A callus (tyloma) foot is marked by the formation of thick, hardened skin most often on the medial edge of the hallux. The rough layers are gradually developed over a period of time to protect the skin from constant exposure to friction or pressure.
While not strictly limited to the foot, it is common to find calluses on the palms of the hands and knuckles, as a result of activities that generate excessive force on the skin such as manual labour.
This type of repeated impact stimulates the epidermis cells, accelerating the thickening of dead skin cells on the surface in an attempt to protect the soft tissues lying underneath the skin. This physiological response of the skin is referred to as hyperkeratosis.
A callus presents itself in the form of a dispersed region of hard growth without definite borders, with slight discolouration that causes the affected skin to look white, yellow or brown. Some calluses, termed as intractable plantar keratosis, might develop a painful inner core called as a nucleation.
Offer your Patients a Custom Calibrated Insole with a 98% Patient Satisfaction Rate know more
The factors leading to the development of a callus could be either internal or external.
The internal factors include pre-existing biomechanical problems of the foot that cause an abnormal dispersion of pressure during walking or running; this pressure tends to be concentrated mostly on the medial side of the hallux or the heel, forming a callus in the process.
A host of other foot conditions also originate from poor biomechanics such as hallux valgus and hammertoes. These foot deformities ultimately increase the friction of the skin with the hard inner surface of the shoes worn by the patient, causing the skin to become hardened over a period of time.
External factors such as wearing tight-fitting shoes, prolonged standing and any type of repetitive activity that exerts continuous pressure on a specific part of the hands or feet, can also lead to the development of calluses in that region.
Calluses rarely pose any imminent risks to a healthy person; however, for a patient suffering from a condition such as diabetes, a callus foot could lead to far more serious complications in the long-term. This makes the removal and treatment of calluses of the utmost importance.
A diagnosis can be made only after a detailed clinical assessment involving palpation of the affected area to detect bony presences underneath the callus, which should be followed by an X-ray for confirmation.
In order to spot biomechanical defects of the foot, a thorough evaluation of the patient’s gait would have to be conducted and a treatment plan devised accordingly.
To provide symptomatic relief, a sharp debridement of the callus could be performed by a qualified health professional to reduce the hyperkeratotic tissues in the region and to even out the skin surface.
Topical medication, containing 40% salicylic acid, may also be recommended to cut through and dissolve the thickened skin.
To eliminate any possible external sources of friction to the hardened skin surface, comfortable footwear would have to be worn at all times by the patient.
Underlying foot postural problems can be treated through the regular use of custom made foot orthotics such as MASS4D®, which will correct the distribution of pressure in the foot and reduce any excess pressure to allow the callus to heal.
By supporting both functional pronation and healthy supination, the foot is held in its optimal posture. This support allows for proper weight distribution and relief for areas previously suffering from friction and rubbing.
Copyright 2016 MASS4D® All rights reserved.
Offer your Patients a Custom Calibrated Insole with a 98% Patient Satisfaction Rate know more
References:
Rehabilitation of Your Foot and Lower Back Conditions.
Long Lasting Wear
Strong Foot Support
Easy to use
Handmade MASS4D® Quality
FREE EXERCISES
Sign up for free recommended foot exercises, stretching, medical news and everything good for your feet
Please have a a look at our medical reviews and clinical articles on everything about lower biomechanics.
You should always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions.
The content, products and services offered herein, are here to educate consumers on healthcare and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Nothing in the content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This site and its services do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment.
The marks "MASS4D" and the MASS4D logo are trademarks. The content and design of MASS4D.com is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, display, transmit or frame any of these materials without prior written consent from MASS4D®.
Medical Disclaimer
The content, products or services on this site should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Included materials and conversations do not imply a personalised doctor-patient relationship.
Copyright and Intellectual property
MASS4D® is owned and operated by Scheibye General Trading LLC - Licence no: 853463
MASS4D® and Logo are registered trademarks of MASS4D Inc. All content, trademarks, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of MASS4D® Inc.