Items filtered by date: April 2024

Choosing well-fitting shoes is vital for foot health. To ensure proper fit, match the shoe to the outline of your foot, considering both length and width. Your shoes should accommodate the natural shape of your foot without squeezing or causing pressure points. Look for shoes with adequate toe room, a snug heel fit, and ample width across the ball of the foot. Additionally, opt for breathable materials and cushioned soles to enhance comfort and reduce friction. Avoid shoes that require a break-in period or feel tight, as they can lead to blisters and discomfort. If you are in the market for new shoes, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can provide valuable guidance in selecting suitable footwear, especially for individuals with specific foot conditions or structural abnormalities. Podiatrists can assess your foot shape and biomechanics, offer personalized recommendations and provide customized orthotics or modifications to improve shoe fit and alleviate foot pain or discomfort.

It is important to find shoes that fit you properly in order to avoid a variety of different foot problems. For more information about treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Foot Surgery Specialists of Texas. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Proper Shoe Fitting

Shoes have many different functions. They cushion our body weight, protect our feet, and allow us to safely play sports. You should always make sure that the shoes you wear fit you properly in order to avoid injuries and deformities such as: bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and more. It is important to note that although a certain pair of shoes might be a great fit for someone else, that doesn’t mean they will be a great fit for you. This is why you should always try on shoes before buying them to make sure they are worth the investment. Typically, shoes need to be replaced ever six months to one year of regular use.

Tips for Proper Shoe Fitting

• Select a shoe that is shaped like your foot
• Don’t buy shoes that fit too tight, expecting them to stretch to fit
• Make sure there is enough space (3/8” to ½”) for your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you are standing up
• Walk in the shoes to make sure they fit and feel right
• Don’t select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe, but by how the shoe fits your foot

The shoes you buy should always feel as good as they look. Shoes that fit properly will last longer, feel better, and improve your way of life each day.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in River Oaks and Sharpstown in Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Foot assessment is a fundamental tool in classifying foot types and identifying potential problems. By analyzing the position of the foot at rest and during dynamic movement, podiatrists can infer dynamic foot function and identify abnormalities. Radiologic evaluations serve as the gold standard for assessing foot structure and alignment, providing detailed insight into bone structure and joint alignment. Podiatrists assess feet and conduct thorough evaluations, interpret radiographic findings, and develop tailored treatment plans. Through a combination of physical examination, gait analysis, and imaging techniques, podiatrists can identify conditions such as flat feet, high arches, bunions, and stress fractures, among others. If you would like to understand how your foot structure may be causing your foot problems, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with this foot doctor for a consultation.

If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Foot Surgery Specialists of Texas. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Biomechanics in Podiatry

Podiatric biomechanics is a particular sector of specialty podiatry with licensed practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg. Biomechanics deals with the forces that act against the body, causing an interference with the biological structures. It focuses on the movement of the ankle, the foot and the forces that interact with them.

A History of Biomechanics

• Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
• In 1974, biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination in the area.

Modern technological improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes that provide a better understanding of podiatric concepts for biomechanics. Computers can provide accurate information about the forces and patterns of the feet and lower legs.

Understanding biomechanics of the feet can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in River Oaks and Sharpstown in Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation in joints, often leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling. It can affect any joint in the body, including those in the feet and ankles. Symptoms include joint tenderness, warmth, and deformities. In the feet, RA can result in bunions, hammertoes, and collapsed arches, impacting mobility, and causing discomfort. Long-term effects may include joint damage, disability, and reduced quality of life. RA commonly affects women more than men, typically starting between ages 30 and 60, but can occur at any age. While there is no cure for RA, management focuses on alleviating symptoms and preventing joint damage. If you have RA, it is strongly suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can provide specialized care for foot and ankle issues associated with RA and enhance your overall quality of life.

Because RA affects more than just your joints, including the joints in your feet and ankles, it is important to seek early diagnosis from your podiatrist if you feel like the pain in your feet might be caused by RA. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists of Foot Surgery Specialists of Texas. Our doctors will assist you with all of your podiatric concerns.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the joints. Inflammation of the lining and eventually the destruction of the joint’s cartilage and bone occur, causing severe pain and immobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Feet

Although RA usually attacks multiple bones and joints throughout the entire body, almost 90 percent of cases result in pain in the foot or ankle area.

Symptoms

• Swelling and pain in the feet
• Stiffness in the feet
• Pain on the ball or sole of feet
• Joint shift and deformation

Diagnosis

Quick diagnosis of RA in the feet is important so that the podiatrist can treat the area effectively. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, occupation, and lifestyle to determine the origin of the condition. Rheumatoid Factor tests help to determine if someone is affected by the disease.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in River Oaks and Sharpstown in Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

A hammertoe is a foot deformity where one or more toes bend abnormally at the middle joint, resembling a hammer. Symptoms can include pain, discomfort, corns, calluses, and difficulty wearing shoes. Common causes include wearing tight shoes, muscle imbalance, arthritis, and genetic predisposition. Diagnosis involves physical examination and sometimes imaging tests like X-rays. Treatment options for hammertoe depend on the severity and may include wearing roomier shoes and custom-made orthotic devices, performing exercises to stretch and strengthen toe muscles, and in severe cases, undergoing surgery to correct the toe's alignment. Living with hammertoe requires wearing proper footwear, avoiding high heels and narrow shoes, and doing regular foot inspections. Adapting lifestyle habits, such as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, can also help to alleviate symptoms and prevent the worsening of the condition. If you have a hammertoe and it is causing discomfort, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for effective management options.

Hammertoe

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists from Foot Surgery Specialists of Texas. Our doctors will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes of your feet. It is a painful foot condition in which these toes curl and arch up, which can often lead to pain when wearing footwear.

Symptoms

• Pain in the affected toes
• Development of corns or calluses due to friction
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Contracture of the toes

Causes

Genetics – People who are genetically predisposed to hammertoe are often more susceptible

Arthritis – Because arthritis affects the joints in your toes, further deformities stemming from arthritis can occur

Trauma – Direct trauma to the toes could potentially lead to hammertoe

Ill-fitting shoes – Undue pressure on the front of the toes from ill-fitting shoes can potentially lead to the development of hammertoe

Treatment

Orthotics – Custom made inserts can be used to help relieve pressure placed on the toes and therefore relieve some of the pain associated with it

Medications – Oral medications such as anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs could be used to treat the pain and inflammation hammertoes causes. Injections of corticosteroids are also sometimes used

Surgery – In more severe cases where the hammertoes have become more rigid, foot surgery is a potential option

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in River Oaks and Sharpstown in Houston, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.