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March 2018

Many children often experience a broken ankle at some point in their growing years. When the ankle is injured, it may be difficult to differentiate between a break and a sprain. It’s important to take note of any swelling, pain, and general discomfort in addition to where it’s located. Any uncomfortable sensation occurring at the joint or surrounding tissue may be indicative of a sprain. An obvious sign of a broken ankle is a deformity of the bone, generally resulting from having endured a fall. Your child may experience several symptoms of a broken foot, including the inability to stand as a result of the pain and bruising that appears around the affected area. A proper diagnosis generally consists of having an X-ray performed to determine the severity of the break. If you think your child has broken their foot, please schedule a consultation with a podiatrist for proper treatment options.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Larry Cohen from New York City. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury. 

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

  • Bruising
  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Blue in color
  • Numbness
  • Cold
  • Misshapen
  • Cuts
  • Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

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

Read more about Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment for a Broken Foot
Published in Blog
Monday, 19 March 2018 00:00

Can Flat Feet Cause Pain?

If your entire foot touches the floor while standing, you may have a condition referred to as fallen arches, or flat feet. Most babies are born with this ailment, and the arches will gradually develop as the toddler starts to walk, typically around 12 months of age. If the arches never develop, there may be several causes responsible for this condition. These may include a predisposed inherited gene, diabetes, obesity, or an injury involving the foot or ankle. The majority of people will have little or no symptoms, but some may notice swelling in the ankles or pain in the feet that gets worse with activity. There may be several treatments available, including shoes that are comfortable and supportive, performing specific stretching exercises, or supporting the arches with orthotics. Please consider scheduling a consultation with a podiatrist for more information about treatment options for flat feet.

Flatfoot is a condition many people suffer from. If you have flat feet, contact Dr. Larry Cohen from New York City. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Are Flat Feet?

Flatfoot is a condition in which the arch of the foot is depressed and the sole of the foot is almost completely in contact with the ground. About 20-30% of the population generally has flat feet because their arches never formed during growth.

Conditions & Problems:

Having flat feet makes it difficult to run or walk because of the stress placed on the ankles.

Alignment – The general alignment of your legs can be disrupted, because the ankles move inward which can cause major discomfort.

Knees – If you have complications with your knees, flat feet can be a contributor to arthritis in that area.  

Symptoms

  • Pain around the heel or arch area
  • Trouble standing on the tip toe
  • Swelling around the inside of the ankle
  • Flat look to one or both feet
  • Having your shoes feel uneven when worn

Treatment

If you are experiencing pain and stress on the foot you may weaken the posterior tibial tendon, which runs around the inside of the ankle. 

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

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Runners may experience several foot conditions in their career, and a common one is an ingrown toenail. Typically, the toenail grows into the sides of the skin, and this generally causes the runner to experience pain and discomfort. There are many ways to determine if you have an ingrown toenail, and one is to observe if the toe is swollen and painful. Additionally, if the toe appears red or pus oozes from the damaged skin around the toenail, this may indicate an ingrown toenail. If the runner wears shoes that don't fit properly and places extreme pressure on the toes, this may be a cause for developing an ingrown toenail. Additionally, implementing improper care of the toenails may also be a cause, typically developing from cutting the toenails incorrectly. If your running is affected by an ingrown toenail, please consider a consultation with a podiatrist for possible treatment options. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Larry Cohen of New York City. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

  • Bacterial infections
  • Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
  • Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
  • Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
  • Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

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

Read more about Ingrown Toenail Care
Published in Blog
Monday, 05 March 2018 00:00

How to Care For Elderly Feet

One of the best things we can do for our feet is choose shoes that fit comfortably. Recent research has shown that our feet get wider as we age, so it’s suggested to have the feet measured frequently. Additionally, it’s beneficial to avoid wearing high heels and shoes that fit tightly. Shoes may fit differently because the skin on the feet may lose elasticity and the nails may become brittle. It’s important to stay as active as possible to help poor circulation, which is a common ailment among seniors. Athlete’s foot is a commonplace among the elderly population and can cause considerable discomfort. Simple preventative measures include keeping the skin clean and drying thoroughly in between the toes, which is especially helpful. Diabetic patients need to be very aware of any sores that may appear. Consider scheduling a consultation with a podiatrist for correct treatment options on how to care for your feet.

Proper foot care is something many older adults forget to consider. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Larry Cohen from New York City. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The Elderly and Their Feet

As we age we start to notice many changes in our body, but the elder population may not notice them right away. Medical conditions may prevent the elderly to take notice of their foot health right away. Poor vision is a lead contributor to not taking action for the elderly.

Common Conditions 

  • Neuropathy – can reduce feeling in the feet and can hide many life-threatening medical conditions.
  • Reduced flexibility – prevents the ability of proper toenail trimming, and foot cleaning. If left untreated, it may lead to further medical issues.
  • Foot sores – amongst the older population can be serious before they are discovered. Some of the problematic conditions they may face are:
  • Gouging toenails affecting nearby toe
  • Shoes that don’t fit properly
  • Pressure sores
  • Loss of circulation in legs & feet
  • Edema & swelling of feet and ankles

Susceptible Infections

Diabetes and poor circulation can cause general loss of sensitivity over the years, turning a simple cut into a serious issue.

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

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