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Items filtered by date: June 2021

Tuesday, 29 June 2021 00:00

Toe Lifts for Strengthening Feet

The strength of your feet influences proper foot biomechanics, walking pattern, ankle stability, and overall balance. Therefore, it is just as important to exercise the feet as any other part of the body. There are several easy exercises that you can do to strengthen your feet, such as toe lifts. You can do toe lifts by standing with your feet firmly on the ground and then lifting just your big toe. Practice this movement on both feet until you have mastered it. Over time, progress to lifting and lowering each toe individually. This exercise can improve your toes’ dexterity, strengthening them and reducing the likelihood of toe injuries in the process. To learn more about various foot stretches, please consult with a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries and build strength. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Ian Klein, D.P.M from Florida. Dr. Klein can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Exercise for Your Feet

Exercise for your feet can help you gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important, and we often forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate enough to not have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure good health in the long run.

Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rises, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, and flexing the toes. It is best to speak with Dr. Klein to determine an appropriate regimen for your needs. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different, and the activities required to maintain strength in the feet vary from individual to individual. 

Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.

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

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Peripheral neuropathy is a condition characterized by nerve damage to the nerves of the feet. It is a common condition among people with diabetes, affecting approximately half of all diabetics. Peripheral neuropathy could cause a variety of symptoms in your lower limbs, including burning, tingling, or pins and needles sensations in your feet, numbness, weakness, and pain. A loss of sensation or increased sensitivity to touch are also common. All of these can lead to changes in the way that you walk, affect your balance, lead to a loss of muscle tone in the lower limbs, and cause swelling in the feet. If you have peripheral neuropathy, practicing good foot care will be especially important for keeping your feet healthy and maintaining your mobility and independence. It is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist, who can help you take care of your feet.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with Dr. Ian Klein, D.P.M from Florida. Dr. Klein will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

  • Numbness
  • Sensation loss
  • Prickling and tingling sensations
  • Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
  • Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

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

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Tuesday, 15 June 2021 00:00

Why Do My Feet Hurt?

There are many reasons why your feet may be hurting, ranging from small injuries to systemic conditions that affect the feet. One of the most frequent causes of foot pain is wearing improperly fitted shoes. These include shoes that are too tight or narrow, shoes with excessively high heels, and shoes that do not adequately support and protect your foot. Fixing foot pain related to footwear is often as easy as changing your shoes. Sports and exercise-related injuries to the feet are also common and will often require activity modifications to reduce foot pain. Systemic conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis, can cause foot pain. Fortunately, the effects of these conditions on the feet can be managed with proper care. If you have any type of foot pain, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist, who can diagnose and treat your condition. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Dr. Ian Klein, D.P.M from Florida. Dr. Klein will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bone Spurs
  • Corns
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
  • Flat Feet
  • Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
  • And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This 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

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

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If you are planning on walking regularly for more than a half hour at a time, be sure to pick out a pair of walking shoes that have these three essential structural features for optimal cushioning and support. 1) Flexibility: choose a walking shoe that is bendable, allowing for your foot to flex during the rolling heel-to-toe walking stride. 2) Lightweight: a lighter shoe will make it easy to stay spry and energetic on long walks. 3) An Undercut Heel: Avoid flared or big heels that may interfere with the heel-to-toe walking stride and opt for an undercut or straight heel instead. For more information and recommendations on walking shoes that are right for your individual foot and walking style, consult with a podiatrist.

For more information about walking shoes versus running shoes, consult with Dr. Ian Klein, D.P.M from Florida. Dr. Klein can measure your feet to determine what your needs are and help you find an appropriate pair of footwear.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – Walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

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

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Tuesday, 01 June 2021 00:00

What Are Different Causes of Ankle Pain?

Pain can be felt immediately when an ankle injury occurs. The ankle joint typically supports the majority of the body weight, and many people often realize this when an ankle injury is endured. Research has indicated there are three bones that connect in the ankle joint. These are connected by several tendons and ligaments that protect the ankle joint. Many patients experience ankle pain through sprains or fractures in addition to arthritis, possibly causing chronic ankle pain. Symptoms of a broken ankle can include immediate bruising and swelling, and it can often become difficult to walk. Rolling or twisting the ankle can result in a sprain, which can be treated by numerous methods. If you have ankle pain, it is strongly suggested that you consult with a podiatrist as quickly as possible so they can determine what the best course of treatment is for you.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Dr. Ian Klein, D.P.M from Florida. Dr. Klein 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 Saint Petersburg, FL. . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

 

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