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Patients will read online about how stretching exercise will cure a patient of heel pain such as plantar fasciitis. I personally find stretching exercise is beneficial once we are able to decrease to symptoms. I break heal pain down into two phases. The inflammatory phase and prevention of prevention phase. If patient stretch there plantar facia and achilles tendon during the first phase their symptoms usually get worse.
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It is important that patients with diabetes check their feet daily. If they should notice sudden swelling they should have the feet examined. Given a diabetic may have neuropathy( numbness) in their feet they could have injury and not even know it. We have had diabetic patients that develop sudden swelling with decrease sensation. These individual have had broken foot bones.
If you are diabetic and have SUDDEN swelling. Have your podiatric doctor take a look.
Treatment of fracture toes? Just tap them, right? It all depends on a few factors. The most important factor is foot x-ray. If the toe is fractured the next question is the break intra-articular in nature? This means a fracture within the joint. Given a fracture in the joint it is important to get proper care to prevent permanent deformity of the toe and arthritis.
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What is a hammertoe? Patient many of the times think " How can my toe look like a hammer?" Bending of the toe better explains the condition. Think of your finger, you have three bones with three joints, like your toe. If you bend your finger and tap it on the table it is similar to a hammertoe.
Technically the hammertoe is bending (flexing) at the proximal interphangeal joint causing the tip of the toe to hit the ground instead of the placing the pressure on the plantar(bottom) aspect of the toe. This repetitive micro trauma leads to arthritis, contractures, and calluses of the toes.
Treatments vary depending on the severity. It treated early padding, orthotics and shoe modifications can manage the deformity. Although if they are rigid in nature conservative treatments are limited and surgical treatments can be warranted.
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It is the time of the year when you put away the closed in shoes and switch to sandals. Not only does the shoes change but we see an increase in heel pain, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis at the office. Why?
The majority of the footwear of sandals, flip-flops, and open toed shoes are comfortable but not supportive. Closed in shoes general provide an increase in support, but not all. Arch support is important in the biomechanical control of the foot. If the control is not present there is an increase in stress on the plantar fascia, heel spurs, Achilles tendon and other areas of the foot.
The repetitive stress in the foot can cause inflammation and foot pain to set-in.
Guidelines by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons state initial treatment options for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis should include anti-inflammatory medications, padding, arch supports and strapping of the foot. Patients also should stretch their calf muscles regularly, avoid wearing flat shoes and walking barefoot, use over-the-counter arch supports and heel cushions, and limit the frequency of extended physical activities.
The majority of patients with plantar fasciitis respond to conservative treatment within six weeks. At our office 95% of patients can be treated non-surgically. However, surgery is sometimes necessary to relieve persistent pain.
For more information feel free to browse our patient education page at www.premierwalking.com