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Preventing Foot Pain When Running

Preventing Foot Pain When Running

If you enjoy running, keeping your feet healthy will ensure that you can keep running and do so pain-free. Maintaining the strength of all the muscles in the foot is important in preventing pain while running. Do some simple exercises regularly to help build strong feet, which in turn will keep the foot and ankle in better alignment and reduce the risk of injury leading to foot pain. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and that have proper support. Running shoes should be replaced regularly. Rotate running shoes so that the same areas of the feet, ankles, and legs are not repeatedly stressed. Do not try to do too much, too fast. Listen to your body and slowly build up speed and distance. Have rest days. Practicing good foot health will not guarantee freedom from running injuries but may help prevent them and make healing easier. If you feel pain while running, it is important to visit a podiatrist and get an expert’s diagnosis of the discomfort and advice on how to properly treat the problem.

Sports related foot and ankle injuries require proper treatment before players can go back to their regular routines. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists of Associates in Podiatry, PC. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Sports Related Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are a common occurrence when it comes to athletes of any sport. While many athletes dismiss the initial aches and pains, the truth is that ignoring potential foot and ankle injuries can lead to serious problems. As athletes continue to place pressure and strain the area further, a mild injury can turn into something as serious as a rupture and may lead to a permanent disability. There are many factors that contribute to sports related foot and ankle injuries, which include failure to warm up properly, not providing support or wearing bad footwear. Common injuries and conditions athletes face, including:

  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Plantar Fasciosis
  • Achilles Tendinitis
  • Achilles Tendon Rupture
  • Ankle Sprains

Sports related injuries are commonly treated using the RICE method. This includes rest, applying ice to the injured area, compression and elevating the ankle. More serious sprains and injuries may require surgery, which could include arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery. Rehabilitation and therapy may also be required in order to get any recovering athlete to become fully functional again. Any unusual aches and pains an athlete sustains must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Pittsburgh-South Hills, and Pittsburgh-Bellevue, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Everyday Foot Care

Everyday Foot Care

Our feet are arguably one of the most important parts of the body. When it comes to health and beauty routines, the feet and toenails are usually ignored. You should always practice proper footcare to avoid any fungal infections or ailments that can not only ruin the appearance of your feet, but also cause pain. Ignoring any foot problems could potentially lead to an expensive doctor’s visit.

The most important step in proper foot care is to wash your feet daily. You should wash them with soap and water. Doing this will cleanse your feet of dirt, sweat and bacteria. It is crucial that you clean between the toes and pat your feet dry with a towel afterward. Your toenails are also an important part of the feet and you may find that they get dirtier in the summer when you wear sandals. It is important that you practice proper toenail care in addition to cleaning the rest of your feet. When trimming your nails, you should always trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. Trimming in a curved shape may lead to ingrown toenails.

Moisturization is also important for foot care, and you should be moisturizing your feet every day. The best way to prevent dry feet is to rub lotion or petroleum jelly on your clean feet at night and put socks over them. In the morning, your feet should be soft and moisturized.

Another crucial step in proper foot care is to wear the right shoes for whichever activity you are going to partake in. In warmer weather, you should wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe. It is best to avoid shoes such as flip-fops that do not provide arch support. Tight shoes may also be harmful, and they may even cause you to develop bunions.

If you plan on taking a shower in a public area, you should be especially careful, so you do not pick up any fungi. Showers are prone to harboring different types of bacteria and fungi. You should always wear shower shoes or flip flops when walking around in locker rooms and public showers. Avoid sharing shoes with other people because this is another way that fungus may be spread.

If you are experiencing any problems with your feet you should speak with your podiatrist to determine the best method of treatment for you.

Healthy and Beautiful Feet in the Warmer Months

Healthy and Beautiful Feet in the Warmer Months

Warmer weather means that your feet will be more exposed to the elements. Practicing a little daily care will help keep your feet healthy and beautiful all year round. Keeping your feet moisturized is important in any season. To avoid your exposed heels from drying out and cracking, apply a topical emollient or occlusive moisturizer at night and cover your feet with socks to lock in moisture. Keeping your toenails groomed properly will not only help you avoid ingrown toenails, but will help make them look great in sandals as well. Trim your toenails flush with the tip of your toe and straight across. After a shower, when your cuticles are naturally softer, you can gently press them back with your finger wrapped in the edge of a towel for a professionally groomed look. Regardless of the season, the best foot care tip is to wear comfortable shoes that fit properly to avoid blisters, corns and calluses, in addition to other foot conditions. It is suggested you consult with a podiatrist for additional foot care tips, or before embarking on any foot care regimen if you have diabetes, nerve damage or poor circulation.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact one of our podiatrists from Associates in Podiatry, PC. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Pittsburgh-South Hills, and Pittsburgh-Bellevue, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Heel Pain in the Morning?

Heel Pain in the Morning?

Heel pain can negatively affect your day-to-day life. Simple activities like walking can become incredibly uncomfortable or painful due to heel pain.

Don’t live with heel pain and get treated.

How to Care for Your Child's Feet

How to Care for Your Child's Feet

It is never normal for a child to experience pain in his or her feet. Foot pain that lasts more than a few days and limits a child’s ability to walk should be examined by a podiatrist. Many adult foot ailments originate in childhood and may be present at birth. Common foot issues that are experienced by children are pediatric flat foot, Sever’s disease, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.

A child’s foot grows rapidly during the first year, allowing it to reach almost half of their adult foot size. Consequently, foot specialists consider the first year to be the most crucial point in the foot development process. There are ways you can help ensure that your child’s foot develops properly. One way is to carefully look at your baby’s feet. If you notice any deformities, you should immediately seek professional care. You should also loosely cover your child’s foot, since tight coverings may prevent movement and inhibit normal development. Another tip is to change the baby’s positioning throughout the day. If your baby lies down in one spot for too long, it may put an excess amount of strain on the feet and legs.

It is best that you try not to force a child to start walking. Children will begin to walk when they are both physically and emotionally capable to do so. You should also avoid comparing your child’s walking progress with other children because the age range for independent walking may range. When your child’s feet begin to develop, you may need to change both their shoe and sock size every few months to allow room for their feet to grow.

Kids are sometimes prone to splinters, cuts, and severe injuries because they tend to walk around barefoot. This also makes them more susceptible to developing plantar warts which is a condition caused by a virus that invades the sole of the foot through breaks in the skin. These ailments can be avoided by making sure your child wears shoes in unsanitary environments. You should also wash any minor cuts or scrapes on your child’s feet. It is a myth that exposure to fresh air will heal injuries; fresh air will only expose your child’s cuts to germs.

As a parent, you should ensure that your child’s feet are developing properly and are being properly maintained. Consequently, it is important that you perform routine inspections on his or her feet to detect any injuries or deformities in their early stages. Early detection and treatment will help to ensure that your child does not develop any serious foot conditions.

Sweaty Sock Syndrome in Children

Sweaty Sock Syndrome in Children

Some children develop sweaty sock syndrome which is also known as juvenile plantar dermatosis. Symptoms can include redness and scaly skin on the bottom of the feet. This condition is commonly seen in boys who are 4-8 years old, but it has also affected children who range from 3 to 15 years old. Juvenile plantar dermatosis can become chronic, sometimes lasting for about 3 years, but it generally dissipates as the child reaches puberty. Going from moist to dry conditions is thought to contribute to sweaty sock syndrome, but the actual cause is not clear. It is commonly noticed on the big toe, ball of the foot, and the heel as those places bear the most weight. The skin appears red, shiny, and smooth, but sometimes develops cracks. Home remedies suggest wearing breathable shoes, avoiding plastic or rubber footwear, and moisturizing the feet at night with petroleum jelly. If your child’s condition persists or worsens, please consult with a podiatrist who can better evaluate the problem and offer further treatment options. 

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact one of our podiatrists of Associates in Podiatry, PC. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

  • Make sure their shoes fit properly
  • Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
  • Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
  • Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
  • Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
  • Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
  • Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
  • Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Pittsburgh-South Hills, and Pittsburgh-Bellevue, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Foot Pain

Foot Pain

Our feet are arguably the most important parts of our bodies because they are responsible for getting us from place to place.  However, we often don’t think about our feet until they begin to hurt. If you have pain in your feet, you need to first determine where on the foot you are experiencing it to get to the root of the problem. The most common areas to feel pain on the foot are the heel and the ankle.

Heel pain is most commonly attributed to a condition called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, which is the band of tough tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis pain is usually worse in the morning, and it tends to go away throughout the day. If you have plantar fasciitis, you should rest your foot and do heel and foot muscles stretches. Wearing shoes with proper arch support and a cushioned sole has also been proven to be beneficial.

Some common symptoms of foot pain are redness, swelling, and stiffness. Foot pain can be dull or sharp depending on its underlying cause. Toe pain can also occur, and it is usually caused by gout, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, sprains, fractures, and corns.

If you have severe pain in your feet, you should immediately seek assistance from your podiatrist for treatment. Depending on the cause of your pain, your podiatrist may give you a variety of treatment options.

How Your Arch Is Formed and Why It Might Be Painful

How Your Arch Is Formed and Why It Might Be Painful

The arch of the foot is critical in dispersing body weight throughout the foot. It also helps a person balance and propel themselves forward when they walk. This important structure made of tendons, bones and ligaments is a combination of three separate arches forming a triangular shape. The transverse arch spans the ball of the foot from side-to-side. The two other arches run from the ball of the foot to the heel: the lateral arch on the outside and the medial arch on the inside of the foot. If you feel pain in your arch it may be due to an inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue which supports the arch (plantar fasciitis). Or, you may have flat feet, which can cause your feet to roll excessively inward when you walk (overpronation) and flatten your arches. An abnormally high arch can also stress your ankle and cause pain. Even an inflammation of the posterior tibial tendon, which connects the inner area of the foot to a calf muscle, can cause pain in the arches. If your arches are painful, it's wise to call a podiatrist who will be able to properly diagnose and treat the area and discuss treatment options. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Associates in Podiatry, PC. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bone Spurs
  • Corns
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
  • Flat Feet
  • Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
  • And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Pittsburgh-South Hills, and Pittsburgh-Bellevue, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Proper Shoe Fitting

Proper Shoe Fitting

When it comes to maintaining foot health, wearing properly-fitting shoes is important. While wearing the appropriate pair of shoes may seem like a trivial concern, the reality is that improperly fitted shoes cause an astounding amount of injuries to the feet. The overall structure and the biomechanics of our bodies are directly affected by our posture, gait, and feet. Because of this, pain and discomfort felt throughout the body are often related to a problem in the feet. And, most foot problems usually stem from improper footwear.

Shoes should not be purchased with the expectation that they will easily stretch and contort to the size and shape of your feet. When shopping for footwear, look for shoes that fit correctly and comfortably as soon as you put them on. Do not purchase shoes that are too large or that slip in the heel area when you walk. Do not choose shoes that are loose with the intention of wearing thicker socks to compensate for the space. The widest portion of the shoe, the ball of the foot, must be made sure to fit comfortably in the shoe. 

Keeping all of these suggestions in mind may be difficult when shopping and when trying to select from a wide array of different shoes. Nonetheless, your time and money will be wasted if you purchase a pair of shoes that are too uncomfortable for you to actually wear them. After finally selecting and purchasing a pair of shoes, try them on at home. To truly ensure whether or not your shoes fit comfortably with normal activity, walk around on a carpeted surface to determine how they feel on your feet.

The possibility of damaging your feet’s 33 joints, 26 bones, and 100+ ligaments is much higher than many people suspect. Finding an appropriate and properly-fitted pair of shoes is perhaps the single most important action you can take to maintain excellent foot health and help prevent injury. The fact that our feet continue to change with age is one that many people often forget. Even if our feet no longer change in size when we mature, our feet will still change in shape.

If you already have pre-existing foot problems, there is a greater possibility that wearing improperly-fitted shoes will worsen those problems. The good news, however, is that appropriate footwear is not difficult to find. While shopping for shoes, remember that improper footwear can detrimentally affect the feet, the entire body and its biomechanical structure as well. The shoes you wear can greatly impact your legs, back, and entire body, as your posture and gait are related to your feet. Finding and selecting the best properly-fitted shoes is necessary in achieving optimal health.

Finding the Right Shoes for Your Toddler

Finding the Right Shoes for Your Toddler

When your child has been walking for a few weeks, it may be time to think about getting them shoes. Prior to this period, it is thought to be better for a child to go barefoot in order to help develop foot strength, though soft shoes and socks are suggested to help keep baby's feet warm in the colder weather. Selecting the proper shoes starts with size, because giving the toddler’s feet room to grow is important. If shoes are too tight they can negatively affect healthy foot development. There should be some space between the toes and the end of the shoe. Shoes should give ample support and have a solid heel, and sandals should have a closed heel. Check that the front of the shoe is wider than the heel, and avoid shoes with pointy toes or high heels. Shoes with non-slip soles are thought to be safer, as are those that tie, rather than slip on. Stiff outer parts on shoes may be too constrictive. Continue to check the fit of the shoes frequently, and be prepared to buy larger ones as needed to ensure proper growth and development. If you need further information on fitting your child’s first pair of shoes, please consult with a podiatrist who can guide your decisions.  

Finding a properly-fitting shoe is important in reducing injuries and preventing foot problems. For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Associates in Podiatry, PC. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Proper Shoe Fitting

A common concern when it comes to foot health, having properly fitted shoes can help prevent injuries to the foot. Out feet affect our posture and gait, which in turn affects the biomechanics and overall bodily structure. With 33 joints, 26 bones, and over 100 ligaments, the potential for serious injury is much greater than one realizes. Although the feet cease growth in adulthood, they still change shape as they mature. Here are some factors to consider when it comes to investing in proper fitting shoes:

  • Be sure the shoes fit correctly right away
  • Ensure the ball of your foot fits comfortably in the widest portion of the shoes
  • Even though they may look fashionable, improper fitting shoes can either create adverse conditions or exacerbate existing ones you may already have
  • Walk along a carpeted surface to ensure the shoes comfortably fit during normal activity

Keeping in mind how shoes fit the biomechanics of your body, properly-fitting shoes are vitally important. Fortunately, it is not difficult to acquire footwear that fits correctly. Be sure to wear shoes that support the overall structure of your body. Do your feet a favor and invest in several pairs of well-fitted shoes today.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Pittsburgh-South Hills, and Pittsburgh-Bellevue, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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