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CALLUSES, BUNIONS and NEUROMAS,
SHORT LIMB SYNDROME and FOOT -TYPE
Calluses
Corns and calluses are hard tissue the grow on pressure surfaces and in between the toes. They can be very painful to walk on and left untreated, they usually become worse, increasingly painful and alter the way you walk.
They can ulcerate, become infected and cause problems with your knees, hips, and back. Trimming corns and calluses is recommended and the use of topical preparations and padding to soften and protect the skin is advised. We do not recommend the use of "corn plasters" as they are often impregnated with acid that doesn't know good tissue from hard tissue.
It is important to understand that corns and calluses are the bodies' response to pressure and overuse. Off-loading these areas with corrective
devises, pads and properly designed and fitted shoes should be a part of any related footcare plan. As these problems often are biomechanical in nature, they respond well to pads, shoes, orthotics, creams and visits to the podiatrist. In my 25 year experience, redistribution and accomodation of weightbearing patterns, both in walking and standing should be tried before considering surgical intervention.
Bunions, Short Limb Syndrome and Foot-type
Bunions are also commonly seen foot problems, just like corns on the top of the toes are associated with high arch foot-types, bunions are often seen in "flat feet" and the long limb of people with "Short Limb Syndrome." As the short side rolls up to lengthen the short column, the long limb attempts to compensate for the limb length descepancy by turning out or abducting (duck "footedness") and/or the knee falling medially or colapsing toward the midline of the body. Those forces and other foot architecture cause excessive pronation and arch drop, bunions and other foot problems. There is an element of inheritance associated with this however, you inherit the foot-type but with proper treatment, maybe not the deformities or the severity.
NEUROMAS
Morton’s Neuroma
Patient presents with radiating pain in the forefoot and, after clinical and/or diagnostic testing, the diagnosis of Morton’s Neuroma was made. Classically, this is a time when many clinicians will discuss a treatment protocol begining with injections and discussions of surgical intervention. Since this is largely a biomechanical problem, I prefer to discuss lower limb mechanics and recommend orthotics and physical therapy.
