Items filtered by date: February 2024

As we age, foot problems can pose significant challenges, making it harder to maintain physical activity and increasing the risk of falls. Conditions such as bunions, corns, calluses, and warts can cause discomfort and hinder mobility, impacting overall quality of life. To ensure healthy and pain-free feet, maintaining proper foot hygiene by keeping the feet clean and dry and regularly trimming toenails to prevent ingrown nails is even more important. However, seeking professional care is equally important. Regular visits to a podiatrist can help detect and address foot issues early, preventing them from worsening and reducing the risk of complications. Podiatrists can provide personalized advice on foot care, recommend appropriate footwear, and offer treatments tailored to individual needs, promoting optimal foot health and mobility in older adults. If you are elderly or taking care of someone in this age group, it is strongly suggested that you incorporate regular visits to a podiatrist into your healthcare routine.

Proper foot care is something many older adults forget to consider. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact the foot specialists from Marvel Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The Elderly and Their Feet

As we age we start to notice many changes in our body, but the elder population may not notice them right away. Medical conditions may prevent the elderly to take notice of their foot health right away. Poor vision is a lead contributor to not taking action for the elderly.

Common Conditions 

• Neuropathy – can reduce feeling in the feet and can hide many life-threatening medical conditions.
• Reduced flexibility – prevents the ability of proper toenail trimming, and foot cleaning. If left untreated, it may lead to further medical issues.
• Foot sores – amongst the older population can be serious before they are discovered. Some of the problematic conditions they may face are:
• Gouging toenails affecting nearby toe
• Shoes that don’t fit properly
• Pressure sores
• Loss of circulation in legs & feet
• Edema & swelling of feet and ankles

Susceptible Infections

Diabetes and poor circulation can cause general loss of sensitivity over the years, turning a simple cut into a serious issue.

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

In colder weather, blisters can form on the feet due to a combination of factors related to temperature and moisture. Wearing heavy socks and shoes in the winter can lead the feet to sweat that accumulates inside your socks and shoes. This moisture, combined with reduced evaporation rates in colder temperatures, creates a damp environment around the feet. As a result, the skin becomes softer and more prone to damage from friction and rubbing against socks or shoes. Chilblains, lesions on the hands and feet that appear after exposure to the cold, can also blister. They appear within 24 hours of cold exposure and are caused by tiny blood vessels expanding too quickly once the body is exposed to heat again. If you have foot blisters after cold exposure, it is suggested you consult a podiatrist to conduct an exam and offer options to help with recurrent blister formation from chilblains. 

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact the foot specialists of Marvel Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How Do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Gilbert and Chandler, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

When choosing cleats for your child's sport, it is essential to prioritize both their performance and foot health. Traditional studded cleats, especially those with only two heel studs, can make conditions like Sever’s disease worse by increasing pressure under the heel. Opt for cleats with four or more heel studs. All purpose turf-style cleats can help distribute weight-bearing forces more evenly and alleviate discomfort. Football cleats, while popular, may pose risks in sports like soccer, due to their distal toe stud, although they are functionally similar to lacrosse cleats. Soccer cleats, known for agility, often lack support and padding, which may be problematic for children with loose ligaments. Additionally, the thin and flexible soleplates of soccer cleats may not provide sufficient support, especially for those requiring arch support. Baseball cleats, subject to league regulations, may feature metal spikes, requiring attention to player safety during slides. Turf cleats emerge as a versatile option, offering better support, traction, and weight distribution across the foot. If your child is experiencing foot, toe, or ankle pain related to their sports activity, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to detect the cause and offer guidance on footwear choices as well as treatment options.

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact the foot specialists of Marvel Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Gilbert and Chandler, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Peripheral neuropathy can lead to significant medical complications, particularly affecting the feet, heart, and circulation. Diabetic polyneuropathy, a common variant, often results in diabetic foot ulcers, slow-healing skin wounds or sores, primarily due to reduced foot sensation, making injuries more likely. Elevated blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, impairing foot blood supply and healing, sometimes progressing to gangrene. When infections in neuropathic feet worsen, they may require surgery to remove damaged tissue and antibiotic treatment. If you have peripheral neuropathy, and especially if you also have diabetes, it is strongly suggested that you schedule regular appointments with a podiatrist for ongoing treatment. Diagnosing problems as early as possible may help to prevent serious complications of peripheral neuropathy.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with the foot specialists from Marvel Foot & Ankle Centers. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Gilbert and Chandler, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.