Items filtered by date: April 2016

Nail fungus make up about “50% of all nail disorders,” according to the American Academy of Dermatology. When preventing nail fungus, wash and dry your hands and feet thoroughly and with soap. Nail fungus thrives in wet places, can hide beneath your nail polish, and is contagious. If you find that your nails are crumbling, thickening, becoming yellowish, or peeling, you may have nail fungus. Treatment for nail fungus may take up to several months, so make sure to treat it right away.

While toenail fungus is troublesome to eradicate, doing so is not impossible. If you have any concerns with your feet consult with our podiatrists from APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a problem which affects many people and is hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating toenail fungus.

Antibiotics & Treatments

Lamisil – is the most commonly effective treatment for toenail fungus. It is available as an antibiotic Terbinafine tablet and cream. Terbinafine is a chemical component which kills fungal growth on the body. Applying regular doses will gradually kill the fungal growth. It is important to keep the area clean and air free.

Talcum powder – applying powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well

Alternative Treatments

There are always surgical procedures that are available for toenail fungus. Some people would like immediate quick removal of toenail fungus. Surgeons will be able to cut through and remove the growth using laser surgery. It is important not to try and remove it yourself. Once removed, your old shoes will need to be replaced to avoid reinfection.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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If you notice “a tingling or numbness under the ball of your foot,” you may have Morton’s neuroma. Although the condition is not serious, Morton’s neuroma is characterized by “a benign accumulation of fibrous tissue” around your medial plantar nerve. Simply put, the condition affects the area between your foot’s metatarsal bones, resulting in pain and irritation. Common solutions for Morton’s neuroma include changing your footwear, over-the-counter medicines and cortisone injections for treating the pain, custom pad supports or orthotics, and the last option of surgery.

Morton’s Neuroma is a very uncomfortable condition to live with. If you think you have Morton’s neuroma consult with our podiatrists from APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that commonly affects the areas between the second and third or third and fourth toe, although other areas of the foot are also susceptible. Morton’s neuroma is caused by an inflamed nerve in the foot that is being squeezed and aggravated by surrounding bones.

What Increases the Chances of having Morton’s Neuroma?

• -Ill-fitting high heels or shoes that add pressure to the toe or foot
• -Jogging, running or any sport that involves constant impact to the foot
• -Flat feet, bunions, and any other foot deformities

Morton’s neuroma is a very treatable condition. Orthotics and shoe inserts can often be used to alleviate the pain on the forefront of the feet. In more severe cases, corticosteroids can also be prescribed. In order to figure out the best treatment for your neuroma, it’s recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist who can diagnose your condition and provide different treatment options.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Morton’s neuroma.

Thanks to Samsung, you may be finding a new pair of smart shoes on the shelves. Called the IoFit Smart Balance, these shoes have been installed with pressure sensors, Bluetooth transmitters, and batteries. The smart shoes are said to not only be convenient like a smartphone, but they can also measure your foot performance in sports such as golfing and compare it in real time to professional sports personalities. The shoes “can determine your left-right and front-back balance, and ground contact force” and record and transfer the data.

The right running shoe is essentially different for every person. If you have any concerns consult with our podiatrists from APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Choosing the Right Running Shoes for Your Foot Type

Running is a physical activity although fun, can put a lot of stress on the joints, bones and ligaments of the body. Injury and stress on the foot can be an important factor on which kind of shoe you’re wearing. Running shoes should be worn based on your foot type. It is important to find out what fits you based on cushioning, stability and motion.

Determining your type

Speak with a shoe specialist or retail professional to see what your foot type is. They will be able to identify and measure your arch type, stride and gait.

Running Mechanics

When you are running or walking in your shoes, every step determines how your foot is landing. Pronation is the natural rolling of your ankle from outside to inside during foot strike.

Pronation is a correct form of walking or running. It helps absorb shock and store energy from your lower extremities. Neutral runners who pronate correctly do not need specific shoes, since they have stability and control.

Over-pronators

Those who run with excessive ankle rolling. Over-pronators tend to have ankles that angle inward, flat feet, and or bowed legs. This can cause a series of injuries: of the knees, ankles and Achilles tendons.

Under-pronation

Under-pronation is less common than over-pronation. This usually happens to those who have inflexible feet and high arches. Even though there is less rotational stress on the ankles and knees, it prevents any kind of shock absorptions. Under-pronation needs shoes with increase in cushion and flexibility.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Sneaker designer Christopher Dixon has developed his own line of high-end high heels that offer comfort for the feet. When Dixon first visited his best friend’s cousin’s closet, full of high heel shoes, he realized how uncomfortable and painful wearing high heels must be for women. His collection, in which shoes feature two heels instead of one, was created with stability and comfort in mind. Dixon explains “that [the] extra point of contact between ankle and cement actually makes the shoes easier to walk in by improving weight distribution and taking some of the pressure off the arch of the foot.”

High heels have a history for causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, consult with our podiatrists from APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because their style and societal appeal. Despite this, they can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

What parts my body will be affected by high heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – may shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – they decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain. Also, the vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What kinds of foot problems can develop from wearing high heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How can I still wear high heels and maintain foot health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems. Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet. Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising. If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work. Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about the effects of high heels.