Spice Girl Has Heel Pain - The Texas Foot Specialists

While high heels are one possible cause for heel pain, there are many reasons why one might experience discomfort in the heel area. Heel pain is a common ailment that afflicts many individuals, and celebrities are no exception. Former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham suffers from chronic heel pain and bunions as a result of her refusal to wear any other shoes apart from high heels.

How is heel pain treated?

• Orthotic devices can elevate your arches and provide cushioning to aching heels
• Doctors can prescribe strong anti-inflammatory and pain medication
• If several months of treatment don’t work, or your tendon has torn, doctors may suggest surgery to repair your Achilles tendon 

Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists is a podiatrist who specializes in treating heel pain.

What Causes Heel Pain?

Achilles tendinitis is another reason why you might experience pain in the heel area. If the pain is on the bottom of your heel, it’s likely to be Plantar fasciitis, but if you experience discomfort alongside the back of your heel, that is a common symptom of Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis can be diagnosed via an MRI or an ultrasound.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the leading causes of heel pain, and is caused by the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toe, and by doing so, runs across the bottom of your foot to create the arch.

How can I prevent heel pain?

With the foot containing 26 bones, the largest of which is your heel, proper precautions can help prevent discomfort and pain.

1. Wear proper shoes- while you may enjoy living on the more fashionable side of life, high heels can cause deformities that in turn, trigger pain.
2. Maintain a healthy diet- obesity can cause multiple issues with the feet, so by maintaining a healthy diet, you prevent the extra strain on your feet.
3. Ensure that your shoes fit correctly and provide support for your feet
4. Stretch before you exercise

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Different shoe parts and how it helps your feet? The Texas Foot Specialists

Proper foot care involves choosing the right type of shoes. Wearing running shoes for example helps prevent injury while improving your performance. But choosing the right shoe is more than selecting the right size. We should also understand the basic components of the shoe and how it affects our feet.

The use of therapeutic footwear is just one of the treatments employed by podiatrist for managing the different symptoms of foot disorders. Those with toe deformities, hammertoes or bunions could benefit from using therapeutic shoes. A visit to a podiatrist can help explain the many benefits of using therapeutic shoes. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot conditions and disorders.

What are the different components of a shoe?

• The toe box is a space located the top of the shoe which is used to enclose the toes. A wider toe box is ideal for those suffering from hammertoes. It gives the toes more room to wiggle reducing pain.
• The sole is located at the bottom of the feet. It provides cushioning to absorb high intensity impacts. It helps reduce risks for foot injuries due to running or jumping. A specially designed sole could also offer additional support for people suffering from flat feet.
• The heels is another shoe part that provides additional foot support. However, the height of the heels have a direct effect on how weight is shifted in the feet. Shoes with “high” heels push our weight forward to the toe area.
  
• The vamp composes the top area of the shoe. This is usually the area where shoe laces are located. It can be used to adjust the tightness of the shoe for better fit.
• The sides as the name indicates comprises the sides of the shoes. A shoe made of flexible materials makes it easier for the shoes to conform with the foot’s shape. A therapeutic shoe designed with wider sides for example can be a source of relief for those suffering from bunions.

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Plantar fasciitis - Peyton Manning - The Texas Foot Specialists

Peyton Manning, legendary Broncos Denver’s quarterback suffered from a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot last season. He was then relegated to the sidelines and had difficulty walking for weeks. This was not uncommon, since foot injuries is a common occurrence among athletes.

Plantar fasciitis is a stabbing pain that usually occurs in the morning and will disappear after making few steps. This kind of injury is very common to runners and athletes who are involved in tough playing games. Consult a podiatrist for any type of foot injury. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with chronic foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

Symptoms

• There is an aching, or burning pain in the sole of your foot
• Foot pain that occurs as you step out of the bed early in the morning
• Pain that will decrease after you’ve been on your feel for a while
• Sudden heel pain
• Foot pain that lasted for more than few days
• Pain in just one foot
• Swelling, heat feeling, or redness in the heel area
• Limping
• Plantar fasciitis is mistaken with other conditions that have the same symptoms such as arthritis or tarsal tunnel syndrome.

What are the risks in developing plantar fasciitis?

• Pronation. This is a condition when a plantar fascia doesn’t transfer weight evenly while walking.
• Overuse of the feet without proper rest
• Tightness, flat feet, or high arches at the back of the heel
• Obesity
• Standing or lifting heavy objects for a long period of time
• Ill-fitting or worn footwear
• Normal aging process
• Physical trauma to the foot

What are the treatments for plantar fasciitis?

A simple three step approach is all you need to experience immediate symptom relief: 

Give your feet a rest - adjust your daily habits to spend some time off your feet and let it rest. Ice brings cooling relief - you have to apply an ice pack to your injured heel for twenty minutes every two hours. This will numb the pain and control inflammation. Use of orthotics devices such as splints, shoe inserts, and wraps will lessen the pressure on your heel.

 How to prevent plantar fasciitis

•  You need to maintain a healthy weight.
• You have to warm up before participating in any sports.
• You need to wear shoes that cushion the heel and support the arch. 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with plantar fasciitis and other chronic foot problems. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Heel Pain - Texas Foot Specialists

Heel pain is a relatively common affliction that affects many people, and celebrities are no exceptions. Victoria Beckham, former Spice Girl and wife to international football star David Beckham, suffers from bunions and chronic heel pain as a result of her disdain for flats and refusal to wear any other shoes apart from high heels.

High heels are one possible cause for heel pain, but there are many reasons why one might experience discomfort in the heel area.

Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are podiatrists who specializes in helping people with heel pain and plantar fasciitis.

What Causes Heel Pain?

One of the leading causes of heel pain is Plantar fasciitis, which is often caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toe, clinically called the plantar fascia. This tissue runs across the bottom of your foot to create the arch.

Another reason why you might experience pain in the heel area is Achilles tendinitis, which can be diagnosed by your doctor via an MRI or an ultrasound. If you experience discomfort alongside the back of your help, that is a common symptom of Achilles tendinitis, but if the pain is on the bottom of your heel, you’re more likely to have Plantar fasciitis.

How can I prevent heel pain?

The foot contains 26 bones, the largest bone of which being your heel. If you take proper precautions, you can avoid discomfort and pain.

• Make sure your shoes provide support for your feet and fit correctly
• Stretch before you exercise
• Maintain a healthy diet- obesity can trigger various issues with the feet, so by maintaining a healthy diet, you avoid putting that extra stain on your feet.

Wear proper shoes- while you may enjoy living on the more fashionable side of life, high heels can cause deformities that in turn, trigger pain.

How is heel pain treated?

Orthotic devices can elevate your arches and provide cushioning to aching heels
If several months of treatment don’t work, or your tendon has torn, doctors may suggest surgery to repair your Achilles tendon

• Doctors can prescribe strong anti-inflammatory and pain medication 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people suffering with foot conditions.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Bruised Heel – Foot Abuse and Overuse in Athletes

Any physical activity that requires extensive footwork exposes people to foot injuries. Repeated high impact activities such as running or jumping places great pressure on the foot and its structures. The feet are very durable but they too has their limitations.   

Bruised Heel

A bruised heel happens when the heels are exposed to repeated physical abuse. The heels are responsible for supporting the body’s weight even during walking or standing, the possibility of injury is a constant.

The calcaneus bone or heel bone acts like a shock absorber. The body’s weight is transferred to the legs and ultimately the foot. The heel aside from absorbing the body weight is also the body’s first point of contact with the ground before the stress is dispersed to other foot and body structures.

The heels are naturally surrounded by fatty tissue. This helps in absorbing the shock and limits the stress on the heels. However, this is lost with age increasing the risk for bruised heels and other injuries.

Treatment and Management

Rest the foot immediately if a bruised heel is suspected. Continuing your normal activities or engaging in foot-heavy activities can only aggravate the situation. A bruised heel may heal faster if given time to rest. However, if pain persists even after resting the foot then consulting a podiatrist is advised. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specializes in treating bruised heels and other foot injuries.

Prevention

Preventing bruised heels in the future can be done by practicing proper foot care. This can be done by using custom orthotics. Shoe inserts should be used on both feet and not only on the affected foot. This is because wearing one insert causes a slight imbalance which in turn can cause more injuries.

Just like your car’s wheels, shoes should be replaced over time. Wear and tear happens due to direct contact with the ground. Shoes are designed on average to last around 400 miles.

Recovering from a bruised heel

You may recover quickly from bruised heels  if detected early and given ample time to heal. The injury could disappear in a matter of days.  Visit a podiatrist if a bruised heel persists even after rested or pain intensifies.   The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people suffering from a bruised knee and other foot injuries. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.