At The Foot Institute, our Doctors are trained to specifically treat problems associated with your feet or ankles. Below are several of the most common problems that we see on a day to day basis.
Many symptoms, from general fatigue, back and knee pain, to painful foot problems such as bunions, calluses and hammertoes, can often be attributed to collapsed or fallen arches or other biomechanical faults relating to the feet. Prescription functional foot orthotics help to alleviate these discomforts by supporting the foot and restoring the proper alignment of the joints and bones within the foot. Patients are referred to the Foot Institute¹s brochure on orthotics for a complete discussion on this topic.
A very common cause of foot pain is Plantar Fasciitis. This condition is often very painful and without medical attention, will generally deteriorate and cause an increase in sick days, immobility and chronic symptoms. Plantar Fasciitis is an injury to one or more of the five ligaments or bands which connect the metarsals to the heel. The most common symptoms are pain under the heel when first getting out of bed in the morning or upon getting up after sitting. Often individuals have their ³good days² and ³bad days² but the problem seldom resolves itself without proper treatment.
Most forefoot pain is caused due to inflammation from improper biomechanics. A neuroma is a common cause of foot pain, it is a nerve that becomes irritated and most commonly occurs in the ball of the foot. Patients often describe the pain as "shooting", "burning", or "tingling" that gets worse with activity.
These most often occur on the big toe. They are commonly caused by pressure or prior trauma to the nail bed. If not treated promptly and properly, they can become infected and can lead to more serious problems.
Our feet take a beating from the day we first learn to walk. The foot is a complex structure, each with 26 bones and dozens of ligaments, and tendons. Many people walk their entire lives with minor abnormalities in their gait which become symptomatic with age. These abnormalities can be treated with prescription custom molded orthotics which are inserts that can be transferred from shoe to shoe.
Bunions and Hammertoes are common problems that can often be treated successfully with conservative as well as surgical treatment. Patients are referred to the brochure on Surgery for an in-depth discussion on bunions, hammertoes, neuromas and related surgical issues.
Because the foot is the foundation for the entire skeletal system of the body, improper foot biomechanics often affect other areas such as the knees, hips and lower back. Pronation, supination and other biomechanical problems often lead to adnormal and excessive forces on various joints, ligaments, muscles and other musculoskeletal structures. Over time, these abnormal and excessive forces can cause breakdown of the skeletal-musculature system with resultant difficulties in the feet, knees, hips and lower back. Podiatrists at the Foot Institute are specifically trained to diagnose and treat these types of problems as well as all other problems relating to the feet.
Patients suffering from corns, calluses, warts or fungal infection are encouraged to see their foot specialist as there is a broad spectrum of treatments, medication and patient information available.
As the feet of sport enthusiasts and athletes are often subject to unique and abnormal stresses, Podiatrists are often beneficial in preventing or treating injury as well as enhancing athletic performance. Athletes are encouraged to talk with our Doctors to determine if our assistance would be beneficial.