July 2022

One of the most common sources of foot pain is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This foot affliction usually results in heel pain and affects the plantar fascia, or the band of tissue that runs between the heel and the toes. Many people who suffer from plantar fasciitis will experience sharp heel pain. Runners are one group of individuals that are at risk of developing plantar fasciitis, which can make running significantly more difficult and painful. There are several steps that runners can take to essentially decrease their risk of developing plantar fasciitis from running. First, runners can be intentional about choosing what surfaces they run on. Specifically, runners can choose to run on soft, rather than hard surfaces to ultimately reduce the impact and pressure felt on their heels. Also, to reduce the strain felt on feet, runners can be careful not to increase the distance of their runs by anything more than 10 percent each week. If a runner wants to be particularly proactive, they may choose to also perform a gait analysis with a professional. The purpose of performing this kind of analysis is to try to detect any potentially problematic qualities of the runner’s stride before it leads to issues like plantar fasciitis. If you are a runner and want to learn more about how you can reduce your risk of developing plantar fasciitis, reach out to a podiatrist. 

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 one of our podiatrists from Florida Foot & Ankle Group, P.A.. Our doctors 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 Apopka, Debary, Lake Mary, Orlando, and Oviedo, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Blisters are fluid-filled bubbles that can form on the feet to protect the skin underneath. Friction from a shoe, or socks that are too tight or loose, rubbing against a part of the foot along with movement can cause a blister. Excessive foot moisture or perspiration can also cause blisters to form. Sprinkling some cornstarch or talcum powder into socks can prevent excess moisture from collecting. One should not pop a blister as this provides an opening for bacteria to enter and an infection can result. With irritants removed and warm water soaks, blisters will usually heal on their own. However, if a blister gets worse, becomes unusually painful, or appears infected, see a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact one of our podiatrists of Florida Foot & Ankle Group, P.A.. 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 one of our offices located in Apopka, Debary, Lake Mary, Orlando, and Oviedo, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Many individuals in the workforce must spend the vast majority of their shift standing on their feet. For example, by nature of their jobs, food servers, hairdressers, retail workers, and others must be on their feet throughout most of the day. This can put these workers at a greater risk of experiencing foot pain and developing bothersome foot conditions. However, if you are one such worker that spends the majority of your day on your feet, there are a number of steps you can take to mitigate any stress or pressure you are exerting on your feet. First, you can be diligent about selecting the right pair of work shoes. Look for shoes or work boots that provide extra support and cushioning, particularly for the arches, ankles, and joints. Additionally, you might also try to find a pair of supportive work socks with a large density of cotton content. This can provide extra support to the insoles of your feet. Lastly, to ensure that you are taking care of your feet while on the clock, you might consider taking twenty minutes or so after every shift to roll out your feet with a cool water bottle. Using this foot care technique will increase blood flow and circulation throughout the foot and reduce any tension in your foot muscles. See a podiatrist for more tips about how you can protect your feet throughout the work day. 

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Florida Foot & Ankle Group, P.A.. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Apopka, Debary, Lake Mary, Orlando, and Oviedo, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Podiatrists have the letters DPM following their name after they have completed all required education. It is an abbreviation for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and these types of specialists treat ailments of the foot and ankle. Their mandatory education consists of completing four years of college to obtain a bachelor's degree, followed by four years of training in a podiatric college. A hospital residency is next for continued education where studies involve intense training on feet, ankles, and the conditions associated with them. The entire length of school is a minimum of seven years and may be followed by pursuing a fellowship. If you have a specific foot condition that needs treatment it is beneficial to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can effectively diagnose and offer correct treatment techniques rather than an MD who does not specialize in the feet. If this is a career choice you may be considering, visiting with a podiatrist is a good opportunity to decide if this is a desired field of medicine for you.

If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact one of our podiatrists from Florida Foot & Ankle Group, P.A.. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is a Podiatrist?

Someone would seek the care of a podiatrist if they have suffered a foot injury or have common foot ailments such as heal spurs, bunions, arch problems, deformities, ingrown toenails, corns, foot and ankle problems, etc.

Podiatric Treatment

A podiatrist will treat the problematic areas of the feet, ankle or lower leg by prescribing the following:

• Physical therapy
• Drugs
• Orthotic inserts or soles
• Surgery on lower extremity fractures

A common podiatric procedure a podiatrist will use is a scanner or force plate which will allow the podiatrist to know the designs of orthotics. Patients are then told to follow a series of tasks to complete the treatment. The computer will scan the foot a see which areas show weight distribution and pressure points. The podiatrist will read the analysis and then determine which treatment plans are available.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Apopka, Debary, Lake Mary, Orlando, and Oviedo, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.