It’s surprising how little we actually think about our feet. Especially since our feet are a pair of the most useful body parts that we have, and, as it turns out, they’re pretty amazing to boot! Don’t believe it? Check out these strange, interesting, and little-known facts about your feet that might surprise you:

1.       1/4 of all of the bones in the human body are in the feet. Each foot is made up of approximately 26 bones. The human foot also has 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments.

2.       The average pair of feet walk around 115,000 miles in a lifetime. That’s more than four times the distance it takes to circle the earth! To stay healthy, it’s recommended that a person takes 10,000 steps a day – which equates to almost 5 miles. Most people who live a sedentary lifestyle take fewer than 3,000 steps per day.

3.       The world’s largest feet are a US size 26. The average men’s size shoe is 10 1/2. The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest feet is currently held by Orlando Rodriguez Hernandez of Venezuela. His feet measure 1 foot, 3.79 inches on the right foot) and 1 foot, 3.59 inches on the left foot. It’s rare for both feet to be exactly the same size. One foot is usually larger than the other.

4.       Toenails grow faster during hot weather, pregnancy and teenage years.

5.       Almost half of all toenail problems are due to fungal infections. Fungal toenail infection tends to become more likely with age. Nearly 50% of people over the age of 60 will experience a fungal toenail infection. Another common cause of toenail problems is ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails are often caused by bad toenail trimming techniques or too-tight footwear.

6.       75% of Americans will experience foot problems at one time or another in their lives.

7.       Some medical conditions can show up first in the feet. For example, food-related symptoms of diabetes can include a foot infection or reduced circulation or numbness in the feet.

8.       A podiatrist, or foot doctor, specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of foot and ankle problems. In the US, podiatrists must study for a minimum of 4 years, complete a residency, and must be state licensed before they can legally practice and offer advice on all aspects of foot health.

9.       Despite this, the feet are often the most neglected part of the body.  Public surveys frequently reveal that they feet are the body part that people like the least.

To help keep your feet looking and feeling as amazing as they are, be sure to schedule regular visits to your podiatrist for check-ups. You should visit your foot doctor at least once a year, or more often if you have diabetes or an existing foot problem. If you haven’t had your feet checked in a while, contact us today to schedule your next appointment!

Toenail removal is a minor surgical procedure that removes either the entire toenail or a portion of the toenail that is diseased, damaged, or very painful. People who have experienced trauma to a toenail, have an ingrown toenail, or have severe or recurring toenail fungus may often resort to toenail removal when other, more conservative treatments haven’t worked.

If you have a difficult to treat fungal nail infection, or if you have a suppressed immune system or diabetes, your podiatrist may recommend removal of the affected toenail to prevent the infection from spreading to other toenails or beyond your feet.

Partial nail removal may also be done for diagnostic purposes to allow your doctor to more closely examine the nail bed and surrounding tissue before deciding whether to conduct a biopsy.

What Happens During A Toenail Removal Procedure

Toenail removal is a simple procedure and usually takes no more than twenty minutes. It can be performed on an outpatient basis in your podiatrist’s office. To start, your doctor will inject a local anesthetic into your toe to prevent pain. During the procedure, the entire nail or just a portion of the nail may be removed. If you want to avoid future infection by permanently preventing the nail from growing back, your doctor can also destroy the nail matrix. The matrix is the layer of cells at the root of the nail that produces keratin, the material the nail is composed of. After the nail has been removed, a chemical can be applied to the cuticle area which will permanently prevent nail regrowth. After the procedure, an antibiotic ointment and bandage will be applied to the wound.

Toenail Removal Recovery

For the first few weeks after having your toenail removed, you will need to keep the wound clean and dry while it heals. You will most likely wear a bandage for about two weeks, and your mobility may be somewhat limited during this time. It may take several months for your toenail to completely grow back. Side effects and complications are minimal after the procedure. The most common problems experienced after toenail removal surgery are pain, infection, and a nail that grows back with an abnormal shape or appearance.

How To Prepare For Toenail Removal

Before having your toenail removed, be sure to ask your doctor questions about the procedure so you have a thorough understanding of what to expect. Some questions you might want to ask your doctor about your toenail removal procedure include:

• How long will the toenail removal procedure take?
• How successful is toenail removal in treating my foot problem?
• How much pain should I expect after toenail removal surgery? How can I manage post-procedure pain?
• How long will it take to recover from toenail removal surgery?
• How soon can I resume regular activities?
• What post-surgical symptoms should I watch for and report?

If you’re suffering from a painful ingrown toenail or hard-to-treat toenail fungus, a partial or complete toenail removal may provide the relief you need. Schedule an appointment today to speak with Dr. Lamour about your options.

There’s no one ‘athletic type’. Take football players and golfers, for example. Both are athletes, but each has completely different athletic needs – from training to nutrition to physical demands – based on their respective sports. But there is one thing that almost every athlete shares in common, regardless of their sport: foot problems. At some point in his or her athletic life, almost every athlete will experience a foot injury or issue that can significantly affect performance both during and outside of their sport.

Here are some of the most common foot problems or foot injuries in athletes or highly active people. 

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is caused by a type of fungus, and is so named because athletes are more likely than most to be exposed to the fungus. The athlete’s foot fungus (which is also responsible for ringworm and jock itch) thrives in warm, humid environments like sweaty, damp athletic socks and shoes. Since athlete’s foot is highly contagious, it can easily be spread in places that athletes frequently come in contact with, such as locker rooms, saunas, swimming pools and shared baths and showers.

Plantar Fasciitis

Located at the back of the heel, the plantar fascia often causes pain for athletes. Plantar fasciitis is the result of inflammation caused by tiny tears in the plantar fascia due to overuse from frequent or intense physical activity. Athletes who over-pronate or active individuals who wear flexible, minimalist shoes that don’t adequately support the foot muscles may also experience heel pain due to plantar fasciitis. Heel pain and tenderness is usually felt first thing in the morning and after periods of activity.

Stress fractures

Stress fractures are tiny, hairline breaks that occur in the bones of the foot. A stress fracture is usually the result of: overtraining or overuse, improper training habits or surfaces, improper shoes, flatfoot or other foot deformities, and even osteoporosis. If left untreated, these tiny breaks in the bones of the feet can lead to a more serious fracture.

Turf toe

Turf toe is a condition that many athletes experience. It’s caused by repeated hyperextension of the big toe joint. This is often seen in athletes who wear light, flexible or minimalist shoes or whose sport requires movements that cause repeated, forced hyperextension of the big toe (e.g., football players). Turf toe causes pain and tenderness at the big toe joint, pain during pushing off, and pain with passive movement of the big toe joint. Taping, switching to a stiff-soled shoe or using turf toe inserts to help limit the motion of the big toe and provide extra support is recommended.

Preventing athletic foot injuries and problems starts with you, the athlete. Make sure you always remember to:

• Wear supportive shoes.
• Warm-up before and cool-down after athletic activity.
• Get medical attention for a foot injury.

If you’re an athlete or an active individual, keeping your feet healthy is critical for the continued enjoyment of your lifestyle. Schedule your next foot checkup with us today, and make sure your feet are in tip-top shape.

Despite recent advances in the availability of health information, foot health is still somewhat a mystery. There are many old wives’ tales and colloquial advice about feet and footcare that are well-known, but aren’t necessarily based in fact. When it comes to foot health, it’s important to separate fact from fiction, so we’ve rounded up some of the more common myths about foot care and foot health, along with the real facts behind them.

Foot Myth: Going barefoot is good for your feet.

Foot Fact: Walking barefoot can actually be quite harmful to your feet, since it makes your feet more vulnerable to cuts, scrapes, wounds and fungal nail infections. While it’s always best to wear some sort of protective foot covering, if you must go barefoot, be sure to do so only inside the comfort of your home.

Foot Myth: Shoes cause bunions.

Foot Fact: It is true that the shoes with a narrow toe box or lack of support can make bunions worse, however bunions are most often caused by a genetically inherited defect in the structure of the foot. This structural defect makes it more likely that a person will develop a bunion.

Foot Myth: A doctor can’t do anything for a broken toe.

Foot Fact: Any time a broken bone occurs, it’s important to seek medical attention. A doctor can perform diagnostic X-rays to identify the severity of the break, help ensure the toe heals properly and prevent future issues, and even perform surgery on a broken toe. Failure to see a doctor for a broken toe can end up making walking or wearing shoes more difficult or painful.

Foot Myth: Soaking feet in vinegar cures toenail fungus.

Foot Fact: An antifungal medication that can reach the site of the infection is the best way to effectively treat toenail fungus. Vinegar can’t penetrate beneath the nail where the fungus resides to clear up the infection.

Foot Myth: Foot problems are a natural part of the aging process.

Foot Fact: Many people think that foot problems are an inevitable part of growing older, but that’s not always the case. Many times the culprit for foot problems is years of accumulated damage from wearing bad shoes or not addressing problems with foot structure or mechanics.

Foot Myth: If you can move or walk on your foot or ankle, it’s not broken.

Foot Fact: This myth prevents many people from seeking the medical treatment they need for foot or ankle fractures. Depending on the severity of the break and the individual’s pain threshold it could be possible to walk on a foot or ankle even with a broken bone. But it’s never a good idea, since walking with a broken foot bone can cause serious damage! If you suspect your foot or ankle is broken, stay off of it until it’s been diagnosed by a medical professional.

Traditional wisdom isn’t always the cure for what ails you. If you’ve got a problem with your feet or ankles, it’s best to seek professional care to be sure you don’t do any further damage. Don’t hesitate to give us a call for solid advice on all your foot health concerns!