Poor circulation complicates a lot of problems of the foot and lower limb and can cause its own symptoms. The main cause of poor circulation is atherosclerosis, which is generally underpinned by lifestyle and sedentary activity. As a result fatty acids build up in the arteries restricting the circulation. Initially in the foot, there may be a reduction in the intensity of the pulse; hairs and nail growth may slow and there might be a delay in the healing of any wounds. Later as the circulation decreases, less oxygen gets through to the muscles and a symptom known as intermittent claudication. This usually occurs in the calf muscles and restricts walking to shorter distances. After resting a further similar distance can be walked.
The reason that this is so important to the foot is that those with poor circulation need to take special care not to get any cuts or wounds on the foot as they will be slow healing or even not heal at all. Any rubbing from shoes can be important.
Those with poor circulation do need to discuss with their doctor about a supervised exercise program to help improve the circulation. Often the advice of a vascular surgeon should be sought.

For more: Poor circulation | Poor Circulation

There certainly debate about the term growing pains in children. The term is often used to dismiss any pain that occurs in the legs of children. This may or may not be right. However, it is generally accepted that the typical growing pains in children is pain that only occurs at night, often waking the child. The night pain is typical.  The pain does not occur during the day and does not affect the joints or bone. If the bone or joints are affected and if the pain occurs during the day, then it does not meet the definition of growing pains and should be investigated further as there are some rare, but potentially serious problems that can cause the symptoms.

The causes of growing pains in children is not known, but is commonly believed to be a biochemical problem, perhaps related to sleep. Fatigue and biomechanics are also thought to play a role. The exact mix of these problems and there pathophysiology of how they lead to the symptoms is far from being full understood.

There is no real treatment for growing pains in children. The problem is self-limiting and will resolve eventually. The best treatment is just reassurance of the child and gentle massage or rubbing of the painful area until the child is ready to go back to sleep. In some cases, stretching has been shown to help and in others anti-inflammatory drugs might help, but these should be reserved for the more severe symptoms.

The key thing about growing pains in children is to reassure the child; the problem is self-limiting; but also be mindful that if the symptoms are not typical of growing pains, then further investigation is needed.

Pitted Keratolysis

Pitted Keratolysis

Pitted Keratolysis

Sinus tarsi syndrome is a problem that causes pain on the outside of the ankle joint. The sinus tarsi is a small tunnel between two bone in the rearfoot (talus and calcaneus).

Sinus tarsi syndrome can arise in two very different situations:
1.       The contents of the sinus tarsi can be strained as during an ankle sprain. The pain from this usually persists long after the swelling from the ankle sprain as subsided
2.       A very flat or pronated foot can compress the structures in the sinus tarsi if the joint is pushed to end range of motion.

Physical therapy and exercises are probably the most beneficial treatment for the post ankle sprain sinus tarsi syndrome, while foot orthotics to stop joint going to end range of motion is probably the most beneficial for the second cause of sinus tarsi syndrome. Injections for sinus tarsi syndrome are helpful if it does not respond to these interventions.

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The Circulation Booster (now in v3) uses mild electrical impulses through on the botom on the foot to create muscle contractions in an attempt to help relieve pain and reduce swelling. |

The Circulation Booster might help:
- Improve blood circulation by making the muscles contract that pump the circulation
- Relieve aches & pain by stimualting the acupressure points on the foot
- Reduce Swelling as blood is circulated by stimulation of the muscle pump
- Overall well being through stimulating the reflexology points on the foot

Resources:
Circulation Booster
Circulation Booster
Circulation Booster
Circulation Booster
Circulation Booster

Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoes are being marketed as the “anti-shoe” as they are supposed to imitate walking without shoes. The MBT shoes design was based on the walking pattern of the Masai people of Africa who walk with a very upright posture. They are also notable for their lack of posture or back problems.  The company designed the shoe to try and copy this gait pattern to help these posture and back problems.

There has been some research carried out comparing to walking in the MBT shoe and a normal everyday type shoe.  The company claims that the change in the gait pattern can help those with postural and back problems. They also claim that the increased muscles activity is like getting and extra workout. The critics like to point out that the shoes increase muscle activity and that this is a bad thing, but the marketers call this as getting an extra workout.

Do the MBT shoes work? They certianly do work well for some people and they will necessarily work as well for other people. They are probably a very useful shoe to wear for short periods during the day to get a training effect, as this short term variation in walking pattern and posture may be beneficial to a lot of people. Training for using the MBT Shoe is also important. Podiatry Arena has a number of threads on the MBT Shoe or Masai Barefoot Technology Shoe.

Danny Dreyer, an esteemed running coach and a nationally ranked ultra-marathon runner, has over thirty years of running experience and is a student of internationally renowned t’ai chi master George Xu. He has been published in “Runner’s World” and “Running Times, ” and is the author of his own monthly ChiRunning newsletter. He lives in the Bay Area and has taught the ChiRunning method to thousands of people with profound results.

Buy from Fishpond Australia:
ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running

“The most exciting and revolutionary book to hit the running community this decade.”
“ChiRunning is the solution we’ve all been looking for to maintain high performance and avoid injury.”

Reviewers comment:

I learned about chi running about a year ago and feel it has really helped my running, from the point that a 10k was my max (and a somewhat stressful one at that) to where I can easily do a half marathon and am now aiming for full marathons. The basic idea really is that you avoid a striding form and relax most of your body except your core so that you move forward largely by leaning into your run and coming down on your mid-foot while falling forward. This description doesn’t do the technique justice, but this type of running really is designed to be both efficient and low-impact. It works well for my 50-year old body (I used it to complete the Boston Marathon as a “non-qualified” runner raising funds for a Boston charity) and allows me to get through races feeling tired but not overlyl stressed or pained. I know some fast (2:30 marathoners) who say chi running has allowed them to maintain a fast pace without feeling beat up for days afterward.

More on Chi Running:
Chi Running Shoe
Chi Running
Chi Running Videos

Smelly feet really are an embarrassing and worrying problem to have to deal with. The actual smell is due to a bacteria breaking down the chemicals in the sweat that accumulates in the feet when wearing shoes. So the approach to the problem is twofold; firstly there is the issue of sweat and its reduction and elimination to prevent the smelly feet from developing. Then there is the issue of dealing with the bacteria that actually cause the smell.

There are many products on the market for smelly feet and foot odour and many ‘secret sauces’ to cure smelly feet, and we have looked at a lot and found this really simple product that relies on some cheap items from the supermarket.

Despite all the hype we do recommend this eBook as it explains everything you need to know and everything you need to do:

It only costs $37 which is less than the cost of visiting a health professional. You won’t regret this purchase if you have a smelly feet problem.

Recommended products for Smelly Feet:
Smelly Feet eBook

Foot Odour is an embarrassing and worrying problem to have.  The actual odour is due to a bacteria breaking down elements in the sweat. SO the approach to the problem is twofold; firstly there is the issue of sweat and its reduction and elimination to prevent the problem and there is the issue of dealing with the bacteria that actually cause the odour.

There are many products on the market and many ‘secret sauces’ to cure foot odour, but we have looked at a lot and found this really simple product that relies on some cheap items from the supermarket.

Despite all the hype we do recommend this eBook as it explains everything you need to know and everything you need to do:

It only costs $37 which is less than the cost of visiting a health professional. You won’t regret this purchase if you have a foot odour problem.

Recommended products for Foot Odour:
Foot Odour eBook