Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick band of tissue that supports the arch of the foot, often causing heel pain. Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises can reduce discomfort and promote healing. A calf stretch is done by standing facing a wall, placing one foot behind the other, and leaning forward to stretch the back calf. A calf stretch on a step involves lowering your heels off the edge of a step to lengthen the calf muscles. Additionally, the towel scrunch strengthens the arch by pulling a towel toward you with your toes, and marble pick-ups train foot control by lifting marbles with your toes. Plantar fasciitis can be painful, and may cause difficulty in completing daily tasks. If you have heel pain,, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can diagnose the problem and offer you relief and treatment solutions, which may include targeted exercises.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries and build strength. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Gary Saphire, DPM from Parkway Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Exercise for Your Feet

Exercise for your feet can help you gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important, and we often forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate enough to not have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure good health in the long run.

Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rises, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, and flexing the toes. It is best to speak with Our doctor to determine an appropriate regimen for your needs. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different, and the activities required to maintain strength in the feet vary from individual to individual. 

Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Ingrown toenails and toenail fungus are common foot issues that can lead to pain and infection if not properly treated. Ingrown toenails occur when the nail grows into the surrounding skin, often due to improper trimming, tight footwear, or injury. Symptoms include redness, swelling, tenderness, and sometimes drainage or infection. Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is caused by fungal organisms that thrive in warm, moist environments. It often appears as thickened, discolored, brittle, or distorted nails that may emit an unpleasant odor. Both conditions can be uncomfortable and unsightly. A podiatrist can accurately diagnose the problem through physical examination and, in the case of fungal infections, lab testing. Treatment options for ingrown nails may include trimming, lifting the nail edge, or partial nail removal. For toenail fungus, treatments can include topical or oral antifungal medications or nail debridement. To prevent worsening symptoms or complications, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Gary Saphire, DPM of Parkway Podiatry. 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 our office located in Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Having an X-ray performed is a common method of determining if a toe has been broken. When the toe is stubbed or if a heavy object has dropped on it, a traumatic fracture can occur. The symptoms that may accompany this type of broken toe can include consistent pain, bruising, and the affected toe may appear red. A stress fracture can develop gradually, and this generally happens as a result of repeated stress on and surrounding the bone. Runners can develop stress fractures of the toe. If this occurs, it is beneficial to refrain from this type of activity until the healing process is fully completed. An effective method for treating a broken toe is known as buddy taping. This is accomplished by taping the broken toe to the toe next to it to provide adequate stability as the healing process occurs. If you have broken your toe, please speak with a podiatrist who can effectively treat broken toes.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Gary Saphire, DPM from Parkway Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

One of seven tarsal bones in the foot is referred to as the cuboid bone. It is found on the outside of the foot, has six sides, and resembles a cube. It enables the foot to maintain stability, and can be partially responsible for distributing body weight. The cuboid bone resembles a pulley, and functions with other bones in the foot. The condition that is known as cuboid syndrome commonly affects athletes and ballet dancers. These groups of people may be prone to ankle sprains, and as a result, the cuboid bone may become injured. Mild relief may be felt when the affected foot is elevated, and it may be beneficial to wrap an elastic bandage around the foot which can help to stabilize the ankle. If you have cuboid syndrome, please consult with a podiatrist who can effectively treat this ailment as quickly as possible.

Cuboid syndrome, also known as cuboid subluxation, occurs when the joints and ligaments near the cuboid bone in the foot become torn. If you have cuboid syndrome, consult with Gary Saphire, DPM from Parkway Podiatry. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Cuboid syndrome is a common cause of lateral foot pain, which is pain on the outside of the foot. The condition may happen suddenly due to an ankle sprain, or it may develop slowly overtime from repetitive tension through the bone and surrounding structures.

Causes

The most common causes of cuboid syndrome include:

• Injury – The most common cause of this ailment is an ankle sprain.
• Repetitive Strain – Tension placed through the peroneus longus muscle from repetitive activities such as jumping and running may cause excessive traction on the bone causing it to sublux.
• Altered Foot Biomechanics – Most people suffering from cuboid subluxation have flat feet.

Symptoms

A common symptom of cuboid syndrome is pain along the outside of the foot which can be felt in the ankle and toes. This pain may create walking difficulties and may cause those with the condition to walk with a limp.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cuboid syndrome is often difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans often fail to properly show the cuboid subluxation. Although there isn’t a specific test used to diagnose cuboid syndrome, your podiatrist will usually check if pain is felt while pressing firmly on the cuboid bone of your foot.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are ice therapy, rest, exercise, taping, and orthotics.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Brooklyn, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.