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What are indications to go and see the podiatrist?
Indications podiatry
How importance foot health is for total well-being, one usually only realizes when complaints occur.
In case of foot complaints, but also tired legs, burning soles or even knee, hip and back problems, it is advisable to have your feet checked. The human foot is a very complex body part that performs many tasks for the statics and movement of the body. Foot problems can occur as a result of predisposition, one-sided loading, and unsuitable footwear
Prolonged and one-sided overloading under sub-optimal conditions, however, asks a lot of muscles and joints. (Intensive) practice of sports puts a lot of pressure on feet, ankles and knees. With optimal sports shoes and fitted sports soles, possible erroneous developments can be corrected quite well.
Even with the most suitable (sports) shoe for your situation, walking comfort can often be improved by means of individually measured soles.
And in rheumatism patients pain can often be directly reduced, while in diabetics wounds on the foot through overpressure can be avoided.
The following is an overview of possible indications for podiatry on referral from your GP, since these complaints are treated every week at the podiatrist.
Complaints of the hip/pelvis/lower back


- Check for difference in leg length, if necessary a heel increase to compensate.
- A different position and/or function of the feet influences the position and function of the pelvis and the spine. Eliminating the cause with corrective podiatric soles.
- If there is insufficient damping when walking, apply shock-absorbing podiatric soles.
- Shoe advice

4. Snapping hip
Complaints of the knee/upper leg





The cause often lies in the “derailing” of the kneecap, too much inward tilting of the midfoot (overpronation tarsal complex), whether or not accompanied by the inside of the heel bone (calcaneovalgus), can cause/increase this derailment. In case of irregular position and/or function of the feet, corrective podiatric soles are indicated.

Complaints of the ankle/lower leg
1. Pain complaints due to the attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel bone (Achillodynie)




Eliminating the cause -usually too much inward tilting of the midfoot (overpronation tarsal complex), whether or not accompanied by the inward position of the heel bone (calcaneovalgus)- by taping and/or correction soles.
Complaints of the foot
Skin





Toes

2. Chronic dislocation (subluxation) of toes
3. 4. Bone outgrowth(exostoses/osteophytes)
4. Hammer toes/ claw toes   Â
5. Overlapping toes (supraduction/infraduction digiti)Â Â
6. Chilblains (perniosis/Raynaud’s phenomenon)
Forefoot
1. Inflammation of the joint capsule at the t.h.v. transition between metatarsal bone and toe(capsulitis MTP-gewricht)
2. Sagging forefoot (pes transversus)
3. Leg wash out (exostosen/osteofyten)
4. Thickening (especially) in a tendon (ganglion)

Stage 2: Dysfunction of the tendons which attach to the big toe as a result of deviating position of the toe (musculus flexor hallucis longus and musculus extensor hallucis longus); eliminating the cause and podiatric soles to prevent increased complaints. Usually an orthotic to correct the toe position. Stage 3: Pressure spots with callus formation or worse in different places on the big toe; eliminating the cause and podiatric soles to prevent increased complaints. Usually an orthotic to correct the toe position.


8. Radiating pain / “numb” feeling on the inside of the big toe (Joplin’s neuroma/compressie-neuropathie van de nervus plantaris medialis aan de mediale zijde van het MTP-1)



12. Bursitis due to the end of the smallest metatarsal bone (tailors bursitis aan de laterale zijde van het caput metatarsale 5, vaak met varisatie van digitus 5, abductie van het os metatarsale 5 en exostosevorimg)
13. Sand toe or volleyball toe
Midfoot




The pain can occur in very different places in the foot, especially on the outside of the foot. In addition, claw or hammer toes and pain under the forefoot are also frequent.

Rearfoot


3. Nerve compression of the nerve “nervus peroneus superficialis” (compressie-neuropathie van de nervus peroneus superficialis)




