Have you ever had that sharp pain that made you think a rock or other small object was between your toes, or perhaps a fold in your socks was between your toes? That is the main symptom of Morton’s neuroma, which usually affects the area between the 3rd and 4th toes.
Do you know how to tell if the shoes you are trying on really fit? When you are trying on shoes, there should be ½ inch of space from the top of your longest toe to the top of the shoes toe box.
Have you heard the benefits of running barefoot? Many people say that it helps strengthen your foot muscles as well as your ankle muscles. However, be alert when barefoot, as you want to protect your feet from injury and infection.
Weight can have a huge impact on the physical health of your feet. Be sure to exercise regularly to maintain your good health. Exercising is a great conditioner for your feet.
It’s important to remember that not all foot or ankle pain merits a trip to the doctor. That said, pain that seems to linger or get worse over time is definitely reason to come see us.
If you have hammertoes, you may notice that your feet don't hurt unless you put on shoes that rub against the top knuckle of your toe. Sometimes, surgery is the only way to treat the condition.
Did you know that foot and ankle problems can cause severe back pain and other issues? That is why it is important to visit a podiatrist if you have a foot or ankle injury, since he or she can diagnose and treat the issue correctly.
A bunion is a prominence on the inner side of the foot at the base of the big toe. It usually forms because of a problem with the alignment of the bones of the forefoot. This causes pressure and prominence at the base of the big toe.
Not all heel spurs are painful. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, as much as 20 percent of the population may have heel spurs; but they have none of the tenderness, pain, or difficulty walking typically associated with the condition.
Bending of one or more of the joints of any toe but the big toe is called hammertoe. The condition, when caught early, is usually fairly easily treated. That is when the toe remains fairly flexible. However, if left untreated, the bending can become rigid and painful and sometimes requires surgery to correct.
Severe foot pain can be the result of many different foot problems, such as infection, broken bones, deep vein thrombosis, or compartment syndrome. If you have severe foot pain that does not go away with time, you may consider visiting a foot and ankle doctor for an exam.
According to the National Institutes of Health, three of the most common foot problems include bunions, plantar fasciitis, and Morton’s neuroma. Most patients consult first with their primary physician who then refers them to a podiatrist for specialized treatment.
Plantar fasciitis can be caused by: exercise that exposes the heel to pounding and pressure without adequate rest periods, working conditions that require long periods of standing or repeated lifting of heavy objects, wearing ill-fitting or worn down shoes.
If you notice a suspicious growth on your foot or ankle, it’s best to have it looked at by a professional. We can correctly identify the growth and provide you with treatment options, if necessary.
While it’s always advisable to rest an injured foot instead of pushing past the pain, rest and heat or ice alone may not be enough to cure it. When you need help dealing with a stubborn issue, we’re always here to help.
The most common cause of heel pain is known as heel spur syndrome or plantar fasciitis. Wearing athletic shoes which provide support for the foot arch, and rotating foot wear during the week, can reduce risks associated with heel spur syndrome.
It’s said that the average person will walk the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime. That’s a lot of time on your feet! Make sure you are wearing proper shoes and always maintaining good foot health.
There are numerous tendons found in the foot. These fibrous tissues connect muscles to bones and provide the stretch needed to walk and run.
Podiatrists agree that well-fitting shoes are the best way to optimize foot health. When you consider that the average person takes about 10,000 steps per day and walks 115,000 miles per average lifetime, then you can see why properly fitting shoes are a must.
Be sure to hydrate your feet! If you live in a warm, dry climate especially, open shoes can cause rapid loss of moisture from your skin. It’s helpful to replace the moisture content by using lotion or cream on a regular basis.
Podiatrists don't just treat foot and ankle illnesses and fractures, but they also treat muscular issues and neurological and circulatory ones as well. In fact, they can treat everything from bone spurs and shin splints to athlete's foot and fungal infections.
Morton’s neuroma is caused when the nerve sheath between the base of two toes becomes irritated, which can create burning, cramping, numbness or sharp pains in your toes or feet. Massaging the area usually relieves the pain, but in severe cases, surgery may be required.
One of the reasons that a podiatrist is so effective at treating foot conditions is that he or she uses a cross section of information to diagnose you. In fact, everything from your vocation and lifestyle to your family history is considered before assessing and diagnosing any foot issues.
Treatment options for bunions depend significantly on how much discomfort the bunions cause. In most cases, wearing shoes aggravates bunions, and the extent of the pain is usually the main indicator of whether you need some type of surgical procedure.
