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A study published by the Journal of Applied Physiology has determined that long-term high heel use can have detrimental effects on the legs’ muscles, such as muscle strain and muscle fatigue. According to the study’s abstract, long-term high heel use has been found to “shorten medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles and increase Achilles tendon stiffness.” The study’s results are consistent with the reports that high heel wearers often experience discomfort, pain, and tiredness. It also suggests that “long-term high heel use may compromise muscle efficiency in walking”.
High heels have a history for causing foot problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or s, contact Dr. Robert Hope from Riverside Podiatry. Dr. Hopecan provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.
Effects of High Heels on the Feet
High heels are popular shoes among women because their style and societal appeal. Despite this, they can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.
What parts my body will be affected by high heels?
What kinds of foot problems can develop from wearing high heels?
How can I still wear high heels and maintain foot health?
If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems. Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet. Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising. If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work. Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Tuscaloosa, AL. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot needs.
Read more about the effects of high heels.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, or a condition in which the body attacks itself. Bacteria in the gut have been found to predict susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis. Experts were able to study microbes that were normally low in healthy individuals, but high in people with rheumatoid arthritis. This study could be used to predict if someone is likely to have rheumatoid arthritis in the future.
Because RA affects more than just your joints, including the joints in your feet, it is important to seek early diagnosis from your podiatrist if you feel like the pain in your feet might be caused by RA. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Hope from Riverside Podiatry. Dr. Hopecan provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the joints. Inflammation of the lining and eventually the destruction of the joint’s cartilage and bone occur, causing severe pain and immobility.
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Feet
Although RA usually attacks multiple bones and joints throughout the entire body, almost 90 percent of cases result in pain in the foot or area.
Symptoms
- Swelling & pain in the feet
- Stiffness in the feet
- Pain on the ball or sole of feet
- Joint shift and deformation
Diagnosis
Quick diagnosis of RA in the feet is important so that the podiatrist can treat the area effectively. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, occupation, and lifestyle to determine the origin of the condition. Rheumatoid Factor tests help to determine if someone is affected by the disease.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Tuscaloosa, AL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more on Rheumatoid Arthritis
When the tendon at the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed and painful, plantar fasciitis occurs. There are risk factors that may make you more susceptible to getting plantar fasciitis. Some of these factors include being a female and being overweight. If your job requires you to stand for long periods of time on a hard surface, you are also more likely to have plantar fasciitis. Another group of people who are at risk for the condition are those who walk or run long distances on a regular basis.
Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. Robert Hope from Riverside Podiatry. Dr. Hopecan provide the care you need to keep your 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 Tuscaloosa, AL. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot needs.
Read more about Plantar Fasciitis
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term used to describe excessive sweating. Although many people with hyperhidrosis tend to ignore it, they shouldn’t. Hyperhidrosis can interfere with social interaction and productivity at work. Sweat is our bodies’ natural response to hot weather. When the human body heats up in hot weather, it needs to find a way to cool down in order to maintain homeostasis. Sweat helps the body cool down when it is in a heated environment. Topical antiperspirants are an excellent way to help fight hyperhidrosis. When searching for a topical antiperspirant, you should look for one that contains aluminum salt which will help the antiperspirant last longer.
If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Robert Hope from Riverside Podiatry. Dr. Hope will treat your foot needs.
Hyperhidrosis of the Feet
Hyperhidrosis is a rare disorder that can cause people to have excessive sweating of their feet. This can usually occur all on its own without rigorous activity involved. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis may also experience sweaty palms.
Although it is said that sweating is a healthy process meant to cool down the body temperature and to maintain a proper internal temperature, hyperhidrosis may prove to be a huge hindrance on a person’s everyday life.
Plantar hyperhidrosis is considered to be the main form of hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis can refer to sweating that occurs in areas other than the feet or hands and armpits. Often this may be a sign of it being related to another medical condition such as menopause, hyperthyroidism and even Parkinson’s disease.
In order to alleviate this condition, it is important to see your doctor so that they may prescribe the necessary medications so that you can begin to live a normal life again. If this is left untreated, it is said that it will persist throughout an individual’s life.
A last resort approach would be surgery, but it is best to speak with your doctor to find out what may be the best treatment for you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office in Tuscaloosa, AL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about hyperhidrosis of the feet
Summer is here and you may be tempted to walk around barefoot. The risk of getting plantar warts drastically increases when you choose to not wear shoes. You should wear properly fitting shoes in the summertime and all year-round in order to prevent injuries and problems such as plantar warts.
Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Robert Hope from Riverside Podiatry. Dr. Hope can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.
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
Treatment
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, will 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 Tuscaloosa, AL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot needs.
