Items filtered by date: May 2021

You don't need an excuse to have beautiful nails. Step outside without worrying about the appearance of your feet.

A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone that often occur in the feet as a result of overuse while playing sports or doing  activities that involve running or jumping. Everyday activities can also lead to stress fractures in people with weakened bones. Pain, tenderness, and swelling are usually the first indications of a stress fracture. These symptoms should not be ignored, as stress fractures may worsen over time if left untreated. A podiatrist can diagnose a stress fracture by taking a thorough medical history, completing a physical examination, and ordering imaging studies such as X-rays or bone scans. If you suspect that you may have a stress fracture in your foot or ankle, please see a podiatrist.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists from Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

When a baby is born, people will sometimes use the expression “10 fingers and 10 toes” to reference the newborn’s good health. But what if there is a problem with those 10 (or more) toes? Congenital foot deformities are differences in the structure of a baby’s feet that are present from birth. Fortunately, most of these conditions are treatable and do not cause any serious complications. Clubfoot is a deformity in which the baby’s feet are twisted inwards at the ankle. This generally does not cause any pain, but may interfere with walking later on. It can be corrected through a series of braces and casts. Metatarsus adductus is a common deformity in which part of the child’s foot turns inwards. Most cases resolve on their own, and stretching exercises or casts and orthotics can help those that don’t. Polydactyly is a mutation in which the baby has extra toes. Treatment will depend on the location and functionality of the extra toes, but may include surgery once the child is a little bit older. If you have any concerns about your baby’s foot health please consult with a podiatrist.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact one of our podiatrists of Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis occur when connective tissue repeatedly pulls on the calcaneus (heel) bone. Because of the stress these conditions place on ligaments and muscles around the heel bone, hard calcium deposits may develop over time on the bottom or back of the calcaneus. Pain from a heel spur may be hard to differentiate from the associated plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. People with flat feet, high arches, gait issues, or who spend a lot of time on their feet, or are obese, can be more prone to developing heel spurs. Also, middle-aged people who participate in athletic activities that put a good amount of stress on the feet may have an increased risk. If you are experiencing any pain on the bottom or back of your heel, contact a podiatrist for a full examination.

Heel spurs can be incredibly painful and sometimes may make you unable to participate in physical activities. To get medical care for your heel spurs, contact one of our podiatrists from Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors will do everything possible to treat your condition.

Heels Spurs

Heel spurs are formed by calcium deposits on the back of the foot where the heel is. This can also be caused by small fragments of bone breaking off one section of the foot, attaching onto the back of the foot. Heel spurs can also be bone growth on the back of the foot and may grow in the direction of the arch of the foot.

Older individuals usually suffer from heel spurs and pain sometimes intensifies with age. One of the main condition's spurs are related to is plantar fasciitis.

Pain

The pain associated with spurs is often because of weight placed on the feet. When someone is walking, their entire weight is concentrated on the feet. Bone spurs then have the tendency to affect other bones and tissues around the foot. As the pain continues, the feet will become tender and sensitive over time.

Treatments

There are many ways to treat heel spurs. If one is suffering from heel spurs in conjunction with pain, there are several methods for healing. Medication, surgery, and herbal care are some options.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ . We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technology to meet your needs.

Running is a sport that can be great exercise and improve your overall physical fitness, but unfortunately, runners can be prone to foot and ankle injuries. Between 9% and 32% of running injuries affect the lower legs, 4-16% of running injuries affect the ankles, and 5-39% of running injuries affect the feet. Some of the most common lower limb injuries among people who run are Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and ankle sprains. Furthermore, runners may be prone to ingrown toenails, anterior compartment syndrome, and calf strain. If you are a runner, consult with a podiatrist who can advise you on how to prevent running injuries. 

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.