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Like much about health care, a great deal of foot health is within your control. Becoming aware of the symptoms of illness, infection, and injury can help keep you safe.

A plantar fibroma is a hard cyst that develops, usually on the sole and often in the arch. It is typically located deep in the plantar fascia, the soft tissue that runs the length of the bottom of the foot from the heel to toes.

You probably know that exercise and a healthy diet is the foundation of good health. But have you ever stopped to consider what eating well can do for your feet?

While it’s true that illness and injury can strike your feet and ankles unexpectedly, it’s also true that much about foot-related health is within your control. Some simple good habits can keep you well and pain-free for a lifetime.

The evidence is clear: the combination of a sensible diet and regular exercise can prevent and alleviate a wide range of health issues from your head to your toes.

Are you sticking to that resolution to improve your fitness, or do you need a little motivation to keep going?

February is American Heart Month, and it’s a good opportunity for you to learn more about the unexpected connection between heart health and foot health.

When you first think of Valentine’s Day, you probably think of red hearts, candy, champagne, and other people – probably your spouse, family, or friends. But imagine if you expanded your idea of Valentine’s Day to include yourself.

Calluses can occur anywhere on the body, but are especially common in weight-bearing areas that are close to the bone, such as the heels or the soles of the feet.

How much do you know about eating for foot health? Here are some suggestions for four simple, painless food swaps to make in 2020.

Here are four tips to keep your feet safe and healthy before, during, and after your flight.

You might be wondering what orthotics are and whether they’re worth the investment, especially considering that over-the-counter gel insoles are available in many pharmacies and big box stores. Here are some answers.

Here are three suggestions that can help you stand, walk, and exercise free from pain and discomfort in 2020.

Many people believe that there’s nothing to be done for a broken toe, but that’s simply not the case. Your podiatrist is an expert in relieving foot pain, and can help you get back on your feet.

Enchondroma (pronounced en-kon-DRO-ma) is a type of benign, non-cancerous tumor. It begins in the cartilage inside your bones.

Everyone loves a gift that makes feet feel comfortable and pampered. Here are five great suggestions.

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes, or has your doctor told you that you are at risk of this illness? If so, your foot health is at risk.

Prepare for your first visit to the podiatrist with these handy tips.

Numerous scientific studies have proven that orthotic devices are useful in helping children, adolescents, and adults by decreasing foot pain and improving function.

Pronation and supination enable the feet and ankles to absorb the force of every step and are necessary for pain-free movement, but too much can lead to discomfort.

Your feet and ankles are vulnerable to a wide range of issues. Common issues among athletes including stress fractures, tendinitis and plantar warts.

A bunion is a painful foot deformity that occurs when pressure causes the bones at the big toe knuckle to move out of place and protrude toward the inner edge of the foot.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can protect your feet from infection or amputation by monitoring them for small wounds daily and by seeing a board-certified podiatrist.

As the weather changes, foot health issues increase. Many people experience foot pain, especially those who are living with diabetes or a circulatory ailment. Here are five tips from Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos to keep you well through winter.

While a whole-body illness that produces global symptoms, diabetes poses particular risks to foot health. 

Regardless of age or gender, everyone should be free from foot pain. Podiatrists help resolve discomfort caused by a wide range of issues. They also address foot deformities. Treatment will depend on your particular problem.

For the best possible foot health, everyone – men, women, and children with and without diabetes – should see a podiatrist once a year for examination, diagnosis, and treatment. This is even more important for diabetics.

It’s common for foot pain to be localized in the ball of the foot, the area between the arches, and the toes on the bottom of the foot. This is metatarsalgia.

What can you do about sudden podiatric illness or injury until you’re able to see your foot doctor? Create a foot first aid kit for your home, office, or travel pack!

Nearly one third of Americans over the age of 65 will fall each year, and that figure jumps to 50% after the age of 85. These falls frequently lead to bone fractures, infection, and hospitalization.

CVI can lead to varicose veins, blood vessels that bulge and cause pain. Other related conditions include phlebitis and deep vein thrombosis, dangerous blood clots in the legs.

Two common causes of bone breaks are osteoporosis and accidents, but there are steps that you can take to keep yourself safe.

When your podiatrist suggests RICE, s/he isn’t talking about what you eat. It’s an acronym for at-home care that can get you back on your feet quickly.

Just like there are steps you can take to increase overall health and wellness, there are things that you can do to improve the health of your feet, ankles, and lower legs.

Your nail bed is fragile and can easily become damaged or crushed when you stub a toe or drop something on your foot.

Phlebitis is a common health issue affecting the lower legs. It can be uncomfortable and, if untreated, dangerous. Do you know what phlebitis is and what causes it?

Seemingly unexplained fractures in the feet are often the first sign of osteoporosis or its precursor, osteopenia.

You can be a lay expert on your feet and ankles! Here are some facts to get you started.

Your board-certified podiatrist is an expert in caring for the feet, ankles, and lower legs of older men and women.

The risk of illness and injury increases when you’re wearing sandals, but those risks can be mitigated with careful choices.

Symptoms of capsulitis include a feeling like there is a stone in your shoe, located most often in the ball of the foot. Pain and discomfort are typical, especially near the big toe or the second toe.

Although the bodies of men and women are primarily the same, biological and environmental differences lead to different health issues, even in the feet and ankles.

Statistics show that men are more likely than women to live with discomfort or to experience complications of an illness that could have been caught and treated early.

Crutches are a stabilizing tool that help you move around when you are not able to bear your body weight on your foot, ankle, or lower leg.

How much do you know about the anatomy of your feet? Here are some interesting facts for you!

Illness or injury to your feet or ankles can ruin your good time. It’s important to take steps to prevent foot health.  Here are some tips to reduce your risk of a negative incident.

Arthritis is a chronic condition that cannot be cured. However, its symptoms can be managed.

People who sit at work all day and relax on the couch all evening are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening illnesses, much like people who smoke or are obese.

A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments that support the joint are stretched or torn. This typically occurs on the outside of the ankle joint.

April is Foot Health Awareness Month, test your knowledge about foot health by answering the following statements.

Excess weight and obesity can trigger gout attacks. Be sure to eat a healthy diet, rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins from poultry and fish.

Diabetes is a full-body illness with myriad complications, two of which pose particular risks to the feet: neuropathy and diminished circulation.

Have you ever heard of a “love fracture?” It sounds like what happens to a high schooler’s heart after a first breakup goes south but, in fact, it’s the common name for a fracture of the calcaneus, your heel bone.

Swollen feet are a common reason for patients to visit their foot doctor’s office. When one or both feet are swollen, standing and walking can become uncomfortable, and moving becomes challenging, leading to limited activity and diminished overall health.

A sprained ankle is a painful injury that can keep you off your feet for weeks. Weak ankles are more likely to twist when you step awkwardly and can result in a foot fracture.

People with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to two foot conditions: neuropathy and foot ulcers.

The decision to call your podiatrist begins with knowing just what a podiatrist does. Your podiatrist is a medical specialist with years of advanced training in diagnosing and treating all illnesses and injuries of the feet, ankles, and lower legs.

Charcot foot is a disease that attacks the bones, joints, and soft tissue in the feet. It progresses slowly. Unchecked, it can cause painful sores or even change the shape of your foot.

Freiberg’s disease is most common in adolescents in their late teens and early twenties. Females are more at risk than males and, of note, people whose second toe is longer than their first are more frequently affected.

Just like the length of your feet is quantified with a numbered shoe size, the width is sized as well.

We’ve all heard about the struggles of joint pain, probably from your older relatives and friends. Unfortunately, it is likely a condition that many of us will experience as we age.

Neuromas have a way of being different from your average foot complication.

Ulcers have the potential to become very dangerous for your foot and ankle health for many reasons.

Flat Feet have a way of complicating normal routines by affecting the way the foot hits the ground.

Corns are hardened areas of skin that can form on the foot and cause problems if not handled correctly.

Heel spurs develop when calcium deposits at the bottom of the heel in an accelerated manner.

Foot and Ankle Arthritis can be a complicated and long-running situation for many individuals. 

Bunions can be annoying or not a problem at all. If your bunion does not develop into a large enough mass to cause shoe issues or other complications, there may not be much you have to do.

Ingrown toenails can become a real pain for your feet as the side of the nails can dig into the surrounding skin. This, as you can imagine, not only causes pain but also makes it difficult to participate in routine activities.

Heel spurs are not something you want on your feet for a variety of reasons.

Heel pain can be caused for a variety of reasons, such as foot complications or long periods of stress placed on the feet.

Flat feet have a way of causing little drama at the beginning, only to become problematic later on with lack of treatment.

Water recreation is a big part of staying cool in the summer months, but beware of foot conditions that can result from poor protection and hygiene! One condition that is seen in many patients during the summer is athlete’s foot.

Orthotics are intended to dismiss discomfort, stop defects, allow greater movement and provide strength. Sound good, don’t they?

Hammertoes can happen for a number of reasons; yet, the cause is usually traced to your shoes.

Wonder what running, dancing, and wearing high heels share in common? They can all cause pain in the ball of the foot, which is referred to as metatarsalgia.

deceptive! Thin and smooth layers of the skin eventually turn into a painful, hard or soft area that typically forms on your toes.

Chances are, you know someone who is suffering from arthritis. Whether it’s your parents, grandparents, or an older friend, it can be a painful condition, especially when it attacks the feet and ankles.

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled growth that can form anywhere on the body. Typically, they grow under the skin or on joints, bones, and ligaments. On the feet, they develop as benign soft-tissue growths, often on the tops of your feet. They can grow into

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that affects the comfort of your heels as it directly involves the plantar fascia that connects your heel bone to your toes. This ligament provides assistance to your foot’s arch.

Neuromas, a condition that involves an inflamed nerve on the bottom of your feet, can result in varying levels of discomfort and pain.

Plantar Fasciitis can be a painful condition that affects many day to day activities. This condition affects the plantar fascia, which protects the arch of the foot and allows us to walk, jump, run, and move.

Proper footwear are powerful words in the world of foot health. In particular, devices such as orthotics can help to treat arthritis by adjusting muscle stimulation to lessen the joint burden.

Achilles tendonitis can be a major problem for many types of people. The Achilles tendon joins the calf muscles to the heel bone.

Let’s face it, plantar warts are frankly unsightly and not something you want hanging around. To add to their charm, they can also be painful when left to their own devices.

Skin Cancer can appear anywhere on the body, including the extremities.

We all know blisters. They’re small but painful, and can really put a damper on your day when one appears on your foot. They can get infected and cause significant discomfort that gets in the way of walking and other tasks.

Calluses may seem harmless and unassuming but can become problematic if ignored. Calluses are hardened areas of the skin that typically form as the skin of your foot rubs against the inside of your shoe.

Problems with your toes can seem minor, but there are some you want to avoid at all costs. Ingrown toenails are a condition that can cause severe pain, discomfort, and lead to infections as the nail grows further into the skin that surrounds the toenail.

Heel spurs are not a walk in the park. They are bony extensions of the heel bone that form as a result of repetitive irritation of the heel bone.

Warts, in general, are not perceived very kindly. Plantar warts, the ones that develop on the soles of your feet, are no exception. However, they are extremely common and our podiatrist, Dr. Stavros Alexopoulos, treats patients with plantar warts frequentl

Have you ever wondered what those shoe inserts you see at pharmacies do for you? They can provide support for your feet in areas that need it the most!

We’ve all had the experience of injuring the ankle, whether it’s from running, dancing, walking in heels or stepping off of a curb.

Bunions are one of the most common foot deformities we see at our podiatry practice at Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM in Chicago.

Flat feet is a common condition that we see in many of our patients at our podiatry office. One way to find out if you have flat feet is to wet your feet and stand on a flat surface. If the arch of your footprint shows, meaning it is touching the ground, y

Ankle fractures are significant traumatic experiences for your feet and ankles. They involve a crack or complete break in your ankle bone and require prompt and ongoing medical treatment to ensure that your ankle movement returns to normal.

Bursitis is most commonly associated with the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee. But bursitis can also occur in the foot and near the Achilles tendon.

“Summertime, and the living is easy …” – unless you suffer from feet that have unusually unpleasant odors. In other words, they smell!

Every day at our practice we see patients of all ages with a variety of foot problems. And every day we prescribe custom-made orthotic devices to address our patients’ unique needs.

Let’s face it – we all take our feet for granted. We squeeze them into shoes, stress them out during workouts and generally neglect them. Yet they still perform for us, bearing our bodies’ weight for miles and miles and years and years.