June is Men’s Health Month!
Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men’s Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities.
In honor of this special month, Delray Beach Podiatry is encouraging all men in South Florida get their bodies working in tip-top shape – starting from the ground up.
You spend a large portion of your day on your feet, and it’s only right to reward them with proper upkeep and attention.
With that in mind, here are several common foot problems that can be corrected at Delray Beach Podiatry during Men’s Health Month.
Plantar Fasciitis
The most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel, plantar fasciitis is the result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the band of connective tissue running from your heel bone to the front of your foot.
The plantar fascia is designed to absorb the high stresses and strains we place on our feet. When too much pressure is placed on the area, however, it can damage or tear the tissue.
The body’s natural response to this type of injury is inflammation, which results in the heel pain and stiffness of plantar fasciitis. Inflammation also makes the fascia more prone to microtears, which can lead to debilitating pain.
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
- Pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel
- Pain with the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning, or after a long period of rest.
- Greater pain after exercise or activity
A recent study showed that there are approximately 2 million people being treated for plantar fasciitis every year in the United States.
Click HERE to learn how Delray Beach Podiatry is using innovating laser technology to treat plantar fasciitis.
Heel Spurs
If you are experiencing extreme pain in your rearfoot, especially while standing or walking, it might be time to look into heel spur surgery.
A heel spur, also known as a calcaneal spur, develops as an abnormal growth of the heel bone when calcium deposits form a bony protrusion on the underside of the heel — a process that usually occurs over a period of many months.
These spurs are especially common among athletes whose activities include large amounts of running and jumping. Additionally, women have a significantly greater risk for heel spurs due to their typically constraining choices in footwear.
The pain caused by heel spurs is often worst when you first arise in the morning and get to your feet. You may also experience intermittent or chronic pain during physical activates such as walking, jogging, or running if inflammation develops at the point of the spur formation.
In most cases, the pain caused by heel spurs can be resolved with a combination of icing, rest, foot stretches and supporting the foot with an orthotic shoe insert specifically designed by a podiatrist for this condition. In some cases, an injection with a corticosteroid may be done to relieve inflammation in the area.
However, if conservative treatment fails to treat symptoms of heel spurs after a period of 9 to 12 months, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Click HERE to learn more about heel spur surgery at Delray Beach Podiatry.
Fungal Infections
There are few podiatric ailments more cosmetically unpleasant than toenail fungal infections, also known as onychomycosis, which spread over time and can eventually destroy the nail if left untreated.
Nail fungal infections are typically caused by a dermatophyte fungus, which requires keratin for growth and spreads by direct contact, but can also manifest from yeasts and molds.
Although nail fungus can attack both the hands and the feet, the condition occurs far more often in toenails due to the fact that your feet spend the majority of the day confined to your shoes. The dark, moist environment inside your shoes makes it easy for fungi to not only grow, but thrive.
Unfortunately, because fungal toenail infections are relatively common, signs of toenail fungus are often confused with athlete’s foot – a condition with a similar fungal pattern.
In order to help you properly identify toenail fungus, there are several warning signs you should look for:
- Your nails thicken
- The texture of your nails feels brittle or crumbly
- A change in the shape of your nails
- Your nails darken
- Your nails become dull
- Your nails begin to smell
- Pain
- Separation from the nail bed
If you have at least two of these signs, then you may be suffering from toenail fungus infection and it is important to seek help right away.
Click HERE to see how pain-free laser treatment at Delray Beach Podiatry can zap fungus away!
Bunions
A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. Bunion pain occurs when your big toe pushes against your next toe, forcing the joint of your big toe to get bigger and stick out.
The underlying cause of bunions is a deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe known as the hallux valgus. In this deformity, the joint develops a prominent sideways angle, which pushes the bones of the big towards the smaller toes.
Smaller bunions, known as bunionettes, can also develop on the joint of your little toes.
Although bunions can be easy to visibly diagnos thanks to the progressively unusual shape of the toe, further investigation is often advisable. Your doctor will usually send you for X-rays to determine the extent of the deformity.
While it is believed that bunions can be hereditary, other factors, such as having flat fleet or wearing shoes with elevated heels and a narrow toe-box, may also contribute to bunion development.
As a bunion develops, swelling, redness and pain is typically felt at the base of the big toe and in the ball of the foot. Eventually, the area becomes shiny and warm to the touch.
All bunions are permanent unless surgically corrected, but there are some measures you can take to be more comfortable or to slow a bunion’s progression. As with any foot pain, it is best to seek medical care. In addition, here are some tips that can help reduce bunion pain:
Click HERE for five tips on how to ease bunion pain.
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The content on this website is for informational purposes only. Do not rely or act upon information from www.DelrayBeachPodiatry.com without seeking professional medical advice. If you live in South Florida and would like a consultation with Dr. Ian Goldbaum, a podiatric physician and surgeon with over 30 years of experience, please see our contact information below:
BOCA/DELRAY
16244 S. Military Trail #290, Delray Beach, FL 33445
561-499-0033
BOYNTON BEACH
8198 Jog Road #100
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