Foot and Ankle Blog - Page 4 of 9

At some point during your lifetime, you may experience a foot or ankle problem. How do you locate the best resource for foot care? Here's 9 tips!

What is a Jones Fracture? The fifth metatarsal is a bone on the outside portion of your foot that has a natural bony protuberance called the styloid process. The styloid process is important area where soft tissues attach, like the peroneus brevis tendon and the lateral band of the plantar fascia. There are multiple types of fifth metatarsal fractures that can read more »

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 »

Researchers at Duke University just published a breakthrough study in the journal Science Advances showing that humans have the ability to repair and regrow cartilage similar to other species like salamanders, lizards and zebrafish.  This has important implications for the treatment of joint injuries and arthritis. Humans have always had the ability to regrow tissue For years, scientists have acknowledged read more »

Pain from your little toe (or baby toe or pinky toe) could be telling you something important. Here are four things to know about pinky toe pain.

Your big toe is more than just a device to locate bedposts and chair legs in the dark. The big toe is the only toe significant enough to get its own medical name. It’s dignified with the appellation “hallux”. The other four little piggies have to be satisfied with mere numbers. Whenever you are upright, there are crucial moments when read more »

One of the most common machines in your shed or garage is also one of the most dangerous. Walk-behind and power lawn mowers are extremely hazardous if not used properly. Lawn mowing safety is no joke. Emergency rooms in the U.S. treat an average of 35,000 people each year for lawn mower injuries. More than 6,000 of those injuries are read more »

A lot of bunion sufferers come to us stating that they avoided bunion surgery for years because they “heard” terrible things that are simply untrue about bunion surgery. Two examples of this are “bunion surgery hurts like crazy” and “why bother getting a bunion surgically repaired since they come back anyway.” There are many bunion surgery myths and we are read more »

Worried about wide feet? Forget about it! Most wide foot problems can be resolved by ignoring other people's aesthetic judgments.

When compared to the claws of a tiger, the hooves of a horse, or the talons of an eagle, our toenails are quite pathetic. A human’s toenails are made from the same substance (keratin) as claws, hooves, and talons, but evolution has drastically reduced the utility of our keratin amenities. Our modern toenails can sometimes be more trouble than they’re read more »

What causes stinky feet? Find out about the opportunistic bacteria that can invade your feet and start killing cells -- and what you can do about it!

Many troublesome foot and ankle conditions occur in children just as they do in adults. But the bones of growing children haven’t themselves finished growing, so some children’s foot problems require extra attention. What is a child’s growth plate? Sites of active bone growth in children are called growth plates. They exist near the ends of bones in pre-adolescent children. read more »

Drop foot (aka foot drop), can be a scary occurrence. Both terms describe an inability to lift the front of your foot while walking. The results of drop foot include scuffing the forefoot along the ground, and tripping over simple obstacles, like the edge of a rug. In order to compensate for foot dragging, people with drop foot tend to read more »

The ankle is an amazing example of anatomical ingenuity, until it starts hurting. Inside ankle pain indicates several possible problems. Here are a few examples.

Can surgically implanted metal Screws and pins become a thing of the past? Yes, thanks to a new invention that is being used at UFAI today.

If you want to locate the ball of your foot, lift up your heel while you’re barefoot. The part of the foot that’s in most direct contact with the ground is the ball of your foot. When your heel is elevated, the ball of your foot bears all your weight. If any of your regular activities include running, jumping, dancing, read more »

One aspect of Cinderella’s story has been significantly under-reported over the last few centuries is the Evil Stepmother loved cosmetic foot surgery. It all started the night of the Royal Ball when she saw Cinderella stumble through the front door, clutching a solitary glass slipper, leaving the other behind with the Prince. When the Evil Stepmother learned that the Prince read more »

What is chronic plantar fasciitis and how is it treated? The plantar fascia is the amazingly strong thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. It supports the arch and helps keep your foot from curling into a ball. Chronic plantar fasciitis is defined as plantar fascia pain experienced for at least 3-6 months without resolution. read more »

Catching diabetic foot complications early will allow for proper intervention and prevention of ulcerations, infections, and limb loss. That is why routine exams with a foot and ankle specialist are so critical. At the first sign of diabetic foot pain, ulcers or other diabetic foot issues, get it checked out and do not wait for your next checkup. Otherwise, our read more »