Circulation Helen will use a range of equipment and instruments to assess the quality of blood flow to the feet. | Part of the assessment involves the use of a Doppler Ultrasound device. This is a reliable and repeatable method to accurately measure the volume of blood to various parts of the feet and lower limb. Adequate blood flow is vital to healthy feet and good wound healing. A reduction in blood circulation can have serious consequences and needs to be detected early and treated appropriately. | Biomechanical Biomechanics by definition is the study of how the human body moves. | In relation to a diabetic foot assessment, this is all about identifying any unusual foot shape and abnormal or excessive lower limb posture or movement. This can lead to increased load to a joint and/or the skin, leading to deterioration or injury. Excessive or an uneven load to a specific part of your foot can lead to corns and calluses and wounds. Things like bunions, hammertoes, leg length differences, excessive rolling in or out of feet and ankles, are all things that may be potential problems if not addressed. Treatment may include foot orthotics, heel lifts, footwear modification and exercise therapy. | Footwear When you visit us, Helen will assess your current footwear for any signs of excessive wear or pressure. | She will make any necessary recommendations for future footwear choices educating you on what important features to look for based on your foot type and activity needs. Needless to say, good fitting and appropriate footwear are imperative to good foot and lower limb health. Helen will provide you with referrals to appropriate footwear retailers to assist you in finding the best footwear for your needs. She also has a small select range of footwear available in her rooms. | | Sensation This assessment is all about determining that you have no loss of protective sensation in your feet. | Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to nerve damage in the feet. This can present as feelings of numbness, tingling, pain, or burning feelings in the feet and toes. The risk with a loss of protective sensation is the potential of accidental and/or undetected injury to your feet which can lead to a wound, infection and possibly amputation. Nerves carry different information back to the brain. Hence the Diabetic assessment will assess different sensations including cold/warm, sharp/blunt, vibration, light touch. If you have a loss of sensation in your feet, being aware that you must not rely on the "feeling" in your feet as an accurate representation of what is going on down there is vital. You must thoroughly and visually inspect your feet daily to be sure there are no breaks to the skin or other injuries that need attention. TIP: Wearing white socks will allow you to easily see any sign of blood or discharge and spot any problems quickly | Nails The appearance and condition of our nails can provide some valuable insight as to the state of our overall health. | Helen will assess the overall condition of your nails. Abnormalities can include; - Discolouration (white streaks, dark streaks)
- Changes in nail shape (clubbing or curling)
- Pitting
- Lifting of the nail
- Redness and/or swelling around the nail
- Pain around the nail
| Education Helen is a firm believer in the saying "knowledge is Power". | She is passionate about educating and empowering every client with the information they need to take simple, regular care of their feet and thereby prevent complications. Diabetic foot complications do not develop all of a sudden. There are many warning signs over a period of time that if ignored or missed can lead to an urgent medical situation, potentially having serious implications on your future health, mobility and enjoyment of life. These complications are preventable. After your consultation, Helen will provide you with a report identifying your risk category classification (low - high risk) and recommended return period. You will be provided with a realistic treatment plan and an educational follow up email. | | Reflexes A check of the 3 basic lower limb reflexes (knee, ankle and plantar) and the muscle strength of the lower limb is another important step in the assessment process. | This can provide important information about the state of the central and peripheral nervous systems. | Skin Like our nails, the appearance, condition and temperature of our skin provide important clues to our overall health. | Furthermore, our skin is the first line of defence our body has against infection. If it is broken or weakened in any way, through being too dry or too wet, being rubbed, or hit, we have the potential for an infection to make its way into our body. Protecting your feet daily against injury is paramount for a Diabetic. With regards to your Diabetic assessment Helen will check: - That the temperature of both feet is warm and even.
- The overall colour of the skin.
- Signs of dryness, calluses, corns, cracks, excessive moisture or signs of infection, wound or blisters to treat and advise you accordingly.
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