Items filtered by date: October 2020

In medicine, gait refers to your pattern of walking. A gait pattern can be divided into two phases, the stance phase and the swing phase. During the stance phase, your foot is in contact with the ground. In a typical gait, this phase begins with the heel touching the ground. Next, the whole foot comes in contact with the ground. Then the foot begins lifting off of the ground, starting with the heel and ending with the toes and entire foot coming off of the ground. The swing phase starts when the entire foot has left the ground and is in the air, ready to begin the next step. Sometimes, people have abnormal gaits that can cause various foot problems. An antalgic gait refers to a pattern of walking that causes pain. It is characterized by the foot spending a reduced amount of time in the stance phase. A high steppage gait refers to a pattern of walking that causes the foot to slap onto the ground during the first part of the stance phase. If you think your gait may be abnormal, it is recommended that you get it evaluated by a podiatrist. 

If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Biomechanics in Podiatry

Podiatric biomechanics is a particular sector of specialty podiatry with licensed practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg. Biomechanics deals with the forces that act against the body, causing an interference with the biological structures. It focuses on the movement of the ankle, the foot and the forces that interact with them.

A History of Biomechanics

• Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
• In 1974, biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination in the area.

Modern technological improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes that provide a better understanding of podiatric concepts for biomechanics. Computers can provide accurate information about the forces and patterns of the feet and lower legs.

Understanding biomechanics of the feet can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

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

Suffering from this type of pain? You may have the foot condition known as Morton's neuroma. Morton's neuroma may develop as a result of ill-fitting footwear and existing foot deformities. We can help.

Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by a buildup of urate crystals in the joints and often affects the joints of the feet. Gout flare ups can be painful and cause inflammation, redness, and swelling. This condition is typically diagnosed by a joint fluid test, where the doctor extracts fluid from the affected joint with a needle and examines it for the presence of urate crystals. Joint infections can cause the same symptoms as gout, so a doctor might also check the fluid for the presence of any bacteria. The doctor can also do a blood test to measure the level of uric acid in the blood or use an ultrasound to search for urate crystals around the joints. If you suspect that you may have gout, please see a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Gout is a foot condition that requires certain treatment and care. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. It often develops in the foot, especially the big toe area, although it can manifest in other parts of the body as well. Gout can make walking and standing very painful and is especially common in diabetics and the obese.

People typically get gout because of a poor diet. Genetic predisposition is also a factor. The children of parents who have had gout frequently have a chance of developing it themselves.

Gout can easily be identified by redness and inflammation of the big toe and the surrounding areas of the foot. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, joint pain, and running high fevers. Sometimes corticosteroid drugs can be prescribed to treat gout, but the best way to combat this disease is to get more exercise and eat a better diet.

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

Obesity is a growing public health problem around the world. Being obese is detrimental to one’s overall health and can affect many different parts of the body, including the feet. Men who are severely obese, which is characterized by having a body mass index (BMI) number over 35, are at a higher risk for foot pain and hammertoes. Women who have a BMI over 25 are at a higher risk of experiencing foot pain. Because the feet carry the weight of the entire body every day, the more weight the feet have to carry, the greater the potential risk of developing foot pain. If you are experiencing foot pain, it is suggested that you seek the care of a podiatrist. 

Obesity has become very problematic at this point in time and can have extremely negative effects on the feet. If you’re an obese individual and are concerned about your feet, contact Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Obesity and Your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot. 

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

At some point throughout our lives, we have all likely experienced an injury to the toe, foot, or ankle. These types of injuries often occur while participating in sports or recreational activities, while doing work-related tasks, or simply while walking around. Injuries of the lower limbs are generally divided into two categories. Acute injuries are those that occur suddenly. Examples of this type of injury include bruises, puncture wounds, injuries to ligaments, injuries to tendons, sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, and compartment syndrome. Overuse injuries are those caused by repetitive stress being placed on the joint or tissue. Examples of this type of injury include retrocalcaneal bursitis, Achilles tendinopathy, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia. If you have injured your toe, foot, or ankle, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. 

Foot and ankle trauma is common among athletes and the elderly. If you have concerns that you may have experienced trauma to the foot and ankle, consult with Dr. Nicholas Przystawski from Central Florida Foot Care, PA. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Foot and ankle trauma cover a range of injuries all over the foot; common injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Muscle strains
• Injuries to the tendons and ligaments
• Stress fractures

Symptoms

Symptoms of foot and ankle injuries vary depending on the injury, but more common ones include:

• Bruising
• Inflammation/ Swelling
• Pain

Diagnosis

To properly diagnose the exact type of injury, podiatrists will conduct a number of different tests. Some of these include sensation and visual tests, X-rays, and MRIs. Medical and family histories will also be taken into account.

Treatment

Once the injury has been diagnosed, the podiatrist can than offer the best treatment options for you. In less severe cases, rest and keeping pressure off the foot may be all that’s necessary. Orthotics, such as a specially made shoes, or immobilization devices, like splints or casts, may be deemed necessary. Finally, if the injury is severe enough, surgery may be necessary.

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