UFAI General Articles Archive

Many adult foot problems can be traced back to ill-fitting shoes forced onto young feet. Read what our experts say about fitting your kids' shoes.

A healthy foot is an attractive foot! Here are 15 tips for better foot health in the summer months.

Our state-of-the-art Santa Barbara podiatry clinic As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best, most convenient foot and ankle care to our patients, we’ve re-opened our Santa Barbara location! Located within a medical mall in beautiful Santa Barbara, University Foot and Ankle Institute offers advanced medical and surgical care for the foot and ankle. and state-of-the-art radiology, ultrasound, and neurosensory read more »

Do you swear when you stub your toe? Sure, it distracts you, but does it actually have any impact on the pain? Turns out, swearing relieves pain!

Aging feet need special care as the risks for chronic foot problems increase. Learn more about common foot problems to watch for as we age.

Are you experiencing painful foot cramps at night? Learn about what causes these cramps and how to avoid them and restore your rest.

As in all sports, the type and fit of your gear is just as important as its quality. Ski boots are your direct connection with your skis. So the boot you use will have an enormous impact on your feet.

Satisfactory treatment has long been available for early-stage ankle arthritis. And effective procedures, including ankle fusion and total ankle replacement, are available for end-stage ankle arthritis. But one of the last great barriers in the treatment of ankle arthritis has been how to handle moderate ankle arthritis. Until recently, some of the greatest podiatric challenges were moderate ankle arthritis cases. read more »

Want some quick, natural, and instinctive advice about running in the dark? DON’T DO IT!! You’ll run into things (like tree trunks and branches, spiderwebs, curbs, mailboxes, wire fences, and potholes). You’ll run on things (like surface water, slippery leaves, sand, or gravel) You’ll be run into by things (like cars). You’ll run over things (like cliffs). You’ll be stalked, read more »

University Foot and Ankle Institute (UFAI) has been honored as the Best Foot and Ankle Surgeons in California. This year’s Top Doctors Award places the ten-location practice ahead of the hundreds of other foot and ankle specialists practicing in the state. What, you may ask, has allowed UFAI to stand head and shoulders above the rest? There’s more to it read more »

First, a little background on how awesome our feet are, keeping us upright and moving, year after year. The human foot is an amazing example of physiological design. It contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 120 muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. These components work together to support the body’s weight, serve as shock absorbers, maintain our balance, and read more »

Toenail fungus has a habit of stubbornly sticking around. Don't just live with it, check out these 5 tips from our experts on resolving this annoying problem.

Are you having constant plantar fasciitis pain? Is that Achilles tendonitis just not going away? Do you feel like you’ve exhausted all conservative options? Does surgery appear inevitable? Here at UFAI, we have some non-surgical regenerative medicine options that could very well end your pain. And there is no need to go through the invasive process of surgery. We offer read more »

There are natural methods of treating gout that can prevent gout flare-ups? Read what you need to eat (and not eat) and begin leading a healthier life!

Toenail fungus is gross, painful, and overall unpleasant. Learn about the causes and symptoms of toenail fungus as well as our new laser treatment!

Foot odor? No problem. Soak your feet in a solution of 1/2 cup sea salt and 4–6 cups warm water for 15 minutes. Pat your feet dry, and be free of smelly feet.

Golf. Sure, it’s a sport. But you wouldn’t think that a sport in which you can ride around in a cart and drink beer would result in many foot injuries. This low-impact activity is often synonymous with a life of leisure, yet you might be surprised to find out that avid golfers frequently suffer from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is read more »

If you are experiencing runner's knee, shin splints, or lower back pain, you may be surprised to learn that your feet might be to blame.

You’re a grown adult. You’ve been buying your own shoes since you were a teenager. You know what fits you and what doesn’t. Right? Let us guess. The shoes you’re wearing right now? You’ve had those for a few years. More than a few. They’ve served you well, they’re comfortable, and that’s all that matters. Right…? Actually, you might want read more »

When we walk barefoot, the muscles in our feet communicate with muscles in our legs and core. That communication gets disconnected when we wear shoes.