Items filtered by date: June 2022

People who have had athlete's foot are aware of the discomfort it can cause. The skin often becomes dry, red, and can itch too. It is considered to be a fungal infection and typically affects the soles of the feet and between the toes. It is a contagious infection and appropriate shoes are suggested to be worn while in public swimming areas, locker rooms, and shower room floors. This fungus lives in warm and moist environments including socks and shoes that are wet. There are three types of athlete's foot. A toe web infection can cause the skin to peel and crack between the third and fourth toes. Cracked skin on the heel can be referred to as a moccasin-type infection, and a blister on the sole of the foot is known as a vesicular type of infection. There are effective prevention techniques for athlete’s foot including keeping the feet clean and dry, refraining from sharing towels or shoes, and alternating the shoes worn daily. If you have been affected by athlete's foot, please consult with a podiatrist who can determine what the best type of treatment is for you.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Sarah Urton, DPM from Kitsilano Foot and Ankle Clinic.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

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

It is believed that 75 percent of people will at some point experience foot pain. This should not come as a surprise, since we are on our feet numerous times daily for nearly our entire lives. The main cause of most foot pain starts with wearing shoes that do not fit properly, are tied too tightly, have heels that are too high, or squeeze the toes. Even exercising in shoes not appropriate for the activity can cause pain in your feet as well as legs, hips, and back. Long term effects include bunions, blisters, corns, and calluses. The next likely cause of foot pain is the way you walk. Rolling your feet inward or outward when you walk can be the cause of other problems, such as flat feet, arch pain, and heel pain. Certain medical conditions, such as gout and arthritis can cause painful inflammation of the bones, ligaments, and tendons of the feet. And since the feet have 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, this can be a problem. Finally, running on hard surfaces for long periods of time can cause stress fractures and other foot injuries. A podiatrist is an expert on dealing with the many causes and treatment of foot pain. Whether your pain is immediate or ongoing, it is a good idea to consult with a podiatrist.

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with Sarah Urton, DPM from Kitsilano Foot and Ankle Clinic. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bone Spurs
• Corns
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Ingrown Toenails
• Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
• Flat Feet
• Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
• And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

Among the many components that make up the ankle joint are three bones: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus. There is also cartilage that cushions these bones, and a series of ligaments and tendons that support and bind the ankle. Ankle pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, with an ankle sprain topping the list. This occurs when one or more of the ligaments in the ankle gets stretched beyond its normal limits, or even tears. Ankle strains are similar, but affect the muscles or tendons in the ankle. Fractures in one or more ankle bone(s) can also cause ankle pain, as can osteoarthritis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, or Achilles tendon injuries. These are just a few of the conditions that may cause pain in the ankles. If you are experiencing pain, soreness, tenderness, instability, stiffness, immobility, swelling, warmth, or have any other discomfort in your ankle, it is a good idea to make an appointment with a podiatrist for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Sarah Urton, DPM from Kitsilano Foot and Ankle Clinic. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

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

A hammertoe is a condition that typically affects the middle toes of your foot. The first joint of the toe raises up, causing a bump. Other iterations of hammertoe are a mallet toe, which affects the second toe joint, and claw toe, which affects both toe joints. Research shows that hammertoes affect more women than men, likely due to the wearing of high-heeled shoes with pointy toes. These shoes push toes forward and force them together, rather than allowing them to spread out comfortably when you stand or walk. When a hammertoe occurs, the top of the toe hits the inside of the shoe box, causing pain and friction. It also aids in the formation of unsightly corns and calluses. Over time the tendons of the affected toe may become permanently tight, for which surgical intervention may be a remedy. The tendons would be cut or realigned, and sometimes a bone would be removed to straighten the toe. If you have a painful hammertoe, it is highly recommended that you consult a podiatrist for appropriate treatment options.  

Hammertoe

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. For more information, contact Sarah Urton, DPM from Kitsilano Foot and Ankle Clinic. Our doctor will answer any of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes of your feet. It is a painful foot condition in which these toes curl and arch up, which can often lead to pain when wearing footwear.

Symptoms

• Pain in the affected toes
• Development of corns or calluses due to friction
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Contracture of the toes

Causes

Genetics – People who are genetically predisposed to hammertoe are often more susceptible

Arthritis – Because arthritis affects the joints in your toes, further deformities stemming from arthritis can occur

Trauma – Direct trauma to the toes could potentially lead to hammertoe

Ill-fitting shoes – Undue pressure on the front of the toes from ill-fitting shoes can potentially lead to the development of hammertoe

Treatment

Orthotics – Custom made inserts can be used to help relieve pressure placed on the toes and therefore relieve some of the pain associated with it

Medications – Oral medications such as anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs could be used to treat the pain and inflammation hammertoes causes. Injections of corticosteroids are also sometimes used

Surgery – In more severe cases where the hammertoes have become more rigid, foot surgery is a potential option

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Vancouver, BC . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.