Foot and Ankle Solutions

Treatment of Swollen Legs(Varicose Veins)?   Venous insufficiency(most common cause of swollen legs) Swelling of the ankles and feet is often an early symptom of venous insufficiency, a condition in which blood inadequately moves up the veins from the legs and feet back to the heart. Normally, the veins keep blood flowing in the correct direction with the help of one-way valves. When valves become insufficient, they allow leaking of fluid from the vein to the soft tissues Chronic venous insufficiency can lead to skin changes, skin ulcers and infection. If you experience signs of venous insufficiency you should seek medical advice. Elevation Compression Topical treatments Treatment of secondary infection, when present Elevating the leg above the level of the heart decreases venous hypertension and edema, is appropriate for all patients, and should be done a minimum of

What is a Hammertoe "Crooked Toe"? Causes: Hammertoe is a common foot deformity that occurs most often in women who wear high heels or shoes with a narrow toe box. These types of footwear may force your toes against the front of the shoe, causing an unnatural bending. What is it? A hammertoe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. Moving the affected toe may be difficult or painful. Corns and calluses can result from the toe rubbing against the inside of your shoes. These corns often present on the top of the toe or in between the toes(interspace). Treatment: There are few conservative options for hammertoes. Over the counter corn pads may help alleviate the symptoms and allow you to perform your daily activities. Custom molded orthotics can help control the biomechanics of your feet which can slow down the progression of the hammertoe. Surgery should be considered once all conservative options have failed and your daily activities are becoming a

Toenail Fungus Fungal nail infection is a fungus growing in and around your fingernail or toenail. Causes Fungi can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. You can get fungal infections anywhere on your body. Nails, scalp, jock itch, athletes foot. Fungal nail infections often start after a fungal infection on the feet. They occur more often in toenails than in fingernails. And they are most often seen in adults as they age. You are at higher risk of getting a fungal nail infection if you: Have minor skin or nail injuries Have a deformed nail or nail disease Have moist skin for a long time Have immune system problems Wear footwear that does not allow air to reach your feet Symptoms Symptoms include nail changes on one or more nails (usually toenails), such as: Brittleness Change in nail shape Crumbling of the outside edges of the nail Debris trapped under the nail Loosening or lifting up

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction What is Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction(AKA PTTD?)   PTTD occurs when the posterior tibial tendon becomes inflamed or torn. Flatfoot can be a result of or contribute to PTTD. The job of the PT tendon is to support your arch. If you have a tendency to over-pronate then this tendon can become overworked and incompetent.  Most patients can be treated without surgery, using orthotics and braces. If orthotics and braces do not provide relief, surgery can be an effective way to help with the pain. Surgery might be as simple as removing the inflamed tissue or repairing a simple tear. PT inflammation or overuse is usually the cough, not the pneumonia, so-to-speak. PTTD can be a result of abnormality biomechanics and may need more complicated surgery to correct these abnormalities. Anatomy The posterior tibial tendon is one of the most important tendons of the leg. A tendon attaches muscles to bones, and the posterior tibial

ESWT What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy? Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy treatment is a highly effective treatment available for patients with chronic tendon disorders, and is used widely by Sports Physicians & Orthopaedic Surgeons.    Shockwave therapy is a non surgical treatment, and works by delivering impulses of energy(via sound waves), targeted to specific damaged tissues within the abnormal tendon. This increases the blood flow within the affected area, stimulating cell regeneration and healing, and decreasing local factors which can cause pain. How shockwave therapy works A probe is pressed on to the affected area and the shockwaves are delivered through the skin (a gel like substance is also applied to the area to promote the process)       The impulses are delivered through the skin as a shockwave that spreads inside the injured tissue as an aspherical ‘radial' wave. These radial shockwaves initiate

Insertional Achilles Tendinitis ​What is insertional Achilles tendinitis? Typically there is a triad-- Haglunds deformity (bone spur on back of heel), Insertional achilles tendinitis (inflammation along achilles at its insertion), and r etrocalcaneal bursitis (inflammation of bursa). What are the symptoms? Most patients report the gradual onset of pain and swelling at the Achilles tendon insertion into the back of the heel bone without specific injury. At first, the pain is noted after activity alone, but becomes more constant over time. The pain is made worse by jumping or running and especially with sports requiring short bursts of these activities. There is tenderness directly over the back of the heel bone and often there is a bone prominence at this area. Positioning the ankle above a 90 degree position is limited by pain. What causes insertional Achilles tendinitis? The cause is primarily a degeneration of the tendon. The average patient is in thei