Items filtered by date: February 2023

Tuesday, 28 February 2023 00:00

Children’s Socks

Many children might resist their parent’s efforts to make them wear socks. Some children might find socks annoying or even uncomfortable. However, it is important for children to wear socks for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, when a child wears socks with their shoes, they are essentially protecting their feet from developing blisters. Wearing socks with shoes can also help protect a child’s feet from encountering bacteria. In turn, this might make the development of infections less likely. Lastly, wearing socks around the house can prevent your child’s feet from getting cold. Socks for children come in many different types. Some socks for children are even made with rubber “grippers.” This feature is essentially meant to help the child feel more stable and less wobbly when walking. It is suggested that you contact a podiatrist today for more information about children’s socks.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact one of our podiatrists of Comprehensive Footcare Clinic - Hawaii. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

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

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Tuesday, 21 February 2023 00:00

How Is a Broken Ankle Treated?

Pain always immediately occurs with a broken ankle. Despite the intense pain, a broken ankle is rarely life-threatening. It can happen from falling, or from suddenly twisting the ankle. Additional symptoms can include bruising, swelling, and in severe cases, the bone may protrude.  Prior to receiving the right treatment, an X-ray is generally taken which can determine the severity of the fracture. Mildly broken ankles are treated by wearing a walking boot or a cast, and it can help to frequently elevate the foot. A full recovery may take up to several weeks, and stretches and exercises can be performed when the cast or boot is no longer needed. The affected foot often needs to be strengthened, and a podiatrist can offer to follow up treatment strategies. If you have broken your ankle, it is strongly advised that you are under the care of this type of doctor who can treat broken ankles, and monitor your recovery progress.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Comprehensive Footcare Clinic - Hawaii. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. 

Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both of these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle, and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

  • Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
  •  Swelling around the area
  •  Bruising of the area
  • Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

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

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Tuesday, 14 February 2023 00:00

Causes of Pain in the Ball of the Foot

The metatarsals are the five long bones beneath the toes of the foot, also known as the midfoot. When the area between the toes and the metatarsals becomes painful, it is a condition termed metatarsalgia. Symptoms are inflammation, bruising and swelling. These in turn may result in numbness and tingling in the toes. Pain is typically felt in the ball of the foot. Better cushioning in the shoes and resting the feet more are some ways to reduce the pain. Causes of metatarsalgia include distance running and engaging in sports such as tennis, soccer, football, and baseball. Wearing poorly fitted shoes is another major cause of metatarsalgia. Culprits include high heels, shoes with a narrow toe box and sports shoes that lack ample cushioning. These types of shoes typically force the weight forward in a way that the ball of the foot is impacted. Other causes of metatarsalgia include bunions, hammertoes, and high arches, all of which can tend to alter proper foot alignment and gait. If the ball of your foot is aching on a regular basis, please consult a podiatrist for information on treatment options.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Comprehensive Footcare Clinic - Hawaii. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bone Spurs
  • Corns
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
  • Flat Feet
  • Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
  • And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

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Monday, 13 February 2023 00:00

Reminder: When Was the Last Time...?

Custom orthotics, or shoe inserts, should be periodically replaced. Orthotics must fit properly to give you the best results. Protect your feet and ankles!

Tuesday, 07 February 2023 00:00

Mandatory Education to Become a Podiatrist

A podiatrist’s job is to treat conditions of the feet and ankles. There are several years of mandatory school that must be obtained before the initials DPM can follow a students name. This is the abbreviation for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and the education begins with earning a bachelor’s degree. The courses that are taken will include physiology, anatomy, and patient care instruction. This is followed by completing a podiatric medicine program, which generally takes approximately four years. Attending a podiatric residency is the next step to take, which is done in a hospital or clinic. Some of the foot conditions that podiatrists treat are bunions, hammertoe, and athlete’s foot. Diabetic foot ulcers are treated by a podiatrist, in addition to painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. If you are interested in pursuing a career in podiatry, it is suggested that you speak to a podiatrist who can help you to determine if this is the right path for you.

If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact one of our podiatrists from Comprehensive Footcare Clinic - Hawaii. Our doctors 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 Honolulu, HI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about What is a Podiatrist?

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