The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon. Starting from behind the knee, it runs down the back of your lower leg to your heel. Basically, it connects your heel bone to your calf muscles, and grants us the simple pleasures of walking, running and jumping. Without the Achilles tendon, walking would be beyond [...]
Aging is inevitable, and it causes certain changes to our feet which we should be aware of and treat accordingly. For instance, as we age we lose some of the padding that is on the bottom of our feet. These pads are natural shock absorbers for the joints and bones. As this padding decreases over [...]
Ankle sprains are caused by an unnatural twisting or force on the ankle bones of the foot, which may result in excessive stretching or tearing of one or more ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The severity of the sprain can impact the degree of damage as well as the type and duration of [...]
Arthritis is an inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints, generally accompanied by an increase in the fluid in the joints. Arthritis is a disabling and occasionally crippling disease afflicting almost 40 million Americans. In some forms, it appears to be hereditary. Although the prevalence of arthritis increases with age, all [...]
Athlete’s Foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that usually occurs between the toes. The fungus attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment that encourages fungus growth. Warm, damp areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are also breeding grounds for fungi. Doctor Lefkowitz, [...]
Basically, a bunion is a large bump on the side of the foot indicating that the big toe is deviated (which means that it points toward the rest of the toes). Sometimes bunions have no exact cause, but they are painful and permanent unless surgically removed. Some causes linked to bunions may include [...]
Corns appear on the feet, in the form of thick skin, as a protective measure against constant pressure and friction. Sometimes corns disappear once the cause is properly identified and eliminated. In most cases, corns are caused by ill-fitting footwear. Unlike calluses, corns are small in size, and usually appear on top of (or in [...]
A callus, also known as hyperkeratosis, is an area of hard, thickened skin that can occur across the ball of the foot, on the heel, or on the outer side of the big toe. Although many consider them a skin problem, they are indicative of a problem with the bone. Doctor Lefkowitz, of Quality Foot Care, treats calluses [...]
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands. Doctor Lefkowitz, of Quality [...]
One in every five adults will be affected with some type of eczema. The main symptoms of eczema are itchy, dry skin that may crack, bleed and possibly become infected when scratched. Eczema can affect any part of the body, but there are five types that specifically affect the hands, legs and feet. ATOPIC Eczema [...]
