Even though we depend on our feet to get us around all day, it is easy to forget to give them the care they need. Selecting appropriate shoes to keep the feet healthy and safe is important. First and foremost is choosing shoes that fit well, give proper support, and will help to keep you from slipping and falling. Pay attention to the cushioning inside your shoes, especially if you spend a lot of time standing. Arch supports can help distribute the weight so the pressure is not all on the heel and ball of the foot. High heels can cause all kinds of problems, including hammertoes, bunions, calluses and corns, as well as negatively affecting your posture and alignment. It is particularly important to wear the proper shoe for each activity, paying attention to support, cushioning, width and stability. If your feet change in shape or color, begin to hurt, or feel sore on a regular basis, it is a good idea to visit a podiatrist for a complete examination to determine whether you may need custom orthotics or other treatment.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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

When you stand on the ground, do you notice small, soft bumps on the bottoms of your feet? Do they disappear when you sit down? If so, you may have piezogenic pedal papules. These tiny bumps are round, squishy, and skin-colored and tend to occur around the heels. They are caused by fat below the skin poking through connective tissue defects in the feet. Piezogenic pedal papules are very common, affecting approximately 60% of adults. In the majority of cases, these papules cause no symptoms. In about 10% of people, papules may cause foot pain, which can be treated through conservative measures, such as avoiding standing for prolonged periods of time, treating any existing foot injuries, wearing orthotics, and weight loss. For more information about piezogenic pedal papules, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor 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 Farmington, MI . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

If you or someone you love is having difficulty walking up stairs, struggles with balance, or is prone to tripping or falling, they may have a condition known as foot drop. This condition makes it difficult for a person to lift the front part of the foot, and may also cause numbness, weakness, and limpness in the foot. Foot drop may also trigger a change in how a person walks, in order to counteract these impediments. Foot drop most typically occurs when the peroneal nerve (which controls the muscles that lift the foot) becomes damaged due to compression, injury, or disease. It may also be due to a muscular or anatomical issue. This condition may be temporary or permanent, with possible treatments including orthosis, orthotics, physical therapy, nerve stimulation, or even surgery if necessary. Because the symptoms of foot drop can raise a person’s risk of falling and/or tripping, a podiatrist should be consulted as soon as possible to explore all treatment options.

Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.

How to Prevent Falls

Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:

• Enrolling in strength and balance exercise program to increase balance and strength
• Periodically having your sight and hearing checked
• Discuss any medications you have with a doctor to see if it increases the risk of falling
• Clearing the house of falling hazards and installing devices like grab bars and railings
• Utilizing a walker or cane
• Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning
• Talking to family members about falling and increasing awareness

Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.  

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

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail typically characterized by a thickening and discoloration of the nail, a separation of the nail from its bed, pain, and even permanent damage to the nail in severe cases. Because onychomycosis can be difficult to cure and is prone to reoccur, home remedies are typically ineffective, as are many topical and oral antifungal medications. Laser therapy treatments to eradicate toenail fungus have proved to be successful in many patients. This technology utilizes pulses of energy to create precisely targeted heat that kills the fungus living in the nail bed (under the toenail) and prevents it from growing back. The FDA has approved several types of laser devices for the treatment of onychomycosis. If you have a toenail fungus, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist to see if you might be a good candidate for Laser therapy treatment.

Laser treatment can be an effective way to get rid of toenail fungus. If you have any questions about laser treatment, consult with Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment for fungal nails.

What Are Toenail Fungal Infections?

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail, is a relatively common and non-serious condition. Around 10 percent of U.S. citizens are afflicted with fungal nails. Common forms of fungus that infect the nail include dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.

Symptoms of Toenail Fungal Infections Include:

• Nail thickening
• Brittleness of the nail
• Discoloration of the nail

Diagnosis for Fungal Nails

Fungal infections are diagnosed by fungal culture and microscopy. This will rule out any other conditions such as nail trauma, psoriasis, lichen planus, and onychogryphosis.

What Is Laser Treatment?

Laser treatment is a non-invasive, safe, quick, and painless procedure that uses the heat from a laser to kill fungus in the nail. Each infected nail is targeted with a laser for several minutes. The treatment is usually utilized several different times over a select period. During this time, a podiatrist will keep an eye on the infection.

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

If you are middle-aged, overweight, pregnant, stand for long periods of time, or wear shoes that offer little cushioning, you may be a candidate for plantar fasciitis. Other causes include, having flat feet, wearing ill-fitting shoes, running or jumping on hard surfaces, and having medical conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that connects the toes with the heels. When the plantar fascia is overstretched or bruised, the heel often bears the brunt of the pain. The pain is usually worse when you first get up in the morning, or after sitting or standing for long periods of time. There are a number of home remedies, such as icing the painful area, massaging your foot by rolling a golf ball under it, losing weight, and wearing heel pads in your shoes. However, if pain continues to increase, it may be wise to seek the opinion of a podiatrist who can examine the area, properly diagnose the condition, and suggest specific treatment options. 

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Dr. David Ungar from Personal Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

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