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New Foot Health Articles

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:22:30 +0000

New Podiatry articles for 2012 include, Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Swelling and Heel Pain in Children and Adolescents. If you are looking to find more information about specific foot or ankle problems, here are a few articles I recommend:

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Enzyme Linked to Tendon Weakening

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:31:17 +0000

Adult-acquired flat foot is a painful and progressively worsening condition that causes foot pain and dysfunction in sufferers and can make standing and walking unbearable. Adult-acquired flat foot is caused by a breakdown and weakening of the posterior tibial tendon, an important tendon for stabilizing the foot's arch. As a result, the foot's arch gradually collapses, causing a flat foot that splays outward when walking -- over time causing pain due to pinched nerves and wear and tear on joints.

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Bad Shoes Can Make Gout Pain Worse

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:57:04 +0000

A study published in Arthritis Care and Research found that patients with chronic gout who wore shoes with excessive wear patterns (on the soles of the shoe, for example) or shoes with inadequate cushioning or support were at higher risk for increased pain and disability from the disease. Gout is a form of arthritis that most commonly affects the big toe joint and is associated with painful episodic flare-ups. The researchers who conducted the study suggested that a patient's footwear should be considered in the treatment plan for gout.

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Do I Have a Bunion?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:36:19 +0000

If you have pain in the joint of your big toe and have noticed a bump slowly developing on the side of the joint, a bunion may be to blame. Other common signs of a bunion include a big toe that has shifted toward the second toe and a widening of the forefoot as the bunion progresses. A bunion is a common foot problem which is most often caused by an anatomical or functional foot abnormality. They may also occur with rheumatoid arthritis, although this is a lesser common cause.

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Preventing Exercise-Related Ankle and Foot Pain

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:06:39 +0000

The new year will be inspiring many of us to get on our feet and get active. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just getting started, new or more intense workouts can bring about certain "overuse" foot problems. Two problems that frequently occur are heel pain and tendonitis.

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Nerve Problems that Cause Foot Pain

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:56:54 +0000

Foot pain has a number of possible causes, but most often it stems from conditions that stress tendons, joints, and ligaments. Occasionally foot pain may take on a burning, shooting quality that occurs even when at rest. This may indicate an irritated foot nerve or a nerve problem from another medical condition, such as diabetes.

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They Look So Good but Hurt So Much...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:22:27 +0000

Any woman has heard or knows from experience that high heel shoes are bad for your body. Still, seeing the variety of heels in any shoe store it's evident that they are more popular than ever - and they seem to be getting higher each year! A very interesting blog by Bridgette Raes, Style Expert, highlights some of the problems that can occur with high heels. In The Truth About Your Feet and Your Shoes...

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Achilles Tendonitis

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:56:01 +0000

The Achilles tendon is the large tendon that attaches the powerful calf muscles to the back of the heel bone. It is important for stabilizing the foot during jumping and running and is a common area where injury occurs. Achilles tendonitis typically occurs at the tendon's weakest spot which is a few centimeters above the heel bone. This is also the area where weakening and tearing of the tendon usually occurs (tendinosis).

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Antiperspirant for Feet?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:22:26 +0000

In the November issue of Reader's Digest, a piece titled, "13 Things Your Podiatrist Won't Tell You" listed tips for dealing with some of the most common foot health and hygiene issues. One tip suggested using antiperspirant products on your feet to help combat foot odor. Sweat (and even occasional foot odor) is a normal and healthy response to heat, but for some people sweating occurs excessively and causes problems such as warts, skin infections, blisters and toenail fungus.

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A Common and Seldom Heard of Cause of Toe Pain

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:57:44 +0000

The big toe joint is surprisingly one of the most problem-prone areas of the foot. It is the part of the foot where we frequently suffer from chronic pain, arthritis, and gout. The big toe joint (first metatarsophalangeal joint) is an important pivot-point when we walk and run and it requires an adequate amount of flexiblity. A lack of adequate flexibility at the big toe joint is known as hallux limitus. Hallux limitus (which sounds more like something from a sci-fi movie) literally means a stiff big toe joint. It often leads to arthritis and toe pain that is worsened by activity. Conditions that can lead to hallux limitus include: hereditary foot structure or previous trauma to the big toe joint. Hallux limitus not only causes problems at the big toe joint--it can lead to increased stress on other parts of the body as well, including the back.

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