What is the largest bone in the foot? Right…your heel bone, also known as the calcaneus. It absorbs all of your body’s weight each time you take a step, run or jump. So, is it any wonder that one of the most common foot ailments people have is heel pain? A heel spur is the most common cause of…
America is exercise crazy! We Zumba, yoga, hip-hop, box, triathalon, boot camp, and sweat-to-the oldies. But one of the easiest, most inexpensive and enjoyable exercise forms is walking. It’s a great way to lose weight, stay fit,and enjoy life. But like anything else, proper preparation can help avoid problems and injuries. Before getting started, don’t…
If you follow any professional sport that involves running, you are likely to hear of a player who is suffering from tendonitis. But, what is it? And, do you have it? All muscles of your extremities (arms, legs, hands, feet, etc.) have tendons. The tendon is the part of the muscle that attaches to bone….
“Compression socks work by applying a constant pressure to the ankle and calf area,” explains Dr. Doug Tumen, a podiatrist at Hudson Valley Foot Associates in Kingston, New York, and the author of Ask the Foot Doctor: Real-Life Answers to Enjoy Happy, Healthy, Pain-Free Feet. “This prevents pooling of blood in the legs, which is…
“The feet are prime real estate for arthritis,” says Doug Tumen, DPM, board-certified podiatrist, author of Ask The Foot Doctor, and a founding partner of Hudson Valley Foot Associates. Each foot has 26 bones and 33 joints — together, the feet contain more than 25 percent of the bones in your entire body. Getting arthritis…
Do you have toenail fungus? Have you tried to ignore your crumbling, thickened nail by covering it with socks and shoes? Or have you tried home remedies or prescription treatments only to find the problem is still there? And now you wince for one very specific reason: Sandal season is here. If this sounds like…
Compared with your fingers, toes have little mobility. While some people can pick things up with their toes, they can’t do it easily, and there’s simply no way to touch big and little toes together. It might be simple to underestimate your toes and their range of motion. That is, until hallux rigidus strikes. Translating to stiff…
Summer is all about flip-flops and sunglasses, barbecues and beaches. The downsides include sunburn and insect bites and, if you aren’t careful, foot injuries related to summertime wardrobe and activities. When spontaneous ball games break out and you’re caught without the right shoes, you might be setting yourself up for trouble. The same holds true…
A sprained ankle may seem like an isolated injury, but even a single incident could lead to a long-standing condition called chronic ankle instability, through which you’re at risk of further ankle injuries. You’ll feel as though your ankle might give out at any moment, making it hard to depend on your feet. You may have chronic discomfort,…
Gout is one of the diseases collected under the class of arthritis, since it affects joints in your body. It results from high levels of a substance called uric acid in your bloodstream. A byproduct of diet and kidney function, uric acid can form crystals in joints, resulting in painful inflammation. Of all Americans affected by…