Items filtered by date: August 2021

If you stand on a hard surface like concrete while you are working, you have a higher risk of developing heel pain, circulation problems, edema (swelling) in the feet and ankles, varicose veins, leg ulcers, and more. To help offset the pressure and weight your feet and ankles bear daily, try the following tips. Invest in a few pairs of well-made shoes to rotate daily. Make sure they fit properly and offer support. Custom orthotics created by a podiatrist can offer additional support and pressure relief for your individual anatomy. At your workstation, help ease pressure on your feet and ankles by standing with a wide stance on a cushioned mat. Try to move around as you stand as much as possible—changing positions and shifting your body weight. When you go on break, give your feet a break too! Elevate them and, if possible, remove your shoes to gently stretch your feet and toes for a few minutes. For an in-depth and individualized plan for protecting your feet and ankles on the job, make an appointment with a podiatrist.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Eugene Little, DPM from Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. 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 Sidney, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Clubfoot is a congenital disorder in which a child’s foot (or feet) twist down and inward, due to tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles. This condition is said to affect nearly 200,000 newborns annually. Although there is no known cause, research points to infants being more predisposed to clubfoot if a family member or parent was previously affected. Clubfoot is considered by many to be curable if diagnosed early enough and treated properly. There are various techniques to reposition the child’s feet including casting, taping, bracing, or surgery in advanced cases. If you believe your child may have clubfoot, contact a podiatrist for a thorough examination and to discuss treatment options.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact Eugene Little, DPM of Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during 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. Here are some things to consider...

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 for 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 Sidney, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Plantar hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes the feet to sweat excessively. Having wet, sweaty feet most of the time is not only annoying, but can ruin your shoes, increase your risk of slipping and falling, and break down the skin on the feet, leading to athlete’s foot and other skin infections. The first line of treatment for this condition is usually topical medications, which are applied directly to the skin’s surface. Your podiatrist may prescribe an antiperspirant cream or powder. If these fail, your doctor may suggest iontophoresis, a procedure that uses electrical currents to reduce sweating. Botox injections into the feet are another potential solution. To learn more about treatments for plantar hyperhidrosis, please consult with a podiatrist. 

If you are suffering from hyperhidrosis contact Eugene Little, DPM of Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor can provide the care you need to attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

Hyperhidrosis of the Feet

Hyperhidrosis is a rare disorder that can cause people to have excessive sweating of their feet. This can usually occur all on its own without rigorous activity involved. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis may also experience sweaty palms.

Although it is said that sweating is a healthy process meant to cool down the body temperature and to maintain a proper internal temperature, hyperhidrosis may prove to be a huge hindrance on a person’s everyday life.

Plantar hyperhidrosis is considered to be the main form of hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis can refer to sweating that occurs in areas other than the feet or hands and armpits. Often this may be a sign of it being related to another medical condition such as menopause, hyperthyroidism and even Parkinson’s disease.

In order to alleviate this condition, it is important to see your doctor so that they may prescribe the necessary medications so that you can begin to live a normal life again. If this is left untreated, it is said that it will persist throughout an individual’s life.

A last resort approach would be surgery, but it is best to speak with your doctor to find out what may be the best treatment for you.

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

There are two types of flat feet: rigid and flexible, with flexible being the most common. Unlike rigid flatfoot where the arch is never present, the arch in flexible flatfoot is present when the foot is elevated and flattens upon standing. Flexible flatfoot in children is generally not concerning because their arches typically develop between the ages of 7 and 10. It is said that up to 25% of kids will continue to have flexible flatfoot as adults. While flexible flatfoot in children and adults may not always produce symptoms, the condition may cause tired, achy feet after walking, leg cramps, overpronation—where the ankles roll inward while walking—and foot or ankle pain. Flexible flatfoot may be inherited and indicative of loose ligaments and flexible joints throughout the body. If flatfoot develops during adulthood, it could be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or neuropathy. Contact a podiatrist for more information about flat feet and to explore various treatment options.

Flatfoot is a condition many people suffer from. If you have flat feet, contact Eugene Little, DPM from Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Are Flat Feet?

Flatfoot is a condition in which the arch of the foot is depressed and the sole of the foot is almost completely in contact with the ground. About 20-30% of the population generally has flat feet because their arches never formed during growth.

Conditions & Problems:

Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles.

Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.

Knees – If you have complications with your knees, flat feet can be a contributor to arthritis in that area.  

Symptoms

• Pain around the heel or arch area
• Trouble standing on the tip toe
• Swelling around the inside of the ankle
• Flat look to one or both feet
• Having your shoes feel uneven when worn

Treatment

If you are experiencing pain and stress on the foot you may weaken the posterior tibial tendon, which runs around the inside of the ankle. 

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

Swelling of the feet and ankles during pregnancy is very common and can occur throughout the entire pregnancy. During the first trimester, swelling in the feet is typically minimal and excessive swelling should be examined by a doctor. In the second trimester, swelling in the feet increases significantly. This is due to an increased volume of blood and fluids throughout the body, as well as hormonal fluid retention. These fluids tend to pool in the lower limbs. The third trimester is when swollen feet are most common. Swelling can be made worse by hot weather, dietary imbalances, caffeine intake, dehydration, and standing or walking for prolonged periods of time. To learn more about the effects of pregnancy on the feet and ankles and how to manage them, please consult with a podiatrist.

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 Eugene Little, DPM from Foot and Ankle Centers of Ohio. Our doctor 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 our office located in Sidney, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.