Podiatry Blog

Deena Kastor did not finish the Women's Olympic Marathon Race in Beijing due to a broken bone in her right foot. Apparently Deena had felt some soreness in her foot a week prior to the race, but thought it was due to the tendons. It is common to have aches and pains in your feet after months of training for a marathon, but when pain is accompanied by swelling, that is not normal and you need to see a podiatrist. According to Dr. Amol Saxena, podiatric sports medicine and surgery specialist at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, Deena may have benefited from an insert and a bone stimulator. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres has taught us that age is not a limiting factor if you believe, so hopefully Deena will give it another go at the 2012 Olympics in London. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Warts on the bottom of the feet are also known as plantar verruca. Depending on where the warts are located, some may cause pain when walking. There are many different treatments for warts including acid, freezing, duct tape (yes, the same duct tape you can use to fix almost anything), laser and surgery to name a few. Warts on the bottom of the foot can look a lot like callouses, so when in doubt, it is best to have it looked at by a podiatrist. See more photos of foot warts. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Croc footwear has become very popular. It would be a challenge to go to the beach, a ball game or the mall and not see someone wearing a pair of Crocs. They were originally intended for people working on boats or around water because they have a slip-resistant and non-marking sole. The appeal of Crocs has far surpassed the intended audience. Kids especially have been swept up with Croc fever. It may be due to the wide selection of colors and designs available and the ease of taking Crocs on and off. Crocs have excellent cushioning but are not a very supportive shoe. Because Crocs are not very supportive, I would not recommend wearing them for long walks or physical exercise. They would be better for short distances or standing. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

What do fish have to do with your feet? Well, have you heard about the latest way to get rid of the rough, dead skin (callouses) on your feet? A salon in Virginia has started using tiny little fish called garra rufa or doctor fish to eat the dead skin off of your feet and toes. After the fish are done with your feet then a standard pedicure is performed. It sounds like the fish do not have any teeth, so they do not eat living skin. As with any new treatment, I would advise caution and suggest you follow the 10 tips for a safe salon pedicure. Photo © Tami Fite

Vacations can involve rest and relaxation or walking, seeing and doing. If you are not used to doing a lot of walking, all of the extra miles could cause a slight pain in your foot to become worse. A common problem in the foot is called a neuroma. Some symptoms might include pain, burning, tingling or numbness in the ball of your foot. These symptoms can be aggravated by wearing shoes that are too tight. Learn more about neuromas and what you can do about them. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

I know, they make you taller, sexier and they go with your outfit, but if you think wearing high heels only does good things for you, then you need to keep reading. There are significant negative things happening to your body when you wear high heels. If you wear high-heeled shoes on a regular basis, you may want to consider a footwear change after you read high-heeled shoes - bad for the body.

Are you having pain on the side of your big toe? Did your big toe used to be straight and now it is leaning more toward your second toe? Are your "wide" shoes not feeling so "wide" anymore? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may have a bunion. Bunions are a common foot problem, especially in women. Learn more about causes and treatments of bunions.

Especially Boston Celtics' fans. The Boston streets were lined with Celtics' fans as the players, coaches and staff rolled by on Boston's famous duck boats. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship. Celtics guard Rajon Rondo injured his ankle in game 3, but you would never have known it with his outstanding play in the championship game. Read more about ankle injury rehab. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

The easy-on, easy-off capabilities of flip-flops are enticing in this fast-paced world, but a research study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends only wearing flip-flops for short periods of time. Flip-flops should not be the shoes of choice for long walks. Flip-flops change the way you walk and make your feet work really hard just to keep them on. If you have spent too much time in flip-flops you may want to learn how to find a podiatrist. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

The shoes felt great in the store. You took a couple laps around the shoe department and did not notice any irritation. Then you decided to wear your new shoes for your weekend getaway which involved a walk through the airport, a walking tour of your destination city and a limp back to your hotel. Your feet feel like they are on fire and you notice a blister on one of your toes. Shoes should feel comfortable in the store, that is an important part of a good fit, but you should also wear your shoes several times for short distances before attempting long distance walking. This will help your feet get accustomed to your new shoes and help prevent foot problems such as blisters or more serious problems like ulcers (open sores). Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.