Items filtered by date: December 2020

The Achilles tendon is the thick band on the back of the ankle that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Achilles tendon injuries are often overuse injuries or sudden traumas. One common injury, Achilles tendonitis, occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed near its connection to the heel bone. Achilles tendon ruptures are also common, and they can be very painful and may take a long time to heal. Because a lack of flexibility is the most common cause of injury to the Achilles tendon, proper stretching of the lower legs before working out is the most important step to prevent an injury. When healing from the injury, non-impact exercises, such as swimming and cycling, are highly suggested to keep you as in shape as possible. If you have questions about preventing an injury, or you believe you may have injured your Achilles tendon, please consult with a podiatrist.

Achilles tendon injuries need immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Pennsylvania. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is the Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the lower leg muscles and calf to the heel of the foot. It is the strongest tendon in the human body and is essential for making movement possible. Because this tendon is such an integral part of the body, any injuries to it can create immense difficulties and should immediately be presented to a doctor.

What Are the Symptoms of an Achilles Tendon Injury?

There are various types of injuries that can affect the Achilles tendon. The two most common injuries are Achilles tendinitis and ruptures of the tendon.

Achilles Tendinitis Symptoms

• Inflammation
• Dull to severe pain
• Increased blood flow to the tendon
• Thickening of the tendon

Rupture Symptoms

• Extreme pain and swelling in the foot
• Total immobility

Treatment and Prevention

Achilles tendon injuries are diagnosed by a thorough physical evaluation, which can include an MRI. Treatment involves rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. However, various preventative measures can be taken to avoid these injuries, such as:

• Thorough stretching of the tendon before and after exercise
• Strengthening exercises like calf raises, squats, leg curls, leg extensions, leg raises, lunges, and leg presses

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Most injuries and diseases of the foot and ankle are not treated surgically. However, a foot and ankle surgeon can still help you by examining your feet and ankles when you experience pain or other symptoms of injury or disease. You may want to consult a foot and ankle surgeon if you have sustained an injury, such as a sprain or fracture, have a medical condition that can affect the feet, have difficulty completing daily activities, or notice a change in the appearance of your feet or ankles. Foot and ankle surgeons tend to only suggest surgery when a problem is severe and non-surgical treatments have failed. For more information about how a foot and ankle surgeon may be able to help you, please consult with a podiatrist.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

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

People worldwide can be affected by corns on the feet. They are defined as small, hardened portions of skin that have developed as a result of excess friction. Corns can form on the soles of the feet, or between the toes, and can cause severe pain and discomfort. Additional causes of corns can include wearing shoes and socks that do not fit correctly, and medical conditions consisting of bunions and hammertoes. Mild relief may be found when larger shoes are worn if the corn is between the toes. This may help to prevent further irritation that may happen from the toes rubbing together. The corn may soften after the affected foot is soaked in warm water, and it can help to use a pumice stone to eliminate dead skin on top of the corn. If you have corns on your feet, please consult with a podiatrist who can help you to remedy this condition.

If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact one of our podiatrists of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:

• Well-fitting socks
• Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
• Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our doctors to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

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

Pain felt on the outer side of the foot, or lateral foot pain, is often indicative of the condition known as cuboid syndrome. Trauma to the foot, or gradual repetitive force can cause the cuboid bone to shift out of place. Along with lateral foot pain, common symptoms of cuboid syndrome may include tenderness and swelling, difficulty walking, and pain that can worsen over time when weight is placed on the affected foot. Athletes, such as ballet dancers and runners, have been known to be affected by cuboid syndrome as their particular physical activities can put strain on the cuboid bone. For a proper diagnosis, please seek the care of a podiatrist.

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 one of our podiatrists from Pennsylvania. Our doctors 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 Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.