How to Keep Toenail Fungus from Spreading
Fungal nails are frustrating and embarrassing — don’t pass them on to your loved ones. Here are some tips from a podiatry expert to help you keep your toenail fungus to yourself.
7 Conditions That Can Benefit From Custom Orthotics
When your feet hurt, your whole day grinds to a halt. You may need to realize that the answer may be as simple as giving your feet extra support.
Modern shoe design, poor foot mechanics, and even excess weight contribute to foot problems, and one of the best ways to respond is with a pair of custom orthotics.
Why not grab a pair of gel inserts from the store? A generic insert may offer some temporary comfort and be kinder to your wallet, but you’ll ultimately be stuck with the same foot problems when they wear out.
Dr. Maurice Aiken and our Bay Breeze Foot & Ankle Specialists team specialize in custom orthotics and include them in many of our patient’s treatment plans. We carefully design custom orthotics to fit your feet and address exactly what’s causing your foot pain in the first place.
If you have any of the following conditions, you can expect custom orthotics to be one of the first things we recommend.
1. Bunions
Bunions stem from inherited foot structures and abnormal foot movements. We can design your custom orthotics to address those structural issues with targeted support and cushioning to the affected area.
Bunions can also be painful, which is another reason for using orthotics. The stability and cushioning orthotics provide can significantly reduce friction and ease painful movements in the affected foot.
2. Hammertoes
A hammertoe is a deformity that causes an unusual bend in the middle of the toe joint. It usually develops after an injury, trauma, or imbalance of the toe muscles or from ill-fitting shoes.
If your hammertoe is mild and can unbend, custom orthotics can play a crucial role in helping your bones and muscles realign. Like bunions, hammertoes can also be painful, so we recommend custom orthotics to ease the pressure.
3. Flat feet
Flat feet result from poorly developed arches. Proper foot mechanics rely heavily on proper foot arches; without them, you can wind up with foot, leg, and back pain. Custom orthotics create a faux arch, significantly alleviating pain and gently correcting your foot mechanics.
4. High arches
Low or no arches are a problem. — and so are high arches.
The strain from high arches affects the entire foot and can cause abnormal rolling in or out. Custom orthotics provide the necessary support to correct high arches and prevent abnormal motion, reducing pain.
5. Back pain
It may seem as though your feet and back have little to do with each other, but there’s a direct link between them.
For instance, if your foot structure and gait are off even slightly, it can contribute to problems in other body parts, particularly your lower back. We can use custom orthotics to kill two birds with one stone, correct foot problems, and relieve chronic back pain.
6. Heel spurs
Heel spurs are bony growths on the heel that trigger swelling and pain. While custom orthotics can’t eliminate your heel spurs, they can reduce inflammation and discomfort.
7. Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. When those sacs become inflamed and irritated, you have a painful condition called bursitis. Custom orthotics give your feet the support they need to heal from painful inflammation.
Think custom orthotics might be right for you? Call or click to schedule an appointment with Dr. Aiken at our Dunedin, Florida, office today.
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