Items filtered by date: July 2021

Pumice stones are light but abrasive stones that are formed from a mixture of lava and water. They are frequently used to remove dead, dry skin from the feet, especially on the heels. To exfoliate dry heels with a pumice stone, soak your heels in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Next, remove your heels from the water and dry them. Wet the pumice stone and then rub the abrasive side of the stone on the dry skin, in a circular motion with light pressure, for approximately two minutes or until the dry skin has been removed. When finished, rinse the pumice stone and apply moisturizer to your feet. Avoid rubbing the pumice stone with too much pressure, as this can injure your feet and lead to cuts, bleeding, and infection. If you have diabetes or other foot problems, you should not use a pumice stone to exfoliate without an okay from your doctor. To learn more about foot care, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Cracked heels are unsightly and can cause further damage to your shoes and feet. If you have any concerns, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels appear unappealing and can make it harder for you walk around in sandals. Aside from looking unpleasant, cracked heels can also tear stockings, socks, and wear out your shoes. There are several methods to help restore a cracked heel and prevent further damage.

How Do You Get Them?

Dry skin is the number one culprit in creating cracked heels. Many athletes, walkers, joggers, and even swimmers suffer from cracked heels. Age and skin oil production play a role to getting cracked heels as well.

Promote Healing

Over the counter medicines can help, especially for those that need instant relief or who suffer from chronic dry feet.

Wear Socks – Wearing socks with medicated creams helps lock in moisture.

Moisturizers – Applying both day and night will help alleviate dryness which causes cracking.

Pumice Stones – These exfoliate and remove dead skin, which allows for smoother moisturizer application and better absorption into the skin. 

Change in Diet

Eating healthy with a well-balanced diet will give the skin a fresh and radiant look. Your body responds to the kinds of food you ingest. Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc supplements can also revitalize skin tissue.

Most importantly, seek professional help if unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed. 

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

Ingrown toenails are a common and sometimes painful condition in which the edges of a nail grow into the surrounding skin instead of over it. This leads to tenderness, swelling, redness, and pain. In some cases, the area can even become infected. One of the main causes of ingrown toenails is trimming the toenails incorrectly. When you trim your toenails, you should use a nail clipper rather than scissors. Trim the nails straight across and not too short. Though it may be tempting for aesthetic reasons, do not round the edges of your toenails with clippers, scissors, or a nail file. Rounded edges make ingrown nails more likely. To complement your properly trimmed toenails, wear comfortable shoes with a wide toe box. Tight, narrow, or pointy-toed shoes can squish the toes together and push the nails into the surrounding skin. To learn more about how to prevent ingrown toenails, please speak with a podiatrist. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM of Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. 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 McKinney and Coppell, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Podiatrists are doctors that specialize in treating conditions that affect the feet of children, adults, and seniors. They can treat infections, provide pain relief, correct deformities, and help to heal broken bones. Podiatrists help treat specific conditions such as diabetes, ingrown toenails, flat feet, bunions, heel pain, blisters, athlete’s foot, cracked heels and so much more. Podiatrists are also able to prescribe orthotics, which are typically custom made shoe inserts, in order to relieve pressure from problem areas on the feet. Podiatrists can help you pick proper footwear to prevent a variety of foot and ankle conditions from developing. They can also help you choose the correct walking or running shoe too. If you have a foot problem that you are unsure about or are experiencing any type of foot pain, a podiatrist is trained to help find a diagnosis and provide proper treatment for your specific condition.

If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is a Podiatrist?

Someone would seek the care of a podiatrist if they have suffered a foot injury or have common foot ailments such as heal spurs, bunions, arch problems, deformities, ingrown toenails, corns, foot and ankle problems, etc.

Podiatric Treatment

A podiatrist will treat the problematic areas of the feet, ankle or lower leg by prescribing the following:

• Physical therapy
• Drugs
• Orthotic inserts or soles
• Surgery on lower extremity fractures

A common podiatric procedure a podiatrist will use is a scanner or force plate which will allow the podiatrist to know the designs of orthotics. Patients are then told to follow a series of tasks to complete the treatment. The computer will scan the foot a see which areas show weight distribution and pressure points. The podiatrist will read the analysis and then determine which treatment plans are available.

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

The sesamoids are two small, pea-shaped bones found just under the base of the big toe. The sesamoids are embedded in a tendon, allowing you to move the big toes and acting as shock absorbers in the foot while you walk and run. Though these bones are quite small, they can be easily injured. The area around the sesamoid bones may become inflamed due to injury or overuse, leading to sesamoiditis. Over time, these bones may become unable to bear the load placed on them and could even develop tiny stress fractures. A sudden injury to the bones can cause them to fully fracture. If you have pain, swelling, or bruising in the ball of your foot, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can diagnose and treat various sesamoid injuries. 

Sesamoiditis is an unpleasant foot condition characterized by pain in the balls of the feet. If you think you’re struggling with sesamoiditis, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM of Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our doctor will treat your condition thoroughly and effectively.

Sesamoiditis

Sesamoiditis is a condition of the foot that affects the ball of the foot. It is more common in younger people than it is in older people. It can also occur with people who have begun a new exercise program, since their bodies are adjusting to the new physical regimen. Pain may also be caused by the inflammation of tendons surrounding the bones. It is important to seek treatment in its early stages because if you ignore the pain, this condition can lead to more serious problems such as severe irritation and bone fractures.

Causes of Sesamoiditis

• Sudden increase in activity
• Increase in physically strenuous movement without a proper warm up or build up
• Foot structure: those who have smaller, bonier feet or those with a high arch may be more susceptible

Treatment for sesamoiditis is non-invasive and simple. Doctors may recommend a strict rest period where the patient forgoes most physical activity. This will help give the patient time to heal their feet through limited activity. For serious cases, it is best to speak with your doctor to determine a treatment option that will help your specific needs.

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

Pronation refers to the foot turning downward or inward as you walk or run. This is a normal component of a gait or walking pattern. In some people, however, the foot turns downward or inward too much, resulting in overpronation. This is a biomechanical problem that is particularly common among people with flat feet and can lead to foot and ankle problems such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Runners and other athletes who have an overpronated gait are at an increased risk of foot and ankle injuries and often require specialized footwear or orthotics to help correct their gait and prevent injuries. If you suspect you may have an overpronated gait, a podiatrist can perform a gait analysis and determine the right course of treatment for you.

If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Jeffrey Radack, DPM from Texas Regional Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Biomechanics in Podiatry

Podiatric biomechanics is a particular sector of specialty podiatry with licensed practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg. Biomechanics deals with the forces that act against the body, causing an interference with the biological structures. It focuses on the movement of the ankle, the foot and the forces that interact with them.

A History of Biomechanics

• Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
• In 1974, biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination in the area.

Modern technological improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes that provide a better understanding of podiatric concepts for biomechanics. Computers can provide accurate information about the forces and patterns of the feet and lower legs.

Understanding biomechanics of the feet can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

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