Foot & Ankle Specialty Blog

As rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starts to develop, the feet are often the first place to feel the symptoms. This chronic inflammatory disorder causes the body to attack itself, affecting all the different types of tissues from joints to skin.

Do your feet hurt? You are not alone – a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association found that 77 percent of people in the United States have a foot problem. Fortunately, you can stretch your feet to alleviate pain and other foot problems; foot stretching can also help prevent painful foot issues. With practice, you can even take foot stretching to an art form that provides maximum relief from even the toughest foot problems.

Over time, your body begins to show the effects of aging. Skin sags, wrinkles form and age spots may appear. Your feet and ankles are not immune to aging, either. Aging certainly affects the way your feet and ankles look, but more importantly, aging feet and ankles may not function as they did when you were younger. This process doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually. You may not notice the signs of aging feet and ankles, but your podiatrist can.  Here are some ways that your feet and ankles change as you age.

As a woman, you know that your body undergoes many physical changes during pregnancy. Even your feet are not immune to these changes! Considering the extra weight you end up carrying during pregnancy, it’s not too surprising that you can expect to experience changes to your feet. However, there are also other things that influence your feet during this time.

You may already be observing the ways that growing older can change your face, your metabolism and your ability to recover from strenuous exercise — but did you realize that aging also affects your feet? Whether it’s the development of hammertoes and bunions, a slimmed-down appearance, or a newfound susceptibility to slow-healing wounds, spending decades on (and off) your feet can have quite an impact. Read on to learn more about five of the unique ways your feet may change as you age.

Summer is on its way, and you’re certainly going to want to slip on some comfy beach sandals and set your feet free. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably had them buried in winter boots for a while now, so they might not look their best. Not to worry. There’s plenty of time to get your feet into better shape and ready to come out when things warm up. Here are a few foot-friendly tips to help you get your feet sandal-ready by summer.

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.

One of the most important back-to-school purchases you can make for your child is a pair of good quality, proper fitting shoes. Not all shoe styles and brands are created equal. Your child could wear an 8 in one brand, but only a 7.5 in another brand, or a bigger size in boots than tennis shoes.

Summer is slowly coming to an end so it’s time to starting thinking about school supplies, homework and fall sporting events. No matter what sport your child plays their feet are sure to be fatigued. It’s important for kids to know how to take care of their feet in order to avoid injuries down the road.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common type of heel pain. It’s caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick, flat band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes.