Lowering Your Blood Pressure Improves Heart Health
This February is American Heart Month, and we’re putting the focus on high blood pressure as it relates to heart health. There’s nothing fake about this news: high blood pressure puts you at risk for all kinds of life-threatening issues such as strokes, kidney disease, loss of vision, heart attacks, heart failure, and more. You…
Winter Walking Tips That Can Save Your Feet from Harm
If there’s anything we’ve all learned in the sum of our years, it’s that winter weather can be perilous. Sidewalks and roadways may look safe, but we find out the hard way that they’re really coated in a thin layer of ice. If we’re not careful, we can slip and fall on that ice, causing…
Let’s Talk About Infant and Children’s Foot Care
Congratulations – you’re a new mom or dad! You may be wondering if your child’s feet need any particular care. Let’s take a peek at what to expect at various ages. Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder are experts at diagnosing specific foot or…
5 Ways to Avoid Foot Problems in the New Year
Are you ready to dive into an exciting new year? Foot pain can derail your plans in a hurry. However, there are preventative measures to ensure good foot health throughout 2023. Here are our top five suggestions: “Should old acquaintance be forgot?” Not if foot problems crop up in this new year. Re-acquaint yourselves with…
“Just Walk it Off” – and Other Bad Advice Friends Give You About Ankle Sprains
Countless people come to our podiatry office year-round for help with a sprained ankle. However, wintertime does the outdoor walker or runner no special favors! Black ice and snowy sidewalks will likely cause unintended falls, increasing the number of sprains we’ll treat over the winter. Also called a twisted or turned ankle, a sprained ankle…
The ADA’s Newest Diabetes Recommendations are Good News for Your Feet
Managing diabetes can sometimes seem like a full-time job. Keeping track of your blood sugar is only the beginning. Knowing your blood sugar levels is vital, yes, but so is staying on top of your mental health, cardiovascular health, weight, food choices, and foot-related diabetes issues. The American Diabetes Association aims to help people with…
5 Tips for Exercising Safely in Cold Weather
Does the prospect of another frigid Ohio winter make you want to make like a bear and hibernate until spring? We say, don’t shun the cold! Stay active by getting outside, even when temperatures drop. Breathing in the winter air, going for a walk or a run, and building up some sweat when it’s cold,…
How to Purchase Slippers Their Feet Will Love
‘Tis the season, as they say! If you’re firmly entrenched in shopping for your loved ones, consider that staple of holiday gift-giving: a pair of slippers. Slippers are well-known as Hanukkah or Christmas gifts, and the stores are currently full of them. How do you pick a pair their feet will love? To choose a…
3 Outstanding Ways to Avoid Sports Injuries of the Feet and Ankles
Sports injuries are simply unavoidable when you’re rapidly chasing balls, wielding long sticks, traversing uneven terrain, purposely falling onto the ground, and repeatedly crashing into other humans. Playing sports pushes your body to its limits – sometimes beyond its limits. That’s when injuries occur. And the feet and ankles are no strangers to limit-pushing sports…
3 Areas of the Feet that Fail as You Age
The human body is like a machine – and as much as we hate to admit it, our body parts can erode over time, like so many wheel bearings or brake pads. The parts of the feet that begin to buck and shudder, as it were, include joints, fat pads, and soft tissues. Bone spurs,…
How Often Should You Replace Your Shoes?
If your shoes are visibly falling apart, no doubt you need new ones. But we don’t advise waiting until the soles are flapping in the wind to replace your shoes. It’s impossible to say that all shoes should be replaced “after six months,” “every two years,” or any other interval. Experts say you should replace…
5 Actions that Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. It’s a fantastic opportunity to think about preventing a disease that strikes 463 million people worldwide and complicates their health.
Your Feet Want You to Know About the Great American Smokeout
We U.S. citizens know what to expect on the fourth Thursday of November. We look forward to Thanksgiving Day! It’s a day for family, football, and turkey – or perhaps a less traditional food that fits your vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Okay, that’s the fourth Thursday. Do you know what to expect on the third…
Prevent Foot Ulcers by Controlling Blood Sugar
If you had to guess the most important discovery in medicine in the last century, what would your guess be? Many scientists and researchers argue that it was the discovery of insulin as a treatment for diabetes. Injections of insulin became a viable treatment to control blood sugar in 1912. The 100th birthday of insulin…
Solutions for Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is common and contagious but isn’t easy to get rid of. Because fungal infections of the toenails can be so pervasive, you’ve got to take a sensible approach to find a treatment solution that works. What causes toenail fungus? Fungi are everywhere, including in the air and on human skin. They can infect…
What is Raynaud’s Disease?
This Raynaud’s Awareness Month, we want to shed some light on an unusual disease that affects tens of millions of Americans and their toes. Raynaud’s disease, sometimes called Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a problem with the small blood vessels in your fingers and toes. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, some people experience vasoconstriction. That is,…
Understanding Foot & Ankle Arthritis
“Arthritis” is a general term for joint pain. It can affect any joint in the body, causing pain in your feet, knees, wrists, hips, shoulders, fingers, ankles…. you get the idea. While there are many types of arthritis, the most common type is the one associated with aging. It’s called osteoarthritis. Why do your joints…
Flat Feet: Everything You Need to Know
Flatfoot is a condition where the foot lacks a normal arch. Instead of the midfoot having a slight rise, the entire foot rests on the ground. How to test for flat feet If you’re wondering if you have flat feet, you can perform this simple at-home test: dip your foot in some water, then step…
Are Ballet Flats Good or Bad for Your Feet?
If you’ve been reading anything about fashion these days, you may have heard that ballet flats are making a comeback. Unfortunately, this fashion staple of the 1990s has been called “one of the least foot-friendly” styles of shoes a person could wear. Here’s why: It’s right there in the name: they’re flat. They’re also thin-soled,…
How Bad is a Ruptured Achilles Tendon?
If you look in a dictionary, you’ll find this sensible definition of a rupture: “rup·ture | \ ˈrəp(t)-shər — a breaking apart or the state of being broken apart; the tearing apart of a tissue.” It all sounds very medical and rational on paper. “Ah, yes,” we muse, “hmmm, the tissue being torn apart.” However, at…
3 Common Foot & Ankle Injuries to Look Out for This Football Season
With the official NFL season underway, our thoughts have turned to the kinds of football injuries players sustain to their feet and ankles. To be sure, the pros aren’t the only ones on the field – high schoolers and even middle schoolers are hard at play, too. Anyone who plays football at any age should…
What You Know about Aging and Muscle Loss Can Help Prevent Falls
Millions of people over the age of 65 fall every year. Twenty percent will suffer serious injuries, including head trauma and broken bones. 800,000 of them will need hospitalization – 300,000 of them for hip fractures. What causes so many seniors to fall? There are many reasons, including: medications that cause dizziness homes that are…
3 Clues That Your Orthotics Need Replacing
Our podiatrists turn to orthotics to treat various foot and ankle problems. Orthotic shoe inserts are custom-fitted to support your exact foot anatomy (we take molds of your feet here in our office) and are used to treat plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, flat feet, bursitis, ankle pain, and many other conditions. Custom orthotics are versatile and…
3 Ways a Dog Improves the Life and Health of Humans
August 26 is National Dog Day, which encourages our podiatrists to reflect on the myriad health benefits that “man’s best friend” has to offer: Dogs have a positive impact on their owner’s mental health. Bona fide scientific studies have demonstrated that dogs can increase feelings of self-esteem while also decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety….
The Truth About Foot Fractures
There are many ways to describe a broken bone. Any bone in your foot can break, crack, or fracture – these words all mean the same thing. But there are many different ways a bone can break. How and where it breaks determines how long your recovery will be. The least severe break is a…
3 Essential Lessons for Back-to-School Shoe Shopping Success
What kid in our part of Ohio will wake up on Wednesday, August 17, and forget that it’s the first day of school? We can’t imagine there are many – it’s such an exciting time for the little ones! Those of us in the podiatry field are excited about August 17 for another reason as…
At-Home Exercises that Help Cure Heel Pain
Hardly a day goes by without a patient hobbling through our doors with debilitating heel pain, also called plantar fasciitis. It’s extremely common, especially in people ages 40-60. Heel pain occurs with repeated pressure on the plantar fascia – a thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that absorbs many impacts when…
5 Foot Care Essentials to Pack for a Day at the Beach
There’s a lot to look forward to when planning a trip to the beach! First order of business: fill a beach bag with these five sun and foot care essentials: Sunscreen. You’ve probably thought of this already and have some on hand. But for maximum protection, be sure it has an SPF of 30…
Our Podiatrists are Experts at Diagnosing and Treating Sports Injuries
You wouldn’t go to a voice teacher who wasn’t a singer himself. You wouldn’t call in a plumber who hadn’t yet learned to use a hacksaw or pipe wrench. So why would you choose a podiatrist with little sports experience to heal your sports injury? You don’t have to. Our three podiatrists have extensive experience diagnosing…
Caring for Calluses: When to Treat Them at Home and When to See a Podiatrist
What happens when someone irritates the heck out of you? You might ignore them – in other words, put up a protective wall so that person can’t get under your skin. Oddly enough, that’s exactly what your skin does when it creates a callus! – although the irritation doesn’t come from a person, of course….
Check for Skin Cancer Using the Alphabet
This UV Safety Awareness Month, we want to remind you to lather your feet with SPF 30+ lotion when exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. We also recommend regular body checks at home, including the skin on your feet. Checking your body for signs of skin cancer is as easy as ABC. Keep…
Flip-Flops: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Ah, summer! Now that it’s officially here, we can get out and enjoy the sun and surf, slipping our feet into flip-flops to our heart’s content. Right? Well, there’s a lot to love about flip-flops. But along with the good, there’s also some danger. The Good – flip-flops protect you from diseases like athlete’s foot and other…
Celebrate National Men’s Health Month
Men’s health is such an important issue that the U.S. Congress recognizes it. Every state in the Union – and many cities, too – has issued a proclamation identifying why we should set aside an entire month, June, for awareness of men’s health. Here are some of the startling facts included in these proclamations: Women are…
Considering Foot Problems in Today’s Superstars of Tennis
No matter how proficient you are at a sport, foot and ankle injuries can still happen. Look at what happened to German tennis star Alexander Zverev at the French Open in Paris earlier this month. He worked his way to a semifinal match with Rafael Nadal but had to withdraw from the match when he…
Do You Need a Podiatrist?
When you’ve got a health issue, it’s good to call your primary care provider for help. From there, your PCP might refer you to a specialist. A cardiologist (heart doctor) for a heart arrhythmia. A dermatologist (skin doctor) for a suspicious-looking mole on your back. A gastroenterologist (stomach and intestinal specialist) if you’re overdue for that…
5 Tips for Summer Feet that Look and Feel Great
Start with an overhaul. Your feet have been locked up in boots and had hot air blown on them all winter. We’d be surprised if they’re not a bit dry and callused. Freshen them up with a pedicure at home or at a reputable salon. Develop a healthy relationship with your flip-flops. Do wear them…
“Foot Pain is Inevitable” – and Other Myths, Misunderstandings, and Falsehoods About Feet
With the rise of social media, came the startling idea that the truth is not always apparent. Anybody can post to Twitter or Facebook, but what they say isn’t necessarily true. And even though myths and falsehoods have always been with us, social media has helped them flourish. Today, we’d like to quash some common…
How to Prevent Brittle Bones
“Brittle Bones” would make a pretty good name for a country-rock band, wouldn’t it? In the medical world, though, if someone starts talking to you about brittle bones, they’ll probably want to test you for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, whose Awareness Month comes around every year in May, is a chronic disease marked by thinning of the…
It Matters How You Trim Your Toenails – Here’s Why
There’s an art to trimming your toenails. But it’s not particularly artistic—no curves, no creative consideration of line, form, or angle. Just trim them straight and not too short. Anything else puts you at risk of getting an ingrown toenail. What’s an ingrown toenail?An infected, ingrown toenail can be very, very painful. Toenails typically grow straight…
Arthritis Awareness Month: What to Know About Osteoarthritis of the Feet and Ankles
When you use something for a long time, it will eventually wear out: A car engine. Your favorite pair of jeans. Various joints in your feet and ankles. Yes – after many years of use, the cartilage that protects your joints can break down, even disappear. When that happens, you’ve got bones touching bones. Without…
See a Podiatrist for Sports Injuries of the Feet and Ankles
Professional sports are always fraught with injured players. Many of those injuries are to the feet and ankles. Here’s a sampling of some recent foot and ankle sports injuries that a podiatrist can treat: During spring training with the Detroit Tigers, rookie Riley Greene fouled a ball off his foot and fractured a bone (April…
4 Easy Tasks to Improve Your Foot Health
In April, here’s something unique to put on your to-do list: Celebrate Foot Health Awareness Month! It’s not a huge commitment, and we promise you’ll be happy in the long run – and so will your feet. Pick any four days this month and tackle these easy foot health awareness tasks: Day 1: Examine your feet. Does…
Celebrate National Walking Day: It’s Good for Your Feet
On the first Wednesday of every April, National Walking Day, we celebrate walking as an easy, safe way to stay in shape. We encourage our patients to embrace walking as a form of weekly exercise starting today. Why? First of all, it’s easy on your joints. Furthermore, consider these other advantages to walking: It’s inexpensive…
Learn to Read a Nutrition Label and Your Feet and Ankles Will Say “Thanks”
Just about every packaged food item in any grocery store sports a label with “Nutrition Facts.” Learning how to interpret all the different numbers and percentages is an important skill. When you know what to look for, you can avoid unhealthy foods, lower your sodium intake, and work toward keeping your blood sugar levels steady….
Medical Conditions That Can Cause Foot Pain
Are your feet killing you, but you’re not sure why? If you haven’t expressly injured or overworked your feet, the cause of your foot pain may seem mysterious. The answer to the mystery may be this: you’ve got an underlying medical condition that’s causing your feet to swell, tingle, or hurt. DiabetesDiabetes is, of course,…
What is Capsulitis?
In podiatry, we can attribute many foot problems to the same few causes: shoes that don’t fit well or don’t support your feet, too much exercise, traumatic injury, and faulty biomechanics. Capsulitis is no exception. It’s a curious-sounding condition that can result from any of these causes. The suffix “-itis” means “inflammation.” Think of plantar…
How Heredity and Heels Affect Women’s Feet
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a day to recognize women all over the world for their achievements. We join the global community in celebrating women. And we hope to make it easier for them to excel by providing them with excellent foot and ankle care. Good health helps you accomplish your goals. Good foot…
Is it Okay to Pop a Blister?
Did you ever wonder why you don’t get blisters on your elbows? Your forearms? How about your back or your stomach? Not happening – because those body parts don’t usually rub against anything. Feet, on the other hand, tend to get blisters because they’re subject to a lot of friction. There are two primary causes…
Look Out for These Symptoms of Diabetes
Do you know when something’s going wrong in your body? Sure – you usually have symptoms such as pain, swelling, coughing, or fever. And you fix them, perhaps after a visit to the doctor. However, the human body isn’t always so direct. Some symptoms can be elusive, and you may not recognize them as problematic….
It’s American Heart Month: Check Your Feet to Learn about Your Heart
Could you interview a group of people and figure out which ones are likely candidates for heart disease? You might ask them about the signs and symptoms that are pretty well-known – for example, chronic fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath. You might also remember to ask them about their blood pressure – is…
Understanding Morton’s Toe and Morton’s Neuroma
How do you know if you’re royalty? Look at your toes, according to some. If your second toe is longer than your big toe, you’re among the approximately 20% of people with “Morton’s toe.” Legend says it’s a sign of nobility. But hold on – before they place their Amazon order for golden crowns and…
Safety Tips for Kids Who Ice Skate
The Winter Olympics are about to begin. Soon, little kids everywhere will shout excitedly to their parents, “Can I take figure skating lessons, please?!” The cautious Mom or Dad will cock their head and think: “She wants to wear thin blades on her feet and spin around on an expanse of cold, hard ice? I…
5 Tips to Help You Hold onto Your Health and Fitness Resolutions
What happens about three weeks after the New Year holiday? Quitting happens, according to the fitness website strava.com. “Quitters Day,” January 19, is when many people abandon their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions. By some other accounts, 80% of us will last a little bit longer, giving up exercising and eating healthier around the first week of February. Quitter’s Day…
What Can You Do About Overly Sweaty Feet?
You may think it’s unusual to talk about sweaty feet in the dead of winter. But people with overly sweaty feet know the cold, hard truth: feet can drip with sweat, whether it’s 68 degrees inside in January or 95 degrees outside in August. They sweat even if you’re not doing much in the way of physical…
5 Running Tips for Beginners that Save Your Feet from Stress
If you’re a beginning runner, there’s something you should know: foot discomfort, stress, and injuries are common among runners of all shapes, sizes, and levels of experience. Foot problems can stop a new runner in their tracks soon after they begin, foiling their plans to lose weight or get in better shape through running. Here are five ways…
Neuromas Have Got Some Nerve!
You’ve got a sudden stabbing pain at the bottom of your foot, up near the toes. The burning and cramping get worse with every step you take. You want to reach down and tear the pebble out of your shoe, straighten out your bunched-up sock. But there’s no pebble. The problem isn’t your socks, and…
Plantar Fasciitis: Separating Fact from Fiction
FICTION: The plantar fascia is a muscle on the bottom of the foot.FACT: It’s not a muscle – although it is, indeed, located on the bottom of the foot. It’s actually a ligament – a thick, fibrous band of tissue that supports and stabilizes your arch. FICTION: You get plantar fasciitis only if you have flat feet.FACT: People with flat…
Understanding Gout
You’ve got to start by knowing a little something about purines to understand gout. You eat purines every day because they’re in many foods. You eat them, and they break down into a waste product called uric acid, which you then excrete through your urine. So far, so good. The problem is that some people…
Holiday Gifts That Give Comfort and Joy to Feet
Giving thoughtful gifts, presented with heart and soul, is a wonderful part of the holiday season. This year, consider offering your loved ones gifts that pamper their feet. In the hustle and bustle of life, people can overlook their feet all year long. You have an opportunity to remind them of the importance of good foot…
Celebrate National Sock Day
Socks have come a long way since the basic dress blacks and thick tubes of mid-century modern life. Socks have become a fashion statement for kids and adults alike, allowing us to show off our personalities. Video game characters, bananas, a master painting by Pablo Picasso, and pretty much any other image can be knit together…
Tips to Avoid Holiday Pitfalls
Our podiatrists focus on our patient’s feet and ankles, but we’re happy when you’re in good health overall. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving’s fast approaching and it can jumpstart you into several weeks of unhealthy holiday behaviors. With just a bit of mindfulness, however, you can stop them from becoming long-term habits. Here are some typical pitfalls and what you…
Proper Healing Takes Time
Foot and ankle injuries don’t always heal quickly. And yet, modern society expects everything to happen fast! Your internet search is taking more than a few seconds to load? Ugh – cause for annoyance. Traffic jam on the interstate? – permission to feel impatient and anxious. On TV, the hero wraps up a crisis neatly and…
5 Diabetes Complications of the Feet
Let’s dive more deeply into some of the effects of diabetes on the feet that we touched upon in last week’s blog. We mentioned five effects: wounds that won’t heal, fungal infections, numbness, cracked heels, and weakened bones: Wounds that won’t heal. For the non-diabetic, a cut or scrape is usually no big deal and will heal quickly. That’s not…
6 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Type 2 Diabetes
Thirty-four million people in the United States have Type 2 diabetes. Sadly, all of them are at a higher risk of health complications in ways that might surprise you. In observance of Diabetes Awareness Month, let’s look into six of these complications: Legs and feet can develop problems with circulation and nerve function. Our patients with diabetes…
There’s Help for Skin Problems on Your Feet
Are your feet smooth and unblemished? Free from bumps and lumps of all kinds? We’d be surprised if they were. The skin on your feet can itch like crazy, turn angry red, break out into tiny bumps, form big lumps, or turn as flaky and scaly as a lizard’s. Patients who come to us with complaints about…
The Cold Truth About Raynaud’s
Having cold feet can be more than just a nuisance. Cold feet or toes can signal damaged nerves, blocked arteries, and Raynaud’s disease. If you’ve never heard of Raynaud’s, you’re not alone. Raynaud’s Awareness Month, celebrated every October, aims to improve public information about this relatively common, often misunderstood disease. Raynaud’s disease is sometimes called Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud’s…
Make an Easy Transition from Summer to Fall/Winter Shoes
It’s coming. Perhaps it’s already here: the day you say “so long” to your open-toed shoes until the ice melts along Lake Erie’s shores and the trees push out green leaves once again. Believe it or not, the transition from summer sandals and bare feet to autumn shoes, boots, and socks can be rough on…
Fix Your Feet and Get Back to Living!
International Podiatry Day comes around every October 8, and it’s our chance to emphasize the importance of foot health. Most people take their feet for granted – until something in that vast network of bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, sweat glands, toenails, and skin goes wrong. Bones break, muscles pull, nerves tingle uncontrollably,…
Foot and Ankle Conditioning Exercises for Everyone
If our podiatrists recommend physical therapy for foot or ankle pain, it’s for a good reason. Exercises targeted specifically for the feet and ankles speed up recovery from an injury and help you gain back your strength. But here’s a tidbit you may not have thought about: the kinds of exercises we prescribe post-injury are…
Senior Citizens: Fix These 4 Things to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
One-quarter of all Americans age 65+ fall down every year. And many of those who fall sustain injuries such as a traumatic brain injury or a hip fracture. Devastating injuries like these can start a downward spiral for senior citizens, from losing their independence to having to enter a nursing home to, sadly, premature death. Falls Prevention Awareness…
4 Ways to Avoid Fungal Infections of the Feet
There’s good news and bad news about foot fungus. Let’s start with the bad news: there are millions of different species of fungi. Even though you can’t see them, they’re out there living on plants and in your garden soil. It may surprise you to learn that some types of fungi usually inhabit the human…
Achilles Tendon Ruptures are Painful and Serious
One of the most painful injuries of the feet and ankles is a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is thick and long. On one end, it attaches to your heel bone; on the other end, the tendon is embedded in your calf muscle. Ruptures, or tears, in the Achilles tendon can be partial or…
How Neuropathy Affects Your Feet
Tingling, burning, or weakness in your feet are signs you may have peripheral neuropathy. What is neuropathy?Neuropathy means “disease of the nervous system.” So right away, you know that it’s a problem with your nerves. Which nerves? That’s where the term “peripheral” comes in. It refers to all nerves not located in the brain or…
How to Choose a Good Pair of Running Shoes
If you want to talk about putting pressure on your feet, talk about running! Your feet absorb most of the impact when you run – up to four times the amount you weigh. That’s a lot of force. And that’s why it’s vitally important to wear the right shoes when you run. Good running shoes…
Dos and Don’ts of Back-to-School Shoe Shopping
Kids’ feet can grow at an alarming rate! What used to fit them in May is likely too small for their back-to-school feet (or too worn-out). Back-to-school shopping should always involve a trip to the shoe store. Here are some tips to make shoe shopping fun and successful for both you and your kids: Don’t…
6 Ways to Celebrate Your Feet
There are so many ways to celebrate your feet – those two marvels of engineering that support you and make it easy to get around every day. We think feet should have their own national appreciation day – and they do! National I Love My Feet Day is coming up on Tuesday, August 17, so…
4 Foot and Ankle Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
If your feet and ankles are the furthest things from your mind, that’s a good thing. It means they’re working just fine. The minute something feels off, though, worries begin. Lower limb problems have a way of interfering with your daily life, making it difficult to walk around or play sports. Problems can get worse…
Warts Don’t Have to Be Permanent Fixtures on Your Feet
If you’ve ever had a wart on your foot, you know this one thing: they’re tough to beat. Warts are annoying, unattractive, and sometimes painful skin growths. They pop up on your soles, heels, or toes when a virus invades through a break in the skin. Also known as plantar warts, they appear as flesh-colored,…
Protect Your Feet and Ankles When Taking up a New Sport
Can you name all 46 sports that make up the 2020 Summer Olympics? The Games provide plenty of excitement for the athletes who’ve dreamed of participating in them for years. Unfortunately, they also offer plenty of opportunities for sports injuries. Many young kids who’ll watch the Olympics from July 23-August 8 will get excited to…
What To Do About Heel Pain
If you’ve got nagging heel pain, don’t wait to see our podiatrists. It could be plantar fasciitis, one of the most common causes of heel pain and a condition that will probably get worse unless you take some steps to rein it in. What is plantar fasciitis?It’s inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick ligament…
Do You Have Weak Ankles?
If you frequently feel unstable when you walk, you may be suffering from weak ankles or what our podiatrists call chronic lateral ankle pain. In addition to feeling unstable or off balance, you may experience. soreness, stiffness, or tenderness in your ankles or your feet ankles that regularly twist inward or outward frequent ankle sprains…
Questions and Answers About Ingrown Toenails
What’s an ingrown toenail?With a normal toenail, the nail plate grows up and out beyond the end of the toe. In contrast, an ingrown toenail grows downward and the nail fold, or the frame of the nail, digs into the surrounding soft tissue of the toe. Who gets ingrown toenails?For some, the tendency to have…
Foot Essentials To Pack for Your Summer Vacation
Are you planning a vacation to the beach, the mountains, or visiting family you’ve missed during these months of quarantine? Wherever you’re headed, pack a few things with your foot health in mind. Adding just these few things to your luggage will help you remember to treat your feet, keeping them comfortable and safe during…
Let’s Talk About Men and Diabetes
June is International Men’s Health Month. Why do we dedicate an entire month to men’s health? For one thing, it’s common knowledge that men are more hesitant to see a doctor than women are. They’re afraid of hearing bad news. They don’t want to take time off from work. They push through the pain. But…
4 Hidden Signs of Foot Problems in Children
It’s easy to overlook a problem your child may be having with their feet. For one thing, a child may not realize it himself. Also, he or she may be too young to come up with the right words to tell you that something hurts. However, as a parent, you can play a vital role in…
Stay Active and Healthy Through Running
If you’ve ever thought about running, Global Running Day may be just the inspiration you need to lace up some good, solid athletic shoes and get started. On June 2, 2021, people worldwide are pledging to embrace the sport of running and all the benefits it offers: Improved cardiovascular health Lower cholesterol levels Lower blood…
Smoking, Vaping, and Your Foot Health
Smoking is at an all-time low in the United States. That’s not a huge surprise since we’re taught cigarettes cause breathing problems, heart disease, and lung cancer at a very early age. Gone are those “Mad Men” days of the 1960s when everyone was constantly lighting up a cigarette at home, at the office, sitting at…
Mow the Lawn, Lose a Limb: It’s More Common Than You Think
It happens every spring and summer without fail: we hear on the news about a child somewhere who lost a foot or a toe in a lawnmower accident. People with the best intentions – smart people – can cause an injury because they just haven’t thought enough about the dangers. However, when you’re operating a…
Understanding PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease)
If you’ve ever had a clogged sink in your home, you’ve got an idea of what’s it like to have peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Something in your sink drain prevents the water from emptying down the sink – maybe some clumps of hair. Water trickles around the hair, and it eventually makes it down the…
Learn to Recognize Osteoarthritis in Your Feet and Ankles
What happens when you rub two things together? You get friction. That’s what’s going on with the disease we call osteoarthritis. To understand osteoarthritis, it helps to know a little bit about joints and cartilage. A joint is where two or more bones meet. Cartilage provides a slick surface that allows every joint in the body…
When to Worry About Your Child’s Flat Feet
It’s very common for young children to have flat feet. In fact, from birth until age 3 or 4, almost all children’s feet have no visible arch. By the time most kids are about 5 years old, their feet will have lost their cute, pudgy, fat pads and developed arches that last into adulthood. Most…
How to Treat Cysts on Your Feet
Cysts are fluid-filled lumps that form under the skin or arise out of a joint. They can appear anywhere on the body, with some common places being the fingers, wrists, knees, and feet. Toe joints commonly get cysts, but you may also spot a jelly-like bump on the top of your foot. When you touch…
These 4 Hiking Basics Can Save You from Foot and Ankle Injuries
Wear the right shoes. Hiking boots offer the best protection for your feet and ankles. They should be sturdy but comfortable, with great arch support. Consider boots that provide above-ankle stability, especially if you’re planning to hike over rough terrain. Above all, don’t hit the trail in regular sneakers or, even worse, flip-flops. Don’t take…
6 Ways to Prevent Foot Problems
Every April, Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland joins expert podiatrists everywhere in observing Foot Health Awareness Month. Here’s one important thing we’d like you to be aware of: there’s a lot you can do to prevent foot problems from cropping up. Avoid bunions, nerve pain, heel pain, flat feet, and many other common foot…
What’s Causing Your Lower Leg, Ankle, or Foot Pain?
Now that we’ve seen some serious hints of spring weather here in Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit, and Geauga Counties, people are bursting out of their homes to walk, run, and play outside.
4 Ways to Boost Your Energy
If you’re feeling zapped of energy, you’re not alone. We’ve been enduring the global pandemic for over a year now, and it’s tiring, both physically and mentally. And the recent switch to Daylight Savings Time might have thrown your biological clock out of whack. So, it seems a good time to talk about various ways…
Are You Looking for a Female Podiatrist?
Women throughout history have made astounding achievements in medicine, law, education, and social justice – to name a few areas! As a nation, we celebrate women’s accomplishments during Women’s History Month every year in March. We’re fortunate here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland that one of our doctors is a female podiatrist who…
Nourish Yourself, Nourish Your Feet
March is National Nutrition Month, and Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland ask important health questions about nutrition. What does adequately nourished mean? Is it all just about the food you eat? What does proper nutrition have to do with your feet and ankles? Let’s take those questions one at a…
Common Tennis Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Foot and ankle injuries happen all the time in tennis. It comes with the territory. Players are continually running up and back, jumping, and stopping, and starting on hard surfaces. These actions set the scene perfectly for frequent injuries. Here are the 5 most common foot and ankle injuries that affect both amateur and professional…
Dos and Don’ts for Healthy Winter Feet
Maintaining healthy feet during the winter is a matter of keeping them warm and dry. Also, it’s about keeping them safe from injury, frostbite, the pain of Raynaud’s disease, and the effects of diabetes. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind as we count the days until spring. Do update your sock…
Lower Your Blood Pressure to Improve Cardiovascular Health
February is American Heart Month. All of us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland want to take this opportunity to talk about blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and how they relate to your feet. What is cardiovascular health? “Cardio” means “heart.” “Vascular” refers to the blood vessels that carry blood to every part of your…
10 Ways to Show Your Feet Some Love
This Valentine’s Day blow a couple of kisses to the body parts that serve you well every day: your feet! It is important to show your feet some love this month and every month. Here are ten ways to show them how much you appreciate their constant support: Move your body. Regular exercise helps maintain…
The ABCs of Managing Diabetes
It’s hard work to keep diabetes under control. Managing diabetes by regulating your blood sugar can be difficult and time-consuming. Worrying about all the complications of diabetes can be emotionally taxing. So, what if you could break down diabetes self-care into simple terms? The American Diabetes Association reminds us to break it down to our…
What’s the Best Cure for Toenail Fungus?
Finding the best cure for toenail fungus or fungal infection isn’t always easy. If you ask around, you might get some unusual advice. People will sometimes recommend you put tea tree oil on your infected nails. Another favorite folk remedy: apply a cold and cough ointment directly to your toes. These over-the-counter remedies may help but…
Add “Measure Your Feet” to Your To-Do List
One of the best ways you can take care of your feet is to buy shoes that fit well. To do that, start by measuring your feet. Try it on January 23 – National Measure Your Feet Day! Who should have their feet measured? Children need to have their feet measured often. A child’s foot…
Changes in Your Feet May Be Telling You Something
“There is nothing permanent except change,” a wise Greek philosopher once said. Life throws change at us all the time – including physical changes in our body. However, you shouldn’t accept all changes in your feet as normal. Changes in how your feet look, feel, or move can be signs of trouble not only in…
5 Winter Foot Care Tips for Diabetic Feet
What have you been doing to prepare for the cold weather? Filling up the oil tank? Calling the snowplow guy? What about preparations for your own precious human body? If you’ve got diabetes, this is a crucial question. Diabetes, as our patients know well, can affect the feet in several ways: Peripheral arterial disease stops blood from…
5 Simple Ways to Change Your Exercise Routine for the Better
If you’re someone who gets regular exercise, all of us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland applaud you. Regular exercise helps keep your weight from creeping upward, allows blood to flow freely, and strengthens muscles and bones, all of which help keep your feet and ankles in tip-top shape. However, even if you already…
How to Stop Heel Cracks in Their Tracks
For so many of us in northeastern Ohio, Old Man Winter hands out the same gift year after year: cracked heels. It’s not all the Old Man’s fault, however. We can take most of the credit for setting up the ideal circumstances for dry skin. Heel cracks can happen due to: Heat – once the…
Don’t Let COVID-19 Stand in the Way of Proper Diabetic Foot Care
Amputation has always been an awful possibility for anyone with diabetes. Proper diabetic foot care is crucial. Now, Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland warns our diabetic patients the possibility of amputation has increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s been an increase in the number of lower limb amputations throughout the world. One reason…
The Surprising Solution for Knee and Hip Pain: Fix Your Feet
If you’ve been suffering from pain in your knees or hips, the problem may not be your knees or hips at all. It could be your feet. Understanding what gait is Everyone walks with a particular gait. Gait describes: the way your heels hit the ground what happens when you shift your weight entirely onto…
When Should You Go to the Doctor for a Foot Injury?
You expect professional athletes – runners, gymnasts, dancers – to get foot injuries. But the truth is that everyone who uses their feet can sustain a foot or ankle injury in a split second. Just ask Joe Biden, who recently cracked a couple of bones in his midfoot – the area just below the ankle….
Great Gift Ideas for the Athletes on Your List
The expert podiatrists here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland echo this one thing all doctors will tell you: exercise is right for you! Regular exercise chases away the blues and keeps your heart pumping efficiently. Working out helps control diabetes, builds lean muscle mass, and enables you to keep off unwanted pounds. It…
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
Let’s approach the end of American Diabetes Awareness Month with some vital questions: will you get diabetes? Is there any reason to be worried? Are there steps you should be taking to reduce your risk? These are some great questions to bring to your doctor at your next physical. But even before that, you can…
Here’s What Happens When You Quit Smoking
If you’re a smoker, we’re talking to you today. The nation observes The Great American Smokeout on November 19, 2020. In honor of this day, we want to point out the benefits of quitting smoking over time. Quitting smoking quickly sets off a chain of positive effects to your health that are pretty astounding. What…
Let’s Talk about Diabetic Foot Care
American Diabetes Month (November) raises awareness of a disease that affects 34 million of our citizens. Even those who live with diabetes struggle with the staggering amount of information to know and understand. For patients and friends of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, we’re offering this list of words associated with diabetes and diabetic…
Don’t Fall for These Diabetes Myths
Let’s do a little math: currently, there are 334,884,221 people in the United States. About 34,200,000 of them have diabetes. 34,200,000÷334,884,221 = 10% 10% of us have diabetes. That’s huge! And you’d think that we’d all be pretty conversant about something that affects one person in every 10. Sadly, we’re not. Diabetes continues to be…
Custom Orthotics: A Simple, Effective Way to Treat a Wide Range of Foot Problems
There are hundreds of reasons why your feet might hurt. But the one simple solution to your foot pain could be custom orthotics. Orthotics are shoe inserts that correct various foot problems such as bunions, high or low arches, ankles that turn in when you walk or run, arthritis, toe deformities, and nerve pain. These…
3 Compelling Reasons to Check Your Feet Right Now
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine, people have been putting off getting medical care for many issues. Foot problems are no exception. As a result, issues not fixed early have likely gotten worse. It’s neither safe nor wise to put off certain types of care. So, check your feet right now if any of…
Fast Facts about Foot and Ankle Arthritis
In recognition of World Arthritis Day, the staff of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland offers this easy-to-digest list of facts about foot and ankle arthritis and how to ease the pain. Facts About Foot and Ankle Arthritis The most common form of arthritis to affect the feet is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the physical…
We Could Talk All Day about Toe Problems
If we at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland ran a radio station, we might call it WTOE. It would feature talk shows since we can’t think of a lot of songs about toe problems. We wouldn’t have to worry about attracting an audience because 75% of people, including those in our listening area of…
Hiking Can Lead to Foot Injuries
Fall is a fantastic season to go hiking. There is endless beauty in nature, which you can easily discover on numerous trails throughout Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties. If you’re not careful, however, there’s endless danger as well. Slippery stones, uneven paths, and roots that grab at your feet can send you sprawling, causing…
Care and Feeding of the Aging Foot
One of the most challenging things about growing old is our body parts don’t last as long as we might like them to. Life expectancy is high, but we still expect our eyesight to go bad, our memory to fade, and our aging feet to show the effects of all those miles. A lifetime of…
Get Off the Plantar Fasciitis Rollercoaster
Imagine getting out of bed every morning, planting your feet on the floor, standing up, and immediately regretting your decision to start the day. Why? – Because your foot is on fire. The pain of plantar fasciitis begins in your heel and travels into your arch. You can barely stand without crying, let alone walk….
Secure Two Body Areas to Help Prevent Falling
Senior citizens: when it comes to preventing falls, it’s not enough for you simply to say, “I’m cautious.” Falling is the number one cause of injury and deaths from injury in older Americans, says the Centers for Disease Control. Sure, you can say you’re cautious. You can move around slowly. But if your vision’s impaired…
Don’t Let a Bone Spur Hold You Back
To “spur someone on” is to get someone to act. Nudge a horse in the side with your boot, and he’ll begin walking. A few bucks can spur your tween into cleaning the bathroom speedy-quick. But with your feet, a painful bone spur can have the opposite effect: you can’t be spurred on to do…
How Bad is Your Ankle Sprain?
The NBA is living and competing in a bubble to protect its players from contracting COVID-19. But it doesn’t mean they’re safe from injuries on the court. Gordon Hayward’s awkward fall and severe ankle injury earlier this month is a reminder where there is a basketball game; there will always be ankle sprains. The Celtics…
Win the War Against Foot and Ankle Pain
Who hasn’t uttered the words “my feet are killing me!” at one time or another? It’s just one example of how we talk about our health. We seem to use a lot of words associated with confrontation. “She’s battling pain.” “He’s going to beat this.” We can have a gall bladder or gout attack. Early…
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
The world is waiting as patiently as possible for an event that will, we hope, return our lives to normal: the creation of a safe vaccine for COVID-19. We hope that the vaccine arrives quickly. We hope it’s easily and fairly distributed. Above all, we hope it works well to protect us from this frustrating…
Should You Wear Shoes at the Beach?
Self-isolation is getting really old. You’re thinking about escaping to the beach. In your mind’s eye, you see the sun warming your bare skin as you twirl your ankles in the cooling water. A fresh breeze blows off the water, flipping your hair in all directions. Emitting a contented sigh, you stroll back to your…
Do’s and Don’ts of Mowing the Lawn
Hospital emergency rooms care for thousands of lawn mower-related injuries every year in the United States. A great number of those injuries involve the lower limbs. And, sadly, children make up a large amount of those injured. Keeping yourself and your family safe while mowing the lawn begins with awareness of the dangers. Then, commit…
Athlete’s Foot: When Fungus Finds a Comfy Home in Your Feet
Dermatophytes are fungi that like to take up residence in people’s feet and toes, causing athlete’s foot. The fungi enter through the front door – a cut or scrape on the foot. They sit down in a comfy chair – like the space between your toes. These ‘guests’ open the fridge and find stuff they…
COVID-19 and People with Underlying Conditions
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control expanded its list of underlying health conditions that put people at an increased risk of severe complications from COVID-19. The list now includes those who suffer from the following health conditions: coronary artery disease COPD obesity chronic kidney disease high blood pressure moderate to severe asthma liver disease pregnancy…
How to Keep Your Children Safe at the Park
Wondering how to keep your children safe while enjoying summer activities like visiting a park? The novel coronavirus hasn’t been magically eradicated. It’s still around. We should all take precautions to stay well. You may be wondering, is it safe to take your children to a state park? Public parks in Ohio reopened several weeks…
Overcoming 4 Objections to Wearing a Face Mask
Information about how COVID-19 spreads have changed rapidly over the past few months. The WHO and CDC have examined new data, their recommendations have evolved. Both now advise face masks for anyone out in public. The state of Ohio also recommends the wearing of face masks to help prevent the spread of the virus. All…
6 Ways Men Can Take Better Care of Their Feet
At Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, we’re putting the focus on men in June – it’s Men’s Health Month! So there’s no better time to encourage men to take better care of their feet. Here are six great ways to accomplish this: Get a pedicure. Guys, you may not have been aching for Ohio…
“Stay Home-Stay Safe” Hasn’t Necessarily Worked for Feet
Podiatrists all over the globe have noted a marked increase in the number of patients with shoe-related foot pain over the last several weeks. From San Francisco to London, Johannesburg to Sydney, and even in our corner of the world serving Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties – feet have been the unsuspecting victim of…
Can You Get Skin Cancer on Your Feet?
Let’s say you’re not especially concerned about skin cancer, because you’re careful, right? You wear long pants, long sleeves, and a hat when you’re out in the sun. You haul a big umbrella to the beach and sit in the shade. Whenever your face, chest, arms, and legs are exposed, you slather them with suntan…
Vary Your Diet to Get the Best Nutrition
In many ways, social distancing has changed how we eat. We’re off-schedule, routines out of whack. We don’t go to the grocery store as often. We’re at home, reaching for food that’s convenient, not necessarily maintaining a balanced diet. But of course, ask just about anybody, and they’ll tell you that a diet rich in…
Can You Visit a Podiatrist During the Pandemic?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland has been open for our patients who need urgent care. Emergency podiatric conditions pose an immediate threat to your health and include Broken bones Sudden changes, such as swelling or numbness Wounds that aren’t healing – especially important for our patients with diabetes Constant pain…
Tips to Improve your Physical and Mental Health While Working From Home
Working from home isn’t going away as long as the global pandemic persists. CNN.com recently reported that even when offices open back up, many corporate leaders will choose to keep at least some of their employees working from home. So, if you’re working from home and you’ve resisted making upgrades to your workspace because you…
Now’s the Time to Plant an Outdoor Container Garden
Is there anything more delicious than a fresh tomato still warm from the sun, plucked off the vine, sliced into a salad, and tossed with some great olive oil and fresh herbs? A home garden yields delicious, healthy foods like these. But not everyone has the space for a garden. Thumbs aren’t always green. If…
Pamper Your Feet with an At-Home Pedicure
At Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, we think that people all over our patient area of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga Counties fall into one of these two categories: 1). The last thing on their mind throughout the coronavirus pandemic has been their feet, or 2). They’re keenly aware that they’re in desperate need…
New Symptom of COVID-19 Visible on Feet and Toes
More than two months into this pandemic, we’re all quite familiar with the most common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection: fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. However, doctors worldwide have recently announced a new symptom of the disease: skin lesions on feet and toes. This skin condition is called “COVID toes.” What are COVID toes?…
25 Things to Do When You’re Stuck at Home
The spring of 2020 has felt pretty cloudy even when the sun’s been out. But all of us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland want to help you part the clouds and find meaningful ways to pass this time spent within your own four walls. Here are some ideas for getting through the coronavirus…
5 Ways to Keep Kids Happy and Productive at Home
It’s been several weeks since “home” turned into “work-from-home” and “school-at-home,” but families are still adjusting. They’re still trying to find that delicate balance between social distancing and, well, sanity. Our podiatrists, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey have a lot of compassion for anyone trying to attend work conferences from home, while…
4 Ways to Jump-Start an Exercise Routine
It’s probably safe to say that if you had a routine before the current COVID-19 crisis, it’s become difficult to carry it out now. However, your exercise routine doesn’t have to disappear. Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann strongly recommend that you find the motivation to keep working out or use this…
What’s Causing Your Heel Pain?
Several conditions contribute to heel pain, plantar fasciitis being chief among them. Heel pain that’s strongest at the beginning of the day, eases up once you begin moving around, and comes back at the end of the day, is probably due to plantar fasciitis. But today, the expert podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Associates of…
Make Good Nutrition a Family Affair
Life seems to be changing rapidly as the United States responds to the threat of the new coronavirus. We’ve been asked to hunker down at home as much as possible. And with schools in Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga counties closed for the foreseeable future, kids are home and parents are looking for ways to…
What’s Your Risk of Developing Diabetes?
Would you be surprised to learn that diabetes is extremely damaging to your feet? High blood sugar damages nerves and blood vessels, which makes the feet especially vulnerable to two things: numbness and slow healing. When your feet are numb, it’s much harder for you to detect a problem such as a cut or a…
Viruses That Infect Your Feet
Coronavirus is in the news – a lot. You can’t turn on the radio or television for even a few minutes without hearing something about it. Viruses are constantly changing, a fact reinforced by the global spread of Covid-19, a novel strain of coronavirus. Viruses are responsible for many diseases, including the ones we often…
The Pros and Cons of Treating a Bunion
If you’ve got a bunion, chances are you’ve known it for a while. You’ve been watching it over time. Maybe it’s gotten worse, jutting out a little further from the base of your big toe. It didn’t hurt before, but now it’s starting to. You’ve had to make some changes, take something for the pain…
Common Running Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Seasoned runners, rejoice! One of the first competitions in Cuyahoga County – the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day 5K – is less than two weeks away. If the prospect of getting outside and running gets you pumped, then this message from Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland is for you: there’s nothing worse than having your…
A Healthy Weight Promotes Heart and Foot Health
Look around you in the month of February – do you see red? If so, it may be because it’s National Heart Month! People wear red to encourage themselves and others to take good care of their hearts. Keeping your weight in a healthy range is one of the best ways to celebrate heart health….
Do’s and Don’ts of Children’s Foot Care
Many foot problems that develop later in life have actually been brewing for many years. So it pays to take care of one’s feet starting at a young age. Craig B. Frey, DPM and Megan L. Oltmann, DPM, the expert podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, advise our patients to take good care…
Protect Your Feet from Frostbite
Frostbite can strike your ears, nose, fingers, and toes when you’re outside in the cold for a long time, or if your skin isn’t well protected against freezing temperatures. And while the winter of 2020 may not go down in history as the coldest ever in northeastern Ohio, temperatures are still hovering around the freezing…
How NOT to Treat Your Feet
January 25 was National Opposite Day, which got us to thinking: what would happen if we completely turned around the advice we give our patients? To be clear, Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland would never actually do that! But today in this blog, we’re going to play around with telling you the opposite of…
6 Ways to Take Better Care of Your Feet
We podiatrists have a suggestion for you: consider the passing of another year as an opportunity to take better care of your feet! No surprise there, right? Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann are passionate about taking care of our patients’ feet. And, we want to give you the tools you need…
Not All Athletic Shoes are Created Equal
Expert podiatrists Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann have some advice that we hope you’ll use especially if you’re starting a new exercise plan in the New Year: pay attention to the athletic shoes you’re wearing. It’s not enough to pick a pair that looks nice and hope that it gets you…
What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the number one cause of heel pain among our patients here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, the long, flat ligament that stretches across the bottom of your foot, becomes inflamed. There are several ways you can irritate your plantar fascia: Wearing unsupportive shoes….
Questions and Answers about Gout
Sudden pain and swelling in your big toe may be a gout attack. Especially for our patients in Geauga, Cuyahoga, Summit, and Portage counties who may not know much about gout, expert podiatrists Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey want to walk you through some questions and answers about this condition that…
Foot Care for Senior Citizens
It’s been said that “Age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland appreciate the humor in this popular quote. But we also like to point out to our senior patients that you…
What if Kim Kardashian Really Does Have 6 Toes?
Social media was ablaze a few months ago with speculation about Kim Kardashian’s toes, and it’s happening again this month. Photos of the socialite and media personality, including close-ups of her sandaled feet, reveal the possibility of a sixth toe on each foot. Or do they? Well, unless Ms. Kardashian were to visit us here…
What to Do if You’ve Sprained Your Ankle
A twisted ankle is an incredibly common injury – and not just for athletes. According to one study, 23,000 people a day seek medical care for a sprained ankle. You can imagine how many more people get injured but don’t go to the emergency room or visit their doctor. What about those people who brave…
The Lisfranc Injury: It’s Complicated
Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin was a well-known 18th-century surgeon. These days, at least among podiatry specialists like us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, his name only comes up when we’re talking about a specific area of the midfoot: the Lisfranc joint complex. An injury to the foot in the Lisfranc complex is,…
Strategies to Stick to a Healthy Diabetes Diet on Thanksgiving
November is Thanksgiving month, of course, and many of us look forward to time spent with our families, sharing a bountiful table. But it’s also American Diabetes Month, an opportunity for diabetics to recommit to keeping their disease under control. What a tough juxtaposition of November observances! The possibility of soaring blood sugar levels lurks…
Your Family Can Play an Important Role in Diabetes Management
Do you have to handle the stress of diabetes alone? Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, the two expert foot doctors at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, hope that the answer is no. So who’s around to help you get through a life with diabetes? Well, certain members of your team…
Do You Need a Podiatrist if You’ve Got Diabetes?
We’re just going to jump in and answer this blog’s title question right away: YES! Anyone with diabetes should have their feet checked at least once a year by a qualified foot specialist. And once-yearly checkups are not always enough. That’s because diabetics are prone to two types of problems that podiatrists are uniquely qualified…
No Need to Fear These Scary-Sounding Foot Problems
What’s scarier than a black spider dropping out of nowhere into your lap? What’s more frightening than the hero of the movie you’re watching stepping into an obvious trap that he just doesn’t see? Well, many people are likely to scream in those scenarios. They’re not half as scary, however, as that feeling you get…
Healing from Turf Toe Can Take Time
Key player Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers has a toe problem. It’s hard to tell from reading articles in the press how long he’s going to be sidelined. But from what we know about turf toe here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, it could be quite a long time before the…
October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day
Podiatrists Megan L. Oltmann, DPM and Craig B. Frey, DPM want to call attention to a bone disease that affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men. Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” People with this disease have weak bones that are easily broken. It’s often called the “silent disease,” because it can be difficult…
Some Ankle Sprains are Worse than Others
Raise your hand if you’ve ever sprained your ankle. How about knowing someone else who’s sprained theirs? We perceive lots of hands in the air. That’s because every single day in the United States, thousands of people will experience an ankle sprain. It’s no wonder: the ankle is a complex joint made up of bones…
Need Foot or Ankle Surgery? Choose a Well-Qualified Surgeon
Sometimes, you can’t avoid foot or ankle surgery. It may be your only option to piece together broken bones. Surgery can finally eliminate the pain of bunions, hammertoes, or arthritis that you’ve been living with for months or even years. Residents of northern Ohio – Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga Counties – can turn with…
Vaping Sets Up Teenagers for Serious Illnesses
The effect of vaping on teenagers’ lungs is in the news. And the news is pretty shocking. Colorado, Utah, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Oregon are just some of the states that have reported teens hospitalized with serious respiratory illnesses. At least four other states have reported vaping-related deaths. Lung disease that threatens a young person’s life…
8 Ways for Seniors to Create a Safer Living Space
Every 11 seconds in the United States, a senior citizen is treated in the hospital after experiencing a fall. Many of these falls result in a traumatic injury, such as a broken hip or brain damage. They can trigger a downward spiral into poor health. They can rob older adults of their independence. What’s a…
Plantar Fasciitis Can Be a Big Deal
Here’s what Dallas football player Amari Cooper had to say about his pre-season troubles with heel pain: “Yeah, so, plantar fasciitis, you just got to do a lot of stretching, a lot of treatment, but it’s not a big deal.” Not so fast, cowboy. Plantar fasciitis can be a big deal. Let’s take a closer…
Back to School: Time to Take Care of Yourself
“Moooooooom!” “Daaaaaaaad!” These are common refrains all year round – even more frequent when the kids are home for the summer. But once school’s back in session, hopefully, you’ve got more time in the day that you can call your own. Use that time to take care of you. And don’t forget to include good…
Questions & Answers about Orthotics
Podiatrists Craig B. Frey, DPM and Megan L. Oltmann, DPM of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland rely on orthotics to help treat many problems of the feet and ankles. Here are some common questions and answers about these valuable podiatric aids. Q: What exactly is an orthotic? A: Orthotics are shoe inserts that adjust…
Psoriasis and Other Skin Problems of the Feet
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. Psoriasis is an immune disorder characterized by itchy, raised, red patches found anywhere on the skin. A flare-up of psoriasis on your feet is likely to show up on the soles, but can also affect the tops, including your toes. The skin on your feet may swell, redden, thicken, crack,…
Memorize These 3 Facts about Back-to-School Foot Care
If we were to remove our Doctor of Podiatric Medicine coats and exchange them for schoolteacher hats, we’d be tempted to create a lesson plan to teach kids about back-to-school foot care. It might look something like this: Foot Care Lesson Plan Date: various first days of school in Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, and Geauga Counties,…
Oh, Your Swollen Feet!
The Washington Post recently featured a series of articles revealing this interesting fact: not everybody loves summer. Apparently, some people dislike longer days. They find that the neighborhood won’t quiet down in time to get the kids to sleep. Or, sunlight blazes into their bedroom and wakes them up with the birds. Furthermore, anxiety and…
8 Ways a Podiatrist Can Send Your Foot Pain Packing
Of all the parts of the human body, we tend to ignore our feet the most. That is until something happens to make them hurt. But it’s really hard to ignore a heel that screams out in pain when you walk. And just what are you supposed to do with a big toe that suddenly…
Travel Tips for People with Diabetes
If you’ve got diabetes, you do your best every day to monitor what you eat and drink. You know when it’s time to pull out the test strips and check your blood sugar levels. Managing diabetes takes time, effort, and organization – all of which can get very tricky when you go on vacation. But…
Lawn Mowing Tips to Keep Your Family Safe from Injury
Before you fire up the lawnmower and get cutting, consider this: every year, thousands of people go to the emergency room with grave injuries from lawnmowers. Many of the injured are children who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Toe, foot, or entire lower leg amputations are not uncommon. Expert podiatrists Megan…
The Athlete’s Guide to Preventing Blisters
Blisters are the skin’s response to irritation. When something repeatedly rubs against your foot, the skin will first get hot and red. Then, in an attempt to protect itself from further assault, it forms a bubble. This isn’t an injury that happens slowly over time. Irritated or burned skin puts up a fight in a…
What’s Causing Your Ankle Pain?
Patients from all over Cuyahoga, Geauga, Summit and Portage Counties regularly limp into Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland with ankle pain of some sort. It’s no surprise to our podiatrists Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey that ankles are injured so much. There’s a lot going on in your ankle, structurally…
Injuries of the Achilles Tendon
We’re not sure this headline could be any more brutally honest: “Say Goodbye to Kevin Durant as you Knew Him” proclaims bleacherreport.com, a website that serves the sports world and its fans. Kevin Durant is a forward for the Golden State Warriors basketball team. The multiple MVP is highly regarded as one of basketball’s greatest…
4 Fundamental Things to Know About Diabetes
Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey of Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland are very dedicated to caring for our diabetic patients. We also hope to minimize the number of patients who develop diabetes in the future. Diabetes – a disease characterized by uncontrolled blood sugar – is on the rise. It…
4 Strategies to Conquer Smelly Feet
Smelly feet can be normal, or they can signal an underlying medical problem. Most people will find relief from embarrassing foot odor by using some or all of these 4 strategies: Make some changes First, change your socks every day – more than once a day if you’ve been exercising. Re-wearing your socks means you’re…
Dancers Need a Foot Doctor They Can Trust
Dancers have some of the most overworked lower limbs you can find. Foot and ankle problems like tendinitis, stress fractures, and sesamoiditis just come with the territory. Dancers regularly twist tendons and stretch ligaments beyond their normal reach. Their feet are often in pain. They need to know that when foot problems keep them from…
Keep an Eye Out for These 3 Kinds of Pediatric Foot Problems
If your child had foot pain, would they tell you about it? In our experience as podiatrists here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, the answer to that question is an emphatic “maybe.” A child may be too young to express what’s wrong. She may notice something’s not quite right but keep forgetting to…
Is There a Difference Between Arthritis and Gout?
May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann want to focus on how we can help our Cuyahoga, Portage, Geauga, and Summit county patients ease the pain of a unique form of arthritis called gout. What makes gout unusual is how it differs from other forms of arthritis. Arthritis…
14 Ways to Walk More
If you’re interested in staying fit and even losing a few pounds, podiatrists Craig B. Frey, DPM and Megan L. Oltmann, DPM give you a round of applause. Here’s one suggestion for an easy way to stay fit: get walking. There are countless ways to fit more steps into your day. Here are some ideas:…
How to Treat Corns and Calluses
Have you ever stopped to think about why your feet develop corns and calluses? Both corns and calluses are areas of thickened skin. They form when something repeatedly irritates one area of your foot. Calluses are flat and may cover a large area. We commonly see them on heels and the balls of the feet….
Questions and Answers about Bunions
A bunion is just one of many toe deformities that we treat here at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Here are some of the most common questions our patients have and some helpful answers from our expert podiatrists Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann. Q: What causes bunions? A: Many people…
The Risk of Limb Loss is Real for Diabetics
The state of Ohio has officially declared April to be Limb Loss Awareness Month. This is important to us at Foot and Ankle Associates of Cleveland. We want to help our patients learn about the risks of losing a toe or a foot. Who’s most at risk for limb loss? Our patients who are most…
8 Ways to Treat Your Feet
April is Foot Health Awareness Month! So it’s a great time to “step” back and think about all the ways you can be nice to your feet. Here are 8 suggestions from all of us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Get a pedicure. If you’ve never had one, we encourage both men and…
Pregnancy, Foot Health, and High Heels
You may have heard that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are expecting their first baby sometime in the next few weeks. Meghan has largely stepped down from her public duties, but when she does make an appearance, she’s still wearing the shoes she prefers: super high…
World Health Day 2019: Health Care for All
The World Health Organization has designated World Health Day 2019 (April 7) as a time to advocate for equal access to health care. Here in the United States, the debate over universal health care is fraught with strong opinions. Depending on which side of the political aisle you’re standing, a single-payer health plan might cost…
Many Ways to Treat Heel Pain
Patients walk into Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland (it’s true, sometimes they’re hobbling) with all sorts of foot problems. However, one of their most common complaints is heel pain. It can seem to come on suddenly and fiercely or it can feel like a dull ache that just won’t go away. By the time…
Strengthen Your Bones with These 2 Nutrients
We all make choices about what to eat every day. Some days we make better choices than others! These days, we’re approaching the end of March – National Nutrition Month. Therefore, it’s a great time to focus on choosing foods that nourish our feet and ankles. Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey…
Pain in Your Feet and Legs Could be Serious
Do you have pain or cramping in your lower limbs when you walk? Does the pain diminish as soon as you stop walking and rest for a bit? What about cold feet: is one foot always colder than the other? These are some of the symptoms of a condition podiatrists, Craig B. Frey, DPM, and…
How to Deal With Achilles Tendon Pain
The Achilles tendon is the thickest, strongest tendon in the entire human body. This large band of tissue, which connects your heel bone to your calf, makes it possible for you to walk, run, and jump. Such a responsibility comes with a price, though. Because we place such high demands on our Achilles tendon every…
Treat a Sprained Ankle Correctly the First Time
One minute all is going well and the next you’ve gone and twisted your ankle. It’s as quick as one false step off a curb, one crash landing on the football field, or one off-kilter bounce off a trampoline. Ankle injuries happen to the best of us. In fact, a sprained ankle sends almost 30,000…
See a Podiatrist for Stress Fractures of the Feet
You notice some soreness in your foot. It’s minor-league annoying. But it doesn’t go away. It begins to interfere with your workouts and daily activities. The pain gets worse, more persistent. The foot becomes bruised, swollen, and painful to walk on. When a patient comes to us with these symptoms here at Foot & Ankle…
Use “Life’s Simple 7” To Improve Your Health
“It’s the little things.” You’ve heard that phrase tossed around. We’re told to appreciate the little things that come our way: an unexpected compliment; someone holding the door open for you; the way a loving child might reach up and stroke your hair. When it comes to your health, it turns out that the little…
Foot Problems in Babies and Toddlers
Most babies are born without any foot problems whatsoever. They learn to walk in their own time somewhere around their first birthday. There are, however, a few feet issues parents might want to be aware of as their children are born and advance through their first few years of life. Clubfoot means that a newborn’s…
Dos and Don’ts of Buying Shoes
You weren’t born yesterday. You know how to buy shoes. Or do you? Podiatrists Megan L. Oltmann, DPM and Craig B. Frey, DPM submit that most people could improve their foot health if they simply wore the right shoes. Many people wear shoes that don’t fit well, which can lead to bunions, hammertoes, tendinitis, and…
Avoiding Foot Injuries at Work
Feet and ankles are susceptible to injury all the time. No matter where you are, an accident can happen that causes an acute injury – a sudden, one-time occurrence such as a fall that snaps a bone in your foot. Or, your repetitive activity leads to a chronic, overuse injury such as tendinitis or stress…
3 Ways the Cold Can Affect Your Toes
Wintertime in Cuyahoga County can gift us with some truly beautiful scenes. The snow drifts down, kids rejoice in snow days off from school, and if we’re lucky, hot beverages in warm homes keep us safe and snug. But when you have to venture outside into the freezing temps, our advice from Foot & Ankle…
What are Bone Spurs?
Spurs are small bits of bone that grow abnormally out of regular bone. They can form when surrounding soft tissues (like ligaments and tendons) and the places where they meet (in your joints) become inflamed. To illustrate what that means, here are two scenarios in which bone spurs can form in your feet: Let’s say…
Celebrate Your Health with This One-of-a-Kind Holiday
Here’s a unique holiday that probably hasn’t made it into your calendar: January 2 is National Personal Trainer Awareness Day. What is it? Personal Trainer Awareness Day is an attempt to publicize the many ways that personal trainers can help you reach your fitness goals. Why January 2? This is the time of year when…
Dos and Dont’s of a Broken Toe
How do you know if you’ve broken your toe? Well, for starters, if you’ve dropped something heavy on it, be suspicious. If you trip and fall while bending your toe at an awkward angle, be on your guard. You’ve probably broken it if such an event is followed by: sensitivity to touch bruising swelling redness…
5 Cold-Weather Truths for Diabetic Feet
Baby, it’s cold outside! Cold temps can pose a challenge to anyone’s feet. But the cold, hard truth is that diabetics must pay special attention. At Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, we’d like to remind our diabetic patients that protecting your feet is more urgent than it is for most people. And that includes…
Holiday Gifts that Promote Great Foot Health
‘Tis the season for giving! At Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland, we think some of the best gifts are the ones that help keep our patients’ feet healthy. Life is just better when you’re not dealing with aching feet. So improve a loved one’s life by gifting them with products that’ll keep the bounce…
Fast Facts about Flat Feet
What does it mean to have flat feet? It’s all about the arch. First, you have to understand that feet normally have an arch. That’s the inside of the middle of your foot (the left side of your right foot; the right side of your left foot). Generally, that part of your foot curves upward,…
The Devastating Foot Complication Diabetics Often Miss
If you’ve never heard of Charcot foot, you’re not alone. It’s a complication of the diabetic foot that’s becoming more prevalent as diabetes itself spreads throughout the world population. What’s Charcot foot? The first thing podiatrists Craig B. Frey, DPM and Megan L. Oltmann, DPM want you to know is that the name “Charcot foot”…
Learn to Recognize the Warning Signs of Diabetes
Would it surprise you to know that some people walk around with symptom of diabetes for several years before they even realize something’s happening to them? It can happen. The warning signs can be subtle. They may not bring diabetes to mind as a possible cause. Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann…
Lifestyle Changes Can Prevent Diabetes
It’s National Diabetes Awareness Month, and all of us at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland think it’s a good time to talk about diabetes prevention. Expert podiatrists Dr. Megan L. Oltmann and Dr. Craig B. Frey spend a lot of time treating feet with diabetes-related conditions like poor circulation (PAD) and nerve damage. These…