Items filtered by date: July 2022

The most common form of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammatory condition of the tissue (the plantar fascia) that connects the heel bone with the toes. This tissue can become inflamed, torn, and painful from overuse and other factors, such as the type of shoes you wear and your foot structure. Your podiatrist can use a variety of treatment modalities to repair the plantar fascia and reduce pain and inflammation, including anti-inflammatory drugs, night splints, heel pads and cups, custom orthotics, physical therapy, steroid injections, casts, and even shockwave therapy—which can boost the body’s natural healing process. If you have heel pain, visit a podiatrist who can diagnose and treat your condition properly. 

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Brett Dupont, DPM  from Golden Gate Foot and Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Non-supportive shoes
• Overpronation
• Repeated stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia

How Can It Be Treated?

• Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices
• Shockwave therapy – sound waves are sent to the affected area to facilitate healing and are usually used for chronic cases of plantar fasciitis
• Surgery – usually only used as a last resort when all else fails. The plantar fascia can be surgically detached from the heel

While very treatable, plantar fasciitis is definitely not something that should be ignored. Especially in severe cases, speaking to your doctor right away is highly recommended to avoid complications and severe heel pain. Your podiatrist can work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options tailored to your condition.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Sonoma, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

About 6.5 million people in the United States over the age of 40 have peripheral artery disease (PAD). It is a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the extremities, but the condition is more common in the feet and lower limbs. Risk factors for peripheral artery disease include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and high cholesterol. People over 60 are at further risk. The most common symptom of PAD is pain in the legs while active, but that subsides after resting. Sores in the legs or feet that don’t heal and cold or numb toes are other symptoms as well. If you believe you may have PAD, please consult a podiatrist for an examination and testing.  

Peripheral artery disease can pose a serious risk to your health. It can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, consult with Brett Dupont, DPM from Golden Gate Foot and Ankle. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is when arteries are constricted due to plaque (fatty deposits) build-up. This results in less blood flow to the legs and other extremities. The main cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up in the arteries.

Symptoms

Symptoms of PAD include:

• Claudication (leg pain from walking)
• Numbness in legs
• Decrease in growth of leg hair and toenails
• Paleness of the skin
• Erectile dysfunction
• Sores and wounds on legs and feet that won’t heal
• Coldness in one leg

It is important to note that a majority of individuals never show any symptoms of PAD.

Diagnosis

While PAD occurs in the legs and arteries, Podiatrists can diagnose PAD. Podiatrists utilize a test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). An ABI test compares blood pressure in your arm to you ankle to see if any abnormality occurs. Ultrasound and imaging devices may also be used.

Treatment

Fortunately, lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and quitting smoking, can all treat PAD. Medications that prevent clots from occurring can be prescribed. Finally, in some cases, surgery may be recommended.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Sonoma, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Keeping the feet strong and flexible can help prevent and relieve foot and ankle pain, as well as reduce the risk of injury. Most foot exercises are simple and do not require complicated or expensive equipment to perform. Some easy exercises to increase flexibility and help maintain the strength and mobility of the feet include toe raises, points, the big toe stretch, toe splay, toe curls, marble pickup, sand walking, and toe extensions. Doing such exercises, wearing well-fitting, supportive shoes, not overdoing anything that puts pressure on the feet, and practicing routine grooming of the feet will all help to get the most life out of feet for a lifetime. If you need help with learning how to exercise the feet or how to properly care for them, consult with a podiatrist who can answer any questions and treat issues related to the feet and ankles.

Stretching the feet is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns with your feet consult with Brett Dupont, DPM from Golden Gate Foot and Ankle. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Stretching the Feet

Stretching the muscles in the foot is an important part in any physical activity. Feet that are tight can lead to less flexibility and make you more prone to injury. One of the most common forms of foot pain, plantar fasciitis, can be stretched out to help ease the pain. Stretching can not only ease pain from plantar fasciitis but also prevent it as well. However, it is important to see a podiatrist first if stretching is right for you. Podiatrists can also recommend other ways to stretch your feet. Once you know whether stretching is right for you, here are some excellent stretches you can do.

• Using a foam roller or any cylindrical object (a water bottle or soda can will do), roll the object under your foot back and forth. You should also exert pressure on the object. Be sure to do this to both feet for a minute. Do this exercise three times each.
• Similar to the previous one, take a ball, such as a tennis ball, and roll it under your foot while seated and exert pressure on it.
• Grab a resistance band or towel and take a seat. If you are using a towel, fold it length wise. Next put either one between the ball of your foot and heel and pull with both hands on each side towards you. Hold this for 15 seconds and then switch feet. Do this three times for each foot.
• Finally hold your big toe while crossing one leg over the other. Pull the toe towards you and hold for 15 seconds. Once again do this three times per foot.

It is best to go easy when first stretching your foot and work your way up. If your foot starts hurting, stop exercising and ice and rest the foot. It is advised to then see a podiatrist for help.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Sonoma, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) is a progressive condition that can cause pain in the ankle and foot, along with a flattening of the foot. If left untreated, PTTD may even cause arthritis. PTTD begins with some sort of degenerative change to the posterior tibial tendon which is an important structure in the foot. The tendon attaches the posterior tibialis muscle at the back of the leg with bones in the foot. It helps support the arch and aid the foot while walking. PTTD is often caused by overuse of the posterior tibial tendon. Swelling and pain in the foot and ankle (on the inside of the foot) may occur after hiking, walking, running, or climbing stairs. As the condition progresses, the arch will begin to flatten and the ankle may roll inward as the feet and toes turn outward. As the tendon continues to deteriorate, the foot will flatten even more, and the location of pain will shift to the outside of the foot, underneath the ankle. Arthritis may even develop in the ankle and foot in advanced PTTD. PTTD needs to be diagnosed early on when more conservative treatment methods have a better chance of halting the condition’s progression without the need for surgery. If you are experiencing any symptoms discussed here, consult with a podiatrist as soon as possible.

Ankle pain can be caused by a number of problems and may be potentially serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Brett Dupont, DPM from Golden Gate Foot and Ankle. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Bursitis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Sonoma, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.