Dancers place significant stress on their feet, toes, and ankles, making proper foot care essential for preventing injuries and maintaining mobility. Keeping toenails short and cutting them straight across helps reduce the risk of ingrown toenails, which can be painful and interfere with movement. Calluses act as a protective barrier against friction, but should be carefully maintained to prevent thickening that can cause discomfort. Corns, which often develop between the toes due to pressure from wearing tight-fitting shoes, may require adjustments in footwear or evaluation by a podiatrist. Pointe dancers are especially prone to bruised toenails, which may turn black and eventually fall off, leading to temporary discomfort and limitations in performance. Persistent pain, swelling, or structural concerns like bunions or stress fractures should not be ignored. A podiatrist can assess foot health, recommend supportive footwear, and provide treatment, including orthotics or surgery, if necessary. If you have foot, toe, or ankle pain caused by dancing, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for an exam, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Richard P. Jacoby, DPM from Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of a toenail grow into the surrounding skin, causing pain, redness, and swelling. This often happens on the big toe and can be incredibly uncomfortable. Symptoms include tenderness, visible inflammation, and sometimes an infection with pus if left untreated. The main causes of ingrown toenails include improper nail trimming, wearing tight shoes that put pressure on the toes, or injury to the nail. People with conditions like diabetes or poor circulation are also more prone to developing ingrown toenails due to their feet being more vulnerable to infection. A podiatrist can help by properly diagnosing the condition and offering treatments, such as topical antibiotics, or in some cases, surgically removing part of the toenail. Podiatrists can also offer advice on proper nail care and footwear to prevent future occurrences. If you have a painful ingrown toenail, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Richard P. Jacoby, DPM of Extremity Health Centers. 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 one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Swollen feet can be a sign of underlying health conditions that affect circulation, fluid balance, or inflammation. Heart disease can lead to fluid retention in the lower extremities due to poor circulation and weakened heart function. Kidney disease affects the body’s ability to remove excess fluids, resulting in swelling in the feet and ankles. Liver disease can cause fluid buildup when the liver fails to produce enough proteins to regulate circulation. Additionally, diabetes may lead to swelling due to poor circulation and nerve damage. Severe infections can cause localized swelling as the body responds to inflammation. Arthritis often results in joint swelling and stiffness, making movement painful. If your feet have become swollen, it is strongly suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can determine what the cause is, and offer appropriate treatment and relief solutions.

Swollen feet can be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have any concerns, contact Richard P. Jacoby, DPM of Extremity Health Centers. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Swollen feet are a common ailment among pregnant women and people who stand or sit for extended periods. Aging may increase the possibility of swollen feet and patients who are obese often notice when their feet are swelling too. There may be medical reasons why swollen feet occur:

• Phlebitis - A condition that causes the veins to become inflamed and can also cause leg pain.
• Liver disease - This may lead to low blood levels of albumin which is a protein. This can cause fluid in the blood to pass into the tissues and several areas of the body can become swollen.
• Heart failure - When the heart doesn’t pump properly the blood that is normally pumped back to the heart can pool in the veins of the legs causing swollen feet.
• Kidney disease - One of the main functions of the kidneys is releasing excess fluid in the body. This type of condition can make it difficult for the kidneys to function properly, and as a result the feet may become swollen.
• Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)- This is a serious condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs. They can block the return of blood from the legs to the heart which may cause the feet to swell. It is important to be treated by a podiatrist if this condition is present.

Swollen feet can also be caused by bone and tendon conditions, including fractures, arthritis, and tendinitis. Additionally, there may be skin and toenail conditions and an infection may cause the feet to swell. Patients who take medicine to treat high blood pressure may be prone to getting swollen feet. 

Many patients elevate their feet to help relieve the swelling and this is generally a temporary remedy. When a podiatrist is consulted the reason behind the swelling can be uncovered and subsequently treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Scottsdale and Buckeye, AZ . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.