The Achilles tendon is especially prone to injury among athletes, and therefore receives the most attention. But the Achilles is not the only tendon in the foot, nor is it the only one to cause problems.

Tendons connect muscles to bone. When a muscle contracts, the tendon pulling on the bone creates movement. A protective sheath normally allows the tendon to glide smoothly, but any damage to the tissue may cause it to “stick” or adhere to other structures, resulting in painful and limited mobility. Tendons heal slowly, often with residual scar tissue, because of the amount of blood supply they receive. The scarring may interfere with the tendon’s smooth movement within the sheath, leading to repetitive cycle of inflammation and injury. Skiers and skaters who wear their boots tightly laced often suffer from recurrent episodes of compression tendinitis over the top of the ankle.

Prevention is the best solution. Much tendinitis can be avoided by proper warm-ups and stretching exercise and with the use of appropriate foot gear.

To make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.

Athlete’s foot, the scourge of the locker room, source of hundreds of unfunny jokes, can be more than an all around nuisance. If not treated promptly, a fungus can break the skin and lead to bacterial infection. By this time, the the dry, itchy scale between your toes has become an oozing problem requiring antibiotics. Why allow things to reach this stage when a few simple measures can prevent the problem?

Like all fungi, athlete’s foot thrives in damp, warm environments, which is why it is often linked with gymnasiums. But you don’t have to be an athlete to pick up the rash; it can be found almost anywhere you might walk barefoot.

For prevention, it’s important to keep the feet clean and dry. Applying powder after showering helps absorb moisture. It’s also important to air your shoes and feet regularly.

If you know you already have a fungus, the over-the-counter medications applied at night may work, but you should check with your podiatrist to verify that what you have is athlete’s foot and not an infection from another source.

To make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.

With summer on the horizon, we are all looking forward to warming up our bodies for increased activity levels. To make sure that your feet are fit for summer, we offer the following suggestions:

When starting a new exercise routine, or when ramping up your current one, make sure to ease into that new routine. Stretching before exercising is one way to make sure you are warmed up and ready to go.

Consider purchasing new shoes for your new level of activity. It’s important to have your feet measured, and then choose an athletic shoe that fits your sport. Make sure to break in any new gear appropriately, and ask your podiatric physician for recommendations for your particular needs.

Take care of your feet. Examine them daily for signs of blisters, corns, and ingrown nails. Take a few days off your new activity if you see signs of any of these problems.

Visit your podiatrist periodically to discuss your foot and ankle concerns or just for a check-up before starting a new routine.

Watch your sun exposure. As the weather improves and our feet are more exposed, it’s important to remember sun-screen. The tops of feet are one of the most commonly sunburned areas.

Seek immediate care for any foot or ankle problems.

Summer is a great time a year for renewal, but don’t let your over-eagerness get the best of you. Take the time to enjoy and take care of those two very important assets – your feet.

To make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.

People do not usually associate tumors and podiatry, yet neuromas occur fairly often in the feet. Benign nerve tumors result from irritation in the body. They appear in the feet most often between the third and fourth metatarsal spaces. In some cases, they may be present under the heel, in conjunction with heel spurs.

The neural network in the food runs from inside the ankle bone to the bottom of the foot, between the metatarsal heads, and out to the sides of the toes. This anatomical construction itself allows the bones to put pressure on the nerves. And when “natural” stress is combined with the trauma feet ordinarily suffer, neuromas may result.

The good news is that the nerve tumors usually respond well to the simplest treatments. Switching to properly-fitted shoes that do not bind the feet can solve the problem, in some cases. Pads that separate the metatarsals may help. Orthotics may be needed to eliminate the pressure on the nerve sheath, if these measures fail.

To make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM to speak about foot tumors, please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.

Toenails have ceased to perform their original function over the course of evolutionary history. Watch a cat climb a tree or defend himself in a brawl, and you have a good example of how man once used his nails. But the nails that we now keep delicately trimmed and buried in shoes can cause trouble.

A normal toenail grows from the nail bed in a straight line. But if a nail is broken or cut too closely at the corners, the surrounding flesh rushes to fill in the bare spot and the growing nail burrows into the skin. The result is an ingrown toenail and the accompanying pain and swelling in the adjoining tissue. Epsom salts or hot baths can not alleviate the problem, and trying to remove the ingrown toenail yourself can result in bleeding and infection. The solution is to have a portion of the ingrown nail removed by a podiatrist who is professionally trained to handle such problems.

If you would like to make an appointment with CenterLine podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM to remove your ingrown toenail (or to discuss any other foot problem), please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.

Contrary to their name, heel spurs are not a problem exclusive to cowboys and jockeys. They occur more often in runners than in people who ride.

Heel spurs are the result of constant irritation from abnormal “pull” exerted on the heel bone by the plantar fascia. They are particularly uncomfortable in the early stages, when the slightest pressure on the heel causes pain. Treatment should be twofold:

The first goal is to relive discomfort and restore mobility. In most cases this can be accomplished with the use of horseshoe-shaped (no pun intended) pad in the shoe to relieve the pressure on the heel.

The second goal is more long-term and preventative in nature, and involves using orthotics to eliminate the plantar fascial “pull”. Surgery is occasionally preformed on heel spur, but should be considered only when more conservative measures have failed.

If you would like to make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM to go over your heel spur results (or any other foot problem) please contact us today at 586-758-5770.

The feet are the “last stop” in the body’s circulatory system – the body’s Siberia, so to speak, and in the winter they feel like it! Because the feet are the farthest point from the heart, they can be particularly susceptible to infection and circulatory disorders, such as cramps, numbness, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes, as a result of insufficient blood flow which comes with age.

Most people take their extremities for granted and ignore, or at best, self-treat “minor” problems like corns and callouses. Playing podiatrist may work occasionally in some instances, but home doctoring can be extremely dangerous, especially for those with poor circulation.

If you have a circulatory disorder you should check you feet daily for cuts or swelling, and notify your podiatrist of any problems that arise. Catching these problems early will prevent any potentially serious condition form developing.

To contact Center Line Podiatrist Dr. Brown, call 586-758-5770.

One of our readers who is athletically active recently complained of pain and stiffness in her feet, especially in the early morning. She asked if it’s possible to have arthritis in her feet.

Arthritis refers to inflammation of any joint, including joints in the feet. The inflammation may be the result of injury (traumatic arthritis), disease (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis), metabolic disturbances (gout), or infection. Among very active people, the most common type of arthritis is traumatic. In these cases, the trauma to the foot is greater than the joints are equipped to handle.

It is possible that the reader may have a mild form of rheumatoid arthritis or even gout. She should have a professional evaluation as soon as possible to help her decide on an appropriate treatment plan.

To contact Center Line Podiatrist Dr. Brown, call 586-758-5770.

This winter’s fashionable high-heeled boots put women at risk for slips, falls, and injuries on ice and snow, warns Dr. Lawrence Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) with offices in Center Line, Michigan. These popular boots typically feature tall, spiked heels and narrow pointed toes. “Wearing high-heels makes you more unstable when walking or standing on dry surfaces, let alone slippery ones like ice and snow”. Says Dr. Brown. “A stylish low-heeled winter boot is a lot more fashionable than a cast and crutches.” Dr. Brown also recommends women scuff-up the soles of new boots, or purchase adhesive rubber soles, to provide greater traction.

Falls from high-heeled winter boots can lead to a number of injuries, depending on how the woman loses her balance. If the ankles roll inward or outward, she can break her ankles. If her ankle twists, ligaments can be stretched or torn, causing an ankle sprain, according to the ACFAS consumer Web site, FootPhysicians.com, broken and sprained ankles can be present at the same time.

“This time of year I see a variety of broken bones occurring in patients who have slipped on the ice.” says Dr. Brown. “These include broken toes, metatarsals, heels and ankles.”

Dr. Brown urges women hurt from slip and falls in high-heeled winter boots to contact his office in Centerline, Michigan at 586-758-5770 for prompt evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, immediately use the “R.I.C.E.” method- rest, ice, compression and evaluation- to help reduce swelling, pain, and further injury.

“Delaying treatment can result in long-term complications such as chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity” says Podiatrist Dr. Brown, “Even if you’re able to walk on the injured foot, pain, swelling, or bruising indicates a serious injury”.

To contact Podiatrist Dr. Brown, call 586-758-5770.

Many of us are welcomed the warmer weather by sporting flip-flop sandals, however, their popularity among teens and young adults is responsible for a growing epidemic of heel pain in this population, according to Dr. Brown, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

“We’re seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn’t have this problem,” said Dr. Brown. “A major contributor is wearing flip-flop sandals with paper-thin soles everyday to school. Flip-flops have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion, and this eventually brings pain and inflammation”.

Dr. Brown advises wearing sandals with reasonably strong soles and arch support. “Especially for girls and young women, thicker soled sandals with supportive arches might not be considered stylish, but if you want to wear sandals most of the time, you’ll avoid heel pain if you choose sturdier, perhaps less fashionable styles”.

It is estimated that 15 percent of all adult foot complaints involve plantar fasciitis, the type of heel pain caused by chronic inflammation of the connective tissue extending from the heel bone to the toes. Being overweight and wearing inappropriate footwear are common contributing factors.

The pain is most noticeable after getting out of bed in the morning, and it tends to decrease after a few minutes and returns during the day as time on the feet increases. Not all heel pain, however, is caused by plantar fasciitis. It also can occur from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, bursitis, arthritis, gout, stress fractures, or irritation of one or more of the nerves in the region.. Therefore, diagnosis by a foot and ankle surgeon to rule out other causes is advised.

Initial treatment options for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis should include anti-inflammatory medications, padding and strapping of the foot and physical therapy. Patients also should stretch their calf muscles regularly, avoid wearing flat shoes and walking barefoot, use over the counter arch supports and heel cushions, and limit the frequency of extended physical activities.

Most patients with plantar fasciitis respond to non-surgical treatment within six weeks. However, surgery is sometimes necessary to relieve severe, persistent pain.

For further information about heel pain, contact Dr. Lawrence Brown at 586-758-5770 in CenterLine Michigan.