up the arch. Heel discomfort, arch pain, plantar fasciitis, and/or heel spurs may all result from this. Weight-bearing, particularly walking or running, will make the pain worse.

When the muscle is overworked and the tendon that links the muscle to your bone is stressed, posterior tibial tendonitis develops. Flat feet may potentially cause posterior tibial tendon weakness over time. If you continue to overuse the muscle, the tendon will be damaged, and tendonitis will develop. The discomfort or swelling may come and go at first, but the condition may gradually become more permanent.

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Ingrown toenails are a frequent condition that predominantly affects the great toe. As the ingrown nail develops, it curls down and into the surrounding skin, forcing the skin to grow over it. Sore, frequently painful, nail folds with varying degrees of redness, swelling, and occasionally clear or yellow discharge are signs of ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails usually go away on their own without the need for medical intervention. Complex conditions may need the assistance of a foot care professional.

Ingrown toe nails are created when the sideways developing section of the nail acts as a foreign body, poking into or pinching off a little bit of flesh at the toe’s outer border. This might result in a break in the skin, which can lead to irritation and infection. The irritation typically leads the nail skin fold to thicken even more, worsening the condition. The projecting fragment of nail continues to press into the skin, injuring and inflicting further agony.

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Heel pain is a frequent ailment in which bearing weight on the heel produces excruciating agony. Overuse repeated stress from too much pressure on a particular region of the foot may often cause heel discomfort. Heel pain syndrome may be caused by a variety of factors. Wearing shoes with overly low heels, a thinning fat pad in the heel region, or an abrupt increase in activity are only a few of the probable reasons. Plantar fasciitis is another probable cause of heel discomfort.

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Infections of the nails caused by fungi are quite frequent. The infection results in thicker, unpleasant nails that may also be uncomfortable. Toenails are impacted more often than fingernails. It affects more persons over the age of 55, as well as younger people who use community showers. A fungal skin infection, such as athlete’s foot, may spread to the nails. Infected nails are more likely to be those that have recently been damaged. If you have diabetes, psoriasis, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, or a general poor state of health, you’re more likely to have a fungal nail infection.

The infection usually affects just one nail, although it might affect numerous. The infection is generally painless at first. The nail may seem thicker and discolored, but no other symptoms exist. Patches of white or yellow may occur. It’s possible that the nail may get weak and crack. Nail pieces may break off. It’s possible that the skin close to the nail is irritated or scaly. If the infection is not treated, it may ruin the nail and the nail bed, as well as become uncomfortable.

Treatment for fungus nails is tough, because it does not always cure the infection, and even when it does, it may not return the nail’s look to normal. Antifungal medications must be used for many months – sometimes even longer – to be effective.

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Corns and Calluses are two very similar and extremely common foot conditions.

Corns

Corns are a very common and usually form on the tops, sides and tips of the toes. They develop from an accumulation of dead skin cells on the foot. They contain a cone-shaped core or nucleaus with a point that can press on a nerve below and cause pain.

Corns can be caused by wearing tight fitting footwear, high heeled footwear, tight fitting stockings and socks, deformed toes, or the foot sliding forward in a shoe that fits too loosely. Corns in between the toes can result from bony prominences.

Callus

Calluses are caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells that harden and thicken over an area of the foot. Callus are the body’s way to protect the foot against excessive pressure and friction. Calluses are normally found on the ball-of-the-foot, the heel, and/or the inside of the big toe.

Calluses develop because of excessive pressure at a specific area of the foot. High-heeled dress shoes, shoes that are too small, obesity, abnormalities the way you walk, flat feet, high arched feet, bony prominences, and the loss of the fat pad on the bottom of the foot are all common causes of calluses.

Considered to be one of the most common problems of the forefoot. A bunion is a bony enlargement of the joint and surrounding soft tissues at the base of the big toe. The enlargement makes the big toe joint stick out further on the side, and forces the big toe to curve in closer to the other toes. For some people, bunions cause little or no pain.

Symptoms of bunions include inflammation, swelling, and soreness on the side surface of the big toe. The discomfort commonly causes a patient to walk improperly.

Some people develop bunions from wearing shoes that do not fit correctly (especially high heels or narrow-toed shoes). For other people, bunions are caused by factors beyond their control. These can include a family history of a foot type that is susceptible to bunions, neuromuscular disorders, conditions affecting the joints (e.g., arthritis), severe injury to the foot, deformities at birth and problems that affect the way a person walks (e.g., rolling in at the ankles, pronation, etc.)

The achilles tendon is inflamed and degenerates as a result of achilles tendonitis. The achilles tendon is a large tendon that runs from the back of the leg to the heel. Without a history of trauma, pain might develop gradually. Achilles tendinitis should constantly be addressed since the tendon has the potential to grow weak and tear. Excessive tendon tension from sports or running, as well as extended periods of standing, may induce Achilles Tendonitis.

A minor soreness in the back of the leg or above the heel is a common symptom of achilles tendonitis after running or other athletic activities. After a lengthy period of jogging, stair climbing, or sprinting, you may have more acute discomfort. Athletes with achilles tendinitis often remark that getting out of bed in the morning is very difficult. Another typical complaint is soreness after taking a few steps after sitting for lengthy periods of time. With exercise, the discomfort usually subsides.

Over-pronation is the most prevalent cause of achilles tendinitis. When the arch collapses as a result of weight-bearing, the achilles tendon is put under more strain. Improper shoe selection, insufficient stretching before sports, a short achilles tendon, direct stress to the tendon, and heel bone deformity are all factors that contribute to achilles tendonitis.

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Plantar fasciitis is a painful ailment of the heel and soles of the feet that affects many people. The plantar fascia of the foot is characterized by inflammation or degeneration. The plantar fascia is a strong fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from your heel bone to the base of your toes and extends along the sole of your foot. The arch of the foot is supported by the plantar fascia.

Overuse of the plantar fascia, increased physical activity, or weight gain are the most prevalent causes of plantar fasciitis. It’s often linked to long periods of weight bearing, and it’s more frequent in those who have flat feet or collapsed arches.

Plantar fasciitis pain is felt on the bottom of the heel and is generally worst with the first few steps of the day. Plantar fasciitis is known to interfere in moving the toes toward the shin, which is caused by tension of the gastrocnemius muscle or Achilles tendon.

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