Importance of Footcare
Take a minute to really think how important your feet are. They are the foundation of our body. They allow us to walk, run, climb, dance, and play. Most of us spend much of the day on our feet and yet we know so little about them. The feet are taken for granted until something goes wrong. Why not take care of your feet now to try and prevent something from happening. Nursing foot and lower limb care is non-invasive. The Podortho nurse preforms treatments involving the epidermal layer of the skin and nails of the feet. Treatment will include health teaching measures to promote wellbeing and comfort, and to prevent and control specific issues involving the feet and lower limbs.
Skin Care
Did you know that you should be using specific products for your feet? The skin on our feet is thicker than it is anywhere else on your body. Regular moisturizers are not designed for feet and can cause more harm than good. Proper skin care and products can reduce the risk of infections and promote integrity and prevention of skin breakdown and it reduces the risk of cracks and fissures. Proper skin care and products promotes good hygiene and improves the comfort and appearance of your feet.
Nail Care
Podortho nursing nail care involves nail cutting and filling, reduction of mycotic (thickened) nails, removal of ingrown nails, packing involuted nails, and nail bracing. With advanced knowledge, assessments are done at each visit to prevent, monitor, and treat fugal nails. Your nails can also be an indicator to nail disorders associated with systemic diseases and medications, therefor with routine footcare nurses can assess for changes and provide education.
Callus Care
Calluses are thickened skin on the bottom of your feet. When the skin thickens it is a protective reaction. Tight fitting shoes, work boots, walking a lot, standing a lot, and medical conditions are just some factors that put you at risk for developing callus, if you haven't already. Routine footcare can prevent calluses by using padding, offloading and different recommended products. If you already have calluses Podortho nursing foot care can reduce calluses, manage discomfort, and provide health teaching to manage. Untreated calluses can lead to cracks and fissures that cause pain, and corns that need to be removed.
Corn Management
Corns are cause by pressure or friction to your foot and can be painful. This is caused by wearing tight fitting or improper footwear. The corn (nucleus) needs to be removed properly. Health teaching can be done to prevent more corns developing. With deflective padding and strapping corns can be prevented.
There are three types of corns that can develop, hard corns (heloma durum), soft corns (heloma Molly), and seed corns (heloma milliard).
Hard Corns - They can lead to other complications who are diabetic or suffer from connective tissue disease.
Soft Corns - Form between toes where there is bone - on - bone contact, the corn is soft and moist.
Seed Corns - are typically smaller, usually found scattered around the heel or non-weight bearing areas. They form in the shape of superficial clusters and are said to be caused by bacteria, fungus, or hyperkeratotic debris which plugs inactive sweat glands.