Items filtered by date: December 2020

It is very common for women who are pregnant to experience certain complications or discomfort in their feet. This is essentially because during a pregnancy, a woman’s body experiences bodily changes that oftentimes will have some sort of effect on the feet. One condition a woman might experience during her pregnancy is numbness in the feet. Sometimes referred to as a “pins-and-needles” feeling, numbness in the feet can be uncomfortable and make walking difficult. Numbness in the feet can occur during a woman’s pregnancy because as the fetus grows, the woman’s body gets increasingly swollen. This swelling at the ankles and throughout the lower legs can put pressure on nerves that can ultimately make the feet go numb. It is important to note that in addition to the feet, numbness can also affect a woman’s hands during her pregnancy. You can reduce the severity of the numbness by increasing blood flow and circulation to the lower legs and feet. If you are pregnant, or are planning to be, consider contacting a podiatrist who can offer you guidance on maintaining proper foot health throughout your pregnancy.

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 Leonard Talarico, DPM from Georgia. 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 Pooler, GA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The movements for walking and running differ. Running is considered to be a good aerobic form of exercise, and it can help to strengthen muscles and bones. Running generally burns more calories than walking, and both activities can improve the heart. The foot strikes the ground differently when walking and running, and wearing the right shoes for the chosen activity is beneficial for the overall foot. Runners and walkers will land on their heels first, and people who walk will roll their foot forward to the toes. A proper running shoe consists of lightweight materials, a stable heel, and solid traction that is suitable for different types of terrain. A runner’s nightmare is getting blisters, and they may be avoided by wearing shoes that fit correctly. A good walking shoe should have good shock absorption, feel lightweight, be flexible, and have adequate stability. When purchasing either kind of shoe, it is beneficial to wear the socks that will be worn during the activity, in addition to trying shoes on at the end of the day when the foot is at its largest. If you would like more information about the differences between walking and running shoes, please confer with a podiatrist.

For more information about walking shoes versus running shoes, consult with Leonard Talarico, DPM from Georgia. Our doctor can measure your feet to determine what your needs are and help you find an appropriate pair of footwear.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – Walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

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

Making the decision about whether to undergo foot surgery is a difficult and highly personalized process. In consultation with a podiatrist and surgeon, you can receive the information you need to make an informed decision. Generally speaking, if you notice that a foot affliction you have is causing your skin to react negatively or your foot to become deformed, foot surgery might be a good option for you. Additionally, if you notice that your affliction is not responding to any medication your podiatrist has prescribed or any orthotics you might be wearing, then foot surgery might be a suitable last resort. There are a variety of conditions that may ultimately merit surgery. For example, particularly bad cases of Morton’s neuroma might require foot surgery. Specifically, the nerve that is affected between the toes because of Morton’s neuroma, may be successfully removed by foot surgery. Of course, foot surgery can also create detrimental consequences in some cases. There may be complications as a result of the surgery or your joint movement may be restricted. Alternatives to surgery might include performing specific exercises or adjusting footwear. You can make this difficult decision about undergoing surgery with the guidance and advice of your podiatrist. 

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor 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 our office located in Pooler, GA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Among things that can go wrong at birth, newborn foot problems are common. Clubfoot describes an array of deformities that cause a newborn baby’s feet to be twisted, pointing down, and inward. About half of babies born with clubfeet have it in both of their feet. Boys are more likely to be born with this than girls. Clubfoot is not painful, but it can cause long-term problems and affect the child’s ability to walk. Another condition affecting newborns is metatarsus adductus. This is detected when a baby’s toes and forefoot are pointed inward, and it is difficult to straighten them. The baby’s sole resembles a bean. Polydactyly means that a baby has an extra toe or toes. This affliction can run in a family but is not necessarily genetic. Congenital vertical talus is an unusual cause of a type of flatfoot in newborns. With this, the sole of the baby’s foot looks like the bottom of a rocking chair. Congenital curly toes occur when a baby’s toes are abnormally rotated and in a bent position. Overlapping toes happen when the baby’s fifth digit (baby toe) crosses over the top of the fourth toe. With proper treatment, these conditions can be corrected or dealt with, sometimes with surgery, in early childhood. If you have a baby born with a congenital foot problem, please consult with a podiatrist for proper diagnoses and treatments.

Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact Leonard Talarico, DPM of Georgia. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.

What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?

A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.

What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?

Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:

• Clubfoot, where tendons are shortened, bones are shaped differently, and the Achilles tendon is tight, causing the foot to point in and down. It is also possible for the soles of the feet to face each other.
• Polydactyly, which usually consists of a nubbin or small lump of tissue without a bone, a toe that is partially formed but has no joints, or an extra toe.
• Vertical talus, where the talus bone forms in the wrong position causing other bones in the foot to line up improperly, the front of the foot to point up, and the bottom of the foot to stiffen, with no arch, and to curve out.
• Tarsal coalition, when there is an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot leading to severe, rigid flatfoot.
• Cleft foot, where there are missing toes, a V-shaped cleft, and other anatomical differences.
• Macrodactyly, when the toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone or soft tissue.

Treatment and Prevention

While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Pooler, GA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.