Foot Health

Related Information

• Today's Podiatrist
  Today’s podiatrists are doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), also known as podiatric physicians and surgeons, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and structures of the leg.
• Arthritis
  Arthritis is a frequent component of complex diseases that may involve more than 100 identifiable disorders. Arthritic feet can result in loss of mobility and independence, but early diagnosis and proper medical care can help significantly. More information is available from the Arthritis Foundation.
• Athlete's Foot
  Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes.
• Bunions
  A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe—the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint—that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place.
• Children's Feet (PDF)
  Information on healthy feet for your child.
• Diabetes
  Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the lives of nearly 26 million people in the United States. Additional information is available from the American Diabetes Association.
• Diabetic Wound Care
  Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputations in the United States. Additional information is available from the American Diabetes Association.
• Foot and Ankle Injuries
  Foot and ankle emergencies happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions, infections, and other serious injuries can occur at any time. Early attention is vitally important. Whenever you sustain a foot or ankle injury, you should seek immediate treatment from a podiatric physician.
• Footwear
  Proper footwear can reduce foot problems.
• Forefoot Surgery
  Many foot problems do not respond to "conservative" management. Your podiatric physician can determine when surgical intervention may be helpful. Often when pain or deformity persists, surgery may be appropriate to alleviate discomfort or to restore the function of your foot.
• General Foot Health
  Information on general foot health.
• Hammertoes
  A hammertoe is a contracture—or bending—of the toe at the first joint of the digit, called the proximal interphalangeal joint.
• High Blood Pressure
  It's important to let your podiatrist know about high blood pressure.
• Heel Pain
  Heel pain has many causes. it is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear; or being overweight.
• Nail Problems
  Toenails often serve as barometers of our health; they are diagnostic tools providing the initial signal of the presence or onset of systemic diseases.
• Neuromas
  A neuroma is a painful condition, also referred to as a "pinched nerve" or a nerve tumor. It is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes that brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.
• Orthotics
  Orthotics are shoe inserts that are intended to correct an abnormal, or irregular, walking pattern.
• Pediatric Foot Care - Foot Complications Chart
  
• Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
  PAD is short for peripheral arterial disease. PAD is caused by a blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the legs when fatty deposits called plaque build up.
• Podiatric Medicine
  Podiatric medicine is the profession that strives to improve the overall health and well-being of patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the foot and ankle.
• Rearfoot Surgery
  Many conditions can affect the back portion of the foot and ankle. Fortunately, many of these problems can be resolved through conservative treatments. However when pain persists or deformity occurs, surgical intervention can often help alleviate pain, reduce deformity, and/or restore the function of your foot or ankle.
• Skin Cancers of the Feet
  We often view the sun's harmful rays as the primary cause of skin cancer, but this does not hold true of cancers that arise on the skin of the feet. A podiatrist's knowledge and training is of extreme importance for patients for the early detection of both benign and malignant skin tumors.
• Walking
  For a healthier, happier lifestyle, try walking--the most popular form of exercise.
• Warts
  Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions.