Proper footwear is essential for a patient who is experiencing heel pain. Often the cause of heel pain can start due to improper shoe gear. A proper athletic shoe will help alleviate heel pain if it is the correct type of shoe for the patients foot.
Most people do not realize that there are many models or shoes available and most likely one will fit your specific foot better then others. It is very easy to buy and wear the wrong type of shoe without realizing it. By doing this your feet will continue to hurt, your arches will be tired at the end of the day and your feet will be sore in places that you didn't realize could hurt.
Depending on the specific foot type you have and your bio mechanics (the way you walk and run) can help determine the best shoe for your foot. A person with a high arched foot or a "pes cavus foot type" will be best fit in a cushion of neutral type of shoe. A person with a flatter foot or hypermobile foot or better known as "pes planus foot type" will need a moderate to maximum motion control shoe. A normal foot type is usually best fit in a light stability or mild motion control shoe.
Many times patients will come into our office and will be confused if they are in the correct shoes. When this occurs a shoe exam can be performed checking for heel counter rigidity, midfoot torsion stability, and forefoot flexion of the shoe. Once in the appropriate shoe a gait exam can be performed which includes the patient walking and running in their shoe gear. At that time it can be determined if an orthotic is necessary for your specific type of foot. An orthotic is a custom device that will fit into your shoe and help you function in a more ideal and neutral position.
So if your feet hurt, or you are not sure you are wearing the correct shoes, think about visiting a podiatrist who can help confirm what is the best shoe for your feet.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Laser Treatment for Fungal Toenails: You Have to Treat ALL of the Nails!
Laser Treatment for Fungus- Calling All Toenails!!!
I have been lasering toenails for quite some time now and only recently have come across more and more people wondering “Why not just laser the affected toenails? It would, after all, come out cheaper that way wouldn’t it?”
The simple answer is “No, not really.” But let me back this up so you can take my word for it.
Fungus is visible when the nail is grossly infected. What many do not realize, is that the process started long before you could see it with the naked eye. This alone is enough reason for the need to laser all ten toenails.
All too often I see patients who tell me that their nail fungus was only on one nail for the longest time. Then, all of a sudden, it has spread to others. Fungus is contagious! It does not just sit in one place. It gets in in your carpet, your bath mats, your shower tile. And worst of all, if you do have fungus, even in just one toenail, that fungus has already grossly contaminated your shoes! For your other nails there is no escape!
Think about how lasering only those affected nails singularly, ignoring all the others which are surely contaminated. How secure do you feel about that? If you had a bad cough and shortness of breath, how secure would you feel about going to a doctor who gave you cough medicine, but didn’t bother to listen to the pneumonia brewing in your lungs? Only treating the “visible” symptom, but not the underlying problem is a problem, whether it is lungs, nails or any other condition. Fungus brews until it has a large enough colony to “visibly” affect other nails or even a previously treated nail! What does that mean to the patient? It means more frequent trips to the podiatrist for yet another “spot” treatment. You will find, is that in the end, you will have coughed up (no pun intended!) what you should have to have all nails treated in the first place! Worse yet, the cycle may continue since only the nails with visible fungus are treated again! Who knows when it might end for you and how much time you will need to devote to these types of visits? Why take that chance?
What I do strongly believe, as do all the physicians at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas (FAANT), is that if you are going to spend your valuable time and finances to have this procedure preformed, the least we can do is treat all your toenails at once. This will greatly increase the odds of success! One very effective treatment in one visit!
Another thing to consider is FDA approval. Only one type of fungus-treating laser in the U.S. is FDA approved. Fortunately, we have this laser at FAANT!! This is something that should give you extra piece of mind! You are getting what we know is safe and effective! All ten toenails and FDA approval is money well spent!
I have been lasering toenails for quite some time now and only recently have come across more and more people wondering “Why not just laser the affected toenails? It would, after all, come out cheaper that way wouldn’t it?”
The simple answer is “No, not really.” But let me back this up so you can take my word for it.
Fungus is visible when the nail is grossly infected. What many do not realize, is that the process started long before you could see it with the naked eye. This alone is enough reason for the need to laser all ten toenails.
All too often I see patients who tell me that their nail fungus was only on one nail for the longest time. Then, all of a sudden, it has spread to others. Fungus is contagious! It does not just sit in one place. It gets in in your carpet, your bath mats, your shower tile. And worst of all, if you do have fungus, even in just one toenail, that fungus has already grossly contaminated your shoes! For your other nails there is no escape!
Think about how lasering only those affected nails singularly, ignoring all the others which are surely contaminated. How secure do you feel about that? If you had a bad cough and shortness of breath, how secure would you feel about going to a doctor who gave you cough medicine, but didn’t bother to listen to the pneumonia brewing in your lungs? Only treating the “visible” symptom, but not the underlying problem is a problem, whether it is lungs, nails or any other condition. Fungus brews until it has a large enough colony to “visibly” affect other nails or even a previously treated nail! What does that mean to the patient? It means more frequent trips to the podiatrist for yet another “spot” treatment. You will find, is that in the end, you will have coughed up (no pun intended!) what you should have to have all nails treated in the first place! Worse yet, the cycle may continue since only the nails with visible fungus are treated again! Who knows when it might end for you and how much time you will need to devote to these types of visits? Why take that chance?
What I do strongly believe, as do all the physicians at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas (FAANT), is that if you are going to spend your valuable time and finances to have this procedure preformed, the least we can do is treat all your toenails at once. This will greatly increase the odds of success! One very effective treatment in one visit!
Another thing to consider is FDA approval. Only one type of fungus-treating laser in the U.S. is FDA approved. Fortunately, we have this laser at FAANT!! This is something that should give you extra piece of mind! You are getting what we know is safe and effective! All ten toenails and FDA approval is money well spent!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
So another athlete down with nothing other than a darn toe injury!!
With Clemson running back Andre Ellington missing the next two games with a toe injury, it is unlikely that the Tigers will become bowl eligible. Sorry Clemson fans!
So what happened? Well, the same thing that happened to San Diego Chargers star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Turf toe strikes again! We have written about this before and I will waste no time to link you to our great turf toe article written and available for your perusal. Only wish Andre Ellington knew what he was in for. Being as young as he is, he will most likely heal without incident. Then again, being as young as he is, he may also jump back into what is left of the season a little sooner than recommended. If you are listening Andre, don’t do it! Let this heal and help avoid what could end up being an arthritic toe later on in life that may end your career sooner than intended!
Let this serve as yet another reminder to all of us, athletes or not, that the big toe is just that important! The mere jamming of the toe is enough to jump start an arthritic process. Micro tears in the cartilage cushioning the joint can become deep fissures down to the bone over time. These are allowed to wear down until there is no cartilage to cushion the joint and suddenly there is joint pain when before there was none!
Do not ignore joint pain! It is not normal. Even though it can go away, it will more than likely return more frequently over time and return with a vengeance. As podiatrists, we do not merely treat injuries; we pride ourselves as a profession of prevention! Recurrence prevention is just as important as eliminating the initial pain. Heed our recommendations if we point you to certain shoes or inserts or functional orthotics to better control any foot instability. The cliché is true, prevention is key!
With Clemson running back Andre Ellington missing the next two games with a toe injury, it is unlikely that the Tigers will become bowl eligible. Sorry Clemson fans!
So what happened? Well, the same thing that happened to San Diego Chargers star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Turf toe strikes again! We have written about this before and I will waste no time to link you to our great turf toe article written and available for your perusal. Only wish Andre Ellington knew what he was in for. Being as young as he is, he will most likely heal without incident. Then again, being as young as he is, he may also jump back into what is left of the season a little sooner than recommended. If you are listening Andre, don’t do it! Let this heal and help avoid what could end up being an arthritic toe later on in life that may end your career sooner than intended!
Let this serve as yet another reminder to all of us, athletes or not, that the big toe is just that important! The mere jamming of the toe is enough to jump start an arthritic process. Micro tears in the cartilage cushioning the joint can become deep fissures down to the bone over time. These are allowed to wear down until there is no cartilage to cushion the joint and suddenly there is joint pain when before there was none!
Do not ignore joint pain! It is not normal. Even though it can go away, it will more than likely return more frequently over time and return with a vengeance. As podiatrists, we do not merely treat injuries; we pride ourselves as a profession of prevention! Recurrence prevention is just as important as eliminating the initial pain. Heed our recommendations if we point you to certain shoes or inserts or functional orthotics to better control any foot instability. The cliché is true, prevention is key!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)