It’s been more than 4 years since the plans for a transformation in Jurong Lake District were announced. In line with this marvellous facelift of Jurong, Physio & Sole Clinic has also launched its branch in Jurong East to serve the Westies!
We have listed some activities our fellow Westies may be engaged in and the associated potential pitfalls:
- Ice Skating
Enjoy going to J-Cube to ice skate?
One of the most common injuries that skaters experience is tripping and falling, causing the foot to be caught in an awkwardly rotated position. Twisting or spraining the ankles may cause strains to the ligaments on the inner side of the ankle. If you suffer from mild foot and ankle injuries while skating, you can first try the R.I.C.E. protocol:
Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
However, if the injury is more severe, such as if there is marked swelling or redness or bruising, you should consult a podiatrist, physiotherapist or doctor for further evaluation.
- Running
Taking a morning jog along the scenic running routes at Jurong Lake Gardens?
Be sure to wear appropriate running shoes as the running tracks around Jurong Lake are mostly hard surfaces. Have you experienced sharp heel pain with the first few steps in the morning, especially the next morning after running? If yes, then you might be experiencing a condition called plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia, a fibrous band that supports the arch of the foot, takes a lot of load when walking and running. Most patients do not seek treatment until the injury becomes more severe, but plantar fasciitis usually responds better to early intervention such as stretching, taping and the use of foot orthotics/insoles to better support the arch and reduce stress to the plantar fascia. Other common problems include runner’s knees, Achilles tendinitis and shin splints. Do consult a Podiatrist if you are suffering from any running injury.
- Hiking
Fancy a hike along the Southern Ridges?
Be sure to wear appropriate fitting footwear! Subungual haematomas (bruising under the nail) and ingrown toenails are the most common toenail injuries in hikers. During downhill hikes, the repetitive jamming of toes into the toe box can cause injury to the nail bed, causing blood to accumulate underneath the nail plate and causing a “blue-black” nail appearance. A nail that has become detached from the nail bed can increase the likelihood of a fungal nail infection as there is a hollow area underneath the nail plate for fungus to live in. Ingrown toenails can also occur, especially when hikers wear a pair of hiking shoes that are too tight, thereby increasing the chances of irritation of the nail against the flesh at the sides.
A podiatrist can help by trimming back the detached/blue-black nail so that a new nail can slowly grow back better. The nail spike causing the ingrown toenail can also be removed conservatively, allowing you to return to your next hike without pain.
- Manufacturing & Chemical Engineering
Do you work in a chemical plant in Jurong Island? Or are you in the manufacturing industry? Do you need to wear safety boots all day at work?
We have a large number of patients coming to our physoi and podiatry clinic due to problems from wearing of safety boots at work.
The most frequent complaint from wearing safety shoes is fungal infection. Fungus thrives in warm, moist and dark environments. Hence if you wear safety shoes that cause the feet to be warm and sweaty all day, you are at risk of developing fungal skin or nail infections. If you notice the skin on the bottom of your feet starting to become itchy, peeling and develop small blisters, it is likely that you may have tinea pedis (fungal skin infection). The constant rubbing of the toenails on the steep toe caps makes it easier for fungus to invade the nails as well. You can read more about fungal nail infections.
To prevent fungal infection in the feet, it is crucial you maintain good foot hygiene:
- Wear 100% cotton socks to absorb moisture from your feet sweating
- Change your socks daily
- Wash your feet daily
- Change your shoes if they are old and moldy (or you can consider coming to our clinic for shoe-sterilizing)
- Apply an antiperspirant spray on the feet before putting on shoes daily if your feet tend to sweat excessively.
It is also common to develop corns and callus on the feet due to excessive pressure on the ball of the feet when wearing steel-plated safety shoes.
To prevent developing corns and callus from wearing safety shoes, you can try the following:
- Choose shoes with a fastening mechanism (laces or ankle straps) to prevent movement of your feet within the shoes. This should reduce any friction and trauma from the steel toe caps.
- Check that you are wearing the right sized shoes. There should be at least a thumb’s width space from the longest toe and the toe box must be wide and deep enough to accommodate your feet.
If you are already experiencing pain from corns and callus, do consult a podiatrist. A podiatrist will be able to remove the corns and callus to relieve pain, as well as look into prescribing padding or insoles with adequate forefoot cushioning to reduce pressures from wearing safety shoes.
Do not continue suffering from feet problems!
If you stay in the West and need professional help from a Podiatrist, feel free to call us at
21 Jurong Gateway Road,
#03-07 CPF Jurong Building,
Singapore 608546
