High-heeled shoes may be stylish, but they are not great for your feet or your body. High-heeled shoes change your posture while walking, forcing your feet into a downward extended position. This increases pressure on the balls of the feet and the toes, causing foot pain. You adjust the rest of your body to compensate for this change, which can cause back pain. High heels also change your gait, or walking pattern, limit the motion of your ankles, cause contraction and inflammation of the Achilles tendon, and can squish and deform your toes. If you must wear high heels, limit them to special occasions and take them off occasionally to stretch and relax your feet. For more information about the link between high heels and foot pain, please consult with a chiropodist. 

High heels have been in style for centuries, but unfortunately, they have also been damaging feet for centuries. If you would like to learn more about how high heels can hurt your feet, please consult with one of the chiropodists from Complete Family Footcare & Therapy. Our clinicians can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

High heels can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Foot and ankle pain
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Toe pain and deformities
• Gait abnormalities
• Achilles tendonitis
• Changes in posture
• Difficulty balancing
• Leg, hip, and back pain

If you are reluctant to abandon your high heels, you can still wear them, but should take measures to minimize damage to your feet: 

• Wear shoes with heels no higher than 2 inches
• Choose properly fitted shoes
• Choose shoes with a wide toe box
• Wear high heels infrequently
• When wearing high heels, take them off periodically to stretch and relax your feet 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in North York and Mississauga, ON . 

Ankle sprains occur when one or more ligaments in the ankle become overstretched or torn. The symptoms of an ankle sprain vary depending on the severity of the sprain. A grade 1 ankle sprain is mild and characterized by slight pain when moving the ankle, tenderness to the touch, swelling, and bruising. Patients can usually still walk normally with a grade 1 sprain. A grade 2 ankle sprain means that there is moderate damage to the affected ligaments. It’s characterized by immediate pain with significant swelling and bruising, as well as difficulty walking, a limited range of motion, and ankle instability. A grade 3 ankle sprain is the most severe type of sprain and is characterized by intense pain, swelling, bruising, and ankle instability. Walking with a grade 3 sprain is often impossible. If you have sprained your ankle, it’s suggested that you seek the care of a chiropodist. 

When one or more ligaments in the ankle overstretch or tear due to injury, an ankle sprain occurs. If you would like to learn more about ankle sprains, please consult with one of the chiropodists from Complete Family Footcare & Therapy. Our clinicians can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Symptoms of an ankle sprain vary depending on the severity of the injury, but may include: 

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tenderness
• Difficulty walking
• Ankle instability
• A reduced range of motion in the ankle 

Treatments for an ankle sprain may consist of: 

• Resting the injured ankle
• Applying ice
• Elevating the ankle
• Compressing the ankle
• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Ankle braces or other devices to take weight off of the ankle
• Ankle exercises
• Surgery (in rare cases) 

It’s important for the sprained ankle to heal correctly and fully in order to avoid repeated injury. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in North York and Mississauga, ON . 

Diabetes is a systemic disorder characterized by high blood sugar. One area of the body that this condition is particularly hard on is the feet. Diabetes is associated with diabetic neuropathy, a form of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. The nerves in the lower limbs are frequently affected. When these nerves are damaged, sensory information does not travel properly from the lower limbs to the brain. This means that pain signals from foot injuries, such as cuts and scrapes, are less likely to register and injuries go unnoticed until they have gotten progressively worse. Diabetes also causes poor circulation. Without the blood delivering adequate nutrients to damaged areas, foot injuries will heal slowly and poorly. Even small cuts can quickly become diabetic foot wounds and ulcers, with an increased risk of infection and related complications due to another problem associated with diabetes — an insufficient immune system. Being proactive about foot care is the best way to prevent diabetic foot wounds and their many complications. To learn more about caring for diabetic feet, please consult with a chiropodist.  

Diabetes can cause serious problems in the lower limbs if proper preventive measures are not taken and diabetic wound care is not performed. If you would like to learn more about caring for diabetic feet, please consult with one of the chiropodists from Complete Family Footcare & Therapy. Our clinicians can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Diabetes can lead to a host of foot and ankle complications, including: 

• Poor circulation
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetic foot wounds and ulcers
• Infection
• Corns and calluses
• Dry, cracked skin
• Nail disorders
• Hammertoes
• Bunions
• Charcot foot

If you have diabetes, you must be vigilant of any changes in your foot health. This is best done through daily foot inspections. Using a mirror to help you if necessary, look for any: 

• Cuts, scrapes, sores, or wounds
• Bruising or discoloration
• Swelling
• Rash
• Foul odor
• Nail changes
• Hair loss
• Warmth and inflammation
• Deformities
• Lower limb pain
• Strange sensations (numbness, tingling, burning, pins, and needles)

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in North York and Mississauga, ON . 

Your feet work hard day in and day out, bearing the weight of your entire body as they carry you through your life. At the end of the day, your feet can be sore and achy. Massaging the feet for a few minutes each day may be beneficial. Foot massages purportedly help reduce foot pain and stiffness, improve circulation, and relax the muscles of the feet. Foot massages may also reduce swelling in the feet, which is particularly common among pregnant women. To learn more about foot massage, please consult with a chiropodist. 

If you have sore feet or are recovering from an injury, then you may need foot therapy. For more information about foot therapy, please consult with one of the chiropodists from Complete Family Footcare & Therapy. Our clinicians can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility.

Physical therapy is often helpful for those who suffer from foot pain or injury, and may include:

• Stretching - Increases the feet’s flexibility and mobility
• Strengthening Exercises - Help muscles in the injured area build strength
• Massage - Activates and relaxes muscles

Physical therapy can optimize healing and increase one’s chances of full recovery following an injury. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in North York and Mississauga, ON .