Podiatric treatment for athlete's foot
In English, tinea pedis (Athlete's Foot) is described as ‘athlete’s foot’. The reason for this is that sports shoes – which are often warm and damp inside – provide the suitable breeding ground for the fungus to spread. However, this applies to any shoe that is warm and non-breathable. It is therefore short-sighted to limit athlete’s foot solely to this issue.
Athlete’s foot plays a minor role in foot care and podiatric treatment. However, it is worth taking a closer look at the athlete’s healthy but heavily strained foot.
The first step is to identify which sport influences the foot. We are all familiar with sports that place a highly burdensome strain on the feet. These include football, tennis, jogging and volleyball. In classic ball sports in particular, running, jumping, stopping and changing direction cause uneven strain and increase the risk of injury. Short bursts of running and jumps from all positions are especially hard on the feet. Alpine skiing, dance sport, ballet, climbing, mountaineering and squash also subject the feet to high levels of stress. What they all have in common is this: if less attention is paid to the feet, the enjoyment or success in the sport practised will soon be marred.
Podiatry as a preventive measure
Yet the feet are in a condition that would benefit from care even before taking up sport. Thanks to regular foot care treatments – essentially as a preventative measure – the feet can be permanently protected against calluses, fissures, corns, ingrown toenails and fungal infections of the skin and nails. Here, it is the podiatrist’s role to provide advice to the athlete in advance and, through education, to help foster greater awareness of foot care.
Persistent foot problems usually have more than one cause. It is a combination of heavy strain, insufficient rest periods, lack of care and an unsuitable diet that can lead to symptoms of fatigue and even fractures, even in young people.
An important factor: sports shoes
Footwear worn during a particular sport plays a large role in foot health:
- Running shoes with well-developed torsional stability,
- handball shoes that provide support for the foot, offer well-developed cushioning and allow adequate grip,
- Ski boots that secure the foot in a rigid state to ensure a robust stance,
- Dance shoes with relatively thin soles, high glide, a snug fit and heavy load on the forefoot,
- Climbing shoes that lace up tightly and snugly around the foot,
- Hiking boots that provide support, stability and grip for the foot,
- Football boots that fit snugly and can offer less ventilation.
The biggest drawback of all the types of footwear mentioned: they constrict the foot and then contribute to many of the conditions that podiatrists deal with on a daily basis. Yet it is especially important that footwear helps to strengthen or maintain the foot muscles.
The most common changes to the foot and lower leg caused by sport are onychomycosis, dermatomycosis, ingrown toenails, haematomas, blisters and fatigue, ligament and tendon strain, along with various syndromes such as shin splints. It is rarely possible to treat these skin and nail conditions, along with painful problems, without expert advice. Besides symptomatic treatment, nail correction braces, nail reconstruction or orthoses can also be indicated. The use of topical treatments has proven particularly effective in the early stages. As symptoms progress, medical action is often unavoidable – even to the extent of reducing the sporting activity causing the problem to zero.
“Anyone who does sport should also be mindful of their feet,” says podiatrist Christina Schäfer-Thaler with practical conviction. If more attention is paid to the feet, the conditions can be created for long-term pain-free and complication-free training. “With the right preventive measures, you can prevent pain in other joints long before it forms,” explains Schäfer-Thaler. This includes, besides suitable footwear, regular changing and airing out of your shoes, wearing appropriate socks and materials, strengthening the skin on your feet thanks to proper care and Kneipp hydrotherapy, trimming your nails in good time, avoiding moisture build-up and, of course, a daily check-up before and after exercise.
Three questions for Christian Trunk
During his visit to Neuenbürg last year, professional triathlete Christian Trunk also received a podiatry treatment and consultation at the School of Podiatry. What are his impressions and experiences?
Christian, how did you find the podiatry treatment?
Highly helpful and informative. It really helped me that Ms Schäfer-Thaler drew my attention to a few problem areas. My foot felt like new afterwards!
Had you ever been to a podiatrist or foot care professional before?
No, it was actually my first time. That’s why a contact like RUCK is so important to me. I know less about this area myself, but I’m aware of the importance of feet and now have an expert by my side.
What ‘problems’ with your feet have you experienced yourself?
Pressure points are my biggest problem. During my intensive training sessions, I repeatedly notice that my feet are under highly strained conditions. Knowing how to deal with this and what helps preventively is a huge benefit for me.
I’ve also had to deal with ingrown toenails quite often. I never knew what I could do about them. Ms Schäfer-Thaler gave me some simple and helpful tips, which I’m now following. Thank you very much for that!
Note for consumers:
You’re not a podiatrist, but an athlete?
You’ll find suitable products and important tips in our official peclavus shop.
