A research team at Stanford University School of Medicine recently discovered a potential new way to quickly heal foot ulcers in diabetic patients. Dr. Geoffrey Gurthner and his colleagues developed a new drug, administered through a patch on the skin that increases a protein in diabetic patients and can reduce blockages in the blood vessels in order to allow wounds from the ulcers to heal properly.

For diabetics, foot ulcers can result in more drastic problems than just foot pain such as infections or amputations. The researchers studied the patch on a human skin apparatus that eventually proved to heal the skin 14 days faster than planned and even improved the overall quality of the skin where the ulcer once appeared. Dr. Gurthner and his research team also hope that high quality healing effects of this patch will be able to prevent ulcers from re-occurring in patients.

Diabetes is a very serious condition that can result in amputation or worse if left untreated. If you are diabetic and have any concerns, visit Dr. Edwin S. Hart III of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart can treat your diabetic feet.   

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes affects millions of people of all ages each year. Diabetes damages blood vessels in many parts of the body, including the feet. When damage occurs to nerves in the feet, they may be unable to send the proper signals to the peripheral nervous system, resulting in a condition known as neuropathy. Once a diabetic patient develops neuropathy, it is imperative that the feet are well taken care of to avoid possible amputation of the feet.

The Importance of Caring for Your Feet

- Regularly check your feet for bruises or sores.
- Wear socks that fit your feet; socks shouldn’t be tight.
- Wear properly fitting shoes that are comfortable.

Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their Hemoglobin A1C levels as this test lets the physician know how well the blood sugar levels have been controlled during the past 3 months. It is important to keep the blood sugar levels in a normal range (70-110mg/dl). It is advisable to visit a podiatrist if the diabetic patient is experiencing any conditions involving the feet.

For more information about Diabetic Foot Care, follow the link below.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office located in Bethlehem, PA. We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technology to meet your needs.

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According to Surgeon Kris DiNucci who presented at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), active women are more likely to develop neuromas than men. This discussion was held on the basis that women usually have a poor choice of footwear, many of which can be unsupportive, too narrow, and too flat.

The consequences of certain women’s footwear includes Morton’s Neuromas, a condition that occurs when the nerves of the fourth and fifth toe become inflamed along with swelling and the possibility of a burning sensation along those toes. Neuromas can be alleviated and prevented with the help of more supportive footwear. 

Morton’s neuroma can be a difficult condition to contend with. If you are experiencing symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma, talk to podiatrist Dr. Edwin S. Hart III of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart can diagnose and treat your feet accordingly.

 Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that commonly affects the areas between the third and fourth toe and the ball of the foot, although other areas of the foot are also susceptible to this condition. Morton’s neuroma is caused by an inflamed nerve in the foot that is being squeezed and aggravated by surrounding bones.  Women are more likely than men to have an occurrence of this foot condition.

What Increases the Chances of having Morton’s Neuroma?

-Ill-fitting high heels or shoes that add pressure to the toe or foot area.
-Jogging, running and any sports that involve constant impact to the foot area.
-Flat feet, bunions, and any other foot deformity may put you at a higher risk for developing Morton’s neuroma.

If you suspect that you may have this condition, you should visit your podiatrist. A podiatrist will first conduct a thorough physical examination to check for palpable masses between the bones of the foot.

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

For more information on the treatment of diabetes, visit our link below.

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Children can develop ingrown toenails in their feet from even the simplest of mistakes. For example, one of the most common ways a child develops an ingrown toenail is when his or her nails are cut too short. To prevent these ingrown toenails, cut their nails evenly and avoid trimming them down excessively. Keep in mind ingrown nails can also occur if a child wears socks and shoes that are too small for his or her feet.

Other cases of ingrown toenails can simply be caused by a genetic predisposition to curved nails. No matter the cause of the ingrown toenail, do not attempt to treat this condition at home. Removing an ingrown nail with a “bathroom surgery” can lead to a bacterial infection.

Ingrown toenails are terribly uncomfortable, and in the worst cases surgery might be required to get rid of them. If you think you have an ingrown toenail, consult with podiatrist Dr. Edwin Hart III of Maryland. Dr. Hart will confirm your diagnosis and do everything he can to treat your problem.

Ingrown Toenails Causes

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

There are a number of risk factors for ingrown toenails. Some include cutting your nails too short, participating in strenuous sports, diabetes, obesity, and fungal infection. Some are genetically predisposed to ingrown nails, although wearing ill-fitting or damp shoes can exacerbate the problem.

Treatment

There are a number of steps you can take to treat ingrown nails:

-Let your toenails grow out
-Soak the toes in hot water with antibiotic soap or Epsom salts
-Placing a piece of cotton under the affected nail may allow the toe to grow up instead of into the nail bed
-Rest with your feet up

If however, your pain is severe, or you see red streaks running up your leg, you should see a podiatrist. Your podiatrist may make a small incision and remove part of the toe nail to relieve the pressure. A local anesthetic may be used to lessen the discomfort of the operation.  Topical medication may also be prescribed to prevent the regrowth of the problem nail.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office in Bethlehem, PA. We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technologies to meet all your needs.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one million Americans are seen by doctors for symptoms of plantar fasciitis each year. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament that runs from the heel bone to the base of the tones becomes inflamed; the inflammation is was usually causes the heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can occur through obesity, having too high or too low of an arch, and participation of activities where your foot or heel hits the ground repeatedly such as running. Some ways to reduce the stress placed on the ligament include: icing, taping the arch and bottom of the foot, stretching the lower extremities, wearing orthotics, and taking anti-inflammatories. If those methods do not do the trick, cortisone injections, shockwave therapy, and extracorporeal pulse activation therapy can also be used.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, visit Dr. Edwin S. Hart III of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart can treat your heel pain as well as any other foot or ankle condition.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to heel and arch pain caused by an inflammation of the connective tissues on the bottom of the foot.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Ill-fitting shoes
• Weight change
• Excessive running
• Non-supportive shoes
• Overpronation

How Can It Be Treated?

• Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices. 
• Shockwave therapy – sends sound waves to the areas where pain is experience.  Requires multiple sessions.  This is used for very persistent cases of plantar fasciitis. 
• Ultrasound-guided technique with steroid injections into the plantar fascia.  This is from a relatively new and small study, but was shown to be effective in most cases treated.

New Studies on Treatment

According to groundbreaking treatment option studies, Luca M. Sconfienza, M.D. says that ultrasound with steroid injections was effective in over 95% of cases that involve plantar fasciitis. This process involves anesthesia and is a single process, out-patient treatment that was discovered to be highly effective. Luca M. Sconfienza M.D. presented her study at an annual meeting for the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Be sure to speak with your podiatrist about different methods that can be used, as well as finding out what treatment options they offer.

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

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Data compiled from the soda-drinking habits of over 180,000 women indicates that U.S. women who drink one or more cups of sweetened beverages a day are about 63% more likely to get seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than those who drink less than that amount. Women over the age of 55 who drink soda are 164% more likely to get the disease. The study, referred to as the Nurses’ Health Study, didn’t find any connection between diet soda and RA or between sweetened soda and seronegative RA. Excessive consumption of sugary drinks has also been linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can become very painful and debilitating if left untreated.  For more information about various RA treatments, consult with Dr. Edwin Hart of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the joints. Inflammation of the lining and eventually the destruction of the joint’s cartilage and bone occur, causing severe pain and immobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Feet

Although RA usually attacks multiple bones and joints throughout the entire body, almost 90 percent of cases result in pain in the foot or ankle area.

Symptoms

- Swelling & pain in the feet
- Stiffness in the feet
- Pain on the ball or sole of feet
- Joint shift and deformation

Diagnosis

Quick diagnosis of RA in the feet is important so that the podiatrist can treat the area effectively. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, occupation, and lifestyle to determine the origin of the condition. Rheumatoid Factor tests help to determine if someone is affected by the disease.

For more information about rheumatoid arthritis please follow the link below.

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

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Research conducted in the Locomotion Lab at the University of Colorado found that running with shoes on may be more efficient for the body than running barefoot. Jason Franz, a doctoral student and the head of the study, and his colleagues had test subjects run on treadmills while wearing lightweight shoes and while barefoot with weights attached.

The researchers recorded their levels of oxygen intake and carbon dioxide exhalation and found that the runners used three to four percent more energy without shoes. According to Franz, this might be due to the increased amount of effort the body has to exert to cushion the impact of the feet without shoes.

Barefoot running has its own share of benefits and disadvantages. To learn more about this trend, consider speaking to podiatrist Dr. Edwin Hart of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart will explain the facts of barefoot running and help you decide if it’s a practice you’d like to take up.

Barefoot Running

The Impact of Barefoot Running

-Running without shoes changes the motion of your running, as most running is done by landing on the heel of the feet.
-Running barefoot requires a different way of running; the landing is done on the front part of the feet.

The Advantages of Barefoot Running

-When running and landing on the front feet, the impact on the feet and ankle is reduced, this can reduce stress injuries.
-It strengthens muscles in the feet and ankles and the lower legs.
-Balance of the body is improved and there is a greater sensory input from the feet to the rest of the body.

The Drawbacks of Barefoot Running

-No protection while running, makes it likely that runners will land on sharp objects and scrapes, bruises and cuts on the feet will result.
-Blisters may form.
-Possibility of plantar fascia problems.
-Risk of getting Achilles tendonitis.

So what can runners do to make barefoot running safe? It’s best to make a slow transition from running shoes to barefoot running. Once the feet begin to adjust, try walking, then jogging and gradually increasing the distance. Minimalist running shoes may also be an option.

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

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Studies have shown that women are at a greater risk of developing stress fractures than men. Reasons for this increased risk include hormonal differences, increased bone density, and higher rates of inadequate nutrition. While athletes in general are at highest risk after changes in intensity, frequency or duration of their workouts; in women, irregular menstrual cycles and weight less than 75 percent of ideal body weight are factors that make for an increased risk for stress fractures. Stress fractures are small cracks that develop in the bone after being stressed, and are most common in the foot, ankle, and lower leg but can occur on bones throughout the body.

Stress fractures can become painful if left untreated for an extended period of time. If you would like assistance in treating a stress fracture in the foot or ankle, consult with Dr. Edwin Hart, D.P.M. of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hart can determine the severity of your condition and provide you with quality care.

Coping with Podiatric Stress Fractures

Stress Fractures occur on the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken as a result of overexertion or underuse.  As a result, the ankles and feet lose support when walking or running from the ground. Since these bones are not protected, they receive the full impact of each step. The stress on the feet causes the bones to form cracks.

What are Stress Fractures?

Stress Fractures are very common among those who are highly active and involved in sports or activities that make excessive use of their legs and feet. Stress fractures are especially common among:
-athletes (gymnasts, tennis players, basketball players)
-runners/joggers
-osteoporosis patients
-those who engage in high-intensity workouts

Stress Fracture Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures, and can be either constant or periodic. The pain is usually sharp or dull, accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Engagement in any kind of high impact activity will exacerbate the pain.

For more information about Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle, follow the link below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bethlehem, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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