Phototherapy: Pain Free Treatment for Painful Feet
By Carl Tam, Chiropodist, Footcare Place Toronto Painful feet, ankles or knees can be dreadfully distracting. They can take your attention away from your work, your enjoyment and your regular fitness routine. Chronic foot and lower limb pain can seriously interfere with routine activity and in extreme cases can even be debilitating. On the other hand, the treatment for painful feet, ankles or knees need not be painful. Phototherapy, a medical laser therapy, is a new and innovative pain-free treatment for painful feet, ankles or knees, among other medical conditions. This article is an overview of Phototherapy and how it can be applied to the treatment of painful feet, ankles or knees.
What is Phototherapy?
Phototherapy is a technique that uses therapeutic light to trigger intense healing and relief for painful feet, ankles or knees, as well as other medical conditions. Phototherapy, by way of a medical laser light, stimulates the cells with laser light energy. This light is either a low level laser also known as a Low Level Laser Diodes (LLLD) or a Superluminous Diodes (SLD) also known as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDS). Phototherapy treatment for painful feet, ankles or knees is evidence-based and FDA approved.
The benefits of Phototherapy
In addition to delivering pain-free treatment for painf
Ingrown Toenails: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
An ingrown toenail is when the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This irritates the skin, often resulting in pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe. 
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and result in an infection, which is often marked by the expression of a yellow, white, brown or green fluid and a foul odour. Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as they develop in order to prevent or treat an associated infection. If you are uncertain as to the severity of your ingrown toenail, seek advice from your Chiropodist immediately. Your Chiropodist will also be able to recommend a home care or a professional treatment plan that prevents the recurrence of this condition.
Symptoms of ingrown toenails
Ingrown toenails exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:
- A nail that curves downward into the skin
- Pain, redness, swelling and warmth in the toe
- Extra skin with red, inflamed tissue growing around the point of the toenail
- Expression of a white, yellow or green fluid accompa
Bunions are misaligned big toe joints that can become swollen and tender, causing the first joint of the big toe to slant outward, and the second joint to angle toward the other toes. 
Bunions tend to be hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe. At Footcare Place Toronto, non-surgical options for bunions include custom-fitted orthopedic shoes that may have extra-depth or width to accommodate the widening of the forefoot. Custom-made orthotics are also often prescribed to correct the underlying foot problem responsible for the bunion formation.
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore or wound that occurs in approximately 15 percent of patients with diabetes, and is commonly located on the bottom of the foot. Of those who develop a foot ulcer, six percent will be hospitalized due to infection or other ulcer-related complication. Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputations in the United States, and approximately 14 to 24 percent of patients with diabetes who develop a foot ulcer have an amputation. Research, however, has shown that the development of a foot ulcer is preventable. Who Can Get a Diabetic Foot Ulcer? Anyone who has diabetes can develop a foot ulcer. Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and older men are more likely to develop ulcers. People who use insulin are at a higher risk of developing a foot ulcer, as are patients with diabetes-related kidney, eye, and heart disease. Being overweight and using alcohol and tobacco also play a role in the development of foot ulcers. How do Diabetic Foot Ulcers Form? Ulcers form due to a combination of factors, such as lack of feeling in the foot, poor circulation, foot deformities, irritation (such as friction or pressure), and trauma, as well as duration of diabetes. Patients who have diabetes for many years can develop neuropathy, a reduced or complete lack of ability to feel pain in the feet due
Morton’s Neuroma: Burning, Tingling, Numbness in Your Foot, Difficulty Walking If you’re suffering with radiating pain in your foot until the point where you can’t even take a step without being in agony, you may have a condition called Morton’s Neuroma. With this condition, you may feel like there’s some sort of object in your sock that is causing you irritation, but every time you look, nothing is there. You may be surprised to know that the “object” is really an enlarged nerve under the ball of your foot that only gets worse with time. However, there is good news. The hidden signs of Morton’s Neuroma Learn how to eliminate the risk of permanent damage to your feet before it is too late. What may seem like something minor to you, could develop into something much more serious if not treated properly! Therefore, what you choose to do with this information may make the difference between a pain-free life and one filled with the miserable repercussions of not acting when there was still time. What Is Morton’s Neuroma? Morton’s Neuroma, also known as intermetatarsal neuroma, is a condition where the laterel plantar nerve combines with the the medial plantar nerve to form one large nerve between the third and fourth toes. As above this nerve lies the deep transverse metatarsal liga
Fungal nails can be an embarrassing disease. Thankfully, it is easily preventable.
As can be derived from the word, a fungus is a type of microorganism that forms in warm, most climates. A fungal nails often develops as a result of walking barefoot on gym locker floors or wearing tight shoes that cause your feet to sweat and remain damp. To avoid contracting fungal nails, simply refrain from walking barefoot in communal locations and wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe.
Fungal nail has a number of distinguishing characteristics. It can be identified by toenails that have suddenly become abnormall
Athlete’s foot, or Tinea Pedis, is a skin infection caused by fungus. Fungus commonly attacks the feet because it thrives in a dark, moist, and warm environment. 
Athlete’s foot usually produces itchy, dry, scaling skin. It is commonly seen on the soles of the feet and in between the toes. Inflammation, cracks, and blisters may form, and a secondary infection caused by bacteria may be apparent in advanced cases. At Footcare Place Toronto, treatment includes anti-fungal sprays or creams and tips to avoid further infection.