Mississauga's Foot Clinic: The Answers You're Looking For

Ankle Sprains

Bunions

Children's Feet

Corns

Prescription/Custom Footwear

If custom footwear is the right course for you, Foundation Chiropody will use the latest technology to assess your needs. First, we conduct a biomechanical assessment to obtain a 3D laser image of your feet. Using this 3D image, we make plaster of your feet. This plaster is then used to construct your custom footwear.

Orthopedic Footwear

Our patients often require special shoes to mitigate their body pain. Orthopedic shoes have a firm heel, wide toe box, moderate heel, and extra room in case feet swell. These soles balance the foot, alleviating any excess pressure you may experience.

Gel, Foam, and Felt Foot Pads

If you are suffering from bunions or corns, then foot pads made from gel, foam or felt may help alleviate pain. These adhesive pads protect your feet from rubbing against the shoe, which could make sore spots more painful.

How Can Foundation Chiropody Help Me?

Contact us to discover for yourself the relief that comes from wearing orthopedic shoes in Mississauga. Foundation Chiropody is a family foot clinic that helps everyone, from children to grandparents. We are also covered under most private insurance plans. Don’t let uncomfortable feet control your life anymore. Call 905-916-3668 or email us to set up an appointment.

Visit Our Foot Specialist

Do your shoes look like this? If they do, it may be time to call your foot specialist. Shoe wear and tear like this is indicative of a problem with foot function.

Call us today to see how we can help. You may need custom foot orthotics, and your insurance plan may cover some of the costs.

More Information

Find more information about the following conditions and topics through information supplied by the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine:

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Corns
• Ankle Sprains
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Shin Splints
• Verrucas (warts)

We also have specific pages on the following foot-related issues:

• Diabetic Foot Care
• Bunions
• Children's Feet
• Onychocryptosis (ingrown toenails)
• Onychomycosis (fungal nail)
• Orthotics
• Plantar Fasciitis

Foot Conditions

Read more about these common foot conditions, treatable at Foundation Chiropody, Mississauga’s foot clinic.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are injuries to the ligaments attached to the bones below and above your ankle joint. Providing support and stability, these ligaments are susceptible to injury during athletic activities.

Causes

Sprains occur when your ankle is forced outward or inward beyond your normal range of motion.

Diagnosis

There are 3 grades of ligament injuries:

Treatment

Most chiropodists will follow the P.R.I.C.E. guidelines as follows:
P –protect the joint with a splint/brace
R –rest the joint and avoid bearing weight
I –ice the injury
C –compress the ankle with tensor wrap
E –Elevate to reduce swelling

Bunions

A bunion, or hallux valgus, is commonly described as a bump on the joint of your big toe. The condition is caused by a pronated (flat) foot and an excessively flexible big toe joint. Your big toe absorbs a tremendous amount of pressure as your foot pushes away from the ground. Over time, the pressure forces your big toe to deviate or bend inward toward your baby toe.

Treatment Options

Children’s Feet

Foundation Chiropody understands that young feet need time and proper protection to develop properly. Your child’s foot is physically different from an adult foot and should be checked from an early age. From advising you on proper footwear to the treatment of nail and skin conditions, we can help. We can even prescribe pediatric foot braces or custom orthotics.

Pediatric foot problems are typically a result of:

• Overuse
• Weight gain
• Congenital and developmental conditions

Our foot clinic stresses the importance of appropriate screening and diagnosis to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Corns

A common condition consisting of a build-up of dead skin, corn or heloma, typically occurs on the side or top of your toe. Corns can be caused by friction, contraction or compression of the toes. A biomechanical flaw or improperly fitting shoes may lead to the condition. Corns described as soft or wet when between toes, may also occur on the bottom of your feet.

Treatment

Wearing deep shoes with more space is a common solution to relieve excessive pressure. Our skilled team will customize a home treatment program consisting of proper footwear, pumice and appropriate cream.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's Neuroma is an abnormal nerve growth or benign tumour that results from an irritation of nerve cells. Usually found between the third and fourth metatarsals, the neuroma can cause pain, numbing, a burning sensation or blanching of the digits.

Cause

This condition is typically caused by tight footwear or abnormal forefoot alignment.

Treatment

Through a comprehensive assessment by Foundation Chiropody, treatment options will be discussed and may include:

Onychocryptosis/Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are common problems that can become very painful and limit your activity. Caused by a nail that penetrates the skin, this condition can cause infections with swelling, increased warmth and pain, redness, drainage of pus or a watery discharge tinged with blood.

Causes

Complications

Treatment

Ingrown toenails can often be treated with a simple procedure that removes the piece of nail. If chronic problems persist, corrective surgery to remove part or the entire nail is an option at our foot clinic.

Onychomycosis/Fungal Nail

This common condition is an infection of the bed and plate under the surface of your nail. Fungi called dermatophytes attacks the nail and thrives off keratin, your nail's protein substance. Your nail will likely become thicker and take on a yellowish-brown colour. There may be an associated foul odour and debris collected under your nail plate.

Treatment

Foundation Chiropody can diagnosis your condition quickly and provide a treatment plan that may include the following:

• Topical medications
• Oral anti-fungal medications approved by Health Canada. These offer shorter treatment times but may have unwanted side effects
• Surgical treatment to remove infected portions and to allow direct application of a topical antifungal
• Permanent removal of painful nail

Prevention

• Wash feet with soap and water and dry thoroughly
• Wear shower shoes in public areas when possible
• Change shoes, socks or hosiery daily
• Use a foot powder with talcum (not cornstarch) or an anti-fungal agent
• Wear properly fitting shoes
• Discard old shoes
• Alternate your footwear if possible
• Do not apply nail polish to nails suspected of being infected

Orthotics

Foot orthotics are medical devices worn inside your shoe to adjust the positioning of your foot and its alignment with your lower leg. They can be used to treat or prevent motions that can cause injury and redistribute pressure to alleviate pain. Three common types of foot orthotics are:

Custom orthotics are made specifically for your feet by a qualified chiropodist in which impressions are taken of your feet. The casts are used by a qualified technician to make orthotics that are unique to your feet.

Customized orthotics are usually a result of standing on a computerized force platform. The information taken is used to modify a pre-manufactured insole. Though a force platform is an effective way of evaluating some pressure distribution issues when used by a qualified professional, it is not the same as a custom orthotic.

Off-the-shelf products are what are usually found in drug or sports stores. These are sometimes recommended by professionals to treat minor foot problems. Please see Gary Boardman, a certified chiropodist to see what sort of orthotic therapy is right for you.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Commonly known as the runner's knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome is caused by an abnormal motion of the kneecap, which causes the cartilage at the back of the kneecap to wear down. Swelling, inflammation of the knee and acute pain are common symptoms. You may notice stiffness and pain may intensify when climbing or descending stairs.

Causes

• Weak or malfunctioning quadriceps muscles above the knee
• Poor biomechanics of the foot and lower leg
• Dysfunctional patellar tendon below the knee

Treatment

Regular icing and ultrasound or laser treatments can reduce discomfort. To prevent further problems, at your family foot clinic, we recommend a stretching and strengthening program. If the problem is biomechanical, we can prescribe custom orthotics and address your footwear. Your exercise habits will be considered as well.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is caused by stress to the tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heal to your toes, usually presenting as acute heel pain after a period of rest. Overuse or other predisposing factors can cause micro-tears and inflammation. It is important to seek treatment for this type of injury right away as it typically progresses quickly. The most common predisposing factors are having flat or high arched feet, inappropriate footwear, age and overuse.

If the damage is minor or caught early enough, treatment can be as simple as rest, proper supportive shoes and/or orthotics. Surgery is rarely necessary for plantar fasciitis. More persistent symptoms can usually be treated with conjunctive therapy, including:

For short-term relief, we at Foundation Chiropody may also recommend heel pads, taping, medication or exercises.

Shin Splints

Inflammation to the tendon that covers your shin is known as a shin splint. Shin splints present as pain along the inside or outside of your shin bone (tibialis). This is usually caused by one of two things: overuse of the muscles or inward rolling motion of your foot. These cause the muscles along your shin to tighten, resulting in swelling and irritation.

Treatment for shin splints is usually fairly simple. Gary Boardman, certified chiropodist at Foundation Chiropody may recommend physiotherapy or an at-home stretching and strengthening program. He may also recommend a certain type of footwear and/or a custom orthotic, depending on your specific case.

Verrucas (Warts)

Warts are caused by a common virus that grows in warm, wet environments. They present as thick, bumpy and/or spongy areas with clearly defined borders. They do not have roots and usually have a tiny black dot (blood vessel) in the center to supply the wart with blood. A plantar wart is one that is on the bottom of your foot. They are often more extensive underneath your skin than they appear. Warts typically go away on their own, but if they get larger and/or painful despite over-the-counter ointments or gels, we recommend coming to see us at Foundation Chiropody.

Remember that verrucas are infectious and can spread if you pick or scratch at it! Make sure you keep it covered at all times (even while washing) with a waterproof bandage. Do not share towels, use public/shared showers or share shoes. We recommend disinfecting socks and shoes to prevent further spread of the infection.

Videos

Foundation Chiropody believes education is critical to proper foot health, and we invite you to learn more about the following topics through our supplied videos.

Foot Anatomy

Custom Foot Orthotics

Diabetes and Your Feet