Foot & Ankle Specialty Blog

What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a bony bump that forms due to movement of the bones in the foot, which causes them to overlap. As your large toe begins to turn in and push against the next toe, the joint on the outside of the big toe is pushed out and becomes more prominent. Not only can bunions cause pain, but they can also become so large that it is difficult to find shoes that are comfortable to wear.

Causes of Bunions
While the exact cause of bunions is unknown, there are factors that have been linked with a higher incident rate of bunions. Bunions have been associated with inherited foot shapes, foot injuries, birth deformities and poorly fitting shoes. While bunions being caused by ill-fitting shoes is debated by many doctors, some believe that shoes that are too tight or high-heeled can cause bunion development. It is believed that years of abnormal positions, motion and pressure force the big toe to turn inward, leading to the joint protruding.

Correlations have shown that people who are at higher risks are those with rheumatoid arthritis and hereditary links, and people who regularly wear improperly fitted or high-heeled shoes for long lengths of time. It has also been found that those with stiffer or tighter joints are more likely to develop bunions while those whose joints remain flexible are less affected.

An ingrown toenail, onychocryptosis by its medical name, is one of the more uncomfortable maladies your feet can suffer, and the conditionis more common than you might think. According to a study by the Institute for Preventative Foot Health, nearly 40 million American adults have tangled with ingrown toenails. 

As the weather warms, the sandals and open shoes come out of hibernation. Feet and legs are on display. Many flock to their favorite salon for a pedicure. Before you schedule that pedicure appointment, you should know the downside of salon pedicures.

Modern salons are beautifully designed. With custom lighting, mirrors and elegant decor, it’s easy to forget about the problems of the world and about safeguarding your health.
 
Salon pedicures can create the risk of fungal or viral infection in a number of ways. Every salon has thousands of clients and a multitude of ways for viruses and fungi to spread. Each year, thousands of people visit a foot specialist to treat infections contracted while getting a pedicure.

 
Beware of the bubbles.
 
Experts advise that you shouldn’t allow your pedicurist to turn on the bubbles in the foot bath. The jets can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Activating the jets spreads the bacteria and fungi throughout the water, coating your skin and invading pores, cuts or scrapes.
 
Find a salon that uses pipeless foot baths or individual foot bath liners that are replaced between clients. These practices are more effective at preventing fungal or viral infections. Foot baths that use shared piping can carry bacteria and fungi from other clients while the bubbles soften skin and open pores.
 
Sterile tools are a must.
 
While it may seem impolite to ask about a salon’s sterilization process, your health is at stake. Don’t hesitate to ask about your salon’s procedures. Metal tools must be sterilized between each client. You should find evidence of safe practices as you look around the salon. Metal tools may be soaking in a disinfectant. This disinfectant kills most bacteria that can lead to foot infection.
 
Some salons use UV lights to sanitize metal tools between clients. This UV sanitization process, if done properly, requires 6 hours to sterilize the tools for use with the next client, and it requires additional soaking and cleaning procedures. If a salon is only treating metal tools with UV for a few minutes between clients, use those pretty feet to run elsewhere. Tools not properly sterilized can transfer viruses, fungi and bacteria from old clients to new.
 
Wood and non-metal tools can’t be reused.
 
While metal tools can be sterilized, non-metal tools are for one client only. Because they are more porous and absorbent, non-metal and wood tools can’t be reused for other clients. These tools can’t be effectively sterilized, and they create an ongoing risk of infection. Some salons provide clients with a set of non-metal tools for their exclusive use. 
 
Just shaved your legs? Wait on that pedicure.

We understand that, after an injury, our demand will want us to go out and seize the day. Truthfully, the recovery process does not end after the splint or brace is taken off. You must take into consideration how inactive your muscles and joints have been during this long healing process. Going to physical therapy will allow your affected limbs to be nursed back to health and trained to handle the real world once again. Advanced procedures like ultrasound or electrical stimulation may also be used to rapidly increase the rate of recovery.

Who is at Risk?

People who spend a lot of time on their feet, as well as certain athletes, are at risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Genetics play a role as well, because those with high arches or flat feet are more at risk. Also, women are twice as likely to develop it than men. Fortunately, treatment is available.

 

 

The holidays are officially here, and we all know what that means … crowded stores, long lines, lots of traffic, walking for miles while shopping for all the right gifts, hiking to find the perfect tree, standing all night baking holiday treats and standing all day to prepare holiday feasts. Our poor feet take on a lot during the holidays, so it’s easy to see how they are susceptible to injury and overuse.

Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer, Melanoma being the deadliest form. We all know to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays and check our skin regularly as a precautionary measure, but do you know everything you should be checking for – and everywhere on your body that could be in danger?

On a normal foot the arch is visible at all times, regardless of whether you’re standing, sitting or lying down. Adult-acquired flatfoot, also referred to as “fallen arches” is a condition in which the arch of the foot has collapsed.