‘Obesity takes a toll on ankle, feet’

 Vijayawada: Generally, people face severe pain in ankle and feet due to obesity or standing over long periods, says noted physiotherapist Dr Olos Gora while addressing the health education programme at Vasavya Nursing Home with Dr Maru in the chair on Saturday.   

“At times people get injured during games and sports for which physiotherapy is right to overcome the problem,” he said. He said that physiotherapy is good if there is sprain in ankle. According to him, some people feel pain in the soles in the morning when they step out of bed and in such cases ultrasound therapy is useful in addition to the soft sandals. Dr Olos said that extra corporeal radial pressure shockwave therapy could be used to heal chronic pain in the ankles.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in healing the pain and swelling in the case of fractures and injuries on feet, he added. He said that diabetics lose sense in the feet due to negligence and it could be corrected with physiotherapy. “The modern physiotherapy provides answer to the problems like growth of bone in the heel and plantar fusion,” he said. In case of nerve injuries, the foot would not hold up and in such situations, the nerve could be made to work again with electrical stimulation and EMG.

Dr Olos said that everyone knows that the congenital crooked feet could be corrected with physiotherapy. Some people feel severe pain in the heel due to high pressure on muscles and they could be healed with the help of soft tissue laser therapy and exercise, he said. Physiotherapy helps people, who suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatic arthritis to give relief from pain, he added.

He suggested not using footwear till they are fully worn out and use of soft footwear. “It is better to put on walking shoes for morning walk,” he said.
Pain in the heels and feet could be avoided by selecting correct size shoes and keeping body weight under control, he said and added that footwear for children should be changed every three months. Physiotherapist Dr Sudeepti Vardhan proposed a vote of thanks.