Toe bumps: physical therapy methods

Bunions, or hallux valgus, or, in other words, bone growths do not necessarily need to be treated surgically. While the bone deformation has not yet acquired a threatening character, modern non-surgical methods of influencing the diseased joints can be used. What are they?

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When is shock wave therapy used?

• For degeneration of bones and muscles of the foot
• For plantar fasciitis
• For growths in the area of the bone
• For heel spurs

What is the effectiveness of the procedure?

1. Bony growths disintegrate
2. Fragments of growths, fibroblasts, and foci of fibrous tissue are absorbed
3. In the area of impact of shock waves, small vessels grow, from this the tissues of the foot receive excellent nutrition, pain in the foot becomes quieter
4. The foot becomes more flexible, especially its moving parts.
5. Cell membranes become more permeable, allowing beneficial substances to penetrate them faster
6. The nerves that transmit pain impulses to the brain are destroyed

The effect of laser therapy

1. Thanks to it, the work of cells is activated, they absorb fibrin well - a protein that is formed from blood plasma.
2. The pain subsides after the procedures
3. The inflammatory process is reduced
4. Swelling goes away
5. The muscles relax
6. The capillaries expand, which improves blood flow and the blood is better saturated with oxygen and nutrients.
7. Growths and neoplasms in joints and bones disappear

Contraindications to shock wave therapy

• If a woman is pregnant
• If there are cancerous growths in the area being treated
• If a person is infected at the time of treatment, it must first be cured.
• If a so-called cardiac pacemaker is inserted into a person’s heart – this is a device that acts as a heart valve
• If a person has poor blood clotting

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Contraindications to laser therapy

• Tumors, even benign ones
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Pigment spots in the laser treatment area
• Diabetes mellitus
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
• Lung failure

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Contraindications to ultrasound therapy

• Disorders of the nervous system in acute conditions
• Thrombophlebitis in the chronic stage
• Unclear heart rhythm, arrhythmia

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Shock wave therapy

This is a method of physiotherapeutic treatment of sore feet, which is successfully used in countries with a high level of medicine, Switzerland, for example. And in our country as well.

The essence of the method

The person lies down on a couch, and his sore legs are affected by a special device in the form of a hair dryer, which is attached to a huge box with a display. Shock waves - wave impulses - are applied to the person through the so-called "hair dryer" attachment.

These waves spread through muscle tissue, ligaments, tendons, passing through them, but not damaging or affecting them in any way. But shock waves have a great effect on bones, cartilage, growths in the leg and joints - in general, everything from which waves can bounce off (the method is based on the return acoustic effect).

The effect of this procedure is very high. Blood flow is restored in the damaged foot, metabolism is activated, cells begin to quickly recover and renew.

The duration of treatment for each zone is 15 minutes.

Laser therapy

This is also a method of physiotherapy, which uses laser radiation treatment. Laser enzymes make biochemical processes in the body's cells more active, they are restored, renewed, and a person receives a lot of energy for life.

The essence of the method

In areas of laser heating, calcium ions are released from the body's cells. This helps reduce pain, swelling, inflammation, and enriches the blood with useful substances and oxygen.

The procedure lasts 15 minutes and does not involve any painful sensations.

Ultrasound therapy

This is a very effective and gentle method of physiotherapy, in which the inflamed and painful areas of the foot are affected by ultrasound. At the same time, the muscles and other tissues receive a micro massage of a very bright effect.

The essence of the method

Using ultrasound, the sore areas of the foot are warmed up by 1-2 degrees Celsius. This allows tissues and joints to regenerate faster, activates metabolism in the affected areas, and relieves pain.

The session lasts 15 minutes.

Efficiency of the method

1. Metabolic processes in the body are activated
2. Blood flow to the injured foot is restored
3. Microcirculation in capillaries improves
4. Collagen is actively produced, which helps strengthen muscle tissue that supports joints and bones
5. Damaged tissues are regenerated
6. The inflammatory process is reduced
7. The pain subsides
8. Swelling goes away
9. Spasms of muscles and blood vessels pass

Treatment with mud applications

This is an excellent method to relieve inflammation, pain, and reduce the size of the bone on the foot if it has started to grow.

The essence of the method

Muds are substances that contain a lot of biologically active enzymes. These substances are very good for activating many processes in tissues: blood flow, lymph flow, metabolism. If muds are combined with massage, they will affect the sore foot more actively.

How does the mud therapy procedure take place?

The mud in the thermal pack is placed in a water heater. The water temperature will be up to 65 degrees. The mud from this thermal pack is applied to the affected foot.

The foot is covered with a warm sheet or a light blanket. Over the course of half an hour, the mud temperature is gradually increased, so the procedure is comfortable for the patient. The sweat that is released during the procedure is absorbed into the thermal pack.

If dirt particles remain on the foot, they are removed after the session. The reddened skin indicates that the session was successful.

Therapeutic effect of mud applications

• They relieve inflammation
• Reduce swelling
• Destroys germs and bacteria
• Dissolve excess bumps on tissues, regenerate damaged tissues
• Destroy streptococcal infections as well as other types of infections
• Helps reduce pain in joints affected by arthritis
• Promotes muscle healing, bone healing, and reduction of tendon inflammation
• Eliminate the consequences of bone fractures
• Reduces pain in bursitis and promotes the resorption of inflamed, swollen tissues

The session lasts 30 minutes.

For a good effect in reducing inflammation and resorption of the bone on the foot, up to 15 procedures are required, carried out every other day.

Orthopedic insoles (additional method of action)

This is an excellent method for preventing bunions and reducing the load on the foot, as well as part of a comprehensive treatment when the bunions have already grown. It's time to use orthopedic insoles if:

• Your legs are under increased stress
• Legs get tired very quickly
• In addition to leg pain, there is also back pain, especially in the coccyx area.
• My leg joints or heels hurt

In order for the insoles to be made strictly according to the shape of your foot, you need to consult an orthopedic doctor. Insoles with correctly designed arch supports increase the effectiveness of treating bunions by almost a third! And, of course, they relieve the spine, coordinating the center of gravity.

How are orthopedic insoles made?

First, consult with your doctor. He/she should take into account the specifics of your illnesses, physical activity during the day, age, gender, profession. This will help calculate the load on your feet.

After the diagnosis is made, the doctor selects the blanks for making orthopedic insoles. What should they be: narrow, wide, combined, how thin or thick should the material of the insoles be? When taking measurements, the doctor must take into account the weight, fullness, how deformed the foot or its big toe is.

The insole is formed directly on the patient's foot. This ensures the precision of its manufacture.

Then the patient waits for about 20 minutes – and receives orthopedic insoles made just for him. They will serve excellently, especially under high loads or during the rehabilitation period after surgery.

Physiotherapy is good because it affects the patient's body as gently as possible, but at the same time its goal is to achieve the maximum effect. Thus, bones on the legs can be cured and significantly reduced, even eliminated with the help of mechanical methods of influence.