Middlefield (860) 349-8500
Wallingford (203) 294-4977
Middlefield (860) 349-8500
Wallingford (203) 294-4977
Ankle sprains come in various forms, each accompanied by distinct symptoms that highlight the complexity of this injury. The lateral ankle sprain is the most common, occurring when the foot turns inward,which stretches or tears the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle. Individuals experiencing a lateral sprain may encounter pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot. Medial ankle sprains, less frequent but equally impactful, involve damage to the ligaments on the inner side of the ankle, often leading to tenderness and swelling. High ankle sprains affect the ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula, causing pain above the ankle and potentially affecting stability. Regardless of the type of sprain, common symptoms include bruising, limited range of motion, and a feeling of instability. If you have endured an ankle sprain, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist who can determine which type it is and offer appropriate treatment solutions.
Ankle sprains are common but need immediate attention. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick from Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?
Ankle sprains take place when the ligaments in your ankle are torn or stretched beyond their limits. There are multiple ways that the ankle can become injured, including twisting or rolling over onto your ankle, putting undue stress on it, or causing trauma to the ankle itself.
What Are the Symptoms?
Preventing a Sprain
Treatment of a Sprain
Treatment of a sprain depends on the severity. Many times, people are told to rest and remain off their feet completely, while others are given an air cast. If the sprain is very severe, surgery may be required.
If you have suffered an ankle sprain previously, you may want to consider additional support such as a brace and regular exercises to strengthen the ankle.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Clubfoot, a congenital foot condition, is a complex deformity that affects the structure and positioning of a newborn's foot or feet. This condition is characterized by abnormalities in the tendons, muscles, and bones, resulting in a twisted and abnormally shaped foot. Understanding the classifications of clubfoot is essential for effective management. The first classification, talipes equinovarus, involves the foot turning downward and inward. Talipes varus, the second type, sees the foot turning inward. Talipes valgus, the third classification, features an outward-turning foot. Lastly, talipes calcaneovalgus is characterized by an extended foot turned outward. Each classification poses unique challenges and requires specific treatment approaches. Early intervention is key, often involving gentle manipulation, casting, and sometimes surgical correction. If your child has been born with clubfoot, it is strongly suggested that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can guide you to a comprehensive treatment plan.
Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick of Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.
What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?
A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.
What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?
Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:
Treatment and Prevention
While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.
Athlete's foot, a common fungal infection, can cause discomfort and itching, urging us to delve into its origins and effective prevention strategies. This condition thrives in warm, damp environments, making communal spaces like locker rooms, swimming pools, and shared showers breeding grounds. Direct contact with the fungus through contaminated surfaces or by sharing items such as towels and shoes facilitates its spread. Prevention begins with practicing good hygiene, including thorough drying between toes and keeping feet clean. Opting for breathable footwear and moisture-wicking socks helps maintain a dry environment, discouraging fungal growth. Regularly changing socks and allowing shoes to air out are essential habits to practice. Additionally, avoiding walking barefoot in public areas further reduces the risk of exposure. Swift attention to any signs of infection, such as redness or scaling, is pivotal for early intervention. If you have developed athlete’s foot, it is strongly suggested that you confer with a podiatrist who can effectively treat this condition, which may include prescribing medication.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is often an uncomfortable condition to experience. Thankfully, podiatrists specialize in treating athlete’s foot and offer the best treatment options. If you have any questions about athlete’s foot, consult with Dr. Gordon Fosdick from Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment.
What Is Athlete’s Foot?
Tinea pedis, more commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a non-serious and common fungal infection of the foot. Athlete’s foot is contagious and can be contracted by touching someone who has it or infected surfaces. The most common places contaminated by it are public showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. Once contracted, it grows on feet that are left inside moist, dark, and warm shoes and socks.
Prevention
The most effective ways to prevent athlete’s foot include:
Symptoms
Athlete’s foot initially occurs as a rash between the toes. However, if left undiagnosed, it can spread to the sides and bottom of the feet, toenails, and if touched by hand, the hands themselves. Symptoms include:
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is quick and easy. Skin samples will be taken and either viewed under a microscope or sent to a lab for testing. Sometimes, a podiatrist can diagnose it based on simply looking at it. Once confirmed, treatment options include oral and topical antifungal medications.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Research reveals that nearly half of recreational runners sustain injuries, often affecting the Achilles tendon, calf, knee, ankle, lower leg, feet, and toes. Various factors contribute to injury risk, including running mechanics, footwear, and abrupt mileage increases. Fortunately, effective strategies exist to prevent running injuries before they disrupt your routine. It is essential to understand that injury prevention is complex, with factors like anatomy, history of injuries, and training methods playing roles. Each runner is unique, possessing distinct anatomical traits and injury histories, making injury prevention a challenging task. To reduce injury risk, experts recommend focusing on building a strong body, maintaining proper form, and choosing suitable footwear. Achieving a balance among these factors can significantly lower the likelihood of injuries, ensuring a rewarding and injury-free running experience. It is also advisable to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for personalized advice on preventing running injuries.
Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick of Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.
How to Prevent Running Injuries
Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.
What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.
Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Do you suffer from heel pain when you get up in the morning? If so, you should seek the professional help of your podiatrist and have a proper diagnosis performed. Heel pain can be caused by several different foot-related conditions.
Hammer toe surgery serves as an effective remedy, particularly when the deformity stands as the primary concern. Yet, in some cases surgical intervention is a must. Tendon transfer is a suitable option for correcting flexible hammer toes. This surgical approach involves repositioning the toe by pulling a nearby tendon across the joint. The procedure effectively corrects muscle weaknesses, enhances the toe's appearance, and mitigates associated pain. In instances of fixed hammer toes, joint resection proves beneficial. This surgical technique requires the cutting of ligaments and tendons to straighten the toe, potentially involving the removal of a portion of the bone. Temporary pins may be employed to maintain alignment, and they are typically removed several weeks post-surgery. For severe fixed hammer toes, fusion emerges as a possible solution. This process entails removing portions of the joint to facilitate bone fusion. Tendons, ligaments, and bone ends are cut, and the joint is stabilized using pins until the process is complete. If you have a hammertoe that impedes completing everyday activities, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to determine the most appropriate surgical option for you.
Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick of Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.
Hammertoe
Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. It can be caused by the type of shoes you wear, your foot structure, trauma, and certain disease processes.
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Treatment
If you have hammertoe, you should change into a more comfortable shoe that provides enough room for your toes. Exercises such as picking up marbles may strengthen and stretch your toe muscles. Nevertheless, it is important to seek assistance from a podiatrist in order to determine the severity of your hammertoe and see which treatment option will work best for you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Foot pain, though common, should not be dismissed. Various factors contribute to foot pain, such as fractures and sprains resulting from the complex structure of the feet. Seeking prompt intervention from a podiatrist after a foot injury is essential for effective treatment. Achilles tendonitis, inflammation of the tendon behind the heel, often stems from overuse in activities like sports. Hammertoes, a painful consequence of toe stress, may be alleviated with special footwear and in severe cases, surgical intervention. Heel spurs, caused by tissue overuse, may respond to gentle daily stretching, wearing proper footwear, and, in extreme situations, medical procedures such as corticosteroid injections or surgery. Metatarsalgia, inflammation on the ball of the foot, is common in active individuals as are corns, which are painful bumps resulting from toe crowding or tight shoes. Bunions, bony bumps at the base of the big toe, may necessitate surgery, with varying results depending on the severity. Plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes, may be prevented through wearing proper footwear and warm-up practices. If you need medical help with any of these common causes of foot pain, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.
Foot Pain
Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Dr. Gordon Fosdick from Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Causes
Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:
Diagnosis
To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Bunions, a common source of discomfort in the big toe, can often lead to surgical solutions. With an array of over 150 bunion surgeries available, it is beneficial to comprehend the prevailing procedures in use today. The bunionectomy is a foundational method. It involves removing the bony outgrowth at the base of the big toe that is responsible for the bunion and realigning the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Osteotomy, another prevalent technique, necessitates cutting the toe bone to reposition the affected joint. It may also involve securing the bone with pins or screws for sustained correction. Arthrodesis is employed in cases of significant joint damage. This procedure entails fusing the surrounding bones with screws, wires, or plates. Arthroplasty is reserved for severe cases. The damaged portion of the joint is replaced with an implant, aiming to restore joint function. Integral to all bunion surgeries is soft tissue repair, ensuring the equilibrium of tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint to deter deformity recurrence. If you have a bunion that is causing extreme pain, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a full examination and suggestions for treatment options.
If you are suffering from bunions, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick of Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
What Is a Bunion?
A bunion is formed of swollen tissue or an enlargement of boney growth, usually located at the base joint of the toe that connects to the foot. The swelling occurs due to the bones in the big toe shifting inward, which impacts the other toes of the foot. This causes the area around the base of the big toe to become inflamed and painful.
Why Do Bunions Form?
Genetics – Susceptibility to bunions are often hereditary
Stress on the feet – Poorly fitted and uncomfortable footwear that places stress on feet, such as heels, can worsen existing bunions
How Are Bunions Diagnosed?
Doctors often perform two tests – blood tests and x-rays – when trying to diagnose bunions, especially in the early stages of development. Blood tests help determine if the foot pain is being caused by something else, such as arthritis, while x-rays provide a clear picture of your bone structure to your doctor.
How Are Bunions Treated?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Peroneal tendonitis, a source of pain surrounding the ankle, often targets individuals engaged in rigorous physical activities, particularly runners and athletes who intensify their training routines. This condition typically evolves gradually, progressing from mild discomfort to persistent pain around the ankle. The primary culprit behind peroneal tendonitis is overuse. Sudden spikes in training intensity, coupled with inappropriate footwear or flawed training techniques, frequently trigger this ailment. Sports that demand quick pivoting movements, such as basketball, football, and gymnastics, are particularly associated with the development of tears in the peroneal tendons. Runners who frequently traverse sloped or uneven surfaces, causing the foot to excessively roll out into eversion, face an elevated risk of peroneal tendonitis. Anyone with a history of ankle injuries or recurrent sprains may be more susceptible to peroneal tendon problems. The continuous damage to the ligaments supporting the foot and ankle results in weakened stability, placing increased strain on the peroneal tendons. An abnormal foot position, where the heel is turned slightly inward or if the arch is too high, heightens the risk of peroneal tendonitis. These conditions force the peroneal muscles and tendons to work harder, which contributes to their overuse and potential inflammation. Tight calf muscles combined with weakness in the calf and peroneal muscles may be factors leading to tendonitis. If you are experiencing ankle pain that may be a sign of peroneal tendonitis, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a full exam and diagnosis.
Ankle pain can be caused by a number of problems and may be potentially serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Dr. Gordon Fosdick from Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.
Causes
The most common causes of ankle pain include:
Symptoms
Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.
Diagnosis
Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.
Treatment
Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Cracked heels, a common foot condition, can escalate into heel fissures if not properly treated. Initially appearing as dry, flaky skin on the edge of the heel, these cracks can deepen, becoming painful fissures. Heel fissures occur when the skin around the heel is dry and thickened, often exacerbated by factors such as walking barefoot, excessive standing, or wearing open backed shoes. The pressure on the heels from daily activities can cause the skin to split, leading to fissures. These can be more than just a cosmetic concern, especially for individuals with diabetes or compromised circulation, as they may lead to serious infections. Preventative measures include regularly moisturizing the feet, avoiding harsh soaps, and wearing shoes that cushion the heels. If you have a severe case of cracked heels it is strongly suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can provide more advanced treatment. This can include removing the hard skin and potentially using specialized heel dressings or strappings that can allow the area to heal properly and prevent complications.
If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick from Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Cracked Heels
It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.
Ways to Help Heal Them
Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels
If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Middlefield and Wallingford, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
