Foot and Ankle Doctor Blog Space

Category: Foot Care

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Toenail Fungus

Our staff at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc. understand that toenail fungus is an embarrassing problem. It can lead to thickened brittle yellow discolored nails that may be painful. Fungal nails are also referred to as onychomycosis and are caused by microscopic fungi, yeasts and molds. A sample of the infected nail should be taken and sent to a lab to determine the causative agent. There are a variety of treatment options available, however fungal infections are difficult to treat and can return after treatment has finished.

The different treatment options include:

 Oral medications – required to be taken for 6-12 weeks

 Topical nail lacquer – can be used twice a day for up to 4 weeks, but is often ineffective in severe cases

Laser therapies – involve multiple sessions to achieve clearance

We will help you determine the best course of action to treat your toenail infection. It is advised during treatment to discard old shoes, which may house fungi and use antifungal spray or powder to prevent reinfection.

 

Dr. Dardashti

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Choosing a Top Quality Nail Salon

We all want to look our best and do a little self pampering and what better way to pamper ourselves than with a manicure and pedicure.

Nail salons provide services to hundreds of people and it’s important to choose a high quality salon with adequate hygiene to avoid accidental exposure to fungus, bacteria and viruses. To avoid a nail salon nightmare follow this guide:

1. Licensing – Make sure the salon is licensed and the staff has proper training. Podiatrist commonly see infected ingrown toe nails as a result of nail technicians that were too aggressive with their nail trimming.

2. Open cuts – avoid the salon if you have any open cuts or wounds on your feet or legs. Exposing any open wound to an environment like a salon that has a high volume of customers sharing the same chairs and whirlpools may lead to.

3. Whirlpools – avoid soaking your feet in whirlpools or the water basin connected to the chair. These are often difficult to clean and harbor bacteria. You can ask to have your feet soaked in a separate tub or use a disposable liner in the whirlpool.

4. Tools – ask the salon if the tools used are autoclaved or if disposable instruments are used. You can bring your own tools with you and clean them yourself to avoid the spread of warts.

5. Bring your own nail polish – salons use the same polish brush for each of their customers and this can result in the spread of nail fungus. Bringing your own polish will avoid any cross contamination and reduce your risks of developing a fungal infection.

Podiatrists commonly see infected ingrown toenails, plantar warts and fungal infection as a consequence from nail salons. If you think you have any of these infections come see one of our doctors at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc.

 

Dr. Farshid Nejad

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Podiatrists Preventing Falls

Fall related injuries are a serious burden on the public health system. More than a third of older adults fall each year and injuries can result in fractures, head traumas, decreased function and loss of independence in the elderly. Podiatrists can help reduce fall related injuries by evaluating your gait (the way you walk), your strength and your balance.

 

Dr. Dardashti stresses the importance of finding the right shoes. When selecting shoes he evaluates the heel height, sole slip resistance, sole flexion point (does the shoe bend in the correct area), sole hardness and sole thickness. Finding the right shoe increases support when walking thus boosting confidence and decreasing the fear of falling. Custom orthotics can also improve balance and support by evenly distributing pressure and forces, realigning the body in a more anatomically correct position that improves stability and reduces the likelihood of falling.

 

Muscle weakness can reduce flexibility and balance contributing the falls. For these patients Dr. Dardashti recommends braces and AFO’s (ankle foot orthotics). It’s crucial to stretch the muscles of the leg, foot and toes to improve strength, balance and proprioception. The specialists at the Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc can provide you with simple stretches you can perform at home to improve your strength and balance.

 

Certain foot problems are risk factors for falls that can be addressed by podiatrists such as lower extremity muscle weakness, limited ankle motion, foot deformities like bunions, toe deformities such as hammertoes and calluses. It’s important to see your podiatrist regularly to address any of these risk factors.

Dr. David Dardashti

 

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What are custom orthotics?

Custom orthotics are devices that are custom molded to your feet. They fit comfortably inside your shoes and are designed to reduce stress and strain on the feet, knees legs hips and back. Orthotics will help improve your gait making walking and running more comfortable. Orthotics will help to correct your body’s misalignments also known as “biomechanical or structural deformities.” Most people that have biomechanical deformities will develop symptoms that usually present as pain in the joints, muscles or tendons.

Think of wearing orthotics as similar to wearing eyeglasses. When you wear your glasses they help correct your sight by placing corrective lenses in front of the eyes. This helps your eyes function as close to 20/20 vision. Orthotics help the body function in a similar way by helping to restore normal biomechanical function in your feet and legs.

There are a variety of types of custom orthotics, the two main types are: functional orthotics and accommodative orthotics. Functional orthotics help re-align the feet and legs. They reduce, or control abnormal motion that may be causing pain in the foot, leg and back. Accommodative orthotics are made out of softer material and they are designed to absorb shock and reduce pressure. They are less effective in controlling abnormal motion, they simply cushion and pad ulcers, painful calluses, bony prominences and other pathologies of the foot.

If you have pain or discomfort and think you can benefit from orthotics come see Dr. Nejad or Dr. Dardashti at Foot & Ankle Doctors, Inc.

 

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