Dr Foot Podiatry, Foot Care & Health Care Podcast

Achilles tendinitis is a common condition that occurs when the large tendon that runs down the back of your lower leg becomes irritated and inflamed. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and is used when you walk, run, climb stairs, jump, and stand on your tip toes. Although the Achilles tendon can withstand great stresses from running and jumping, it is also prone to tendinitis, a condition associated with overuse and degeneration. Simply defined, tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or disease, and often causes swelling, pain, or irritation. There are two types of Achilles tendinitis, based upon which part of the tendon is inflamed. In noninsertional Achilles tendinitis, fibers in the middle portion of the tendon have begun to break down with tiny tears (degenerate), swell, and thicken. Tendinitis of the middle portion of the tendon more commonly affects younger, active people. Insertional Achilles tendinitis involves the lower portion of the heel, where the tendon attaches (inserts) to the heel bone. In both noninsertional and insertional Achilles tendinitis, damaged tendon fibers may also calcify (harden). Bone spurs (extra bone growth) often form with insertional Achilles tendinitis. Tendinitis that affects the insertion of the tendon can occur at any time, even in patients who are not active. More often than not, however, it comes from years of overuse (long distance runners, sprinters).

Podopeadiatrics is the area of Podiatry focusing on the treatment of children and the various issues that can affect a young persons limbs.  This is a vital service that focuses on the long term foot and leg health of children during their development.

The racism that killed George Floyd was partly built in Britain and our colonial history. The recent events have highlighted what black people are experiencing the world over is a system that finds their bodies expendable, by design. In the UK, black people and our allies are taking to the streets to wake British people up out of their fantasy that this crisis of race is a problem that is both uniquely American, and solvable by people returning to the status quo. For those of us who see racism for what it is, as a system that kills – both our bodies, and our humanity – this is traumatic.

The Bullshit around Orthotics! Why is it easier to wean some patients off crack then it is to convince them to give up their orthotics and what exactly are we trying to change!

If there is a word a hate with a passion it’s Shin splints! In this episode I discuss various causes of excercise induced leg pain and how to manage medial tibial stress syndrome.