Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care

💜 Happy Monday, everyone! 👣☀️

I usually stay behind the scenes, so I thought I'd show the face behind Mountain Peak! 🏔️ Although, if you're one of my clients, you're probably more used to seeing me with my mask on! 😂😷 With many of my clients being immunocompromised, keeping them safe is always a priority. 💜

But behind that mask is someone who genuinely cares — not only about improving your quality of life and keeping your feet healthy, but also about getting to know YOU! 🥰 I love hearing your stories, sharing a laugh, and building connections with the wonderful people who sit in my chair.

Thank you for trusting me with your care and supporting my little business. It truly means the world to me! 💜👣

👣 A SMALL CORN CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE! 💜

Did you know that a corn on your foot can do more than just cause localized discomfort?

When pressure builds up over a small area of skin, a corn can become painful with every step. You may find yourself unconsciously changing the way you walk to avoid putting pressure on it.

Over time, this altered gait can place additional stress on other areas of your feet and lower limbs.

Signs a corn may be affecting you:
👣 Pain or tenderness when walking
👣 Discomfort in shoes or with direct pressure
👣 Changing how you stand or walk to avoid the pain
👣 Putting extra pressure on other areas of your foot

Professional nursing foot care can help reduce the excess thickened skin contributing to pressure and discomfort, while identifying potential contributing factors.

Depending on the cause, footwear changes, pressure-relieving padding or a referral for further assessment may also be recommended.

💜 Don't ignore foot pain or simply learn to walk around it. Early assessment can help identify the cause and guide appropriate care.

📍 Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care Inc.
Strathmore, Alberta

✨ Foot Care Is Health Care.

🌐 Book online at MountainPeakfootcare.ca

HealthyFeet

🦶💡 DID YOU KNOW? — FOOT CARE NURSE EDITION

Monofilament testing is only ONE piece of a diabetic foot assessment.

The 10 g monofilament is an important tool for assessing protective sensation—but passing a monofilament test doesn’t automatically mean a foot is low risk.

As Foot Care Nurses, we need to look at the whole foot and the whole person. 👣

A comprehensive assessment may include:

🔹 Skin and nail health
🔹 Sensation and protective sensation
🔹 Circulation-related findings
🔹 Foot structure and deformities
🔹 Pressure areas and callus build-up
🔹 Footwear and offloading needs
🔹 Medical history and individual risk factors
🔹 Education and an individualized plan of care

The bigger picture is what helps us identify risk, guide care and prevent complications. 💙

MedicalFootCare

Tracking your levels can help prevent neuropathy and protect the natural sensation in your feet.

🦶🔬 DID YOU KNOW YOUR SKIN HAS MEMORY? LET’S TALK ABOUT CALLUSES!

Have you ever wondered why calluses develop, why they keep coming back, and why foot care professionals are careful about how much thickened skin they remove?

There’s actually some fascinating science behind it!

🦶 WHY DO CALLUSES FORM?

Calluses are your body’s natural response to repeated pressure and friction.

Imagine having a prominent bone underneath your foot, such as your second metatarsal head. Every time you walk, that area experiences pressure.

Your skin responds by activating specialized cells called keratinocytes, which produce keratin and help build a thicker outer layer of skin.

This process is called hyperkeratosis.

Essentially, your body is trying to protect an area experiencing repeated mechanical stress.

But here’s where it gets interesting! 👀

⚠️ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE REMOVE A LARGE CALLUS?

There are three important possibilities:

✅ Pressure may decrease. Excessively thick calluses can actually increase localized pressure. One clinical study found that callus removal reduced peak pressure by an average of 26% at treated areas.

⚠️ The skin may become tender or injured. Removing too much tissue or going beyond the excess callus can damage healthy skin, causing sensitivity, pain or even skin breakdown.

🔄 The callus may return. If the original pressure or friction hasn’t been addressed, the skin continues responding to that mechanical stress by producing more thickened skin.

🧬 BUT DID YOU KNOW YOUR SKIN CAN ACTUALLY REMEMBER PREVIOUS INJURIES?

Yes! Scientists have discovered something called epigenetic memory.

Our skin contains epidermal stem cells that continually produce new skin cells.

Research has shown that some of these stem cells can retain biological information from previous inflammation or injury, influencing how they respond to future damage.

Pretty fascinating, right?

However, there’s an important distinction!

Although skin-cell memory is scientifically documented, research has NOT established that removing an entire callus causes it to grow back thicker or faster because the skin remembers the removal.

🦶💧 PITTING EDEMA WHAT IS YOUR SWELLING TRYING TO TELL YOU?

Have you ever pressed your finger into your swollen ankle, foot, or lower leg and noticed that it leaves a dent behind?

Or maybe you’ve taken off your socks at the end of the day and noticed deep indentations around your ankles!

Why does that happen? And why does the skin sometimes take several minutes to bounce back?

Let’s break it down in simple terms! 🩺

💧 FIRST, WHAT EVEN IS EDEMA?

Edema (also spelled oedema) is the medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid collecting in your body’s tissues.

Normally, your body maintains a balance between fluid entering and leaving those tissues.

When that balance changes, fluid can accumulate, particularly in your feet, ankles, and lower legs because of gravity!

🔎 WHAT IS PITTING EDEMA?

Imagine pressing your finger into a water-filled sponge.

The pressure pushes some of that fluid away, leaving a temporary indentation.

Something similar happens with pitting edema!

When you press on swollen tissue, you temporarily displace some of the fluid underneath your skin.

Once you release your finger, that fluid gradually redistributes, and the indentation disappears.

The deeper the dent and the longer it takes to rebound, the more significant the pitting may be!

📊 DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE FOUR GRADES OF PITTING EDEMA?

Healthcare professionals commonly use a grading system from 1+ to 4+.

🟢 GRADE 1+ — MILD

* Very shallow indentation, approximately 2 mm
* Skin rebounds almost immediately
* Minimal visible swelling

🟡 GRADE 2+ — MODERATE

* Indentation approximately 3–4 mm deep
* Skin generally rebounds within 15 seconds
* Swelling may be more noticeable around the ankles

🟠 GRADE 3+ — MORE SIGNIFICANT

* Deeper indentation, approximately 5–6 mm
* May take 15–60 seconds to rebound
* More obvious swelling in the affected area

🔴 GRADE 4+ — SEVERE

* Very deep indentation, approximately 8 mm
* May take 2–3 minutes to rebound
* Significant swelling, sometimes with tight or stretched skin

These are approximate clinical guidelines. Grading methods and rebound times can vary.

⏱️ BUT WHAT DOES SLOW REBOUND ACTUALLY MEAN?

This is where it gets interesting!

When tissue contains excess fluid, pressing your finger into it pushes that fluid out of the way.

The indentation remains until the fluid redistributes and the tissue returns to its original shape.

A deeper indentation that takes longer to disappear generally indicates more pronounced pitting edema.

But here’s what’s important: The rebound time alone cannot tell us WHY someone is retaining fluid!

❤️ SO WHY DO OUR FEET AND ANKLES SWELL?

There are several possible contributing factors:

🩸 Venous insufficiency: Veins have difficulty efficiently returning blood toward the heart, increasing pressure and fluid buildup in the legs.

🪑 Prolonged sitting or standing: Gravity encourages fluid to collect in the lower extremities.

☀️ Heat: Warm temperatures can widen blood vessels and contribute to swelling.

💊 Medications: Certain blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatory medications, and other prescriptions can cause fluid retention.

🧂 Sodium intake: Excess salt can contribute to fluid retention.

🫀 Heart, kidney, or liver conditions: These can interfere with how the body manages fluid and circulation.

🦵 Lymphatic problems: Lymphedema can cause swelling that may pit in earlier stages and become firmer over time.

👣 DOES ALL SWELLING LEAVE A DENT?

No!

There are two broad patterns:

Pitting edema: Pressing the tissue leaves an indentation.

Non-pitting edema: The tissue appears swollen, but pressing does not leave a lasting indentation.

This difference can provide useful clues, but neither pattern establishes a diagnosis on its own.

🩺 WHY DOES THIS MATTER IN FOOT CARE NURSING?

At Jessie’s Foot Care, we’re not just looking at toenails!

Swelling can affect:

✅ Skin integrity and risk of breakdown

✅ Wound healing

✅ Footwear fit and pressure areas

✅ Mobility and comfort

✅ Overall lower-extremity health

Recognizing changes in swelling and assessing the skin, pedal pulses, and other findings can help identify when further medical assessment is appropriate.

⚠️ WHEN SHOULD SWELLING BE CHECKED?

New, unexplained, persistent, or worsening swelling should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Sudden swelling in one leg, especially with pain, warmth, or redness, needs urgent assessment. Swelling accompanied by chest pain or difficulty breathing requires emergency care.

💙 REMEMBER: Swelling is a symptom, not a diagnosis!

Two people can have the same grade of pitting edema for completely different reasons.

The goal isn’t just to identify how much swelling is present. It’s to understand WHY it’s happening.

👣Ensure to always check with your doctor! No matter what you read online.

🦃🍂 Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! 🍂🧡

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all my wonderful clients a very Happy Thanksgiving! 😊

I’m so grateful for all of you who continue to support my small business and trust me with your foot care. It truly means so much to me! 💜👣

I hope you all have a lovely weekend filled with good food, laughter, and time with the people you love!

Thank you for being part of the Mountain Peak family! 🧡

Enjoy the long weekend, and take care of yourselves (and those feet)! 😉👣

Brittany
Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care Inc. 💜

🦶 Do you have diabetes and want to know how your feet are doing?

Taking care of your feet is an important part of managing diabetes, but it can be hard to know what to look for or whether you're at risk for complications.

At Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care, I now offer Diabetic Foot Risk Screening appointments for those who want a better understanding of their overall foot health and potential diabetes-related foot risks.

Your appointment includes an assessment of:
✔️ Circulation and blood flow
✔️ Sensation and protective feeling
✔️ Skin and nail health
✔️ Foot structure and areas of increased pressure
✔️ Your overall diabetic foot-risk level

You'll leave with a better understanding of your foot health, along with personalized education and recommendations to help you care for your feet.

This is an assessment and education appointment only. Treatment is not included, and the screening does not provide a medical diagnosis.

📍 Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care | Strathmore, AB

If you've been wanting to learn more about your diabetic foot health, you're welcome to book an appointment 😊

🌐 www.mountainPeakfootcare.ca

Winter is making its way here quickly, and we are all about prevention! So we are wasting no time in sharing winter foot care tips!

❄️ Winter Foot Care Tips from us at Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care 👣

Canadian winters can be hard on your feet, and a few small habits can help prevent bigger problems later on.

Make sure wet boots are placed on a boot dryer so moisture isn’t trapped inside, and change damp socks as soon as possible after snow, slush or sweaty feet.

If you have reduced feeling or numbness in your feet, winter is an especially important time to check them regularly. Use the back of your hand to compare the temperature of both feet and watch for areas that look unusually pale, red, cold, swollen or irritated.

For warmth, try a thin moisture-wicking sock underneath a warm wool sock. Your winter boots should also be insulated, have good grip, and have enough room in the toe box so thicker socks aren’t squeezing your toes.

Heading on a long drive to visit family over the holidays? Get out when you can to walk and stretch your legs, wear your compression stockings if they’ve been recommended for you, stay hydrated, and pack some healthy snacks before you hit the road.

And of course, keeping up with your regular visits with your Foot Care Nurse can help catch small concerns before they become bigger problems.

Stay warm, stay safe and take care of those feet this winter! ❄️👣

💗 I’m SO excited to introduce a new service at Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care!

Over the past while, I’ve had more and more clients reach out with foot concerns who aren’t necessarily looking for foot care — they simply want to know what’s going on, who they should see, and what their next steps should be.

Because of this growing demand, I’m excited to now offer our new Foot Concern & Assessment Only appointment!

Not every foot concern requires foot care. Sometimes, you just need to know where to start.

This 40-minute appointment is designed for individuals experiencing foot pain, discomfort, changes to the skin or nails, pressure areas, or other foot concerns.

🩷 Comprehensive nursing foot assessment
🩷 Discussion of findings
🩷 Personalized guidance on next steps
🩷 Referral letter when clinically appropriate

$95 • 40 minutes

Please note: This is an assessment-only service and does not provide a medical diagnosis or include routine or advanced foot-care treatment.

I’m really excited to be able to offer this service to our community and help make navigating foot concerns a little easier. 🦶💗

Now available for booking at Mountain Peak Advanced Foot Care.

Book Online: www.mountainpeakfootcare.ca