Footnotes, The Foot & Ankle Blog of University Foot & Ankle Institute

There is a very old story about a man named Androcles who was walking in a forest when he hears a loud roar. Androcles tries to run away but he trips on a tree root, injures his leg, and is unable to escape. A lion appears from behind the trees. However, the man notices that the lion is whimpering and read more »

Want a pedicure? There’re so many salons, how do you choose the right one… or a safe one? If you are using Yelp or other consumer review sites to determine where to go, the selection can be overwhelming.  Just in the Los Angeles area alone, there are over 6,000 salons listed! As podiatrists, we see the aftermath of when pedicures read more »

What’s the difference between a Bunion (Hallux Valgus) and Big Toe Arthritis (Hallux Limitus)? It is not at all unusual for patients to confuse bunions and big toe arthritis because both these conditions can cause pain and a bump and enlargement at the big toe joint. But they are actually very different conditions. While you can delay bunion treatment until read more »

Warts are small growths on the skin and can shop up anywhere on your body. When they appear on your foot (usually on the bottom), they’re plantar warts. Plantar warts are often a minor and temporary annoyance. However, they’re equally likely to become a severely painful condition, serious enough to require a doctor’s attention. What causes plantar warts? Plantar warts read more »

We see more foot stress fractures when kids (and adults) return to school and work. Here’s why this happens. Say goodbye to playing video games all day, no more lounging around the pool, no more afternoon siestas and no more building snowmen (or “snow people” as I l called them back in Maryland) during the holidays. Sadly it will be read more »

So you have a bunion and you are considering surgery. That’s great but how do you know what surgeon is the best for you? Of course there is no real perfect answer. But after 20 years of taking care of patients with foot and ankle ailments and trying to perfect my skills, I have come up with what I believe read more »

The plantar fascia is a strong web of ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot, from your heel bone (calcaneous) to the bones of your toes. It functions as a resilient shock absorber and supports the arch of your foot. What’s Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is the name of the condition that occurs when repetitive overuse of the read more »

It’s that time of the year again when kids everywhere are heading back to school. No more playing video games all day, no more lounging around the pool, and no more afternoon siestas. It’s time to say goodbye to our lazy summer days and get back into the swing of things. This might mean getting back on the football field read more »

A new study from Duke University shows that those who suffer from gout have a significantly increased risk of heart disease. What causes gout? Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood stream. Uric acid is a natural product of normal food digestion. The kidneys are tasked with eliminating uric acid, but read more »

Rod Stewart rhapsodized about a girl with “hot legs, right up to her neck”. It’s undeniably true that high heels can create “hot legs”. High heels do make women taller, make their legs look longer, and give the consequent illusion of a slimmer physique. But to what purpose? Valerie Steele, the director of the Museum of the Fashion Institute of read more »