A podiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating foot and ankle problems. Common issues seen by podiatrists include bunions, heel pain, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and neuromas. Podiatrists undergo medical school and additional graduate training in podiatry. Top foot problems include bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, ingrown nails, neuromas, and plantar fasciitis. Basic foot care guidelines include regularly inspecting feet, properly trimming toenails, wearing shoes that fit well, and alternating shoes.

1. PODIATRY & FOOT CARE
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2. What Is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine, is a
specialist who provides medical diagnosis and treatment of foot
and ankle problems, such as bunions, heel pain, spurs,
hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns and
calluses. A podiatrist also renders care of sprains, fractures,
infections, and injuries of the foot, ankle and heel. In addition to
undergraduate medical school training, podiatrists also attend
graduate school for a doctorate degree in podiatry. Podiatrists
are required to take state and national exams, as well as be
licensed by the state in which they practice.

3. General Statistics
Foot and ankle problems usually fall into the following categories:
● Acquired from improper footwear, physical stress, or small mechanical
changes within the foot.
● Arthritic foot problems, which typically involve one or more joint.
● Congenital foot problems, which occur at birth and are generally
inherited.
● Infectious foot problems, which are caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal
disorders.
● Neoplastic disorders, usually called tumors, which are the result of
abnormal growth of tissue and may be benign or malignant.
● Traumatic foot problems, which are associated with foot and ankle
injuries.

4. General Stats - Top Foot Problems
● Bunions - misaligned big toe joints that can become swollen and tender, causing
the first joint of the big toe to slant outward, and the second joint to angle toward
the other toes. Bunions tend to be hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes
that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe. Surgery is frequently performed to
correct the problem.
● Hammertoe - a condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance, in which the
toe is bent in a claw-like position. It occurs most frequently with the second toe,
often when a bunion slants the big toe toward and under it, but any of the other
three smaller toes can be affected. Selecting shoes and socks that do not cramp
the toes will alleviate aggravation.
● Heel spurs - growths of bone on the underside, forepart of the heel bone. Heel
spurs occur when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone.
This area of the heel can later calcify to form a spur. With proper warm-up and
the use of appropriate athletic shoes, strain to the ligament can be reduced.

5. General Stats - Top Foot Problems
● Ingrown nails - toenails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin.
Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but also by
shoe pressure, injury, fungus infection, heredity and poor foot structure. Women
are much more likely to have ingrown toenails than men. Ingrown nails can be
prevented by trimming toenails straight across, selecting proper shoe style and
size - not too tapered or shallow - and paying special attention to foot pain.
● Neuromas - enlarged benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the
third and fourth toes. They are caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the
nerves. Pressure from ill-fitting shoes or abnormal bone structure can also lead
to this condition. Treatments include orthoses (shoe inserts) and/or cortisone
injections, but surgical removal of the growth is sometimes necessary.
● Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) - usually caused by an inflammation on the bottom of
the foot. Our practice can evaluate arch pain, and may prescribe customized
shoe inserts called orthoses to help alleviate the pain.

6. General Stats - Top Foot Problems
● Sesamoiditis - inflammation or rupture of the two small bones (sesamoids)
under the first metatarsal bones. Proper shoe selection and orthoses can
help.
● Shin splints - pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or
tendon inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation
(collapsing arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between
opposing muscle groups in the leg. Proper stretching and corrective
orthoses (shoe inserts) for pronation can help prevent shin splints.
● Stress fractures - incomplete cracks in bone caused by overuse. With
complete rest, stress fractures heal quickly. Extra padding in shoes helps
prevent the condition. Stress fractures left untreated may become
complete fractures, which require casting and immobilization.

7. Basic Foot Care Guidelines
1. Don't ignore foot pain. It's not normal. If the pain persists, contact our office.
2. Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature.
Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks
or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate Athlete's
Foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.
3. Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes, and be sure to dry them
completely.
4. Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails in
corners or on the sides; it can lead to ingrown toenails. Persons with diabetes, poor
circulation, or heart problems should not treat their own feet because they are more
prone to infection.
5. Make sure that your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when
feet tend to be at their largest, and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.

8. Basic Foot Care Guidelines
6. Select and wear the right shoe for the activity that you are engaged in (e.g.
running shoes for running).
7. Alternate shoes -- don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
8. Avoid walking barefooted. Your feet will be more prone to injury and
infection. At the beach or when wearing sandals always use sunblock on your
feet as the rest of your body.
9. Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can
often turn a minor problem into a major one.
10. If you are a diabetic, contact our office and schedule a check-up at least
once a year.

9. More Information
More information can be found here:
http://www.northernfootcare.com/