Items filtered by date: May 2021

Finding the right walking shoe for your foot is important for everyone—and especially so for those with wider feet. Wide feet may be genetic, or caused by age, flat feet, weight gain, or pregnancy. Trying to squeeze a wider foot into a medium or narrow width shoe can lead to bunions, hammertoe, ingrown toenails, blisters, calluses, and more. However, many people are not even aware that they need a wide shoe, so it is important to check your foot’s correct length and width every time you purchase new shoes. Stand on a piece of paper at the end of the day (after a full day of use), and trace the outline of both feet. Record the length (from the big toe to the heel) as well as the width at the widest part of the ball of the foot. Check these measurements against an online shoe-sizing chart to help determine if you need a wide fit walking shoe. Wide size feet also need walking shoes with ample room in the toe box, good arch support, a wide insole, and a well-constructed outsole with plenty of shock absorption and traction. If you need help determining the accurate length and width of your feet, or have foot issues that make it difficult to find shoes that are comfortable, consult with a podiatrist.

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 Richard P. Jacoby, DPM from Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor 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 one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

There are a variety of painful conditions that can impact the feet, and many of those can cause pain in the toes. Pain and swelling around the toenails where the nail has curled into the skin is a common sign of ingrown toenails. Bunions are formed near the big toe as painful bony lumps that form due to poorly fitting shoes. If any toes are broken, the toes will become painful and swollen, and walking could be difficult. If there is pain and stiffness around the joints, and they feel hot and swollen, that may be a sign of gout, which is affected by the level of uric acid in the blood. If the pain in the toes is severe, gets worse, results in a loss of sensation, or you are diabetic, consulting with a podiatrist is suggested. A podiatrist will be able to diagnose and provide treatment options for pain that is in the toes and feet.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Richard P. Jacoby, DPM from Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Orthotics are inserts for your shoes that provide additional support, cushioning and structure for your feet. There are over-the-counter varieties as well as custom-made orthotics. Custom orthotics from a podiatrist are specifically sized and manufactured for your individual foot structure and specific foot malady. They may help correct any misalignment issues or alleviate certain foot disorders such as plantar fasciitis—when the connective tissue on the bottom of feet (from heel-to-toe) becomes painful and inflamed. Since every person’s feet are different, a custom orthotic can offer better, more targeted structure and support than a one-size-fits-all OTC insole. If you have any pain in your heel or feet, make an appointment with a podiatrist for a thorough exam and diagnosis, and to see if custom orthotics can provide the relief you need.

If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact Richard P. Jacoby, DPM from Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are inserts you can place into your shoes to help with a variety of foot problems such as flat feet or foot pain. Orthotics provide relief and comfort for minor foot and heel pain but can’t correct serious biomechanical problems in your feet.

Over-the-Counter Inserts

Orthotics come in a wide variety of over-the-counter inserts that are used to treat foot pain, heel pain, and minor problems. For example, arch supports can be inserted into your shoes to help correct overarched or flat feet, while gel insoles are often used because they provide comfort and relief from foot and heel pain by alleviating pressure.

Prescription Orthotics

If over-the-counter inserts don’t work for you or if you have a more severe foot concern, it is possible to have your podiatrist prescribe custom orthotics. These high-quality inserts are designed to treat problems such as abnormal motion, plantar fasciitis, and severe forms of heel pain. They can even be used to help patients suffering from diabetes by treating foot ulcers and painful calluses and are usually molded to your feet individually, which allows them to provide full support and comfort.

If you are experiencing minor to severe foot or heel pain, it’s recommended to speak with your podiatrist about the possibilities of using orthotics. A podiatrist can determine which type of orthotic is right for you and allow you to take the first steps towards being pain-free.

If you have any questions please contact one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails occur when a nail grows into the surrounding skin, rather than over it. This can cause symptoms such as pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling of the skin surrounding the ingrown toenail. While most ingrown toenails are not serious and often heal with home treatment, sometimes the area can become infected and require medical treatment. But what causes toenails to become ingrown anyway? Trauma to the toenail from stubbing the toe can lead to ingrown nails, as can wearing shoes that are too tight and push the nail into the skin, and trimming the toenails improperly. If you are prone to ingrown toenails, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist, who can assess your feet and advise you on how to prevent and treat ingrown toenails. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Richard P. Jacoby, DPM of Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.