Arthritis affects approximately 52 million people in the United States—and these are the people officially diagnosed by a physician. Those suffering from arthritis and its symptoms, however, can benefit from several steps to help cope with the condition. The first steps one can take involve learning more about the condition, knowing what kind of arthritis one has, and responding to prolonged symptoms by seeing a physician. Excess weight can add pressure on the joints—especially the feet; therefore exercising, losing weight, and leading an active lifestyle is important. Protect the joints by avoiding using the same joints constantly and alternating movement. Rest and relaxation is also important to avoid straining affected areas.

The feet are one of the most common sites for arthritis to occur in the body. If you are struggling with arthritis in your feet or ankles, call Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctor can examine your lower extremities to help alleviate your joint pain.

Arthritic Foot Care

Arthritis is a joint disorder that involves inflammation of different joints in your body, such as in your feet. Arthritis is often caused by a degenerative joint disease and causes mild to severe pain in all affected areas. On top of this, swelling and stiffness in the affected joints can also be a common symptom of arthritis.

In many cases, wearing ill-fitting shoes can worsen the effects and pain of arthritis. Wearing shoes that have a lower heel and extra room can help your feet feel more comfortable. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the arch in your foot may become problematic. Buying shoes with proper arch support that contour to your feet can help immensely.

Alleviating Arthritic Pain

• Exercises that stretch the foot can prevent further pain and injury and increase mobility
• Most of the pain can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory drugs, heat, and topical medications
• Massages can help to temporarily alleviate pain.

It is best to see your doctor for the treatment that is right for your needs and symptoms. Conditions vary, and a podiatrist can help you determine the right method of care for your feet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all of your foot ankle injuries.

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Recently in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dave Grohl opened up about performing with his band the Foo Fighters with a broken ankle. Grohl calls his broken ankle a “beautiful blessing in disguise” as the band has been playing longer sets than ever since Grohl has to spend much of his time sitting on the stage. He recalls the night his ankle broke in Sweden and continued playing the entire set. “When it happened I didn’t feel a thing, I tried to get up and walk and my ankle collapsed under my weight,” he stated.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Broken Ankles

A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

• Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
• Swelling around the area
• Bruising of the area
• Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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While in the past stretching has been heralded for its ability to help people avoid tendon injuries, new research suggests that it is actually the opposite. Recent studies link programs including soccer-specific balance training and orthotics, or shock absorbing insoles, to help reduce risk for injury.Dr. David Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and former director of sports medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, stated that different people have different anatomy of the feet and may benefit from shoe inserts or orthotics.

Orthotics can help provide support and prevent injury to your feet. If you have any questions contact Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What are Orthotics?

Orthotics are inserts you can place into your shoes to help with a variety of foot problems such as flat feet or foot pain. Orthotics provide relief and comfort for minor foot and heel pain, but can’t correct serious biomechanical problems in your feet.

Over-the-Counter Inserts

Orthotics come in a wide variety of over-the-counter inserts that are used to treat foot pain, heel pain, and minor problems. For example, arch supports can be inserted into your shoes to help correct over arched or flat feet, while gel insoles are often used because they provide comfort and relief from foot and heel pain by alleviating pressure.

Prescription Orthotics

If over-the-counter inserts don’t work for you, or if you have a more severe foot issue, it is possible to have your podiatrist prescribe custom orthotics. These high quality inserts are designed to treat problems such as abnormal motion, plantar fasciitis, and more severe heel pain.

If you are experiencing minor to severe foot or heel pain, it’s recommended to speak with your podiatrist on the possibilities of using orthotics. A podiatrist can determine which type of orthotic is right for you and allow you to take the first steps towards being pain free.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder is participating in the Orlando Pro Summer League since his foot is healing on schedule post-surgery. Late March Durant had surgery on his right foot to repair a serious of soreness due to a previously inserted screw creating chronic soreness as it was pushing into another bone. Although this was the toughest year in Durant’s career, he has remained hopeful and will likely return next year.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to fix a foot ailment. If you have any concerns about your foot and ankle needs contact Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:

• Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction
• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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