Items filtered by date: May 2016

Both corns and calluses are described as thickened areas of layered skin that form in response to constant pressure or irritation on the afflicted areas. Corns are smaller and usually develop around and between your toes, having hard centers. Making sure that your corns do not become inflamed is important. You can try to remove corns and calluses by yourself, but the best option is to see your podiatrist.

If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles see Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will treat your heel pain symptoms in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Corns: What are they? And how do you get rid of them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:
- Well-fitting socks
- Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
- Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Salicylic acid can help in getting rid of these corns because it dissolves keratin, which is the protein that makes up a good majority of corns. Podiatrists recommend that people with diabetes not use salicylic acid but should consult with their podiatrist regarding the treatment of corns.

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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Because children’s feet and ankles are still developing, it’s important for children to take a rest from stressful physical activity such as sports. Some conditions can progress into adulthood, so it’s also important for parents to take proper care of their children’s feet. The conditions can include calcaneal apophysitis, inflammation of the heel growth plate; achilles tendonitis, inflammation of the Achilles tendon; plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the tissue that runs along the soles of the feet; and stress fractures, which are small fractures in the bone.

Making sure that your children maintain foot health is very important as they grow up. If you have any questions see Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will treat your heel pain symptoms in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet in childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care from birth to school-age.

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

• Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet
• Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’.

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet

• Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus
• Be watchful of any pain or injury
• Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible
• Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play

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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Will Chambers of Melbourne Storm suffered a foot fracture injury in early April in the match against the Canterbury Bulldogs, which required him to have surgery. His post-surgery recovery time was estimated to be about 3 months at the time. His injury was initially thought to not be serious, until his foot swelled up overnight. “We are extremely disappointed to lose Will, he’s an important part of our team,” said Storm football director Frank Ponissi.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. To learn more, see Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will treat your heel pain symptoms in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury.

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

• Bruising
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blue (foot)
• Numbness
• Cold
• Misshapen
• Cuts
• Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

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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Not only can blisters be unsightly, but they can become irritating and detrimental to our everyday activities. There are many different ways to prevent blisters, and they involve buying properly-fitting shoes, choosing breathable material such as leather for footwear, and finding the proper support for your feet. Avoid picking at your blisters until they’re ready to be drained. Sterilize a needle and use an antibacterial treatment such as Neosporin immediately following the draining.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, see Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will treat your heel pain symptoms in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

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 blisters on the feet.

If you suffer from chronic heel and foot pain, it may be because your plantar fascia ligament is irritated or strained. Heel and foot pain can also be caused by plantar fasciitis, the number one leading cause, but it can also result from strenuous exercise on the feet. Stretch and relax your foot muscles by rolling the bottom of your feet on something round. Also make sure to have footwear that has proper support for your feet.

Anyone can wind up suffering from heel pain. For more information, see APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctors will treat your heel pain symptoms in addition to other podiatric-related needs.

Causes of Heel Pain

● Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

● Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

● Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

- Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  

- Wearing non-supportive shoes

- Weight change         

- Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a thing of the past.

With the advancements in technology and greater knowledge of how muscles and joints work, physical therapists can turn things around dramatically.  

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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