July 2020

Swelling of the feet during pregnancy is incredibly common and usually not a cause for concern. While you may not have full control over your swelling, there are steps you can take that might reduce your discomfort. Avoiding standing for prolonged periods of time, resting your feet regularly, and not going outside in hot weather may help reduce swelling. Decreasing your daily intake of salt, and increasing your intake of potassium may also help. Consuming too much caffeine might increase swelling, so opt for beverages with low or no caffeine content, such as water. If you experience painful, swollen feet during pregnancy, a podiatrist may be able to help.

Pregnant women with swollen feet can be treated with a variety of different methods that are readily available. For more information about other cures for swollen feet during pregnancy, consult with one of our podiatrists from Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, PA. Our doctors will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

What Foot Problems Can Arise During Pregnancy?

One problem that can occur is overpronation, which occurs when the arch of the foot flattens and tends to roll inward.  This can cause pain and discomfort in your heels while you’re walking or even just standing up, trying to support your baby.  

Another problem is edema, or swelling in the extremities. This often affects the feet during pregnancy but tends to occur in the later stages. 

How Can I Keep My Feet Healthy During Pregnancy?

• Wearing orthotics can provide extra support for the feet and help distribute weight evenly
• Minimize the amount of time spent walking barefoot
• Wear shoes with good arch support
• Wear shoes that allow for good circulation to the feet
• Elevate feet if you experience swelling
• Massage your feet
• Get regular, light exercise, such as walking, to promote blood circulation to the feet

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Stuart and Jupiter, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

As you get out of bed in the morning and place your feet on the floor, you feel a stabbing pain in your heel. What’s going on? It could be plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue running along the bottom of your foot. Luckily, there are ways to manage heel pain at home. Rest the foot by avoiding sports and other heavy impact activities such as running or jogging. Put an icepack under the heel for 15 minutes to reduce inflammation and swelling. Stretching your calf and foot muscles and giving yourself a soft-tissue foot massage may also help alleviate pain. While home remedies can be effective, if you find that home management techniques are not working for you, or if your pain is severe, it is recommended that you visit a podiatrist.  

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists of Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, PA. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

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 condition of the past.

If you have any questions please contact one of our offices located in Stuart and Jupiter, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The purpose of the talus bone is to act as a link between the leg and foot, while also playing an important role in forming the ankle joint. If the talus is injured, it can negatively affect the function of the foot and ankle joints by limiting their range of motion. Patients who fracture their talus may experience a great deal of ankle pain. Other symptoms can include swelling around the ankle joint, fracture blisters, bruising, and an inability to bear weight on the affected joint. In order to determine if ankle pain is caused by a talus fracture, an X-ray should be performed by a professional. For advice on treatment and a proper diagnosis, please consult with a podiatrist.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, PA. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in Stuart and Jupiter, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

For elderly patients especially, ensuring that your living conditions are safe can help to prevent falling. Falling can be a serious issue, particularly for those 65 and older, as it can cause foot conditions. Once a patient experiences a fall, they may develop a fear of falling, which can negatively impact how they go about their day to day activities. Staying active and regularly seeing a doctor are both great ways to implement falls prevention.  Another aspect of preventing falls that is extremely important is having a safe living environment. To achieve this, some patients have grab bars installed in their home, typically in the bathroom, to help prevent slipping. Another tactic that can be helpful to make sure there are no tripping hazards in your home is to ensure all carpets and throw rugs are secured, either with double-sided tape, or by purchasing non-skid rugs. For more advice on how to best prevent falling, please consult with a podiatrist.

Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with one of our podiatrists from Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, PA. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.

How to Prevent Falls

Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:

• Enrolling in strength and balance exercise program to increase balance and strength
• Periodically having your sight and hearing checked
• Discuss any medications you have with a doctor to see if it increases the risk of falling
• Clearing the house of falling hazards and installing devices like grab bars and railings
• Utilizing a walker or cane
• Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning
• Talking to family members about falling and increasing awareness

Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Stuart and Jupiter, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.