There are a variety of injuries that can impact the feet and ankles that come from playing baseball. One of the most common injuries that occurs in baseball, due to running, sliding, and stepping on bases, is an ankle sprain. Athletes who overtrain can also develop heel injuries, such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy. There are also a number of injuries that can be caused by cleats. If the cleats don’t fit properly, they could cause issues such as bunions, hammertoes and neuromas. Ingrown toenails are also common among baseball players, since toenails that are cut too short or at an angle can dig into the skin and get infected. Baseball players who are dealing with any sort of pain or aggravation in their feet or ankles would be wise to consult with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.  

Sports related foot and ankle injuries require proper treatment before players can go back to their regular routines. For more information, contact Andrew Katz, DPM of Allcare Foothealth Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Sports Related Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are a common occurrence when it comes to athletes of any sport. While many athletes dismiss the initial aches and pains, the truth is that ignoring potential foot and ankle injuries can lead to serious problems. As athletes continue to place pressure and strain the area further, a mild injury can turn into something as serious as a rupture and may lead to a permanent disability. There are many factors that contribute to sports related foot and ankle injuries, which include failure to warm up properly, not providing support or wearing bad footwear. Common injuries and conditions athletes face, including:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Achilles Tendinitis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Ankle Sprains

Sports related injuries are commonly treated using the RICE method. This includes rest, applying ice to the injured area, compression and elevating the ankle. More serious sprains and injuries may require surgery, which could include arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery. Rehabilitation and therapy may also be required in order to get any recovering athlete to become fully functional again. Any unusual aches and pains an athlete sustains must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Palmdale, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail grows into the surrounding skin on the sides of the nail. This condition can affect people of all ages (even babies). Ingrown toenails can be quite painful and may even become inflamed and infected. Rounding your toenails off when trimming them (rather than cutting them straight across) or cutting them too short can lead to an ingrown toenail. Wearing high heels and improperly fitted shoes that force the toes to squish together can also lead to ingrown toenails. Other possible contributing factors to ingrown toenails include injuries to the toenail, fungal toenail infections, nail deformity, and certain medications which can sometimes cause nail dystrophy. If you develop an ingrown toenail, make an appointment with a podiatrist who can treat your ingrown toenail with a variety of methods, while avoiding possible infection and preventing it from becoming ingrown again.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Andrew Katz, DPM of Allcare Foothealth Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

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

There are many reasons your child may be experiencing foot pain. If your child plays a sport, you’ll want to find out if they’ve recently had an accident or injury. Physically active children are more at risk for obtaining an ankle sprain or strain, Achilles tendonitis, fracture, or other injury. Children between 9 and 14 years old can go through growth spurts where the growth plate at the heel becomes stressed and inflamed (Sever’s disease). This condition can be exacerbated by physical activity. Your child may have outgrown their footwear or are wearing shoes without proper support and cushioning. Perhaps your child has never developed arches, which can cause pain throughout the feet, ankles and calves. Does your child trim their own toenails? If so, they may have developed a painful ingrown toenail from cutting their nails too short. Has your child been walking differently? Check the bottom of their feet for plantar warts. These contagious growths can be very painful when walking or running. To get to the bottom of your child’s foot pain, it's a good idea to have a podiatrist perform a thorough examination.

When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, it is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly.  If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact Andrew Katz, DPM from Allcare Foothealth Center. Our doctor will assist you with all of your podiatric needs.

Systemic Diseases of the Feet

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable.  Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Palmdale, CA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

When you stand on the ground, do you notice small, soft bumps on the bottoms of your feet? Do they disappear when you sit down? If so, you may have piezogenic pedal papules. These tiny bumps are round, squishy, and skin-colored and tend to occur around the heels. They are caused by fat below the skin poking through connective tissue defects in the feet. Piezogenic pedal papules are very common, affecting approximately 60% of adults. In the majority of cases, these papules cause no symptoms. In about 10% of people, papules may cause foot pain, which can be treated through conservative measures, such as avoiding standing for prolonged periods of time, treating any existing foot injuries, wearing orthotics, and weight loss. For more information about piezogenic pedal papules, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Andrew Katz, DPM from Allcare Foothealth Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This 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

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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