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 Uploading ....Podiatry is a branch of medicine that is devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
This name originated in the USA and refers to a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine who is qualified to diagnose and treat problems affecting the feet. Surgery, biomechanics, geriatrics, and sports medicine are specialist branches of Podiatry. In some English speaking countries podiatry is still known as chiropody and the doctors as chiropodists and though there are some differences the two are generally the same. Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition in the plantar fascia which is a thick fibrous mass of tissue that starts at the heel bone, continues along the sole of the foot towards the toes. This condition which is usually caused by long hours of standing related to occupation is said to affect nearly two million Americans. It can also be caused by too much weight constantly bearing down on the feet. The condition which starts with a pain in the heel is usually more intense when taking the first steps in the morning. Another symptom of plantar fasciitis is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are bent upwards towards the shin which restricts movement in the ankle. It can also increase the likelihood of pains in the knees particularly among runners but not confined to them. A podiatrist will generally examine the foot and the way a patient stands and walks, before making a diagnosis, and the treatment will involve rest, stretching, special shoes and in some cases may require the use of corticosteroids. Medial tibial stress syndrome is the formal term for shin splints which is a painful condition in the shins.
It can occur when jumping, sprinting and running. Athletes who tend to use one set of muscles when specializing in an activity are likely to suffer shin splints and if such a condition remains untreated it is possible that a stress fracture may occur. It is important to treat this condition as soon as possible. It is usually diagnosed as increasing pain that worsens rather than eases during exercise when warmed up. Anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, and the use of cold compresses are the usual treatment for this. Barefoot running is not the norm in modern times though famous athletes such as Zola Budd were well known for it. With the advances in running shoes design the general belief is that wearing shoes is more beneficial than running barefoot. When running barefoot, the emphasis is based on the balls of the feet whereas the emphasis is changed to the heel and the area around the back of the heel when wearing running shoes. Some people argue that, with the emphasis on the heel, using running shoes may cause repetitive stress injuries whereas barefoot running is considered to be healthier as the weight distribution is more evenly balanced.
Barefoot running tends to spread the weight on the foot more equally. Sports authorities tend to favor running shoes but there is no hard evidence to suggest which is really better.
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