Items filtered by date: December 2022

The foot condition that is known as plantar fasciitis generally begins as occasional heel pain. Many people tend to ignore this until the pain becomes severe. It is a gradual condition that happens when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed. This is the band of tissue that connects the toes to the heels and can become irritated or torn for various reasons. These include standing on hard surfaces for a good portion of the day and wearing shoes that do not fit correctly. Additionally, it may happen from overuse during running and jumping activities or from increasing speed and mileage too quickly while running. Patients notice the heel pain may be worse after arising in the morning, but may lessen after walking a few steps. Effective prevention tactics can include properly warming up before exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and wearing shoes that fit correctly. Please consult with a podiatrist at the first sign of heel pain from plantar fasciitis for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. Jeffrey Lerner from Palm Beach Podiatric Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

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

High heels are a popular type of shoe to wear, despite the foot conditions that may develop. Blisters are a common ailment that many women get, and they can occur on the back of the heels, or the sides of the feet. This can happen if the shoe doesn’t fit correctly, and women may use methods such as putting cotton balls in the shoes, or bandages where blisters would develop. Wearing high heels that do not have enough room in the toe area may cause Morton’s neuroma to develop. This is defined as irritation and thickening of the nerve that lies between the third and fourth toes. It can cause severe pain and discomfort, and the pain may be temporarily alleviated when lower-heeled shoes are worn. Additionally, these types of shoes can put stress on the joints and bones, possibly leading to getting a stress fracture. Any type of foot pain that comes from wearing high heels is treated by a podiatrist, and it is suggested that you consult with this type of doctor who can offer relief tactics, and recommend shoes that are better for your feet.

High heels have a history of causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact Dr. Jeffrey Lerner from Palm Beach Podiatric Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because of their many styles and societal appeal.  Despite this, high heels can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

Which Parts of My Body Will Be Affected by High Heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – May shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – Heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – They decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  The vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What Kinds of Foot Problems Can Develop from Wearing High Heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How Can I Still Wear High Heels and Maintain Foot Health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available. 

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

Runners who do not care for their feet or practice good foot care habits can be setting themselves up for a nasty foot injury. If you are a runner, ensure that you are doing everything you can to protect your foot from injury. One important precautionary step you can take is to run easy, or non-strenuously, during scheduled easy running days. For example, when a runner exerts themselves on such days, it can tire the feet and make running at a high pace more difficult during harder runs. Taking easy days too seriously can also add extra stress to the feet, making them more susceptible to injury. If you are a runner, ensure that you are doing what you can to protect them from injuries. Working with a podiatrist can greatly help in this respect. Schedule an appointment today.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Jeffrey Lerner of Palm Beach Podiatric Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

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

The cuboid bone is found below the ankle on the inside of the foot and can become forced out of alignment during an injury.  This is known as cuboid syndrome. Common symptoms can include swelling, pain, and inflammation in the ankle, and it can be difficult to walk. The pain from this condition is felt on the outside of the foot, and it may cause the toes to turn toward each other. The discomfort may gradually become worse when activities are pursued, and it can hurt to stand on tiptoes. Cuboid syndrome is diagnosed by having an X-ray taken, in addition to performing a physical examination. Research has indicated that it is beneficial to wear shoes that have adequate support, and enough room for the toes to move freely in. If you have pain in this part of your ankle and foot, it is strongly urged that you contact a podiatrist as quickly as possible so the correct treatment can begin. 

Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, occurs when the joints and ligaments near the cuboid bone in the foot become torn. If you have cuboid syndrome, consult with Dr. Jeffrey Lerner from Palm Beach Podiatric Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain, which is pain on the outside of the foot. The condition may happen suddenly due to an ankle sprain, or it may develop slowly overtime from repetitive tension through the bone and surrounding structures.

Causes

The most common causes of cuboid syndrome include:

• Injury – The most common cause of this ailment is an ankle sprain.
• Repetitive Strain – Tension placed through the peroneus longus muscle from repetitive activities such as jumping and running may cause excessive traction on the bone causing it to sublux.
• Altered Foot Biomechanics – Most people suffering from cuboid subluxation have flat feet.

Symptoms

A common symptom of cuboid syndrome is pain along the outside of the foot which can be felt in the ankle and toes. This pain may create walking difficulties and may cause those with the condition to walk with a limp.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cuboid syndrome is often difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans often fail to properly show the cuboid subluxation. Although there isn’t a specific test used to diagnose cuboid syndrome, your podiatrist will usually check if pain is felt while pressing firmly on the cuboid bone of your foot.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are ice therapy, rest, exercise, taping, and orthotics.

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