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The American Podiatric Medical Association recently published a study revealing that much of this nation’s foot pain goes untreated. In a survey of 1,000 people over the age of 18, 77% reported experiencing foot pain, but only a third of those claim they would see a podiatrist. Half of the participants with foot pain say that the pain has hindered walking, exercising, playing with grandchildren, and other daily activities.
Among the group who sought podiatric help, 88% reported a quick diagnosis and 76% received treatment that eliminated the problem. A third of the group said that their visits to the podiatrist exposed other health concerns, such as diabetes, circulatory issues, and nerve issues.
“It’s not surprising to see how many people are affected by foot pain, when survey results show that we view our feet as the least important body part in terms of our overall health and wellbeing,” said AMPA President Frank Spinosa. “Our feet are literally and figuratively the furthest things from our minds.”
If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact Dr. Kenneth Donovan from Advanced Care Foot and Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
What is a Podiatrist?
Someone would seek care of a podiatrist when they have suffered a foot injury or have common foot ailments such as: heal spurs, bunions, arch problems, deformities, ingrown toenails, corns, foot and ankle problems etc.
Podiatric Treatment
A podiatrist will treat the problematic areas of the feet, ankle or lower leg by prescribing the following:
- physical therapy
- drugs
- perform surgery on lower extremity fractures
- orthotic inserts or soles
A common podiatric procedure a podiatrist will use is a scanner or force plate which will allow the podiatrist to know the designs of orthotics. Patients are then told to follow a series of tasks to complete the treatment. The computer will scan the foot a see which areas show weight distribution and pressure points. The podiatrist will read the analysis and then determine which treatment plans are available.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Warren, Livingston, and Toms River, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Plantar Warts
Warts are viral infections of the skin cells. Specifically there are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
There are over 100 different types of HPV, with about a dozen that cause viral infections of the foot.There are a combination of factors that cause a patient to develop plantar’s wart. First is genetics. A certain percentage of the population is genetically predisposed to being susceptible to wart. Just like some people are more prone to acne (a bacterial skin infection). some people are more prone to getting warts. This is why in certain wart prone environments (like gym mats, communal swimming pools and showers), some people develop warts while others do not.
The second cause of developing warts is weakness in the skin on the bottom of the foot. The virus needs a point of entry in order to start an infection. Dry cracked skin or overly sweaty, moisture laden skin can cause weakness, leading to viral infections caused by the HPV virus. Another common point of entry is walking barefoot and stepping on a sharp rock or stick. Even if the injury doesn’t draw blood, that little poke can cause a microscopic skin injury, leading to plantar wart formation.
Treatments for warts are extremely varied, ranging from medication you can take orally, to applying duct tape. In general, most wart treatments cause the creation of a localized immune response, so the body can fight the infection. In my office, we use Cantharone to get rid of warts. The success rate with this treatment is 99%. The treatment involves a painless application of the medicine to the affected area. Patients usually need 2-3 applications of the medicine to obtain complete healing.
