A healthy body starts with healthy, happy feet. After all, your feet have to do a lot of heavy lifting, providing your body with a sturdy foundation and support to walk, run, and climb stairs. Of course, many people will deal with biomechanical problems in their feet due to flat feet, high arches, or other structural abnormalities. The good news is that something as simple as custom orthotics can provide your feet with the support they need to both prevent and manage foot and leg pain and other problems.

• Leg, hip, or back pain
• Bursitis
• Flat feet
• High arches
• Tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions
• Diabetes
• Hammertoes
• Certain injuries to the foot or ankle

Pain in the heels and arches of your feet could be an indication that you have a condition known as plantar fasciitis. The condition develops when the connective plantar fascia tissues that run along the bottom of the foot become inflamed and irritated. Plantar fasciitis can cause extensive discomfort, but some treatments can provide relief. The skilled podiatrists at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken NJ can recommend plantar fasciitis treatment options to help you achieve relief from heel and arch pain.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Two primary signs that you have plantar fasciitis include experiencing pain in both the heels and arches of the feet. Additionally, pain in the heels or arches is often more intense first thing in the morning before you have had a chance to stretch the feet. Foot pain can also be severe after sitting for extended periods. Briefly walking around to stretch the feet can help lessen the pain.

Finally, heel pain can become progressively worse over time if plantar fasciitis is left untreated. What might seem like minor discomfort at first can turn into significant pain over a few months, which is why it is important to seek treatment. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see one of the Turnersville plantar fasciitis experts to find out if plantar fasciitis is the cause of your foot pain.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by various factors. One common cause of the condition is overpronating when walking or running. Overpronating occurs when the feet roll inward and flatten as you take a step. As this happens, the arches become stretched out, which puts tension on the plantar fascia tissues. Persistent tension over time can cause these tissues to become inflamed and result in heel and arch pain. Other causes of plantar fasciitis include:

• Daily stress on the feet
• High-impact workouts
• Standing for extended periods
• Long-distance running
• Extensive walking
• Being overweight

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

There are many approaches to treating Turnersville plantar fasciitis. In addition to temporarily limiting physical activity, other conservative treatment methods include the use of anti-inflammatory medications, applying ice to areas that are inflamed and sore, and inserting custom orthotic devices in the shoes. Additional treatment options include stretching exercises and physical therapy. Some patients benefit from the use of padding and strapping, a removable walking cast, or a night splint. More serious cases of plantar fasciitis might require Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT), which our podiatry team can explain in more detail.

It is possible to achieve relief from foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Our knowledgeable podiatry team can develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to your condition and needs. For the treatment of plantar fasciitis, call Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville NJ at (856) 875-8855. Appointments are also available at our office in Pennsauken NJ by calling (856) 488-5290.

Unlike other aspects of our health, we don't often think about our feet or ankles until something happens. It's this situation that prompts people to contact a podiatrist. The staff at Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists in Turnersville and Pennsauken, NJ can help you if you are dealing with foot and ankle issues, including two of the most common reasons why people visit a podiatrist - sprained ankles and ingrown toenails - and how they're typically managed.

Ankle sprain

Spraining an ankle is one of the most frequently-occurring accidents across the country: the American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that two million ankle sprains occur each year in people of all ages and activity levels. Sprains occur when a ligament - a tough, flexible band of tissue that connects two bones - is stretched beyond its normal capacity. Mild sprains overextend the ligament; severe sprains actually create a tear in the tissue. Your Turnersville podiatrist sees many patients with ankle sprains of varying degrees, and treatment will depend on the level of injury. For many people, simply resting and applying ice while the ligament heals is enough to get them back on their feet. For others, a cast or splint, followed by physical therapy, may be necessary. Seeking professional treatment for a sprained ankle, especially if you can't put weight on it, is essential to proper healing.

Ingrown toenail

Another common foot-related problem are ingrown toenails, which are usually found on the big toe and involve the edge of the nail growing sideways into the skin next to it. Ingrown toenails are often caused by improper trimming or wearing shoes that are too short. They can be extremely painful, particularly if they become infected. This is where your Turnersville podiatrist comes in. A minor surgical procedure to remove the ingrown section of the toenail may be necessary, as well as an application of antibiotics to clear up any infection that may have developed.

Regional Foot and Ankle Specialists have two convenient northwest New Jersey locations: our Turnersville office can be reached at (856) 875-8855 and the Pennsauken office number is (856) 488-5290. Call us for an appointment today.

Are you wondering whether you should be turning to a podiatrist for care?

• Ingrown toenails
• Chronic heel pain
• A broken foot or ankle
• Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the feet
• Severe pain
• Difficulty bearing weight on a foot or ankle
• A visible foot deformity
• Signs of infection (e.g. redness; swelling; fever)
• An ulcer or open wound