Bunions are probably the most common alignment problem in the foot that Podiatrists see. A bunion is an enlargement of the big toe or first metatarsophalangeal joint. Bunions usually accompany hallux abducto valgus. The cause of bunions is probably a combination of genetic predisposition combined with biomechanics and the use of restrictive footwear. Footwear are widely believed to be the cause of bunions, but those who do not wear shoes still get bunions. The big difference is that the bunions in those who do not wear shoes usually are not painful. It is believed that the role of the shoe is to perhaps bring the bunion on at an earlier age, accelerate the progress of it and provide the resistance that cause the bunion to be painful. So even if the footwear plays no role in the actual cause of the bunion, they still do certainly play a big role. Bunion surgery (eg Austin bunionectomy) is generally the only way to actually get rid of them.
June 1, 2011
May 7, 2011
Foot Detox is a Scam
Detox has become the big alternative treatment method for increasing body health. There are books and courses for the ‘body detox’ or ‘liver detox’. Masses are flocking to buy these products and do a detox. There are many testimonials on how good it is (ever heard of the placebo effect?). One of the latest one to hit the market and being touted online is the foot detox. This involved some pads with an electrical current placed in water with the feet that is supposed to work by removing toxins from the body. There are many claims for how well this is supposed to work and lots of testimonials about how well it works (ever heard of the placebo effect?). As evidence that it works is the claims of the changes in the colour of the water as the toxins are removed from the body. It has been well shown that a foot detox does not work. The change in colour of the water is just due to simple ionization and not a foot detox. The foot detox is a scam. The foot detox scam has been well illustrated on a number of You Tube Videos.