Items filtered by date: December 2016

Monday, 26 December 2016 18:08

A Common Cause of Chronic Heel Pain

heel pain01Heel pain is a condition that plagues many people, and chronic cases of the condition can be especially difficult to endure. For many common cases of chronic heel pain, plantar fasciitis is the underlying culprit; plantar fasciitis affects all types of people, though most commonly active men between the ages of 40 and 70. Plantar fasciitis pain manifests in various ways. For some people, it can be described as a dull pain; in other cases, people feel it as a sharp pain or a burning sensation or ache that extends outward from the heel. There are various factors that can contribute to plantar fasciitis; to determine the cause of your heel pain and the best way to treat it, consult with your podiatrist.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists of Advanced Care Podiatry. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Causes of Heel Pain

● Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

● Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

● Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

- Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  

- Wearing non-supportive shoes

- Weight change         

- Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a thing of the past.

With the advancements in technology and greater knowledge of how muscles and joints work, physical therapists can turn things around dramatically.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Monday, 19 December 2016 14:13

Benefits of Custom Orthotics

orthotics5Custom orthotics are foot devices that are inserted into your shoes to help accommodate and treat your foot conditions. Orthotics provide support for the arches of your feet, distributing pressure more evenly across the feet and helping to relieve pain in target areas, depending on your condition. Creating orthotics involves using a plaster casting based on the patient’s foot shape. Your podiatrist will properly customize your orthotics to fit your specific feet.

If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact one of our podiatrists of Advanced Care Podiatry. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What are Orthotics?

Orthotics are inserts you can place into your shoes to help with a variety of foot problems such as flat feet or foot pain. Orthotics provide relief and comfort for minor foot and heel pain, but can’t correct serious biomechanical problems in your feet.

Over-the-Counter Inserts

Orthotics come in a wide variety of over-the-counter inserts that are used to treat foot pain, heel pain, and minor problems. For example, arch supports can be inserted into your shoes to help correct over arched or flat feet, while gel insoles are often used because they provide comfort and relief from foot and heel pain by alleviating pressure.

Prescription Orthotics

If over-the-counter inserts don’t work for you, or if you have a more severe foot issue, it is possible to have your podiatrist prescribe custom orthotics. These high quality inserts are designed to treat problems such as abnormal motion, plantar fasciitis, and more severe heel pain. They can even be used to help patients suffering from diabetes by treating foot ulcers and painful calluses, and are usually molded to your feet individually, which allows them to provide full support and comfort.

If you are experiencing minor to severe foot or heel pain, it’s recommended to speak with your podiatrist on the possibilities of using orthotics. A podiatrist can determine which type of orthotic is right for you and allow you to take the first steps towards being pain free.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Monday, 12 December 2016 14:11

Burning Sensation in the Feet

working feet2If you have symptoms of a burning sensation in your feet, you may have any number of conditions. The sensation of burning in the feet can be either minor or severe, affect people over 50, and occur most frequently during the night. Nerve damage from diabetes, vitamin deficiency or alcoholism, obesity, strain on the feet, overheated feet, eczema or dermatitis, blood disorders, or any other impairment of the feet’s nerves can all lead to the described burning sensation. Seeing your podiatrist is vital to understanding any underlying causes. Make sure that you are wearing properly-fitting shoes as well.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact one of our podiatrists of Advanced Care Podiatry. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable. Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Monday, 05 December 2016 00:33

Be Sure to Wear Shoes That Fit Properly

runnersBefore buying shoes online, make sure to go in person to have the shoes fitted properly. Finding the right shoes includes taking into consideration the correct length and width of your feet. Our feet are prone to growing wider as we age, especially as we spend more time walking and standing. If you like a specific shoe brand and prefer to shop online, it is recommended to choose shoes directly from the brand’s website. However, having your feet fitted in person, particularly with a specialist, can determine the best fit for your feet.

If you are a runner, wearing the right running shoe is essential. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists from Advanced Care Podiatry. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Choosing the Right Running Shoe for Your Foot Type

To increase performance and avoid the risk of injury, it is important to choose the right running shoe based on your foot type. The general design of running shoes revolves around pronation, which is how the ankle rolls from outside to inside when the foot strikes the ground.

  • Neutral runners are able to choose from a wide variety of shoes, including minimalist shoes or even go barefoot
  • Runners who overpronate, or experience an over-abundance of ankle rolling, should choose shoes that provide extra motion control and stability
  • Runners who underpronate, or supinate, have feet that have high arches and lack flexibility, preventing shock absorption. They require shoes with more flexibility and cushion

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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