Circulation problems are caused in the feet when blood is not able to easily reach the feet. Occasionally, poor circulation in the feet can be a contributing cause to a variety of different afflictions of the foot. Namely, poor circulation can sometimes affect the temperature of the feet. This can lead to a condition known as cold feet. As its name suggests, those living with consistently cold feet feel can feel low temperatures in their lower extremities. Poor circulation can cause this condition as a result of an insufficient amount of warm blood traveling to the feet, and the feet may feel abnormally cold. If you are living with poor circulation in your feet, consider the risk of developing cold feet. Contact a podiatrist to answer any of your questions in addition to learning about various treatment options.

Poor circulation is a serious condition and needs immediate medical attention. If you have any concerns with poor circulation in your feet contact Alex Kim, DPM of AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Poor Circulation in the Feet

Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs is can be caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the result of a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Plaque buildup or atherosclerosis results from excess calcium and cholesterol in the bloodstream. This can restrict the amount of blood which can flow through the arteries. Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs are sometimes caused by inflammation in the blood vessels, known as vasculitis.

Causes

Lack of oxygen and oxygen from poor blood circulation restricts muscle growth and development. It can also cause:

• Muscle pain, stiffness, or weakness   
• Numbness or cramping in the legs 
• Skin discoloration
• Slower nail & hair growth
• Erectile dysfunction

Those who have diabetes or smoke are at greatest risk for poor circulation, as are those who are over 50. If you have poor circulation in the feet and legs it may be caused by PAD and is important to make changes to your lifestyle in order to reduce risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. Exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will dramatically improve conditions.

As always, see a podiatrist as he or she will assist in finding a regimen that suits you. A podiatrist can also prescribe you any needed medication. 

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

Ingrown toenails can develop in an individual when the side of their toenail grows into the skin. As a result, the point at which the nail and skin meet can become inflamed and irritated. An individual with ingrown toenails can experience some kind of discomfort or pain. Runners may be particularly susceptible to developing ingrown toenails. This is explained by the fact that running puts a particular amount of repetitive pressure on the nails in the shoe. This pressure can then ultimately press the side of the nail into the skin and put an individual at risk of developing an ingrown toenail. Although ingrown toenails are certainly not the most serious condition of the feet, they can cause discomfort. If you are a runner and are concerned about developing an ingrown toenail, contact a podiatrist today.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Alex Kim, DPM of AVID Foot & Ankle 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 Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that is not limited to athletes. Anyone can contract the infection if exposed to the highly contagious fungi, known as dermatophytes, that cause it. The most common symptom of athlete’s foot is an itching and burning sensation between the toes or on the bottom of the foot, along with a scaly rash. You may also experience painful cracking of the skin, blistering, and thickening on the soles of the foot. While athlete’s foot is not considered to be dangerous, it can result in a secondary infection if bacteria enter the broken skin. The main complication of having athlete’s foot is infecting other parts of the body that have touched your feet. In addition, anyone sharing personal items or showering spaces with you is at increased risk of infection. Athlete’s foot is treatable with anti-fungal creams, lotions, powders, and sprays. If symptoms persist after a few weeks, please consult a podiatrist who can examine the infected area and prescribe medications or creams that are more potent.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

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

A foot stress fracture is considered to be a hairline fracture. When it is first noticed, the pain is often subtle. It can occur as a result of repetitive use, and is a common injury among runners. There are two treatment methods, and the correct one is chosen depending on the severity of the fracture. For mild stress fractures, effective treatment often begins with resting and elevating the foot, in addition to keeping weight off of it. Performing low-impact activities, such as swimming, is recommended for cardiovascular purposes. Keeping a compression bandage around the foot can help to stabilize it as the healing process occurs. For more severe fractures, surgery may be necessary for complete healing. An effective outpatient procedure is called internal fixation surgery, and pins, screws, and wires may be used to secure the affected bone in place. If you have endured a stress fracture, please confer with a podiatrist who can determine what the best form of treatment is for you.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

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

The feet take us wherever we want to go, all day, every day. But the feet are often neglected when it comes to caring for them. For many people, getting a pedicure is the extent of their foot care routine. However, if your feet are not also strong and healthy, the rest of your body can pay the price. A foot problem or disorder may affect the way you walk and that may cause pain in your knees, hip, back, and neck. Furthermore, other conditions may develop in the feet, such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Painful feet may cause you to avoid movement and exercise, which reduces the strength of the feet, and increases the risk of falling. One of the best ways to take care of your feet is by wearing shoes that provide the correct balance of flexibility and support. Shoes that are too stiff may put the ankles at risk. Another way to practice foot fitness is by doing simple strength and mobility exercises on a regular basis. Among these are toe lifts, rolling your foot over a ball, and scrunching a towel or blanket with the toes. For more information on how to best take care of your feet, please consult a podiatrist.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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

The possibility of breaking a toe can increase if a heavy object drops on it. People can also get a broken toe if it is stubbed into a piece of furniture, and this generally causes severe pain and discomfort. Some people feel a dull pain and throbbing in their toe, which may indicate a stress fracture has occurred. Common symptoms of a broken toe include immediate swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the toe. Severe fractures may cause the bone to snap and protrude through the skin, and surgery may be necessary to ensure a proper healing. Mildly broken toes can heal by using the buddy taping method. This is done by taping the affected toe to the toe next to it, which is generally successful in providing the necessary stability as it heals. An X-ray is typically done that can provide an accurate diagnosis, and this can determine what type of treatment is needed. If you have broken your toe, please confer with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can help you with correct relief options.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

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

Foot problems may increase among the senior population. This is often a result of thinning fat pads in the heel, and the foot structure may change as the aging process occurs. The circulation may diminish, and this can affect the healing of cuts and scrapes that are on the feet. Many people wear shoes that do not fit correctly, and they may gradually develop specific foot conditions that can worsen during their senior years. These can include bunions, corns, and hammertoes, and medical attention from a podiatrist is often sought. Toenail fungus may be common among elderly people, which may happen when the blood flow is reduced to the feet, possibly resulting in dry and brittle nails. It is strongly advised that older people are regularly seen by a podiatrist, who can diagnose and provide the correct treatment for any foot condition.

If you need your feet checked, contact Alex Kim, DPM of AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs and provide you with quality treatment.

Geriatrics and Podiatry
When people age, some common issues that may occur are bone density loss, dry skin, poor circulation, and rough brittle nails. These issues may also affect your foot health if the necessary steps are not taken to alleviate the problems.

It is important to take care of your feet because feet that are injured or diseased can affect your overall health. Having painful feet hinders your ability to do daily activities or may decrease your willingness to do the things that you need to do.

Visiting Your Geriatrician
As we age, health problems become more likely, so it is essential to visit your doctor for check-ups to ensure that you are doing the best you can to take care of your health. It is recommended to check your feet frequently for any possible cuts, bruises, swelling, corns or any other irregularities. 

Taking Care of Elderly Feet
Cracked or dry feet can be treated by applying moisturizer often. It is also important not to wear old socks because the older the sock is, the higher the possibility there will be that there is bacteria there. Wear fresh socks and make sure they fit properly.

Proper foot health means that you can have a more active lifestyle and you will not be bogged down by pain. Foot health also leads to good circulation, which is paramount for overall health.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Plantar fasciitis is a widespread and important kind of foot affliction to be aware of. It is primarily developed when an individual’s plantar fascia, or band of tissue that runs along the arch of the foot, becomes inflamed and aggravated. Pain can be felt in the feet as a result. Importantly, this condition is distinctly different from sciatica, although they each cause some kind of foot pain. Sciatica, by contrast, can occur in an individual when certain nerves that are located in the back can become compressed. Due to the compression, sensations of pain and numbness can travel down the body into the feet. For more information about what makes plantar fasciitis different from sciatica, please contact a podiatrist today. 

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

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