The ankles may suffer for women who choose to frequently wear high heels. This can be a result of the amount of body weight the ankle joints bear, and is generally increased when high heels are worn. Research has shown that arthritis may develop in women who enjoy wearing high heels, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. Additionally, the Achilles tendon can be affected. This is the tendon that is located in the back of the leg, and connects the calf muscles to the heel. Consistent wearing of high heels, can make this tendon feel stiff. If you would like additional information about the effect high heels have on the feet, please confer with a podiatrist.

High heels have a history of causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact one of our podiatrists from Cascade Foot Clinic. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because of their many styles and societal appeal.  Despite this, high heels can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

Which Parts of My Body Will Be Affected by High Heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – May shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – Heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – They decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  The vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What Kinds of Foot Problems Can Develop from Wearing High Heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How Can I Still Wear High Heels and Maintain Foot Health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Bend and Redmond, OR . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The medical condition known as athlete’s foot is contagious and often accompanied by noticeable symptoms. These symptoms may include cracked skin on the sole of the foot or in between the toes, and many patients also experience severe itching. This ailment is caused by a fungus that generally lives and thrives in warm and moist environments. These can include public swimming pools, locker rooms, and shower room floors. The fungus typically enters the body through small cracks in the skin and may even spread to other parts of the body, such as the hands, if not promptly treated. If you or your child have symptoms of this uncomfortable foot condition, it is strongly suggested that you seek the advice of a podiatrist who can offer you proper treatment solutions.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is often an uncomfortable condition to experience. Thankfully, podiatrists specialize in treating athlete’s foot and offer the best treatment options. If you have any questions about athlete’s foot, consult with one of our podiatrists from Cascade Foot Clinic. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment.

What Is Athlete’s Foot?

Tinea pedis, more commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a non-serious and common fungal infection of the foot. Athlete’s foot is contagious and can be contracted by touching someone who has it or infected surfaces. The most common places contaminated by it are public showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. Once contracted, it grows on feet that are left inside moist, dark, and warm shoes and socks.

Prevention

The most effective ways to prevent athlete’s foot include:

• Thoroughly washing and drying feet
• Avoid going barefoot in locker rooms and public showers
• Using shower shoes in public showers
• Wearing socks that allow the feet to breathe
• Changing socks and shoes frequently if you sweat a lot

Symptoms

Athlete’s foot initially occurs as a rash between the toes. However, if left undiagnosed, it can spread to the sides and bottom of the feet, toenails, and if touched by hand, the hands themselves. Symptoms include:

• Redness
• Burning
• Itching
• Scaly and peeling skin

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is quick and easy. Skin samples will be taken and either viewed under a microscope or sent to a lab for testing. Sometimes, a podiatrist can diagnose it based on simply looking at it. Once confirmed, treatment options include oral and topical antifungal medications.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Bend and Redmond, OR . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Painful deformities, such as hammertoes, can be treated. Stop living with foot pain, and have beautiful feet again!

The plantar fascia is the thick layer of tissue connecting your heel bone to the toes. This area can become inflamed or tear, causing plantar fasciitis. This painful disorder is sometimes experienced as hot, intense pain in your heel, and it may also cause swelling. Pain can be acute in the morning and sometimes may lessen during an activity once you are warmed up. If you are experiencing inflammation only, your podiatrist may try to treat the area with a variety of therapies including orthotics, taping and strapping, steroid injections and other techniques. If your plantar fascia has torn, this is more serious, and your podiatrist may suggest shockwave therapy—which can be successful in repairing damaged connective tissue and relieving pain without resorting to surgery.

Shockwave therapy is a treatment commonly used to treat various injuries and conditions, particularly plantar fasciitis in the feet. To learn more, consult with one of our podiatrists from Cascade Foot Clinic. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a new treatment option designed to treat bone conditions such as tennis elbow, shoulder pain, and others. Shockwave therapy uses high intensity sound waves that are directed to the affected tissues of the body with pinpoint accuracy. The effects are very beneficial, leading to a production of collagen fibers, eliminating inflammation.

Who Benefits from Shockwave?

Shockwave is recommended for patients suffering from heel pain and associated problems. Heel pain is a common condition which can be caused by obesity, overexertion, and spending a substantial amount of time on hard floors with your feet exposed and unsupported.

Fast and Easy

The therapy is actually a simple process that can leave patients feeling better the very next day. Shockwave therapy is not as dramatic as it sounds. It enables more blood flow to effected areas, addressing the source of the problem and allowing treatment to last for a long time.

Treatment & Recovery Time

Shockwave treatment will enable your feet to recover quickly. This is especially important since surgery is not required. It is cost effective and does not require the use of anesthesia. This treatment is a better option to surgery, since it is proven safe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Bend and Redmond, OR . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.