Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Stinky Feet

Yikes! What stinks?

Whether you’re simply lounging your legs on the couch or wriggling your toes on a moist sandy beach, it’s clear that feet have a reputation to reek. At Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain, OH, Drs. Michael Wenowitz and David Hintz treat all types of foot-related health conditions, including bromodosis, or stinky feet. Here’s everything you need to know about stinky feet.

What Causes Stinky Feet?

Bromodosis is caused by a build-up of bacteria and sweat on your feet. It’s normal for your feet to sweat, especially when this area of the body contains more sweat glands than any other region. When we sweat, our body is cooled down and our skin is moistened. Bacteria that naturally occur on the feet help break down sweat. However, if there’s too much sweat build-up, the bacteria will release a foul odor, a smell we relate to as stinky feet. Bromodosis is also caused by fungal infections like athlete’s foot which starts between the toes.

Ways Sweat Builds-up

-Not changing socks each day

-Not washing or drying feet

-Poor hygiene

-Wearing wet shoes

-Sweating and wearing socks or shoes before the sweat dries.

-Wearing tight-fitting socks or shoes

Treatments

Stinky feet is not a major medical issue, in fact, it can easily be treated at home. Start by creating a foot hygiene routine, such as washing your feet with mild antibacterial soap and drying them after. Another step is to change socks each day and wear dry shoes. Keep your toenails trimmed and clean between the toes. If you’re experiencing something more serious, such as bromodosis from an infection, contact our Lorain, OH office today to book an appointment.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Introduction to Foot Cramps

Foot cramps are terrible; there’s no doubt about it. But it may be within a person’s power to decrease their frequency. At the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain, our podiatrists are specially trained in sports medicine, and foot cramps are the most common foot problem among athletes. Therefore, we wanted to pass along some guidance on getting through a cramp and what may cause one.

A foot cramp is a muscle spasm in which the muscle suddenly tightens. When one happens, a person may be able to relieve their pain by putting pressure on the foot and stretching it out, using their hands to massage the muscles, if necessary. The cramps may be occurring because a person is overexercising, in which case they would need to change to a more balanced work-out routine. Another common cause is overly tight shoes, which compress muscles and restrict circulation. Shoes shouldn’t chafe the heels or be too tight for someone to wiggle their toes.

Muscles are also prone to cramping when they aren’t getting enough nutrition. People who are dehydrated or lacking in potassium tend to get a lot of foot cramps, so they need to make sure they’re replenishing their electrolytes. It’s also important to keep in mind that some problems, such as nerve damage, may feel similar to foot cramps, so it may be necessary to seek a professional opinion if self-management of foot cramps is unsuccessful.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Skateboarding and Ankle Sprains

Sprained ankles are one of the most common sports injuries, and skateboarders are not exempt. Although they may take reasonable precautions by wearing safety equipment, they are still subjecting their ankles to repetitive force, and may develop chronic injuries as well as acute ones. At Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we specialize in sports injuries, so we wanted our readers to know a bit more about what a sprained ankle is and how it is treated.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. The ligaments are the tissues that connect bones to each other. Rolling the foot inward may injure the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, which is the most common form of ankle sprain, but rolling the foot outward may harm the inward-facing side’s ligaments. A ligament may have been weakening for a long time before a particularly bad fall caused it to stretch too far or tear, and ligaments that have been injured in the past are more vulnerable. Without the stability provided by the ligament, the foot bones may rub against cartilage or each other, causing further damage.

Sprained ankles will be swollen and tender, but will only be substantially unstable in the most severe cases. Usually, sprains don’t require surgical repair. Instead, the patient should rest, ice, compress, and elevate their ankle until a doctor can examine it, after which it will be immobilized by a brace. The patient will then gradually build up their strength, agility, balance, and flexibility through physical therapy. But to prevent the sprain from returning, a skater will have to remember to warm-up before exercising, do stretches regularly, and to stop skating if they’re in pain and switch to a different activity that doesn’t put as much lateral force on their ankle.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis remains a mysterious condition. Although the connective tissue at the bottom of each foot is subjected to a lot of daily wear, it is unknown why some people develop inflammation and others don’t. However, there are often specific factors that can be identified as increasing the risk of fascia strains. At Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, our podiatrists are specialists in sports medicine and offer comprehensive treatments for plantar fasciitis and other causes of foot pain, but our patients will need to do what they can to mitigate their risk factors.

Plantar fasciitis is common in distance runners, whose feet are subjected to an especially high amount of stress. It’s also seen in people whose jobs require them to be on their feet for most of the day, such as hairdressers, and in people whose shoes don’t allow them enough arch support. But people who are overweight are also at increased risk, as are people who are new to physical activity or who have recently returned to it. Researchers have noticed that people with plantar fasciitis often have tight calf muscles, suggesting that the plantar fascia is being overstretched to compensate for the heel being pulled upwards.

One bit of good news about plantar fasciitis is that it doesn’t usually appear in people who have heel spurs, so it’s probably possible to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon enough so that a heel spur won’t wear them down too much. The less good news is that plantar fasciitis is common in people with fallen arches. However, it may be possible to reinforce and arch without restoring to surgery, by making use of customized orthotics and physical therapy to strengthen the foot muscles. Patients should also make sure they are stretching their calf muscles before work-outs and giving them enough time to recover afterward.

Friday, August 7, 2020

Bones of the Foot

We talk a lot about the bones of the foot at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain. As podiatrists, we often perform surgeries and help people to recover from broken bones and other problems in their foot structure. We recognize that patients are more confident making decisions about their care when they feel comfortable with the language used in the office, so we wanted to briefly describe where each bone of the foot is and what they’re called.

The talus is the bone at the top of the ankle that the leg bones, the tibia and fibula, connect to. Below it is the calcaneus, or heel bone. In between the back of the foot and the mid-section are the tarsals, which form the curved ramp that is the foot’s arch. They are the navicular, which is in front of the talus, the cuboid, which is in front of the calcaneus on the outer side of the foot, and the three cuneiforms, which are in front of the navicular and, along with the cuboid, form a crescent-shape when seen from above.

The middle of the foot is made up of the five metatarsal bones. They are long and thin, with one connecting to each cuneiform and leading to the first three toes, and the remaining two connecting with the cuboid and leading to the outer two toes. The toes themselves are made up of bones called phalanges, with the big toe having two and the others each having three. The phalanges furthest back toward the metatarsals are called “proximal,” and the ones at the tips of the toes are called “distal.” The ball of the foot is where the proximal phalanges and metatarsals connect.

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Juvenile Arthritis

Could arthritis be the cause of your child’s swollen feet? It’s possible. Recently, we of the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain discussed Sever’s disease, a common cause of foot pain in children. Since then we've felt it would be helpful to discuss another potential cause of ankle swelling in pediatric patients, and describe how it’s recognized and treated.

Juvenile arthritis is poorly understood, but we know it's an autoimmune condition. That means the body’s immune system is attacking healthy tissues, causing swelling, hot spots, and stiffness. Most cases of juvenile arthritis are oligoarticular, meaning that they only directly affect a small number of joints. However, the joint that is affected is often the ankle or knee. It is more common in girls and tends to strike during the first few years of a child’s life.

Oligoarticular arthritis is generally considered to be the most mild form of juvenile arthritis. The diagnostic process includes x-rays and blood tests for antibodies associated with autoimmune disorders. Treatment is conservative, usually consisting of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles, allowing them to better support the joints. We especially encourage low-impact exercises that will also stretch the ankle without jostling it.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Hallux Rigidus

Your big toe plays a major role in the balance of your foot, so it’s a serious problem if your toe is becoming less flexible. Hallux Rigidus is a term that describes arthritis in the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint, which connects the big toe to the rest of the foot. We at the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates of Lorain have helped a lot of people to manage this condition, but if it’s not caught early, it can cause permanent damage.

Some people have a genetic susceptibility to cartilage damage in their feet, but loss of cartilage can be exacerbated by overuse. If a person’s ankle rolls inwards, they’ll put a lot of stress on their MTP joint. A person who suffers from gout or has a rheumatoid condition will also have damaged cartilage, and as the bones of their toes rub together, they may grow a spur. This may cause a visible bump in the top of the foot that could be mistaken for a bunion, and a patient will likely feel pain in their big toe when they push off from the ground while walking. Some people also feel more pain in damp weather.

It’s always important to wear shoes with sufficient room in the toe box, but that’s especially true if you’re experiencing MTP stiffness. If your stiffness has already progressed, you might need to wear a shoe with a rocker-shaped bottom to compensate for your big toe’s inability to help you move. We can provide nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, and can provide corticosteroid injections in more advanced cases. Many people find corrective orthotics helpful. It may also be possible for us to remove a bone spur surgically. However, patients need to see us before too much irreplaceable cartilage is lost or our options will be more limited, and it’s better to see us before spurs develop.