What physical activities do people actually perform on a regular basis? Numerous studies, performed over many years, continue to report walking is the most accessible and appropriate activity as a form of exercise for most Americans.
Read MoreHeel pain is a common complaint, but it isn’t always due to plantar fasciitis. Sometimes cracks in the skin develop at the back of the heel. These are termed heel fissures, and can result from many factors including the shape of your arch and how you walk. These cracks develop when the thick skin around the back and sides of the heel splits open.
Read MoreAlthough surprising to many, podiatric medicine providers can be a cardiologist’s best friend. This may seem strange at first, but when you consider the benefits of podiatric medicine in enabling people to walk better, it makes perfect sense.
Read MoreShoes are surprisingly important to our health and well-being. Trauma to the foot or ankle is a common, everyday occurrence, with many of these events taking place in the home. Shoes are vital to supporting the arch and encouraging proper foot mechanics, which allow the foot, leg, and spine to function well.
Read MoreStress fractures of the foot are surprisingly common, and not just in runners. Numerous factors are at play, from a day spent at the local mall to walking in the wrong pair of shoes. Certain foot types are also more prone to these subtle overuse injuries. One of those many factors is increasing the stress to the bones of the forefoot by inappropriate training practices. The human body benefits from the gradual introduction of the physical stresses of running. First-time marathoners are especially prone to training errors.
Read MoreThe cause for ingrown nails varies tremendously from person to person, from arch type to shoe type, genetics to athletics. This becomes even more important as we age, since our immune system isn't as efficient and our tissues as vital.
Read MoreA million visits per year are made with healthcare providers due to the heel and arch pain of plantar fasciitis. This extremely common condition accounts for approximately 15% of all foot symptoms requiring professional care. Estimates claim one in ten Americans have plantar fasciitis. Although a podiatrist can offer numerous non-surgical therapies for this ubiquitous problem, there are some home treatments you can do yourself to reduce the pain of fasciitis.
Read MoreWinter is good for getting a chill going, especially when the temps fall into the single digits. For those exposed, these conditions usually leading to some frozen feet. Once in a warm environment, the feet should warm appropriately. When chilly toes and frigid feet are a frequent occurrence, even when you're in warmer surroundings, it may be a sign of a significant medical condition, with the potential for life-changing complications. If some type of pain is associated with these sensations, it’s another reason to be concerned you may be suffering from problems with blood flow.
Read MoreChronic wounds affect over 4 million individuals and pose a significant burden to the US healthcare system. Etiologies are many, including such common pathologies as diabetes, venous stasis insufficiency, and peripheral arterial disease. But the standard of care for wounds has changed dramatically. Ongoing research has uncovered the most effective treatment modalities and methods currently available. Unfortunately, antiquated methods of treatment continue to be utilized on a regular basis.
Read MoreThe arrival of warmer weather brings changes to many components of our attire. Dr. McLean, of Superior Foot and Ankle Centers, stresses the importance of protecting your feet during the hot summer months. If you have to wear flip-flops, make sure you apply waterproof sunscreen to your feet. Despite the manufacturer's claims, sunscreen wears off, so if you get your feet wet at the beach or pool (even if nothing else gets submerged), it should be reapplied regularly.
Read MoreModern American medical care has a well-deserved reputation for failing to emphasize preventive care, especially when it comes diabetic foot problems and subsequent amputations. Too many Americans endure this fate, and most were preventable. Many will have a positive family history for heart disease and/or diabetes. Lifestyle is also a factor, including excessive use of alcohol and cigarettes. Because of the damage to blood vessels, many diabetics will also have heart disease.
Read MoreStress fractures are tiny cracks which develop in a metatarsal bone. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to them, which can result from many different factors. These bone injuries often occur over time because the thin, wafer-like spongy bone inside the outer shell of bone thins with age. The most common symptom is pain with activity that subsides with rest. Many people suffered stress fractures during the pandemic because people were barefoot more while working from home. Another factor, many gained weight, with the two being a bad combination for stress to the ball of the foot.
Read MoreAnkle injuries are tremendously common in sports, soccer especially. These have derailed many a budding young athlete’s season, a few unfortunate ones a lasting and limiting condition. Injuries to the ankle typically involve a sprain, which is usually mild, but can be very serious. An ankle sprain can lead to life-long disability. The usual mechanism of injury is where the foot swings inward too far, relative to the lower leg. This stretches the ligaments holding the outside of the ankle joint in place.
Read MoreShoes rarely cause hammer toes: usually it is the result of abnormal foot architecture, causing bad mechanics. Primarily, foot architecture is inherited. For example, if your arch rolls downward too much, alignment is disturbed. The ligaments and tendons will pull in the wrong direction, resulting in a buckling of the digit. Over time, a rigid hammertoe results.
Read MoreEveryone knows of the many benefits of exercise, from improved heart health to better weight maintenance. Many believe they are unable to exercise because they cannot jog or lift weights. Think outside the box; seek out activities requiring movement in some form.
Read MoreOf those who think they are allergic to penicillin, how many actually are? Being labeled penicillin-allergic is extremely common, but typically claims are unsubstantiated. Current estimates claim 20% of the global population believes they are penicillin allergic.
Read MoreParents are often concerned about their child’s flattened foot structure. As a toddler, the rounded contour of the toddler’s foot masks the bone structure. With maturity, you see the arch develop. What is an abnormally low arch? Will a child always “grow out of it”? Sometimes not, resulting in the pediatric, then adult, flatfoot deformity.
Read MoreA source of minor annoyance to many, an ingrown nail can develop due to a great variety of reasons. And though many experience only mild pain from one of these, for some people, there are real and potentially dangerous repercussions. How to know the difference? Much of it depends on your general health.
Read MoreWalking is a complex act. So many different structures are involved in putting one foot in front of the other. It’s an unconscious process, performed almost carelessly. Unless a person has problems walking, in which case, this is an entirely different conversation.
Read MoreHeel pain is not normal and often requires the expertise of a foot specialist, like Dr. McLean. He can determine the specific causes and best treatment options. Prescription foot supports are extremely helpful, when properly prescribed, as is shockwave therapy, a non-invasive treatment that has no side effects but is extremely helpful in relieving pain and producing healing of the plantar fascia.
Read More