Do's & Don'ts of Plantar Fasciitis

Do you suffer from #heelpain? Watch this video for helpful treatment tips for #plantarfasciitis



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The Key to Better Health Could Be Right Under Your Toes

Custom Orthotics - Putting Your Body In Balance

What is the function of the foot?

The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. This may sound like overkill for a flat structure that supports your weight, but you may not realize how much work your foot does! Let's start with an easy one. Your feet function as a primary "shock absorber" for your body. When your foot hits the ground, it adapts to the surface and lessens the actual impact of that contact. Your foot also acts as a "rigid lever", allowing you to effectively push off from the ground when walking or running.

What do my feet have to do with pain in my ankles, legs, knees, and/or lower back?

Your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. Like the foundation of a house, your feet support the weight of everything above them. When a small bio-mechanical problem developing in your foot/feet leads to a subtle change in the way you walk, a chain reaction will occur in your overall posture. These changes can put stress on joints higher up in your body that can lead to these secondary problems. At Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists of South Florida, we look to correct the underlying issue in your foot with custom orthotics.

What are orthotics? 

Custom orthotics are insoles constructed from a plaster impression of your foot. They are designed specifically to address any abnormality or mechanical problem that your foot is experiencing. A plaster impression is made of your feet. The casts are then sent to a lab and prescription custom insoles are made from them. Small additions called "posts" are added if necessary to allow the foot to function at its best.

How do I know if I have a problem that could be treated by custom orthotics?

The symptoms of poor foot biomechanics may include one or more of the following:

Pain in the bottom of your foot could be fixed by a
custom orthotic!

• Localized foot pain
• Bunions
• Hammer toes
• Arch pain
• Heel pain
• Knee pain
• Hip / Lower back pain
• Tendonitis
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Shin splints
• Stress fractures
• Recurrent injuries
• Fatigue with standing or walking

Why would I or my child need orthotics?

Sometimes the foot is ineffective in absorbing shock or very weak when trying to push off during walking or running. Orthotics will help in both cases. 

Poor shock absorption in feet can lead to:

• Stress fractures
• Heel spurs
• Ankle instability
• Knee pain
• Neuromas

Don't let lower leg pain stop you from doing
what you love!

Poor ability to push off can lead to:

• Flat feet
• Shin splints
• Bunions
• Hammer toes
• Neuromas
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Back pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Metatarsal joint abnormalities
• Foot instability
• Turf toe
• Shin splints
• Ankle instability
• Arch pain
• Growing pain
• Premature fatigue with activity
• General avoidance of activity
• Poor cardiovascular fitness

How do the orthotics help correct these problems?

The foot and lower extremities function best in what doctors call "Neutral Position”. This position allows the foot

to function optimally in both absorbing shock and improving stability. Any position in which the arch is too high (cavus foot) or too low (flat foot (links to pre- and post-operation photos)) doesn’t allow this optimal function, and problems can develop in the foot, ankle, knee or back.

Custom orthotics can mostly, if not completely, eliminate fatigue in the feet and legs during or after activity by providing proper support. They can eliminate “growing pains” in children and allow pain-free activity while also lessening the stressful impact of heel strike on the ground.

Orthotics can also lessen signs and symptoms of foot and ankle instability by adding small “posts” to the

device to help even out weight distribution during walking and running. This helps to decrease ankle sprains.

Our patients will typically be able to run faster and a longer distance without pain once they begin using their orthotic devices. Extensive walking (such as through Disney World, hooray vacation!) becomes much easier. Standing in general becomes more pain-free. All of this leads to a better quality of life.

So, why choose our practice to make your orthotics?

Here's what you can expect from the Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists when it comes to fitting you for a custom orthotic:

• We will perform a comprehensive lower-extremity evaluation to determine your needs.
• This includes evaluation of joint mobility, muscle strength, ligament stability, and your specific gait imbalance.
• Once we have this information, we will make a plaster impression of your foot, placing it in the optimal position to design and produce the best orthotic to treat your imbalance.
• We will make any necessary modifications to the impression in order to make sure your orthotic is optimally shaped to provide you the best short- and long-term quality of life!

What types of shoes are orthotics good for?

Different types of orthotics are made for different types of shoes. They can be made specific to shoes necessary for your daily activities, including:

• Sneakers
• Cleats
• Work Boots
• Dress Shoes
• Cycling Cleats
• High Heels
• Flats & Wedges
• Boots
• Running Shoes

How do I get them?

It's simple. Make your appointment with us today and let us fit you for your custom orthotic! Once we get the plaster impressions, we send them to a lab to create your orthotics. Within 2-3 weeks, we'll give you a call that your orthotics are ready.

Whether immediately or within a few weeks of use, you'll feel full relief from your symptoms. 

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. 

Click here to book your appointment and get yourself back to your best!

Heel & Arch Pain in Adults - A Quick Fix for Foot Specialists

What is Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Spur Syndrome)?

PROBLEM

Are you suffering from heel or arch pain?
Why not fix it with our Foot, Ankle & Leg
Specialists today?

An inflammation of the main ligament in the arch of your foot, where it attaches to the heel bone and supports the foot, can lead to pain in the bottom of the foot. Usually, this pain will be diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, or heel spur syndrome.

CAUSES

• Trauma, or other injury, to the bottom of the foot.
• Excessive activity or use over a short period of time.
• Flat or high-arched feet.
• Tight muscles, especially the calf or hamstring.
• Poor footwear (either flat or worn-out shoes) or walking barefoot for prolonged periods of time.
• Standing or walking on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time.
• Uphill walking on a treadmill.
• Overuse of the elliptical machine.
• Excessive calf raises or lunges.
• Zumba type classes that make you change elevation frequently during exercise.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Pain first thing in the morning when you get out of bed and put weight on your foot.
• Pain that diminishes while walking. Pain that may last for only a few minutes early on, but persists for longer durations as time passes.
• Pain after sitting for a prolonged period of time or when getting out of a car and starting to walk.
• Occasional burning, numbness, shooting or tingling in the heel. This may also be a sign of surrounding nerve injury.
• Extreme tenderness when touching the heel or arch area on your foot.
• Commonly seen with lower back pain.
• Potential degradation to stress reaction or stress fracture in the foot or leg.

TREATMENT

As painful as plantar fasciitis may be, it's actually very easy to treat if you see a foot specialist early. Here's what to expect from treatment. First, you'll go through a thorough history and physical examination of the foot and lower leg. Then, based on the findings, you'll likely be told one of the following.

• Avoid walking barefoot. Wear a supportive shoe with a heel higher than the front. For women, high heels an inch or larger work best. This takes much of the pressure off of the affected area.
• Anti-inflammatory medication, ultrasound-guided steroid injections or oral medications, will be prescribed to help reduce inflammation.
• Taping your foot to support and give immediate relief to the area.
• Prescription of custom molded orthotic inserts to permanently support your foot and prevent reoccurrence. This is always the best LONG-TERM treatment for plantar fasciitis.
• Frequent stretching of calf and hamstring muscles to improve your overall flexibility.
• Splinting your foot at night to stretch the muscle in the back of the leg.
• Applying ice to the area by freezing an almost full plastic water bottle and rolling it with the arch of your foot.
• Occasional immobilization of the foot in a cast or boot to provide more rest and immediate relief.
• Shockwave therapy or PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections.
• Surgery as a last resort. Endoscopic plantar fascia release of the ligament from the heel is a 10 minute procedure that provides relief in almost all cases.

PROGNOSIS

Long term relief is almost guaranteed when you treat your plantar fasciitis early. A diligent approach to treatment is always best, and when our patients work with us to make that happen, we are able to provide almost immediate relief in most cases.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. 

Click here to book your appointment and get yourself back to your best!

Is It "Growing Pains" or Something Else?

Don't Miss the Underlying Problem Causing "Growing Pains"

You may often hear your child complain about foot, ankle or leg problems that you, naturally, attribute to "normal growing pains". While in a small number of cases this could be true, the majority of the time, the pains are actually caused by malalignment problems. Your child could be suffering from a problem like flatfoot or knock knee. Here's how you can tell the difference and help set your child up for a healthier, happier life!

Causes (What to Look For)

• Excessively flat feet, or feet that point outwards when your child walks.
• Knees appearing to touch each other when your child walks.
• Tight muscles - especially the calf, hamstrings and external rotator muscles of the hips.
• The following activities can cause malalignments to develop
• Walking barefoot
• Playing sports or other activities with poorly fitting shoes.
• Occasionally, rapid growth can lead to imbalances

Pre- and post-operation examples of flatfoot in children

Symptoms (What's the Complaint?)

• Pain during and after activity, especially along the inside of the shinbone and knees.
• Premature fatigue during activity.
• General avoidance of activity and exercise.
• Leg pain, especially at night, causing lack of sleep.
• Lower back pain.
• Often associated with toe walkers.

Treatment (Get Back to Their Best)

When we have a child or young adult come through the office complaining of symptoms that could be caused by lower extremity malalignment, here is what we check to diagnose and treat the underlying cause: 

• Medical history of your family to be sure there aren’t infections, traumas or inflammatory conditions that can mimic problems in the lower extremity.
• A thorough lower extremity exam by our doctors to identify areas of tightness, weakness, instability and pain.
• Changing of shoe gear to add more support.
• Advisement against going barefooted, especially when your child is experiencing pain.
• Physical therapy to decrease overall muscle tightness and to improve muscle strength, coordination, reaction time, and flexibility.
• Custom molded orthotics (a shoe insert made from a plaster impression of your child's foot) to realign the lower extremity. In many cases this will eliminate the leg pains that these children experience almost overnight.
• Casting the leg to stretch the calf muscle may be needed. This is a temporary walking cast that requires undergoing a lot of activity while in the cast. If a child has tight muscles below the knee, a walking cast is crucial to help permanently eliminate the pain.

Prognosis (Staying Healthy)

Early identification of predisposing causes that lead to these growing pains is important to your child’s overall health and wellness. Many children who have been diagnosed with growing pains have primary causes that can be addressed with great success. 

Many of these children are not able to keep up with their peers during activity due to pain and premature fatigue, ultimately affecting their self-esteem. They may become less likely to participate in sports and lead a less active lifestyle in general. 

Inactive children usually become inactive adults, who may be overweight. It is critical to understand why your child is having leg discomfort rather than brushing off the problem as "growing pains." Really, there is no such thing.

Plus, the Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists can always quickly eliminate these pains and help your child get back to their happy, healthy, active best.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. 

Click here to book your appointment and get your child back to their best!