At least six million individuals living in the United States are estimated to have been diagnosed with venous insufficiency. Data from the general public shows that while venous insufficiency might affect almost 40% of females, its incidence rate in men is nearly 17%. However, other than gender, the relevance of venous insufficiency may also vary from individual to individual based on factors like their diet and lifestyle. (1)

This article explores the main causes, symptoms, and risk factors for venous insufficiency, which will allow you to recognize your symptoms and get early medical intervention from a trained health expert.

A very common reason why children, adolescents and adults consult podiatrists is the appearance

 of warts on their feet. In adults, they usually are not a cause for concern. However, when they appear in children and adolescents, their parents tend to worry and they can pass on their anxiety to children.

The good news is that warts can be easily treated, ceasing to be a cause of concern for the family.

We tend to forget how important it is to keep our feet healthy. In fact, some of us have deformities in the feet that usually go unnoticed because they don’t bother us greatly. However, when the parents are the ones who notice any deformity or problem in the feet of their children, feelings like confusion, anxiety, concern and sadness may appear.

The term “foot deformity” includes a wide range of conditions that may affect the bones, tendons and muscles in the feet, some of them are more common than others. Some examples in children are ingrown toenails, flatfoot (pes planus), pes cavus foot, clubfoot deformity, tarsal coalition, curly toes, hammertoes, accessory navicular, juvenile bunion, accessory digits, ankle sprains, musculoskeletal disorders, and connective tissue diseases.

In this article we give you a brief description of the most common ones.

• Ingrown toenails: As its name says, it is an aberrant growth of a toenail deeply into the nail margin and surrounding tissues. This problem is more common that we think in children.
• Flatfoot: This condition refers to the flattening of the medial arch of the foot. It can be an isolated pathology, or it can be part of a syndrome or another systemic disorder, like ligamentous laxity, collagen disorders, neurologic abnormalities and genetic conditions.
• Pes Cavus: It is defined as an exaggeration of the normal arch of the foot. It can be related to neurological disorders like the Charcot-Marie Tooth disease, leg length discrepancy and clubfoot deformity.
• Clubfoot: It is a deformity characterized by an abnormal foot turning inwards and downwards, and is smaller in size. The Achilles tendon is tight, pulling up the heel and generating an inability to prevent the foot from being able to stay flat on the ground.

An early diagnosis is crucial to achieve the best solution. Nowadays, there are many treatments available for all the foot deformities mentioned above, so your children might receive either medical or surgical treatments options which is patient dependent.

There are other options for treatment, such as orthotics, prescriptions, braces and shoes. All those treatment options preserve the integrity of the growth plate to guarantee the normal growth and the development of all the child’s foot structures.

So, if you need a pediatric podiatrist do not look any further. Every day, I deal with many common pediatric foot deformities and, as a parent, I can put myself in your place, I understand all your concerns and sympathize with the children, so I can offer the best treatment for your kid.

Call us at 407-913-3965 to schedule an appointment today!

Winter is here, and for once, we’re actually feeling the effects of cold weather in Florida. Here are some tips for bearing through the cold weather:

1. Closed-toe shoes: A must for this frigid weather! Those of us affected with poor circulation, varicose veins, raynauds, diabetes, etc. have to make sure we’re protecting our feet and toes. Cold weather can cause a decrease in blood circulation to the toes, which can lead to many symptoms and issues, such as numbness, tingling, discoloration and discomfort. It’s important to wear comfortable, supportive closed-toe shoes. Inserts, also called orthotics, are key to supporting the tendons and ligaments in the foot and maintaining the overall shape of the foot. You can purchase these at our office and are more affordable then you could imagine! No appointment is necessary to purchase these, just stop by the front desk–although we do recommend if you’ve never seen a foot doctor, make an appointment to have your foot evaluated so we can get you in the best gear for your feet!
2. Socks: Make sure you’re wearing socks with your closed toe shoes. We always recommend cotton socks. We have a lot of sweat glands in our feet, and even in the cold weather, our feet can still sweat. It’s important to change your socks frequently throughout the day. If it rains outside, which is always a high probability in Florida, make sure you keep an extra pair of socks with you. Wet socks can lead to fungus/athletes foot. If you’re affected by either of these conditions, we have many innovative treatment options for you! Symptoms include, but are not limited to, flakey dry skin, thick discolored nails, itching and redness. Fungus can spread, so at the first signs and symptoms, make sure you stop in the office to discuss your treatment options!
3. Trauma: The cold weather can cause us to rush indoors from our cars to stay warm. We have many patients coming in to the office that easily tripped and injured their feet or stubbed their toes. If this happens to you, do not wait to see a foot doctor! Injuries can lead to infections which can lead to ulcers or amputations, especially in our diabetic population. It’s important to have any injury, no matter how small or minor you think it may be.

Call us at 407-913-3965 to schedule an appointment today!

Supartz joint fluid therapy has been used for over 20 years around the world. It was FDA approved in January of 2001 for osteoarthritis in the knee. It’s indicated for treatment of pain in osteoarthritis to restore the cushioning and lubricating properties of normal joint fluid and thereby prolonging the life of damaged or arthritic joints. It’s a sterile viscoelastic non-pyrogenic solution of purified, high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate which is extracted from chicken combs. The chicken combs are harvested from chickens that have been certified as suitable for human consumption via pre and post mortem veterinary inspection.

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