How to Choose Shoes - The Texas Foot Specialists

Go for Comfort

Shoes are an essential part of our everyday wardrobe. But if this is something that you would be wearing often then choosing comfort over style is the better choice. A quick look into your lifestyle will give you valuable insight into what type of footwear to use.

Flat Feet and High Arches

Make a quick assessment if you have flat feet or a high arch by doing this simple test. Get your feet wet and stand on a piece of paper. Check the silhouette or foot print left on the paper. If the footprint leaves an impression with your middle feet clearly visible then this indicates a flat foot. If a thin line connecting the ball of the foot to the heel is visible, then it can indicate a high arch.

Wearing the Right Shoes for Flat Foot and High Arches

Wear shoes that take into account your foot structure. This does not only mean wearing the right shoe size but shoes that provide additional support for flat foot or high arches. Flat foot sufferers should opt for inserts that give additional support to the middle of the feet. People with a high arch on the other hand should go for slightly elevated heels and good arch support. If you have questions visit a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders and injuries.

Shoe Equipment

Choosing the right sport equipment involves choosing which shoe works best in enhancing performance. Sports shoes are designed to provide optimum support for specific sport activities. Running shoes for marathons and basketball shoes for cushioning the impact of jumps and running across the court.

Give your feet a breather from high heels

Proper foot care does not prevent us from wearing high heels. It only asks us to avoid wearing high heels constantly for long periods of time.  Turning it down a few inches helps decrease the pressure of our weight bearing down on our heels and feet.

An essential part of foot care is wearing appropriate foot wear. This goes beyond wearing the right shoes size. Your shoes should also take into account your foot structure and the type of activity. Wearing sandals in public showers for example protects your feet from coming in contact with infection. Another example is wearing running shoes that help absorb the impact of your feet pounding against the ground. 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Kelly Ripa - Calcaneonavicular Coalition - The Texas Foot Specialists

Kelly Ripa is an amazing dancer but right after breaking her foot, it was found that she was suffering from calcaneonavicular coalition. This is a congenital deformity seen on the feet. Some show symptoms or pain while others don’t have any symptoms at all.

What is calcaneonavicular coalition?

Calcaneonavicular coalition or tarsal coalition is a medical condition in which two or more bones in the foot are joined. Patients with this congenital condition usually shows symptoms during adolescence but there are also cases that presentations of symptom happen during adulthood.

To learn more about Trench feet, consult a podiatrist. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

What are some ofthe causes of calcaneonavicular coalition?

Calcaneonavicular coalition can be a genetic error during fetal development can be triggered by:

• Infection
• Trauma to the area
• Self-fusion of the joint
• Genetics is most likely the cause of calcaneonavicular coalition

What are some of the signs and symptoms of calcaneonavicular coalition?

Most children with calcaneonavicular coalition are born with the disorder. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of calcaneonavicular coalition:

• Pain on the outside and top of the foot
• Rigidity and stiffness of the affected foot
• Flat feet or flat foot
• Difficulty walking on uneven ground
• Pain that worsens while increasing any activity
• Limited range of motion

How is calcaneonavicular coalition diagnosed?

Calcaneonavicular coalition is diagnosed through a couple of physical examination to the foot, medical history of the patient, and X-rays. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan is used to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the location of the affected joints.

What are some of the treatments for calcaneonavicular coalition?

There are number of non-surgical treatments for calcaneonavicular coalition. Nonsurgical treatment involves (always check with your podiatrist before treatment):

1. Resting. Stop or reduce high impact activities that makes the pain worse to relieve discomfort and pain.
2. Othotics. Use inserts and place it inside the shoe to relieve pain and reduce pressure on the tarsal.
3. Cast or walking boot. This will temporarily immobilize the affected foot.
4. Cortisone injections. The use of steroids will reduce pain and discomfort.

When these treatments are not effective, surgery is required. When there is no arthritis present, the main goal of the surgery is to remove the growth of abnormal bones to restore range of motion.

Surgical treatments can be resection. This is the most common type of surgery and is often performed in younger patients. This procedure involves removing the coalition and replacing it with muscles or tissues. This will restore normal range of motion and proper function by separating the bones that were not connected properly.

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

The Joys and Pain of Ballet Dancing, Trigger Toes Explained

Dancing and ballet in particular is an activity that demands great physical strength in the feet and toes. Ballet dancers often have to support their weight only using their toes for long periods of time.  When you’ve got the whole force of your body pressing against a single point then toe injury is just around the corner.

“En pointe” or standing on your toes is a discipline required by ballet dancers. When pressure is concentrated on the big toe, it can injure the flexor hallucis longus muscle which is responsible for flexing the big toe.

Do you have trigger toe?

Although trigger toe is a foot condition commonly found among ballet dancers, it is also a condition found in non-ballet dancers. As long as the conditions for developing a trigger toe is met, almost anyone can suffer from the condition.

Symptoms of trigger toe include pain that is usually mild at first and steadily worsens as the condition progresses. For ballet dancers, pain is triggered when performing the en pointe position and is immediately relieved through rest or when weight is taken off the feet.

People suffering from a trigger toe may experience a clicking sensation when moving the toes. Sometimes it may be necessary for you to use your hands to move or flex the big toe.  

A visit to a podiatrist is recommended when the first signs of a trigger toe is observed. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specializes in helping people with trigger toes.

Treatment and Management

Treatment options may differ according to the severity of the condition. An ice pack can be used to reduce pain and swelling.

Conservative treatments can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for immediate relief of inflammation.

Foot strengthening exercises can also be used before a dancer proceeds into more complex steps such as the en pointe position. This is to strengthen the arch and decrease the pressure on the big toe.

Sometimes a weight management program is advised to reduce the weight load on the feet.

For severe cases, surgery is recommended for releasing the tendon and restore normal functioning. 

Cases of trigger toes are rare especially for those who don’t engage in ballet. However, trigger toes will always be a huge concern for ballet dancers. The chances for a full recovery is high and ballet dancers with a history of trigger toes can resume their career.

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with trigger toes.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.