Conditions we help
Chiropody
Corns, callouses (hard skin).
Nails (fungal, thickened).
Ingrowing toenails: Nail surgery under local anaesthesia.
Verrucas (warts): Treated with various acids. Stubborn verrucas treated with hyfrecation (local anaesthetic and the wart/verruca is burnt out).
Medical Pedicure – luxurious foot treatment, exfoliation, footbath, treatment of hardskin & nails, and foot massage.
Podiatry – Conditions treated
Adults: Conditions such as flat feet – fallen arches (pes planus) or high arches (pes cavus), long periods of standing or sitting can cause postural and problems to the foot, knee, back and neck. Certain occupations accentuate the problem, and may even contribute to headaches. Treatment would involve a biomechanical examination (examining the lower limb joints and muscles), and gait analysis (observing the walking pattern both barefoot and in footwear. Observing the running pattern, and noting the movement of various parts of the foot, ankles, knees, hips and upper body). Other conditions such as Morton’s Neuromas, dropped metatarsals, forefoot pain, bunions, hammered toes, clawed toes can all be treated.
Biomechanics
The Podiatrist will examine your leg and foot joints and muscles. Footwear, both running and daily footwear will be examined for wear marks as part of the diagnosis.
Gait Analysis
Gait Analysis: Observation of your gait both walking (and possibly running) will be analysed with video analysis. Treatment: Often with insoles, orthotics, adaptions inside shoes, footwear & running shoe advice. We give a comprehensive stretching programme to strengthen weakened muscles in the foot/leg.
Orthotics / Insoles
Treatment is usually with bespoke moulded orthotics which would fit into the shoes. Like a Dentist who takes a mould of the teeth to make braces for crooked teeth, the Podiatrist will take a mould or scan of the foot. This is sent to the Podiatry laboratory who will make all the corrections to the mould, so that the moulded orthotics will change the posture and therefore gait of the patient. These changes will allow the muscles of the body to realign. Patients comment that they feel less tired since there is less likelihood of repetitive strain to the foot and body. Orthotics are good for long-term in helping to preventing osteo-arthritis in joints.
With the body in a corrected position, this allows exercises to take full affect.
Paediatrics
Children with flat feet, knock knees, or who are pigeon toed often trip up considerably, have tired feet, and often have difficulties in sport. They could be treated with custom made orthotics which are usually only needed for a few years since they help remedy the problem and form better arches to the foot. Other conditions such as Severs Disease – pain in the posterior calcaneus (heel bone) area, growth spurts, shin splints can all be helped with orthotics. Children only generally need to wear custom made orthotics/insoles for a few years, only in exceptional cases do they need to wear them long-term.
Sports Injuries.
Flat feet and very high arches (pes cavus), shin splints, knee problems (patello femoral conditions), plantar fasciitis (inflammation under the soles of the feet), heel spurs, can all be treated by the Podiatrist. Repetitive strains from sports such as tennis, running, football, rugby, dancing are all common injuries that Patsy Parfitt sees in her Practice.
Hypermobility
This condition is seen commonly in the practice. Commonly known as double jointed. Usually seen in the big toes (very flexible), the ankles (frequent ankle sprains), the knees (genu recurvatum) and the back, (lumbar lordosis). Hypermobile patients often complain of tiredness. This is due to the muscles having to constantly rebalance due to the soft ligaments and the joints not in correct alignment. Posture problems result.
Our Practices:
St Albans
Physio2Go York Lodge, St Peters Street, St Albans, AL1 3HD (weekdays) Entrance on St Peters Street
Parkbury House Surgery St Albans AL1 3HD (Saturdays). Entrance on Hall Place Gardens AL1 3SF.
Parkbury house Surgery is next to Physio2Go at York Lodge. Parking for both clinics is in the car park for Parkbury House Medical Centre on Hall Place Gardens.
Chichester
9 Belgrave Crescent, Chichester, Sussex PO19 8RY