Items filtered by date: July 2022

Hairdressers, restaurant line cooks and servers, teachers, and warehouse workers all have one thing in common—they spend a great part of their workday standing on their feet. This prolonged activity can result in chronic pain and discomfort in the feet, legs, and back. The first line of defense against foot pain caused from prolonged standing is proper footwear. Experts suggest shoes with a flatter heel that offer ample arch support. If you stand on hard surfaces, extra cushioning should be considered while choosing your shoes. Insoles or custom orthotics may be necessary to correct any ongoing conditions that may contribute to pain or fatigue. Shoes that breathe can help to prevent infections that thrive in moist environments. High heels should be avoided. It is also recommended that regular stretching exercises help blood circulate to the feet. Losing weight can reduce the pressure felt in the feet and legs, and it can help to keep joints healthy. Paying attention to your posture can aid in distributing your weight evenly and avoiding future leg and back problems. And finally, rest your feet when you can—taking breaks at work when possible and elevating them at home. If your foot pain becomes persistent, even when at rest, it is a good idea to consult a podiatrist for guidance and further treatment options. 

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Peter C. Smith from Lancaster Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

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

Ankle braces can help to support a weak ankle joint, as well as increase your mobility and protect the ankle from further injury. Anyone who has problems with plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, or previous ankle joint injuries may find it helpful to wear a brace. Experts believe it is best to wear an ankle brace after an injury, rather than beforehand, as a preventive measure. Constant use of an ankle brace can actually cause more harm than good, as it may prevent the surrounding muscles from gaining strength. Using a brace on occasion, say for a hike on uneven terrain or when playing a sport with a lot of lateral movement, is recommended. After an injury, a good ankle brace should provide support and stability during the healing process. In some cases, depending on the severity of the injury, a nylon boot may be recommended. As there are numerous types of ankle braces available, it’s a good idea to consult a podiatrist who can advise you on which one best suits your needs. 

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Peter C. Smith from Lancaster Podiatry. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

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

Toe pain can range from being irritating to debilitating, and it may be difficult to wear shoes and socks. Common causes for toe pain include bunions, nail conditions, or certain types of arthritis. Toe pain may develop suddenly or gradually, and symptoms can include a burning or prickling sensation. There are 14 bones in the toes, which are surrounded by muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. An injury to the toe is a common source of toe pain, in addition to having poor circulation. There are specific foot conditions that can cause toe pain, including hammertoe, tendinitis, or Morton’s neuroma. A severe infection may cause extreme toe pain, and could be accompanied by confusion, a high fever, or shortness of breath. Many times a proper diagnosis is performed, which generally consists of having an X-ray taken. Mild relief may come from elevating the affected foot with the shoe removed. If you are experiencing toe pain, please consult a podiatrist who can determine the cause and properly treat it.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Peter C. Smith of Lancaster Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Lancaster, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

The foot condition called Sever’s disease affects children and young teenagers. The medical term for this ailment is calcaneal apophysitis which affects the growth plate in the heel. This can happen when the heel bone grows faster than the connecting muscles and tendons, causing the tendons to pull on the growth plate. The type of children that Sever’s disease affects most are those who frequently participate in running and jumping activities. A common symptom of this condition is heel pain and it can be severe. It is generally worse after arising in the morning and relief may start with temporarily stopping the activity that caused the condition. Additional symptoms include swelling in the heel and surrounding areas, and the pain may make it difficult to walk. An effective method to diagnose Sever’s disease is known as the squeeze test. This is accomplished when the inside and the outside of the heel are squeezed at the same time and pain is present. Treatment may involve performing specific stretches and exercises that can benefit the heel. If your child has heel pain, please confer with a podiatrist who can diagnose Sever’s disease and offer you effective treatment options.

Sever's disease often occurs in children and teens. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, see Peter C. Smith from Lancaster Podiatry. Our doctor can treat your child’s foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain I none or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Symptoms

Acute pain – Pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – Children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Lancaster, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle injuries.