Podiatry
During the consultation, the podiatrist will assess with you the treatment that is most appropriate for you.
Podiatry
What does a clinical examination at the podiatrist’s involve ?
The interview (or anamnesis)
First, the practitioner asks the patient a series of questions regarding their medical and surgical history in order to uncover the reason for the consultation and determine the source of the pain. If the patient has already undergone any examinations (x-ray, MRI, ultrasound, scan), it is important they bring the images to the appointment to corroborate the diagnoses established at the end of the session.
Next, the practitioner observes the patient in supine position, then standing (static and dynamic).
The examination
The practitioner looks for different painful spots and then conducts a more detailed examination by palpating the various tissues (skin, ligaments, and muscles) to determine the tissues linked to the pain.
During the static assessment using a posturoscope as well as a podoscope, the overall posture of the patient can be observed in different planes (cf. photos below).
The examination then continues with a dynamic assessment on a treadmill whether the patient is sporty or not. Video analysis is used to assess walking and/or running. The image is shown on a TV screen and the patient’s biomechanics can thus be explained in real time. Using video analysis, it is possible to distinguish any variations in torsion measurements that can occur.
For athletes, the podiatrist will endeavor to expand on certain issues such as the intensity of their sports activities, injuries (old or recent), equipment, and how the sports gestures are performed. It is therefore essential to bring the sports shoes used during training and during competitions.
Foot examination on a pressure plate
This examination is conducted on a baropodometric plate on which there are thousands of new generation sensors to analyze, confirm, and quantify the observations obtained previously and to accurately measure plantar pressure distribution. The podiatric assessments can also be archived and thus the progression over time can be monitored.
The examination on the platform is conducted in a static position, then walking. This appliance helps the patient understand better the biomechanics through images representing their foot-to-ground contact.
Shoe examination
The practitioner must assess the space available in the sports shoes and/or town footwear to best adapt the device that will be proposed.
At the end of the session, the practitioner will give the patient some advice to assist them in selecting the best shoes for their condition.
The patient then leaves with the test results (which are also sent to the prescribing physician).
As the aim is to monitor the progression and the improvement of the reason for consulting, several follow-up appointments will be proposed, of which the first one month later. The pain and adaptation to the insoles will be assessed.
Advice for the 1st appointment
Bring your health insurance card (carte vitale), the medical prescription, your latest x-rays, the shoes you usually wear and your sports shoes, if needed.
Who can consult a podiatrist ?
The feet are the static and dynamic base, and an imbalance will have consequences on muscular work and muscle tone, as well as on joint positions of the feet, knees, pelvis, and back in the short and medium term.
Children
Deformities of the lower limbs in children are a cause for concern and a common reason for consulting a podiatrist. These deformities are quite often part of the normal growth pattern of the lower limbs :
- From birth to two years
We observe genu varum as well as metatarsus varus, but the knees move closer together a year after learning to walk - From two to eight years
We observe genu valgum with medio-tarsal valgus (often wrongly called flat foot). The rotation of the hips helps regulate posture over the age of 10.
When is it necessary to wear orthopedic insoles ?
- Asymmetric deviations
- Pain
- Fatigue when walking
- Bouncy gait
- Frequent falls
- Abnormal wear of shoes
Childhood conditions and diseases
Sever’s, Köhler’s, Freiberg’s, Renander’s, Osgood-Schlatter’s, Legg-Calvée-Perthes, Scheuermann’s, intoeing…
Teenagers with their growth peak, their sport, their shoes, and their muscle stiffness also require special attention.
Diabetics
After a certain number of years of being diabetic (between 10 and 15 years), some patients may develop neuropathy, in other words, the quasi-total insensitivity of the plantar side of the foot.
In conjunction with a deformity and/or arteritis, the patient is at great risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer.
The role of the podiatrist is to diagnose the patient’s podiatric risk on a scale of 0 (no neuropathy, no risk) to 3 (the patient has already had a wound that lasted over three weeks and required medical footwear as well as foot orthotics).
According to the risk, the podiatrist must establish the most appropriate therapy including :
- Advice regarding footwear
- Appropriate care
- Orthopedic insoles to relieve high-risk areas
- Indications regarding offloading shoes to help the wound heal.
Athletes
Today, podiatrists have modern methods at their disposal to conduct both static and dynamic clinical assessments of athletes. The podiatrist uses effective, comfortable materials to make plantar orthotics adapted to all types of sports and footwear.
The podiatrist, therefore, has a legitimate role in the medical team of elite athletes. Podiatric treatment that modifies pathological posture can be combined with other treatments.
Numerous static disorders of the lower limbs are totally or partially linked to sports pathologies:
Skin and ungual disorders
Hyperkeratosis, subungual hematomas, phylcentule (blisters), overheating…
Osteo-articular and musculo-tendinous disorders
- Metatarsalia of the first or second rays
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sever’s disease
- Achilles tendonitis
- Ankle instability
- Tibialis posterior tendonitis
- Tibial periostitis
- Lateral peroneal tendonitis
- Femorotibial knee pain
- Patellofemoral syndrome
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Pubalgia
- Lower back pain
For which conditions should I consult a podiatrist ?
Orthopedic insoles are part of the non-surgical treatment of numerous traumatic and rheumatic disorders of the lower limbs.
Disorders specific to the feet : Forefoot :
- Hallux valgus (“bunion”), claw toes, plantar hyperkeratosis, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, stress fractures, sesamoidopathy…
- Mid foot : plantar fasciitis
- Hind foot : Heel bruising, heel spurs, Haglund’s syndrome
Disorders specific to the ankle
Ankle instability, chronic sprains, tibial periostitis, peroneal tendonitis, tibialis posterior tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis…
Conditions specific to the knee
Osteoarthritis, Pes anserinus tendonitis, Tensor fasciae latae muscle tendonitis (runner’s knee, iliotibial band syndrome), patellar tendonitis, femoropatellar chondropathy, genu valgum, genu varum, patellar misalignment…
Conditions specific to the pelvis
Trochanteritis, pubalgia, sacro-iliac pain…
Conditions specific to the back
Chronic lower back pain, cervicodynia, migraines, attitude scoliosis, balance disorders…
What therapeutic solutions are available ?
During the consultation, the podiatrist will assess with you the most appropriate treatment.
The insoles designed by the latter are made-to-measure and will help achieve ideal static and dynamic function.
They prevent, reduce and even correct numerous chronic or acute disorders of the foot, knee, pelvis or spine.
These insoles can be worn at any age in casual or sports shoes.
Comfort insoles molded to the shape of the foot can also be made.
The podiatrist can also design silicone devices called ‘orthoplasties’ in order to modify the position of the toes and to protect the foot from hyper-pressure, which is often painful. In children, they can definitively correct some toe misalignments.
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