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Bunions are a bone deformity that can really affect quality of life, depending on how far the issue has progressed. The bony growth on the side of the big toe joint not only causes pain and irritation, but it can also make it difficult to fit into footwear made for the masses.  Non-invasive treatment of this uncomfortable deformity includes addressing symptoms of bunions, such as: bony growth, swelling or redness, corns or calluses, pain, stiffness, or inflammation of the joint. Treatments may include: Changing your shoes to ones that have a wider toe box so that your toes and joints do not…

These days, there are so many technological devices that seem to grab and keep our children’s attention. Many children can spend several hours at a time, engrossed in the screens. This has led to a more sedentary lifestyle for children, making it more important than ever for parents to encourage physical activity. One such way is to have children participate in sports, whether it be in a children’s group setting, after school programs, private lessons, or community leagues.   Participating in group activities can benefit children in many ways, including teaching sportsmanship, promoting teamwork skills, and improving social skills. The…

Feet have the important task of bearing our entire weight and keeping us mobile. The heel part of the foot, in particular, endures a lot of impact and stress. Because of this, heel pain is a common occurrence for many people. For some it is just mild pain, but for others, it can be debilitating and affect mobility. Treating heel pain will depend on the cause of the pain, from injuries to genetic disease, and tissue strain. Here are some common causes of heel pain and ways to prevent and treat them.  Heel Spur from Plantar Fasciitis – When the plantar…

Folks who have been diagnosed with diabetes will quickly learn that there are many changes they must make in their lives. From checking their blood sugar levels to changing their diet and activities, there are many lifestyle changes involved. This includes checking the feet daily in case of secondary issues that arise due to the way diabetes affects the body.   The following are common secondary issues that affect the feet for people who have diabetes: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: The most common of issues, diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels, which can damage nerves. This results in a burning sensation that…

Most of the population doesn’t even know that some people suffer from hyperhidrosis. If you’re among those who don’t know what it is, it’s essentially a condition in which people experience excessive sweating on certain parts of the body. Most of excessive sweating happens on the hands and feet, but can be in the armpit and the body overall. There isn’t a particular known cause, other than the fact that it is inherited. There isn’t even a known solution to stop the excessive sweating – only some short-term treatments to reduce the sweating.   The biggest concern for hyperhidrosis is…

Unless it becomes painful, you may not even notice that you have a plantar wart, which can look like calloused skin. In fact, some can come and go without needing treatment. But when they don’t go away, they can become annoying and unsightly. Taking your shoes off, especially at a friend’s house during summer would feel like a no-no.   So what can you do about it?   First, be sure to spread love, not warts. Plantar warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact, shared towels and clothes, or while walking barefoot in locker…

You’ve probably seen products for corn removal and callus pads at your local drugstores and supermarkets. You may have wondered about them, and who would need them. Or maybe you’ve had corns and calluses, but they haven’t gotten better. Well, we’re going to talk about your options today. Corns and calluses develop due to constant repeated friction on the skin of your feet. Thick skin that forms as a bump is called a corn, while thick skin that develops on the bottom of the feet are called a callus. If you’ve had them, you know that not only are they unpleasant…

The weather has changed so drastically – do you even remember what winter felt like? Something along the lines of, “it was a bit colder,” right? Along with the change in weather comes a change in the way you should care for your feet. Now that we are smack dab in the middle of the summer, you probably find yourself thinking about ways to keep cooler. This may include wearing tank tops, shorts, and some flip flops or sandals. But we want to warn you, don’t forget about foot care just because it’s summer! Your feet in the summer are…

Have you seen those commercials that say that eating their foods can help you be healthier? Eat this cereal to lower cholesterol. Drink this product to build strong bones. Eat spinach to get strong. (Okay, that last one was from the cartoon Popeye, but still.) Have you ever seen any commercials telling you what to eat for healthier feet? Probably not. It’s another way that your feet can get neglected when considering your overall health. If you think about it, your feet have bones, joints, tissues, and skin, just like the rest of your body. So eating for your feet…

If you’ve got arthritis, it can really affect your quality of life. Simple things, even just walking around and standing, can be such a painful activity. Because it can affect any joints, the feet and ankles, which have 33 joints, are particularly susceptible to pain. The disease is primarily one of inflammation and stiffness, so it’s not something easily treated with surgery or other procedures. It’s a disease managed by lifestyle changes, medications, and pain management. We always want our patients to be educated in their self-management of the disease. The following are some ways you can care for your arthritic…

If you like to wear open-backed shoes, such as sandals, you are more prone to experiencing heel fissures or calluses. Without the support of the back of your shoes, the heels of your feet are subject to friction from sliding around. In addition, exposure to the open air can cause dry skin around the heel. Dry, cracked skin and calluses can occur on the heels and be not only annoying, but painful as well.   To treat mild to moderately dry heel fissures and calluses, try some of the following: Hydrate: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you’re dehydrated,…

Spring and summer are prime time for that fresh cut grass smell. But in order to get that smell, you need to mow your lawn. Some people find that time to be rewarding, but for others, it’s usually a teenager’s chore. Not only do you have to beat the summer sun and heat, you also have to be careful of the dangers of using a power lawn mower. Unfortunately there are thousands of hand and foot injuries each year, with even children and pets being accidentally involved. There are several precautions to take when using a power mower, whether you are 12…

Bone tumors, both benign and malignant, can affect any bone in the body. Whether or not they are cancerous, bone tumors tend to weaken bone as cells rapidly divide to form a new growth of abnormal tissue. The weakened bone can then be more easily fractured from stress or injury. Identifying a bone tumor: Usually a patient will feel pain in the area of the tumor. Instead of a sharp pain, it can be a dull or achy pain that increases with activity. Night sweats and fevers may accompany these symptoms. However, some may not even feel pain, but instead…

Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy – the belly becomes bigger and rounder, hormones change and fluctuate, bones shift, and some parts of your body swells. In particular, your feet can undergo much more stress than they normally do in order to keep you active and stable. Some foot problems pregnant women may encounter include: Pain along the plantar fascia (ligament on the bottom of your feet) – As you carry more weight, the feet have to work harder and undergo much more pressure than they are used to. Excess weight can even change your feet to be…

Gymnastics is one of those sports, where the athletes make it look so easy. Unless you’ve tried it, you may think that it’s just something that you just need to practice. However, it takes years and years of training, conditioning, and strengthening to build muscles and have your body learn to move in that smooth, sleek fashion. It also takes trial and error, and more likely than not, injuries to the feet and ankles. That’s why gymnasts must learn early on, how to protect their feet and ankles to prevent injury. Not taking precautions, such as the ones listed below can…

Are you prone to injuring your ankles? For those who have weak or previously injured ankles, twists, rolls, sprains, strains, and even fractures can seem to happen often. It can occur while playing sports, hiking, running, and even walking (especially in high heels). Injuries at the ankle can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness. For the most part, the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method can help relieve symptoms, but if they persist, it may indicate a more severe issue.   Many of these injuries happen because ankles are not very flexible or strong. Lacking a strong sense of balance can…

Spring is well underway and summer is quickly approaching! This can mean a number of different things for you and your family, including flying on an airplane to your long-awaited vacation. Some folks actually enjoy the experience of flying, but for others, it can be the most dreadful part of the vacation experience.   To make your flight experience better, try this: Take care of your feet.   It’s not the first thing you think about, but foot care and related self-care on a flight can make a huge difference to your travel experience. It’s especially important on long flights,…

There are some chronic foot issues that are not easily treatable with conventional methods. Diabetic foot ulcers, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, and arthritis are chronic problems that do not always have a quick fix or simple treatment.   Good news! There is now a treatment option, in which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained from your blood, separated and concentrated, and then injected into or applied onto the problem site. Platelets are the part of the blood that release growth factors and other necessary healing components to mend issues in the injured tissue. The goal is to use the body’s own growth factors to…

Did you know that babies are usually born with flat feet? Their chubby little feet have padding to protect them, which means that there is no arch on the bottom of the feet. But don’t fret! It’s usually a problem that begins to resolve itself as they begin to stand or walk. As their feet begin to strengthen, the tissues along the bottom of the feet begin to tighten and an arch forms.   The problem, however, occurs when the arch does not form. Then, the child has pediatric flatfoot. Depending on the severity of the issue, the child may…

You wake up in the morning, take your first steps out of bed, and feel pain along the bottom of your feet. You also feel the same pain after some intense exercise or sitting for a long period of time. You’re probably suffering from plantar fasciitis. This is caused by an inflamed, overused, tired ligament network along the bottom (plantar) of the feet. These tissues connect the front of the feet to the heels. Those who overpronate, have fallen arches, or overuse the tissues from working or exercising can experience this problem. Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief The following are some…