East Berlin Foot & Ankle Center

A hammer toe is a deformity that results in a bony prominence on the top of or in between the toes. This can be due to heredity, but it can also be caused by improper or ill-fitting shoes. Supportive shoes with a roomy toe box are always recommended.

Proper footwear is an important part of an overall treatment program for people with diabetes, even at the earliest stages of the disease. If there is any evidence of neuropathy, wearing the right footwear is crucial.

If you have diabetes, then it is a good idea to get in the habit of seeing your podiatrist regularly. People with diabetes are particularly susceptible to serious foot and ankle conditions, including diabetic ulcers, which affect over 15 percent of all diabetics.

Did you know that Hippocrates invented the first foot scraper? These were used as scalpels to remove calluses and corns, terms he is credited with coining.

Our toes help us balance as we walk, touching the ground 75 percent of the time. Our big toes help us balance the most and can bear twice as much weight as all of our other toes put together.

Orthotics are like insoles you slip into your shoes and can provide additional cushion. In addition, they also help your foot strike the ground at the correct angle to curb future pain and deterioration.

Did you know that throughout most of the history of shoes, shoes were created to fit on either foot? It was not until after the 1850s that shoes were regularly shaped to fit the left or the right foot.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the average American will have logged about 75,000 miles on their feet by the age of 50. If you walk or jog regularly, it’s possible you’ve logged at many as 200,000 miles or more.

A majority of people suffer from a foot disorder, even if it’s as simple as athlete’s foot or corns. Treatment is often very simple and can be done in a quick visit to your podiatrist’s office. Don’t put it off, since conditions can become much worse if left untreated.

According to the American Podiatry Medical Association, "hammer toes" are among the most common foot ailments. This is a toe joint condition that results in permanently bent toes, which resemble a claw and cause serious pain in the ball of the foot.

What’s the difference between a corn and callus? Calluses are larger and are often on the bottom of your feet or the heel or a foot. Corns usually have a hard center, with skin that is aggravated or inflamed surrounding it. Corns are always painful while calluses may or may not be.

According to the NIH, plantar fasciitis or heel pain is one of the most common foot problems. The pain occurs when the ligament that supports the arch and connects to the heel bone is inflamed or strained due to injury or overuse.

After a fracture, immobilizing the bones is often the best way to ensure they fuse back together properly. Casts, boots, splints and braces are the most common ways to immobilize a foot fracture.

There are four types of neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that is common with people who have diabetes. Sensory neuropathy affects the nerves that control feeling, which is why diabetics require special footwear.

Foot or ankle numbness and soreness, or heel pain are signs that you need to see a podiatrist. Also, if you have bunions, corns, calluses, arch pain, discolored toenails, pain, and swelling or numbness in your feet ankles or toes, these need to be treated as well.

When your foot strikes the ground, your heel should hit evenly. If your shoes show the tell-tale signs of wearing out on the inside or outside of the heel, this is a sign of a foot issue.

What makes bunions so painful? The condition is characterized by a combination of joint and bone misalignment that can be painful on its own. When the surrounding tissues are also tender and inflamed, the area becomes extremely sensitive to even light pressure.

If your podiatrist determines you have a heel spur, the initial treatment is likely to include stretching, more comfortable shoes or inserts for your shoes, along with the possibility of physical therapy.

By the time you reach 50, you’ve logged about 75,000 miles and lost about half the natural cushioning in the soles of your feet. Break down of this cushioning can cause new or accelerate existing feet, ankle, knee and hip problems.

Excessive foot sweating is called hyperhidrosis, and is more common than you may think. It is estimated that up to three percent of Americans have hyperhidrosis. Thankfully, there are both prescribed and at-home treatments to manage the symptoms.

Unfortunately, some foot infections like athlete’s foot can be too stubborn to treat on your own. When you’ve exhausted every OTC remedy, we’re always here to help.

Ankle fractures can range from somewhat-minor twisting injuries to those that violently disrupt the ankle. If you injure your ankle, it is very important to seek medical attention to determine whether you have an ankle fracture and, if so, how severe it is.

A bunion forms when the big toe joint has been pushed out of alignment, and it creates a bony swelling at the base of the big toe. Bunions can be caused by overcrowding, inherited structural defects or common conditions like arthritis.