Items filtered by date: January 2023

Running and walking shoes are different. If one runs, wearing walking shoes is not appropriate, as most walking shoes are too stiff and do not flex as is necessary for runners. The same applies for fitness walkers. Fitness walkers should look for running shoes. Luckily since the running market is so big, designers keep up well with the newest materials and technology so there are a wide range of options for different needs. Running shoes vary in cushioning, levels of heel-to-toe drop, and stability. The newer designs seem to provide what is needed with less weight and a more seamless construction to minimize points of friction that can lead to blisters and corns. Walking shoes lag in technology and seem to be designed with comfort as the top priority. While comfort is important, if one is walking for exercise, well-cushioned shoes may cause leg stiffness and many walking shoes are too stiff and heavy for this purpose, interfering with natural foot motion and speed. If you run or walk with fitness goals, consult with a podiatrist regarding best shoe choices for you.

For more information about walking shoes versus running shoes, consult with one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Associates of Texas. Our doctors can measure your feet to determine what your needs are and help you find an appropriate pair of footwear.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – Walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Arlington Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Farmers Branch, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

It’s easy to spot a person who has a hammertoe. It is a foot condition that is considered to be a deformity, and it is characterized by the middle toe that bends downward, forcing the joints up. It can be caused by various things, including wearing shoes that do not have ample room for the toes to move freely in or from medical conditions such as arthritis. This condition may also develop for genetic reasons, and surgery may be necessary so the toes can be permanently straightened. If the toes are severely bent, corns may develop where the joint touches the shoe, and this can cause additional discomfort. Specific types of shoes may need to be purchased to accommodate the deformed toes, and this may prompt patients to seek medical advice. If you are afflicted with hammertoe, it is strongly urged that you contact a podiatrist who can help you to remedy this condition. 

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

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. It can be caused by the type of shoes you wear, your foot structure, trauma, and certain disease processes.

Symptoms

• Painful and/or difficult toe movement
• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Calluses/Corns
• Physical deformity

Risk Factors

• Age – The risk of hammertoe increases with age
• Sex – Women are more likely to have hammertoe compared to men
• Toe Length – You are more likely to develop hammertoe if your second toe is longer than your big toe
• Certain Diseases – Arthritis and diabetes may make you more likely to develop hammertoe

Treatment

If you have hammertoe, you should change into a more comfortable shoe that provides enough room for your toes. Exercises such as picking up marbles may strengthen and stretch your toe muscles. Nevertheless, it is important to seek assistance from a podiatrist in order to determine the severity of your hammertoe and see which treatment option will work best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Arlington Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Farmers Branch, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Athlete’s foot is a fairly well-known foot condition that occurs when a fungal infection is spread, often in warm and moist environments. As a result, the athlete’s foot rash can develop on the feet, especially in between the toes. The athlete’s foot rash is distinctive for many different reasons. First, the rash will usually be discolored with a red color. Additionally, the rash will also appear to be somewhat moist in texture. The rash may also be accompanied by a series of small blisters that can spread across the feet. The infection from athlete’s feet may also even extend beyond the toes on the feet, reaching the soles of the feet and the toenails. If you are someone that is interested in learning more about athlete’s foot or believe that you may have the condition yourself, contact a podiatrist today for more information. 

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Associates of Texas.  Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Arlington Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Farmers Branch, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

If you have ever had a case of plantar warts before, you know that they are a pernicious kind of growth that can form in response to contracting the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. Since this foot condition can be spread through contact due to HPV, there is a possibility that warts can be spread through an infected person’s contact with bed sheets. For example, someone who struggles with plantar warts might be worried that they could spread their plantar warts to another part of their body or to their partner who sleeps in the same bed through bed sheets. For this reason, someone with a case of plantar warts might consider washing their bed sheets thoroughly and letting them properly dry to help prevent the spread of the HPV. In addition, the individual might consider protecting the infected area of their feet by wrapping it in a bandage. Doing this will prevent the wart from making direct contact with other parts of the body or other people. Contact a podiatrist today if you struggle with plantar warts. 

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Associates of Texas. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Arlington Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Farmers Branch, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Sometimes, certain afflictions of the foot can be so severe that they can only be treated properly by undergoing a kind of surgical procedure. It is important to note that foot surgery is not for everyone and you may not be a good candidate for particular surgical procedures. However, sometimes undergoing a surgical procedure can be beneficial and it might be the only way to treat severe conditions. For example, some individuals can benefit from a surgical procedure for Morton’s neuroma. This condition is defined as the swelling or inflammation of the nerve between the toes or metatarsal bones. The surgical procedure to address Morton’s neuroma consists of removing a small section of the nerve. An incision must be made to get to the damaged nerve and then the skin is quickly sewn up following the removal of the nerve. Contact a podiatrist today for more information about Morton’s neuroma or to learn if you might be a good candidate for surgery.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of Podiatry Associates of Texas. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Arlington Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Farmers Branch, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.