A common foot ailment called hammertoe affects about 3% of the US population or 7 million people. Hammertoe is a foot deformity that is caused by an imbalance of the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the toes. A person with a hammertoe will notice an abnormal bend in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th toes. Causes of...

With school back in session, many of our children will be taking part in several sports. With sports comes the possibility of contracting something called athletes foot or tinea pedis. Athletes foot is caused by a fungus which can and usually is contagious. Athletes foot can also be caused by a bacterial infection, intertrigo or a rash of the...

  It’s a mouthful, but it’s also a very promising therapy for some of the foot and other body part issues. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a nonintrusive way to treat the inflammation of the body’s tendons. Defined as a 4-10-minute procedure, ESWT takes place outside the body, therefore avoiding any complications due to infections or extended...

One of the more common treatments for certain foot maladies is the use of an orthotic. An orthotic is a custom fitted shoe insert designed by a podiatrist. While a store-bought shoe insert can help with your specific problem, the orthotic is often the best bet. Conditions that orthotics treat include: Plantar Fasciitis – an...

One of the more common foot ailments is something called a bunion. What is a bunion? A bunion is a painful bony bump on the inside of your foot usually located near the base of your big toe. Another name for a bunion is a hallux vulgus. Bunions can be caused by: Narrow or tight-fitting shoes...

One of the newest and most promising treatments for Toenail Fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is called Fungal Toenail Laser Surgery. This treatment has shown great promise in effectively treating Toenail Fungus, a common and as of now, often unsolvable ailment. Usually treated with oral or topical medications, toenail fungus has a way of returning....

Being a podiatrist I can tell you that I have heard them all and then some. Everyone has their preferred method of fighting nail fungus at home, and they swear by it. First, let's look at the three most common home remedies I'm asked about, and then why I don't recommend them for my patients. Tea...

It's Fall and that means that every year there are several sports activities that either start the season or some end the season. Baseball ends in November with the World Series and Football, Basketball and Ice Hockey get going full swing. When we treat an athlete who plays in single or multiple sports and we commonly...

A lateral ankle sprain is the most common form of ankle sprain. Patients report an inversion of the ankle, meaning the foot twisted underneath the leg.  The patient may complain of pain outside of the ankle with bruising, the technical term for which is ecchymosis. The severity of the sprain can prevent the patient from bear...

As I continue forward in my podiatry career, I continue to have a similar question asked of me often:  Is it better to put heat or cold on an area of injury?  This question pertains to people coming in with a new pain, old pain, surgery pain, the whole gamut. There are some keys points to...