Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the long tendon that connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel. The Achilles tendon is used every time you walk, run, jump, or push up onto your toes. Tendonitis is considered to be an overuse injury and is especially common among runners who increase their distance or speed too quickly. Achilles tendonitis can also affect middle-aged people who play sports, such as tennis and basketball, but only play on weekends. Pain of Achilles tendonitis usually starts out with an ache above the heel and progresses after longer bouts of running, stair climbing, or sprinting. Other symptoms are tenderness or stiffness in the morning that dissipates with some activity. If such activities continue and increased pain is ignored, Achilles tendonitis can lead to ruptures that may require surgery. If pain in the back of your heel persists or worsens, please consult a podiatrist for an examination and suggested treatment options.
Achilles tendon injuries need immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact the podiatrists of The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
What Is the Achilles Tendon?
The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the lower leg muscles and calf to the heel of the foot. It is the strongest tendon in the human body and is essential for making movement possible. Because this tendon is such an integral part of the body, any injuries to it can create immense difficulties and should immediately be presented to a doctor.
What Are the Symptoms of an Achilles Tendon Injury?
There are various types of injuries that can affect the Achilles tendon. The two most common injuries are Achilles tendinitis and ruptures of the tendon.
Achilles Tendinitis Symptoms
Rupture Symptoms
Treatment and Prevention
Achilles tendon injuries are diagnosed by a thorough physical evaluation, which can include an MRI. Treatment involves rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. However, various preventative measures can be taken to avoid these injuries, such as:
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.
A broken toe can cause pain, discomfort, and temporarily change the way daily activities are accomplished. A broken toe is difficult to walk on, and rest is needed to accelerate recovery. Some patients may find it helpful to use crutches, which can keep the weight off of the toe. A broken toe can happen from stubbing it on a piece of furniture, enduring an injury, or dropping a heavy object on it. Fractured toes may occur more often than breaking other bones in the body. This is because the bones in the toes are small, and are located at the end of the body. Common symptoms of this type of injury can consist of immediate bruising, swelling, and the affected area may be red. If a toe is severely broken, a bone may protrude through the skin and can appear to be deformed. Many people have positive results in using the buddy taping method for treatment. This can be successful in less severe fractures and is done by taping the broken toe to the toe next to it. If you have broken your toe, please schedule an appointment with a podiatrist sooner rather than later who can guide you toward the correct treatment method.
Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.
What Is a Broken Toe?
A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.
Symptoms of a Broken Toe
Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Many people enjoy wearing flip flops in the summer months. These types of shoes are constructed with a soft sole, and straps on top of the shoe are held together by a thin piece of material, which is worn between the first and second toe. This is necessary in keeping the shoe on the foot, and their simplicity and numerous colors can make flip flops desirable to wear. Conversely, studies have shown that the more flip flops are worn, the greater the possibility of having aching feet. This may be from flip flops having minimal support, and the gait or walking style may be altered from the lack of cushioning. This generally provides adequate shock absorption as walking is done throughout the day, and heel pain may occur when this is missing from the shoe. Additionally, the toes may hurt from gripping the top of the shoe to keep it on the foot, and the arch may begin to hurt. If you would like more information about how frequently wearing flip flops can affect your feet, please consult a podiatrist who can guide you toward wearing shoes that are solidly constructed.
Flip-flops are not always the best choice of footwear. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.
Flip-Flops and Feet
When the weather starts warming up, people enjoy wearing flip-flops. Flip-flops are comfortable, stylish, and easy to slip on and off; they're perfect for any summer beach goer. However, these shoes can cause harm to the feet.
How Can Flip-Flops Affect Me Long-Term?
Are There Injuries Associated with Flip-Flops?
Yes. Since flip-flops are relatively weak and do not provide the same amount of support as sneakers, people who wear flip-flops regularly are more susceptible to injuries. On top of that, the open nature of the shoe makes your feet more prone to other problems, such as cuts and even infections. Common injuries and ailments include:
I like Wearing Flip-Flops. Are There Safe Alternatives?
When buying flip-flops, try to find ones that have sturdy soles and that are made of high-quality materials that will support for your feet. These flip-flops will cost more but will also last longer as a result.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Orthotics are shoe inserts that serve a variety of purposes and can be either custom-made or over-the-counter. Some orthotics are simply meant to provide support and others are meant to correct certain foot deformities. While orthotics are used by adults sometimes children might also benefit from wearing orthotics. Many children are afflicted by a condition known as Sever’s disease, which causes heel pain. Heel pain is a common painful sensation among children. The use of certain orthotic devices can help combat the damaging effects of heel pain among children and young adults. Besides heel pain, there are also many other different common symptoms that children experience in the feet that can be addressed through the use of orthotics. For example, misaligned feet and knee pain are other common symptoms in children, and orthotics might be a good option. If you have a child that is experiencing any of these problems, contact a podiatrist today.
If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors 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 our office located in Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Plantar warts are small growths that develop on parts of the feet that bear weight. They're typically found on the bottom of the foot. Don't live with plantar warts, and call us today!
Many different foot afflictions primarily impact a bone in the feet. Cuboid syndrome is one such condition, and it primarily targets the cuboid bone. The cuboid bone is a cube-shaped bone on the outer side of the foot. When it moves out of alignment, this is known as cuboid syndrome. There are several different ways that a medical professional might go about treating cuboid syndrome. One common way is by performing what is known as a “cuboid whip,” which is essentially a manual manipulation of the bone back into alignment. The medical professional can perform this manual procedure by making the patient lie down, relax the leg, and extend the knee while the professional pops the cuboid bone back into place. As a result of this manipulation, the patient might hear some kind of pop sound when the bone shifts back into place. Contact a podiatrist today for more information.
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 the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors 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:
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 Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
