Physiotherapists in Milton Keynes treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Pes Cavus

This condition is also known as high instep or high arch and is a type of foot anatomy where the medial longitudinal arch (arch on the inner side of the foot) is significantly greater than normal. This is the opposite foot deformity to flat foot and may be without symptoms. However the limiting of weight bearing stresses to the heel and the metatarsal heads may put excessive stresses on the ball of the foot, causing calluses to form and a painful front foot problem. This can also go with hammer toes where the toes are flexed up in a clawed manner and take no part in contacting the ground in gait.

Pes cavus may cause difficulties in selecting suitable footwear as the height of the foot in the midfoot region is so much greater than normal, and some people may need insoles to support the arch and allow effective and painless walking. Pes cavus can be hereditary or can be secondary to a neurological or neuromuscular condition. Treatment is usually conservative such as physiotherapy for strengthening and stretching and the provision of custom insoles as surgery to treat foot pain of this cause is unpredictable in outcome.

Time and Muscle Degeneration

Ageing is associated with decreases in both muscle bulk and strength, varying with different muscles in the body and with which side is the dominant one. The loss of the capacity of muscle is greater in men than in women and also in people who are less active physically. Hormone changes, reduced rates of protein production and poor dietary intake can all contribute. Physiotherapists can reverse this process by instituting a resisted exercise programme at the higher intensity level. Older people can respond to muscle training although older muscles do react less strongly to stimulation and take longer to recover and strengthen after exercise sessions.

Older muscles also suffer from a variety of other changes: a reduction in the ability to use energy to produce force; an increase in the fibrous tissue content which can increase stiffness. Along with the reduction in the ability to know where the joints are at any one moment the elderly suffer from slower reactions and poorer muscle control, with weaker and more easily tired muscles. This can lead in very elderly people to a loss of independence and increasing frailty. Perhaps because of its good blood supply, muscle is mostly able to regenerate itself and remain strong.