Items filtered by date: December 2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one million Americans are seen by doctors for symptoms of plantar fasciitis each year. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament that runs from the heel bone to the base of the tones becomes inflamed; the inflammation is was usually causes the heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can occur through obesity, having too high or too low of an arch, and participation of activities where your foot or heel hits the ground repeatedly such as running. Some ways to reduce the stress placed on the ligament include: icing, taping the arch and bottom of the foot, stretching the lower extremities, wearing orthotics, and taking anti-inflammatories. If those methods do not do the trick, cortisone injections, shockwave therapy, and extracorporeal pulse activation therapy can also be used.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, visit Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Dr. Quinn can treat your heel pain as well as any other foot or ankle condition.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to heel and arch pain caused by an inflammation of the connective tissues on the bottom of the foot.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Ill-fitting shoes
• Weight change
• Excessive running
• Non-supportive shoes
• Overpronation

How Can It Be Treated?

• Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices. 
• Shockwave therapy – sends sound waves to the areas where pain is experience.  Requires multiple sessions.  This is used for very persistent cases of plantar fasciitis. 
• Ultrasound-guided technique with steroid injections into the plantar fascia.  This is from a relatively new and small study, but was shown to be effective in most cases treated.

New Studies on Treatment
According to groundbreaking treatment option studies, Luca M. Sconfienza, M.D. says that ultrasound with steroid injections was effective in over 95% of cases that involve plantar fasciitis. This process involves anesthesia and is a single process, out-patient treatment that was discovered to be highly effective. Luca M. Sconfienza M.D. presented her study at an annual meeting for the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Be sure to speak with your podiatrist about different methods that can be used, as well as finding out what treatment options they offer.

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

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Natalie Imbruglia revealed extremely swollen and blistered feet after hiking over one hundred miles across Switzerland. As a part of the Strive challenge, the Australian actress and singer embarked on a seven-day journey across Switzerland on August 23rd. The challenge was in support of non-profit organization Virgin Money Giving, which is raising funds for projects dedicated to changing the way young people think. Imbruglia had a physiologist visit and tape up her beaten feet on the sixth day of her journey. The hike spanned from Switzerland’s south-western village of Verbier all the way to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps.

Untreated blisters can worsen and make mobility extremely difficult and painful. For quality blister treatment, see Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Dr. Quinn will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs and answer any of your related questions.   

Blisters on the Feet
When tight or ill-fitting footwear is worn, many times a foot blister may develop. Blisters can even develop by constant rubbing from the shoe, often times leading to pain.

What is a Foot Blister?

A foot blister is a small pocket that is filled with fluid, forming on the upper most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid, and may lead to drainage of blood or pus if the area has become infected.

How do they Form?

Blisters of the feet are almost always the result of shoe rubbing and constant friction of the skin and material. Long periods of walking in shoes, sandals, or boots which don’t fit properly can result in a blister. Those who often have moisture or humidity in the feet, are prone to blister formation easily.

Prevention & Treatment

Proper care is vital to alleviate pain and prevent infection to the affected area of the foot. The best treatment is to leave them alone. New skin will develop under the blister and during the healing stages, your blister will pop.

For more information about Blisters on the Feet, follow the link below.

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

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Studies have shown that women are at a greater risk of developing stress fractures than men. Reasons for this increased risk include hormonal differences, increased bone density, and higher rates of inadequate nutrition. While athletes in general are at highest risk after changes in intensity, frequency or duration of their workouts; in women, irregular menstrual cycles and weight less than 75 percent of ideal body weight are factors that make for an increased risk for stress fractures. Stress fractures are small cracks that develop in the bone after being stressed, and are most common in the foot, ankle, and lower leg but can occur on bones throughout the body.

Stress fractures can become painful if left untreated for an extended period of time. If you would like assistance in treating a stress fracture in the foot or ankle, consult with Dr. Christine Quinn. Dr. Quinn can determine the severity of your condition and provide you with quality care.

Coping with Podiatric Stress Fractures

Stress Fractures occur on the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken as a result of overexertion or underuse.  As a result, the ankles and feet lose support when walking or running from the ground. Since these bones are not protected, they receive the full impact of each step. The stress on the feet causes the bones to form cracks.

What are Stress Fractures?

Stress Fractures are very common among those who are highly active and involved in sports or activities that make excessive use of their legs and feet. Stress fractures are especially common among:
-athletes (gymnasts, tennis players, basketball players)
-runners/joggers
-osteoporosis patients
-those who engage in high-intensity workouts

Stress Fracture Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures, and can be either constant or periodic. The pain is usually sharp or dull, accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Engagement in any kind of high impact activity will exacerbate the pain.
For more information about Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle, follow the link below.

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

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A loss of blood circulation in the feet and legs is often caused by peripheral artery disease. Come the winter season, many people suffer from numb fingers and toes as a result of losing blood circulation to their extremities due to colder temperatures. Raynaud’s disease, a condition in which the blood vessels in the fingers and toes contract in response to drops in temperature, is behind an estimated ten million people’s loss of blood supply. The ceasing of blood flow to the fingers and toes often causes them to turn icy wait. Raynaud attacks can last from a few minutes to an hour. When blood flow returns, the fingers or toes will turn blue and eventually red, accompanied with a burning sensation. Due to winter’s drop in temperature, attacks often peak during the cold months.

Diseases that cause poor circulation in the feet can be extremely dangerous. If you are having difficulties with reduced circulation, see Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Dr. Quinn will identify the cause of your decreased blood flow and help you get the care you need.  

Poor Circulation in the Feet

Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs is caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the result of a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Plaque buildup or atherosclerosis results from excess calcium and cholesterol in the bloodstream. It usually restricts the amount of blood which can flow through the arteries. Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs are sometimes caused by inflammation in the blood vessels, known as vasculitis.

Causes

Lack of oxygen and oxygen from poor blood circulation restricts muscle growth and development.
It can also cause:

-muscle pain    -numbness in legs
-cramps            -skin discoloration
-weakness        -slower nail & hair growth
-stiffness         -erectile dysfunction

Those who have diabetes and or smoke are at greatest risk for poor circulation, or who are over 50.

If you have poor circulation in the feet and legs it may be caused by PAD, and is important to make changes to your lifestyle in order to reduce risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. Exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle will dramatically improve conditions.

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

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To avoid contributing to early injury and damage kids specializing in a single sport should hold off until adolescence, research shows. Once kids reach 15 years of age, specializing can commence as it is at this age that boys usually only have three years left of growing and that girls are just about finishing their growth spurts. Dr. Liebeg of Akron Children’s Hospital comments, “During the growth spurts, the growth plates are at a higher risk for injury.” Sever’s disease is one of the most common growth plate injuries that can occur in growing kids. Physically active kids are especially prone to the disease, which manifests with the inflammation of the heel’s growth plate.

Growing children are prone to acquiring Sever’s disease. If your child is suffering from heel pain, see podiatrist Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Dr. Quinn will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain I none or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Toe gait- develops in which the child must change the way they walk to avoid placing weight on the heel. This can lead to other problems as well in the future.

Symptoms

Acute pain – pain asscoiatied with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

For more information about Sever’s Disease, follow the link below.

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

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