Foot and Ankle Blog - Page 10 of 10

One of the most common foot problems encountered by women are bunions. Bunions are the bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe, along the inside of the foot. The bump forms because the joint is jutting out, when both the first metatarsal of the foot shifts outward, and the big toe starts pointing inward towards the read more »

A foot puncture wound is not like a normal cut; it is a small hole in the skin caused by a pointed object, such as a nail you have stepped on. Proper treatment within the first several hours is particularly important with puncture wounds because the piercing object may become embedded under the skin. Prompt medical attention can greatly reduce read more »

Hey tennis star, it’s us, your feet! We love hitting the tennis court with you, and it’s a relatively safe way to stay in shape, whether you’re a young whippersnapper or an old soul. Of course, no physical activity is without its risks. The constant lateral motion and quick stops and starts across the court can put a lot of read more »

Congratulations! It’s a B… bunion? Bunions are a common foot problem in the U.S., affecting a quarter to a third of adults at some point in their life. Unfortunately, this incidence sky-rockets for new moms-to-be. Read on to learn what to expect (from your feet!) when you’re expecting. How do you know if you’re suffering from bunions? Take a look read more »

Most long distance runners can agree that they are at the mercy of their feet.  You can mentally and physically prepare yourself for a marathon, but ignore your feet and you may find yourself sidelined at the next race.  While some foot-related injuries are bio-mechanical (and that’s just the way we were made), others may be the result of something read more »

Is your 10 year old is dying for a scooter or skateboard so he can “ride the rails” and “catch some air” like his friends? Before you make your purchase you may want to consider the possible injury risks. A new study published by Clinical Pediatrics states that “kick” scooters, much like the one your 10 year old needs to read more »

Syndesmotic ligament injuries, or more commonly known as high ankle sprains, are very common in the United States and can lead to chronic pain and instability if it is not recognized and treated appropriately. Anatomy The ankle syndesmosis is a group of ligaments that help to hold the tibia and fibula together just above the level of the ankle joint. read more »

Epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (ENFD) testing is the analysis of a 3mm punch biopsy of skin to quantify the number of unmyelinated C-fibers and myelinated A delta-fibers within the epidermis. The skin has a rather consistent number of epidermal nerves at specific anatomical sites. This density is also found to be consistent between different age groups and genders. Small fiber read more »

A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that forms after an injury to the skin. It can result after a cut, scrape, burn, or ulcer. The appearance of a scar can vary depending on various factors, including the depth of the wound, the location of the wound, genetics, and age. Most scars will tend to fade over time but read more »

Tenex is a state-of-the-art treatment for Achilles Tendinosis, but generally is not for Achilles Tendonitis. So let’s first discuss the difference between a Tendonitis condition and one that is a tendinosis? Tendonitis refers to an inflammation or irritation to a tendon, which subsequently causes pain and tenderness. This is often aggravated with activity. Commonly, tendonitis is treated with rest, ice, read more »

What's the best running shoe for your foot type? Los Angeles foot specialist discusses the best options for overpronation, underpronation, and normal arched feet.

Big Toe Pain: Sesamoid Pathology The sesamoids are two small round or oval bones situated in the thick soft tissue ligamentous plantar plate under the first metatarsaophalangeal (big toe) joint and provide attachments for multiple important ligaments and muscle-tendinous units that provide critical stability, strength, and function to the big toe during ambulation and propulsion. They fully ossify by the read more »

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy For Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or ESWT, was initially used in the treatment of urinary, kidney, and salivary stones.  ESWT has been used since the late 1980s for the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders, including: plantar fasciosis/ plantar fasciitis Achilles tendinosis/ Achilles tendonitis sesamoiditis stress fractures fresh fractures of bones delayed read more »

Radio Frequency Topaz Microdebrider for Chronic Heel Pain Heel pain is a common presenting complaint causing patients to seek a foot and ankle surgeon or doctor.  One of the most common etiologies of heel pain is mechanical or repetitive overuse injury causing inflammation of the plantar fascia, termed Plantar Fasciitis. Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis Pain and stiffness in heel (can be read more »

What is a Bunion? Bunions come in all shapes and sizes.  They are largely genetic resulting from a looseness of the great to and midfoot joints resulting in a shift of the bone and bunion formation.  Although genetics are the primary cause, shoes and other factors can accelerate and worsen bunion problems. Conservative management: Well-fitting, supportive shoes Custom functional orthotics, read more »

The STAR and Inbone Total Ankle Replacements:  Which is best for Ankle Arthritis Cases With the advent of new technology and an improved biomechanic understanding of ankle function, the treatment of ankle arthritis has broadly changed in the past decade.  Ankle replacement is rapidly becoming a comparable option to ankle fusion in the treatment of ankle arthritis. The new generation read more »