Items filtered by date: August 2021

If your child has a red, blistering rash on their feet, a sore throat, and a fever, they may be suffering from hand, foot, and mouth (HFM) disease. HFM is a viral infection common in early childhood. It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. The blisters associated with HFM disease are typically red with a small, fluid-filled bubble on top, although they can also be flat. These blisters may peel, leaving behind ulcers. HFM blisters often appear on the soles of the feet. While HFM usually clears up on its own, your child may experience pain or discomfort from HFM blisters on their feet. Keeping their feet clean and applying antibiotic ointments over popped blisters can help prevent infection. If your child has a rash or blisters on their feet, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist. 

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact Cory Brown, DPM of Cory Brown, DPM. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

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

If you work a job that requires you to stand for prolonged periods of time, you may be more at risk of developing various foot and ankle problems. Fortunately, you can take several measures to reduce this risk. When standing at work, it is suggested that you change your position with slight movements frequently. Doing short, simple foot and ankle stretches, such as rolling a ball underneath each foot or flexing and extending your feet can help maintain strength, flexibility, and circulation in your lower limbs. You should also wear properly-fitted, comfortable, and supportive shoes and socks, and stand on an anti-fatigue mat if your workplace provides one. If possible, you should also alternate sitting, standing, and walking approximately every half hour and limit the total amount of time that you stand to no more than half of the work day. To learn more about caring for your feet when you have to stand for work, please consult with a podiatrist.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Cory Brown, DPM from Cory Brown, DPM. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

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

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of pain in the heel. This condition can occur when the plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue that runs from the bottom of the heel to the front of the foot, becomes inflamed or torn. Generally, plantar fasciitis is considered to be an overuse injury. There are other issues such as foot biomechanics, ill-fitted footwear, being overweight, or having tight calf muscles that can lead to an increased risk of plantar fasciitis as well. Plantar fasciitis usually results in heel pain that gradually worsens over time, tenderness when pressing onto the heel, and heel pain that is worse in the morning. Patients who notice any of the symptoms of heel pain or plantar fasciitis should consult with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment for their condition.  

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Cory Brown, DPM  from Cory Brown, DPM. 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 office located in Lewiston, ID . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Foot warts, also known as plantar warts, are often found on the soles of the feet. They can be contagious and are generally caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The warts usually begin as small, rough areas of thickened skin. Over time, they may spread along the surface of the foot and develop tiny black dots at their center. These dots are actually clogged blood vessels. If you notice warts on the bottom of your feet, it is a good idea to consult with a podiatrist. Sometimes plantar warts do not cause any symptoms and may go away on their own. Other times they can be painful, persistent, and unsightly. Pressure on the feet from bearing the weight of your body could cause warts to grow inwards, leading to significant pain while walking or standing. Diabetics should always see a podiatrist if they develop plantar warts because diabetes can greatly increase the risk of other foot complications. For more information about plantar warts, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Cory Brown, DPM from Cory Brown, DPM. Our doctor 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 office located in Lewiston, ID . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails are an annoying but typically mild problem that occurs when the corner or edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, rather than over it. This can cause the skin to become red, swollen, tender, or painful. Ingrown toenails can often be managed with home treatment and footwear modifications. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can reduce pain and swelling. Sometimes an ingrown toenail can result in an infection. Your podiatrist can prescribe antibiotics if this occurs. When it comes to the ingrown toenail itself, your podiatrist may remove the ingrown part of the nail through a procedure called partial nail avulsion. To prevent ingrown toenails, it is suggested that you trim your toenails straight across and not too short using nail clippers, and that you wear shoes that are not too tight in the toes. For more information about ingrown toenails, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Cory Brown, DPM of Cory Brown, DPM. 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 Lewiston, ID . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.