Certain types of footwear, activities, and in some cases predisposition to foot problems put people at risk of various foot pain. Below are some examples of at-risk patients:
The beneficial effects of sports activity on the heart and lungs and overall conditioning are well documented. So are the positive mental effects. Yet, sports activities demand much of the body’s stamina and agility. Many parts of the body undergo considerable stress during play. Feet, which provide all-important mobility, are high on this overworked list!
Neither serious athletes nor “weekend” athletes can fully avoid an injury list that includes ankle sprains, pulled muscles and ligaments, tendinitis, stress fractures, blackened toenails, bone bruises, calluses, blisters and others.
You worry about your children’s teeth, eyes, and other parts of their body. You teach washing, brushing, and grooming, but what do you do about your child’s feet? Those still-developing feet will have to carry the entire weight of the body through a lifetime.
Many adult foot ailments, like other bodily ills, have their origins in childhood and are often present at birth. Periodic professional attention and regular foot care can minimize these problems in later life.
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result, you could develop a blister or a sore. This could lead to an infection or a nonhealing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation.
Medicine and health awareness have progressed so rapidly since 1900 that the life expectancy of the average Canadian has increased by about 30 years. Older persons have become an increasingly significant proportion of our total population – and their numbers are growing rapidly as Baby Boomers age.
Mobility is a vital ingredient of the independence and active lifestyle that is cherished by our aging population. Foot ailments make it difficult or impossible for them to work or to participate in social activities.
More than 50 per cent of British Columbians will experience some type of foot problem in their lives. What’s more, if you are female, you are vulnerable to four times as many foot problems as men, particularly if you usually wear high heels.
There is a need for women to pay more attention to foot care and avoid subjecting themselves to unnecessary foot problems, particularly those that might be caused by improper footwear and hosiery.
Dr. Yu strives to provide the highest standard of personalized care using his skilled training in the latest advances in podiatric technology.
We are proudly accepting new patients! Be prepared! Learn about what you can expect during your first visit to Westside Podiatry.
We have a variety of services available at our multiple locations. To find out how we can meet your podiatric needs, see a list of our services.