Chiropody is the most common treatment in podiatry practices. It involves removing hyperkeratosis from the feet and improving nail health by delaminating and milling them.

Diffuse keratoses, which are hard, painless skin, are typical, but we also often suffer from localized hyperkeratosis, which can be very painful. These are more influenced by bone factors, and to permanently resolve them, in addition to extensive chiropody, we can resort to insoles or MIS (minimal incision surgery).

By properly studying your gait, we can prevent osteoarticular, muscular, and ligament injuries such as sprains, fasciitis, muscle strain, pain in the forefoot, lower back pain, tendonitis, and knee pain, because poor foot support can lead to knee pain in the upper areas. We also look for possible dissymmetries, which are differences in length between one leg and the other.

Before prescribing custom insoles, a biomechanical evaluation must be performed, which consists of a thorough examination of the lower limbs (hip, thigh, knee, leg, ankle and foot) in static and dynamic conditions, to determine the cause of our condition.

After the examination and with a clear diagnosis, a phenolic foam mold is taken. These foams are sent to a partner company to create the templates using CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Machining) technology, manufacturing them with the finest materials.

Once delivered, we provide free periodic check-ups for all our patients, in which we examine the improvement and evolution of the pathology and evaluate the continuation or change of treatment.

Plantar warts are small benign tumors caused by HPV (human papillomavirus).

There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Depending on the type we contract, we will develop warts on different areas of the body, including the feet. Plantar warts cause thickening of the skin, similar to hyperkeratosis, so a thorough examination will ensure timely treatment and prevent infection to others. They are also very painful and can occur more than one at a time.

If we have had a bunion for several years (if it is very painful or causes cosmetic discomfort), we will need good surgical guidance, just as with claw toes, since it is the only way to return the foot and toes to a proper shape. Of course, a biomechanical examination will always be necessary (before and after surgery) to determine the cause and treat it as well. There is no point in having surgery if we don’t treat the underlying cause, because the deformity will recur.

The role of podiatry in diabetic foot care is essential. If you are diabetic, at our podiatry unit in Santa Pola, we’ll teach you how to maintain optimal foot condition to prevent ulcers. We’ll teach you how to trim your nails properly, practice proper foot hygiene, learn which footwear is best for you, and advise you on the type of custom insole you need to optimize pressure distribution on your foot, contain deformities, and thus prevent the development of ulcers.

Monthly nail care is very important for older diabetics (along with circulatory problems). Nails grow more slowly and thicker, and we often find small ulcers beneath them that are not visible until we clean the nail.

Nails can suffer from different conditions due to fungi, bacteria, poor morphology, age, poor footwear and some systemic diseases.

Therefore, we must analyze and diagnose comprehensively, taking into account all the patient’s characteristics and history, in order to make a correct diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment.

Most common nail conditions:

• Ingrown toenails (ingrown toenails).
• Black nails (typical in athletes).
• Thickened nails (very common in older people).
• Fungi (onychomycosis).