Podiatry

Gout is a disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. It results from an elevated blood level of uric acid (hyperuricemia), which occurs when the liver produces more uric acid than the body can excrete in the urine, or when a diet high in rich foods produces more uric acid than the kidneys can filter from the blood. Over time, uric acid in the blood crystallizes and settles in the joint spaces, causing swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Gout usually affects the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux) or the ankle joints. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), gout affects approximately 2.1 million people in the United States. The disease is more common in men between the ages of 40 and 50, and in women, incidence increases after menopause. The condition is rare in children and young adults. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, approximately 18% of people who develop gout ha...

Calf and Foot Strengthening Exercises Strengthening your calf muscles and foot muscles will prevent plantar fasciitis and other types of heel pain. By strengthening your muscles, your stride when walking will improve and pronation can be corrected. Stand on a stair with one hand on a wall or railing for support, keeping the toes on the stair and let the heels hang. Gain balance in this position, then slowly lift up onto your toes, then slowly return back to the neutral position. The exercise should be felt in the calf muscles and along the back of the ankle. Slowly lift up onto the toes, then lower the heels back to the original starting position. This exercise should be repeated 10 times up and down for 3 sets, a total of 30 lifts. Another great trick is to stand on your tip toes and slowly walk forward and backwards taking slow small steps. Stand very tall and keep your hands at your side. Roll your weight onto your tip-toes and lift your heels. Gain balance and see how many 10-...

For years, going barefoot has seemed alluring. Individuals long to be barefoot on the beach. Additionally, there are runners that prefer to exercise barefoot. Even little children are constantly kicking their shoes off. While going barefoot may be appealing, it also has its risks. Walking or standing without shoes will allow your feet to become more susceptible to heel pain. No Support When you are barefoot, your feet have limited support. The fat pad along the sole of your foot becomes the only protection available. This padding guards your plantar fascia. After you walk barefoot on a hard surface for a substantial amount of time, the fat pad might not be effective at protecting the fascia. This could result in inflammation of the fascia, which often leads to heel pain. Walking On Your Toes Also, typically when you walk barefoot for an extended period of time, you stop walking normally. The average person initially steps on the ball of their foot. However, after too much time ...

With summer swiftly approaching, most of us are readily disregarding our bulky boots for convenient and trendy open- toed shoes. The presence of discolored toenails, however, can put a damper on your sunny plans.  If you notice yellow, discolored, brittle, or thickened toenails, you may be suffering from fungal nails. The medical terms for this type of fungal infection are onychomycosis or tinea unguium. Fungal infections of the nail affect up to 3% of the population, mainly in developed countries. A fungal nail is an unsightly infection caused by many varying microscopic organisms. Fungi can attack your nails through small cuts in the skin around your nail or through the opening between your nail and nail bed. These organisms thrive in warm, dark, moist environments; the perfect environment provided by your socks and shoes. Although this infection is usually not serious, it can lead to more serious illnesses and issues, particularly if you suffer from a compromised immune syst...

Even though bunions are a common foot deformity, there are misconceptions about them and many people may unnecessarily suffer the pain of bunions for years before seeking treatment. A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus or hallux abducto valgus) is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe, but a bunion is more than that; the visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. The big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment – producing the bunion’s “bump.” Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which becomes increasingly prominent. Symptoms usually appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms. Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the buni...

Community Foot Care is dedicated to providing not only quality care to our patients, but also quality education. Many of our patients question the causes and symptoms of flat feet. We are happy to provide some facts on the subject.  You have flatfeet when the arches on the inside of your feet are flattened, allowing your entire foot to touch the floor when you stand up. A flat foot is normal in infants and toddlers, because the foot's arch hasn't yet developed. Most people's arches develop throughout childhood, but some people never develop arches. This is a normal variation in foot type, and people without arches may or may not have problems. Arches can also fall over time. Years of wear and tear can weaken the posterior tibial tendon, which runs along the inside of your ankle, from above your ankle to your arch. Factors that can increase your risk of flatfeet include obesity, traumatic injury to your foot or ankle, rheumatoid arthritis and aging. Flatfeet can some...

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands. Community Foot Care understands how even minor foot problems are a big risk in diabetics. With a diabetic foot, a wound as small as a blister from wearing a shoe that's too tight can cause a lot of damage. Diabetes decreases blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. When your wound is not healing, it's at risk for infection. As a diabetic, your infections spread quickly. If you have diabetes, you should inspect your feet every day. Here is Community Foot Care’s advice for taking care of your feet: • Always keep your feet warm. • Don't get your feet wet in snow or rain. • Don't put your feet on radiators or in front of the fireplace. • ...

At Community Foot Care, we’ve noticed patients from all of our Springfield and Dayton area locations have been calling inquiring about the safety of new lower body toning footwear such as Reebok’s EasyTone sneaker. So, we decided to take a look at the research on these tennis shoes ourselves. Can you give your muscles a better workout simply by changing your shoes? Reebok claims you can... The new EasyTone walking shoe is a provocative new marketing campaign which allegedly leaves leg and buttock muscles better toned than regular walking shoes; and consumers, including patients of Community Foot Care, are buying it… literally! Officials from Reebok say the EasyTone is the company’s most successful new product in at least five years. While most athletic shoes offer support and cushioning, the new muscle-activating shoes are engineered to create a sense of instability. Design elements, like curved soles and Reebok’s “balance pods”, are said to force the wearer to engage stabilizing m...

Being diabetic can be frustrating because, let’s face it, the food that is bad for you is usually the food that is most enjoyable. Community Foot Care understands the challenges our diabetic patients face. The physicians and staff at our six locations in Beavercreek, Vandalia, Centerville, Springfield, and N. Main St. and Linden Ave., Dayton locations understand the pressures you face each day… especially during the holiday gatherings. We would like to remind our patients that your diabetic foot care starts with maintaining healthy glucose levels. Here is a Community Foot Care approved yummy recipe for your Memorial Day enjoyment! STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE! 1 cup( (150 g) low fat biscuit and baking mix (70% less fat than regular mix) 1/2 cup (120 ml) low fat buttermilk or skim milk 2 tablespoons (30 g) Spoon One Sugar Replacement 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) vanilla extract  butter-flavored cooking spray 12 strawberries, cleaned and sliced thin at free whipped topping 1. Preheat ov...

With so many lawsuits connected to deaths, chronic infections and disfigurement from pedicures; you would think the public would be clamoring for reform… Just the opposite, most consumers completely blow off the risks and have the "it won't happen to me" attitude.  Spring Day Spa is taking action to ensure our customers are safe at our Beavercreek, Centerville, and Springfield salon locations. Approximately $6 Billion dollars are spent on spa related nail care every year, making it a huge industry. A pretty pedicure can be accompanied by a take-home surprise: hepatitis, cutaneous herpes, warts, HIV, bacterial and fungal infections. These can be deadly, especially if the client is diabetic or has a compromised immune system. A 43-year-old San Jose, California woman had a small cut on her toe that led to her death from a skin infection in 2004. A 46-year-old Ft Worth, Texas mother left the pedicure salon with a small abrasion on her heel from a pumice stone in July 2005...