Items filtered by date: April 2024

Stress fractures typically occur when there is a rapid increase in activity level or time spent on your feet. Your bones are resilient, constantly adapting to changes through a process called remodeling. However, when this adaptation is rushed, such as with sudden increases in activity, the balance between bone destruction and rebuilding is disturbed. This leaves your bones fragile and susceptible to stress fractures. Conditions like osteoporosis as well as high-impact sports may increase the risk of stress fractures. Foot structure variations like high or flat arches and wearing inadequate footwear can also contribute to heightened stress fracture risk. Symptoms of foot stress fractures include swelling, bruising, tenderness, and activity-related pain that diminishes with rest. Ignoring a foot stress fracture can make the injury worse and potentially lead to more severe consequences. If you believe you may have a foot stress fracture, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Darline Kulhan, DPM from Scarsdale Foot Specialists PC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

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

Overlapping toes, a condition where one toe rests on top of another, affects people of all ages, from newborns to adults. Causes include heredity, tight-fitting shoes, arthritis, and biomechanical issues. Underlying foot conditions, like bunions, flat feet, hammer toes, or high arches, can also contribute to developing overlapping toes. In newborns, this condition may result from heredity or the positioning of the baby in the womb. Gentle measures such as taping the toes or using toe spacers are effective for newborns, while adults can benefit from conservative methods like wearing properly fitting shoes and maintaining a healthy weight. If conservative treatments fail, surgery may be necessary, especially for severe cases or when a bunion is involved. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term complications. For help in managing problems related to overlapping toes, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options. 

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Darline Kulhan, DPM of Scarsdale Foot Specialists PC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These 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

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Scarsdale, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.