By, Anna Maria Infante, Chiropodist

From head to toe, we’ve all heard some myths when it comes to your health. Quite often they can be humorous and bizarre and leave you wondering whether or not jumping up and down, for example, can actually cure your hiccups. The same myths exist when it comes to your “foot health.”  However, some of these myths can prove to be harmful and dangerous.  Here are a few that we want to dispel:

• Cutting a small “V” notch at the end of the nail will cure ingrown toenails.  Toenails grow from the nail matrix that is located just beneath the skin at the base of the toenail.  The idea that putting a small center “V” notch at the end of the nail will cause the nail edges to come away from the skin as the nail grows together at the “V,” is just not possible.  Ingrown nails can be prevented with routine chiropody treatments or a minor surgical procedure.

• Heel spurs are “calcium deposits.”  A heel spur is often the result of stress on the muscles and fascia of the foot.  The strain on the plantar fascia causes micro-tears in the fascia and the bone begin to fill in the tears with new bone growth.  This stress may form a spur on the bottom of the heel.  While many spurs are painless, others may produce chronic pain.  Based on the condition and the structure of the foot, a chiropodists can advise an appropriate treatment.

• Fungal toenails are contagious. Fungal infection of the nail, or onychomycosis, is often ignored because the infection can be present for years without causing pain or showing any discoloration in the nail.  The disease is characterized by a progressive change in the toenail’s quality and color, which is often ugly and embarrassing, however, not usually contagious from casual contact.  In reality, the condition is an infection underneath the surface of the nail caused by fungi.  Treatments can vary, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.  A chiropodist can detect a fungal infection early and form a suitable treatment plan.

If you are experiencing any of the foot problems listed above or if you feel as though you would benefit from a visit to a Chiropodist contact the Medcan bookings team at 416-350-5900 or email the bookings team at bookings@medcan.com.