Why Corns Aren't Normal

Corns and calluses are so common almost every person on this earth will experience one at some point in their life. Calluses are most often seen on the hands, but also form on the bottom of the feet and other various places. Corns are calluses that are seen on the tops and sides of the toes. These areas of thickened skin caused by focally increased pressure and rubbing are indeed benign. To people that use their hands for a living, calluses can actually provide extra cushion and blister prevention. Considering this, the prevalence of corns and calluses, and their often harmless etiologies many people assume it is normal to have them on their feet, like they do on their hands. However, this is simply not true. As aforementioned, corns and calluses are developed due to increased pressure and friction. While calluses on the hands often indicate manual labor or activities like rowing and lifting weights, on the feet the story is very different. While some people will wear gloves to prevent callus formation on the hands, many people do not, explaining the calluses. In contrast to this, the great majority of people wear socks and shoes during labor and exercise, yet how can areas of hyperkeratosis (thickened skin) be explained if they have a protective barrier (socks and shoes) in place? This is due to an abnormal foot architecture, or poorly fitting footwear.

A classic example of this abnormal architecture is the hammertoe. The actual shape of the toe has changed due to a few different possibilities causing the toes to become contracted in the shoebox, encouraging rubbing, and overtime corn formation. Hammertoes certainly are not the only cause of corns. They are simply one commonly encountered example of an underlying foot problem that has caused an excess of skin formation that may often be disregarded as normal. The recommendation here is to avoid the home remedies that simply treat the corn or callus, and not the underlying cause of the hyperkeratosis itself. A lot of resources can be consumed without even treating the cause.  If you have corns or calluses on your feet and/or toes make an appointment with a Podiatrist like Dr. Michael Garvin. He can evaluate your feet and your footwear, determine the actual etiology, and set up a treatment plan with you.

The following is a short list of conditions that commonly cause corns and calluses on the feet and toes:

Claw toes
Hammer toes
Mallet toes
Curly toes
Bunions
Tailor’s bunions
Pes Cavus
Pes Planus
Haglund’s deformity
Talipes Equinus

PADnet Helps Save Lives

Many people are not aware, but maybe the single greatest determinant of your health is the quality of your vasculature. There isn’t a single tissue in the human body that isn’t severely affected when the blood supply to it is compromised. Peripheral arterial disease is a manifestation of having chronically damaged blood vessels due to a variety of reasons such as diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol levels, over the age of 50, and the African American ethnicity. These are all etiologies that are extremely prevalent in our society. Research suggests that 12-14% of the general population in the United States is afflicted by vascular disease. What’s scary is that 70-80% of this group is asymptomatic, meaning an individual may appear to be healthy enough one day and the next lose their life by way of a heart attack. Peripheral arterial disease is an extremely life altering disease that is very underreported. Simply having a past history of smoking and/or high cholesterol predisposes an individual to peripheral arterial disease.

To truly know the quality of your vasculature more qualitative testing than simple blood panels and pressures needs to be performed. PADnet is a service offered by Dr. Michael Garvin that offers the kind of critical data that could save a patient's life. PADnet is a computerized system that only takes 15-20 minutes to be performed on a patient. It is minimally invasive and offers the patient no discomfort. PADnet is an amazing new technology that can be done in office. Avoid being part of the underreported statistic and have the health of your blood vessels assessed by a physician utilizing PADnet like Dr. Garvin; it could save your life.

To contact Dr. Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida click here.


Sources cited: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pad/treatment.html
       http://www.biomedix.com/products/padnet_plus.asp

5 Suggestions for Keeping Your Feet Healthy

Are you confident that your daily decisions aren’t negatively affecting your foot health? There are a lot of variables that we subconsciously factor into our choices of footwear and care on a daily basis-that we may not even realize are potentially detrimental. Below is a short list of suggestions that will help prevent a trip to the doctor due to your casual decisions.

• Pay close attention to your feet during routine hygiene; this includes noting the skin texture/quality, toenail color, & any irregular lumps and bumps

• If you’re aging, stay on top of keeping the skin on your plantar and dorsal feet moisturized. Dry, cracking skin is more prone to fungal, bacterial and viral infections

• Wear shoes that are well fitting and match your activity levels for each day. I.e. if you’re spending all day walking at a mall, or an amusement park choose a pair of supportive running shoes instead of something fashionable

• There’s a time and place for stilettos and flip-flops. Both can cause a flare-up of plantar fasciitis or achilles tendinitis, so if you know you’re going to have a long day save them for the short and sweet occasions exclusively

• Going barefoot seems so attractive at waterparks, the community pool, and the beach, but sometimes this can be a big mistake. Areas that are high traffic and always wet can be a breeding ground for fungi and viruses. This is the time to grab your favorite pair of podiatrist recommended flip flops and avoid cutting your foot on a shell at the beach, or picking up athlete’s foot in the locker room

**This blog and the medical information it presents is made possible by Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He has been practicing board certified podiatry for over 20 years and accepts new patients. Visit his website for additional information here. To schedule an appointment, or find directions to his office click here.

Foot Melanomas are Deadly

Often times when people visit the beach their primary health concern (assuming they have any cares besides enjoying themselves) is applying sunblock over the major surfaces of their body-while it certainly seems logical to cover the larger surfaces first, many forget their feet altogether. In fact, we’d go as far to estimate that one would be hard-pressed to find a person who has never had a bad sunburn on the top of their feet given they’ve spent time in the sun at some point. 

What’s worse is the mortality rate seen with melanomas of the foot. According to a Medical News Today article, “half of the people who learn they have melanoma of the foot die within five years because the cancer had already spread throughout their body by the time it was diagnosed”. The same reason that people seem to forget to apply sunblock to their feet, may also be the reason why people neglect to perform routine self-examinations on their feet. What podiatrists recommend is that every time you clip your toenails, examine your entire foot, including the web spaces for anything that appears irregular or new. Visit this resource for the criteria on which characteristics prove to be synonymous with cancer. 

 

*Above is an example of a melanoma type on the plantar foot

**The information in this blog is made possible by Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Dr. Garvin has been practicing board certified podiatry for over 20 years, and accepts new patients to his state of the art private practice. For directions and contact information click here.

Podiatrists Save Diabetic Feet!

25.8 million, or 8.3% of the American population (Children & Adults) are currently suffering from Diabetes Mellitus. Awareness and prevention of diabetes mellitus is finally starting to rise in America, however, the incidence of the disease is still increasing. With that said, the role of a podiatrist in a diabetic’s overall health care cannot be understated. To quantify that; more diabetics die every year due to complications that arise from diabetically induced ulcers than prostate and breast cancer each. 


In 2010, at the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) annual scientific meeting Vicky Driver, MS, DPM introduced a study conducted by Thomson Reuters, showing that care by a podiatric physician (defined as at least one preventative, pre-ulcer visit) was associated with a nearly 29 percent lower risk of amputation and 24 percent lower risk of hospitalization.


If you’re a diabetic, and annually visiting a podiatric physician isn't part of your overall health care plan please reconsider this practice. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida has been treating diabetic patients for over 20 years. He is a board certified podiatric physician and is accepting new patients. His goal is always to provide the most comprehensive care possible for diabetic patients as he understands the pitfalls of miscare for these patients. For information and directions to his office please click here.





Sources cited:
1.http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/New-Study-Proves-Care-by-Podiatrists-Dramatically-Decreases-Lower-Limb-Amputation.aspx

2. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

Golfers and Foot Pain - Part II

As most savvy golfers know, the proper form needed for a smooth, accurate swing starts from the ground up. Both feet are the contact points between a golfer’s swing and the ground. Both golfers and podiatrists agree that a stable base is needed to contact the ball well. What golfers sometimes don’t recognize is that even minor foot pain can affect a golfer's entire form, and therefore swing and follow through. The body's first instinct when pain is encountered is to adapt to the pain if it’s not immediately alleviated. Golfers will unknowingly try to adapt to the pain by altering their golf swing to help compensate. In the short term this can help ease the pain, however this will drastically reduce the quality of performance. Additionally, it’s a sign that some kind of foot pathology exists that needs medical attention. Injuries of the foot that golfers commonly encounter are, but not limited too; neuromas, arthritis, and fallen arches.

If you have experienced even minor foot pain, and have noticed a drop off in your golf game, consider making an appointment to see a podiatrist. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida has been practicing board certified podiatry for over 20 years. He has treated a variety of athletes, including golfers. For office directions and contact information regarding appointment scheduling click here.

Sources Cited:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1005-painfree_golf_swing.htm

Sandals 101

     

The warm weather seems to be here early this year which means that the sandals and flip flops are out and about. Do your feet a favor and don’t skimp on your choice of footwear. Often times people are apt to purchase sandals based off of looks or costs but fail to remember what is good for their feet biomechanically, or are simply unaware. If you’re an individual that has low arches or flat feet, flip flops put an extra load of stress on the plantar fascia of the plantar foot. This can cause aching pain in the heels and plantar foot. 


 If you are experiencing foot pain and frequently wear sandals consider visiting  one of Dr. Michael Garvin’s offices of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Dr. Garvin has been analyzing patient’s gaits, and their footwear choices for over 20 years. He can offer you a healthy alternative to keep your feet cool, stylish, and healthy during the warmer months!

Beauty is Pain

According to a recent survey by the American Podiatry Medical Association, 42% of women admitted that they would wear heels they loved in spite of them being painful to their feet. It’s no secret that many people are willing to sacrifice comfort for looks. The phrase “beauty is pain” has been around for decades and hasn’t seemed to wane. High heels are currently as popular as ever in American fashion, and their average height has only increased. If women are willing to admit high heels are often painful, the real issue isn’t a question of if they’re detrimental, but a matter of how detrimental they are. Based off of research by the Journal of Applied Physiology that was featured on the Today Show, women who routinely wear high heels will actually start to mimic their high heeled stance while barefoot. This same research has demonstrated that excessive heel wearing can lead to shortened calf muscle fibers, exceptionally tight Achilles tendons, and other foot and ankle related conditions. This opens the door to tendon rupture, muscular pathologies, and gait abnormalities that can become serious lower extremity health conditions.

If you are currently experiencing pain in the calf and or foot and are a consistent heel wearer, consider visiting a Podiatrist to assess your lower extremity health. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida has been treating patients suffering from lower extremity pain for years. Dr. Garvin is a board certified Podiatrist that focuses on healing patients, and preventing future complications. For further information regarding your feet visit his website here.

Golfers Can Have Sore Feet Too

Often times golf isn’t thought of as a sport that puts a substantial amount of stress on the feet. Golf experts and medical clinicians alike generally will agree that back and elbow injuries are much more common in golfers. However, according to a Podiatry Today article foot injuries may be more common than we realize. Often times golfers will discredit golf as being the source of their heel or forefoot pain, however, Dr. Phillip Ward breaks down the phases of the golf swing in his article on Podiatry Today, and illustrates how substantial the feet are in a proper golf swing. Upon his review of the proper swing it’s evident how stress is evenly distributed throughout the body, and how important the feet are in serving as a functioning platform providing balance and power throughout the swing. In one study performed, researchers found that orthotics have the potential to improve a golfers balance, and actually allow them to drive the ball further.

If you are an avid golfer experiencing foot pain of any kind consider contacting one of Dr. Michael Garvin’s offices in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area. Dr. Garvin is a golfer and understands the desire of his patients to get back to feeling healthy so they can participate in the sport they love. Even if pain isn’t overwhelming your golf game, Dr. Garvin may be able to add an advantage to your game by prescribing a pair of custom orthotics to balance out your swing and provide a more comfortable stance, and therefore swing.

   

The Importance of Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy (PT) may be one of the most underrated modalities in all of medicine depending on the perspective taken. It focuses primarily on quality of life and movement. This is an aspect of medicine that has been addressed by many different professions, but never been made the mainstay of their practice like it is for a physical therapist (PT). Patients suffering from almost every disease can greatly benefit from the treatment of a PT. Unlike doctors of other sorts (Physical therapists now receive a doctoral degree), a physical therapist’s goal is more than treating a disease when it manifests. Their goal is to restore a patient's quality of life after and during their sickness. They work with their patients on a daily basis to restore function and life back to the areas that have been damaged or compromised due to disease and injury. There is a role for a PT in almost every disease prevention and management case that exists.  Dr. Michael Garvin understands and utilizes this ideal in his daily practice. Dr. Garvin as a practitioner not only wants to treat patients suffering from foot and ankle conditions, but he wants to restore quality of life and prevent further complications.

Onychogryphosis

Onychogryphosis is a hypertrophic condition of the nail plate. Onychogryphosis causes the nail plate to grow exceedingly long and thick and is often referred to as “Ram’s horn nails”. Generally this condition is seen in the elderly population and is due to failure to properly trim the nail plate over time. However, onychogryphosis can also be a result of peripheral vascular disorders and/or trauma to the nail matrix or plate. Onychogryphosis can cause a great deal of discomfort and difficulties fitting into shoes and for daily activities. This is a condition that should be addressed by a Podiatrist for proper treatment of the nail, and recommendations on how to avoid onychohryphosis in the future. 

Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie Florida has been treating Onychogryphosis and many other conditions of the foot and ankle and is accepting new patients. Don’t hesitate to contact one of Dr. Garvin’s offices in the Port Saint Lucie area here. 

• PORT ST. LUCIE EAST OFFICE: 1791 SE Port Saint Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952 Phone: 772-335-7171
• ST. LUCIE WEST OFFICE: 150 SW Chamber Court, Suite 101, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986 Phone: 772-871-6020

**The picture above is an example of Onychogryphosis

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Spurs)

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of soft, connective tissue that spans from the calcaneus or heel of the foot, to the ball of the foot (metatarsal heads). Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is sometimes also referred to as Heel Spur Syndrome (HSS). There are 3 bands to the plantar fascia, or plantar aponeurosis. Most commonly the central band of the plantar aponeurosis is the culprit of pain due to it becoming inflammed. The causes of inflammation are diverse and can be due to a variety of abnormalities in gait and behavior. The most common cause in the average population is excessive pronation of the foot during walking and/or running. The plantar fascia acts to passively stabilize the arch of the foot, and also assists in propulsion during walking and running. Due to its frequency of use during daily activities (climbing stairs, walking, squatting down on the balls of your feet, etc) it is prone to becoming inflammed in some individuals. A very common complaint seen with plantar fasciitis is pain experienced after periods of inactivity, or rest (Post-static dyskinesia). It also generally continues to worsen throughout the day. 

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that can make daily life difficult and painful. If this sounds like a current or past issue please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for additional information.

Dr. Michael Garvin has been practicing in the Port St. Lucie Florida area for years and utilizes minimally invasive methods to treat and alleviate plantar fasciitis. Call his East or West offices in Port St. Lucie at 772-335-7171, or 772-871-6020, respectively.

 

*The image above illustrates the plantar fascia being strained during propulsion

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that arises due to compression of the tibial nerve. This nerve runs under the medial malleolus. The compression is due to swelling of soft tissue structures that impede upon the nerve, and crowd it. This causes the nerve to become irritated and can cause shooting pain, tingling, numbness and other symptoms anywhere from the inside of the ankle to the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot. The onset of tarsal tunnel syndrome is often insidious, but occasionally can be sudden as well. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is very fundamentally similar to carpal tunnel syndrome (occurs in the forearm/wrist) and can be caused by a variety of foot and biomechanical issues such as flat feet, ankle sprains, systemic diseases and more.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a serious condition and should not be neglected. Permanent nerve damage can take place if not properly treated in a timely manner.

If you live on or near the Treasure Coast area and are experiencing symptoms such as these, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Michael Garvin. He has treated tarsal tunnel syndrome and other podiatric conditions for years in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

*The picture above depicts the structures involved in Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Onychocryptosis (Ingrown Toenails)

Ingrown toenails are medically known as onychocryptosis, and are a common condition that may occur when the sides or corners of the nail plate dig into the surrounding skin. This will generally cause the affected skin to become red, swollen and tender. Bacterial infections will often follow ingrown toenails due to the nature of the location and certain improper behaviors such as clipping toenails with dirty clippers. Onychocryptosis can be caused by a variety of factors such as rounding the corners or edges of the toenail plate and trimming too short. Also irregular foot structure and biomechanics, excessively tight shoegear, and fungal infections may all be catalysts for onychocryptosis.

The good news is onychocryptosis is a simple condition to treat and Podiatrists like Dr. Michael Garvin are very experienced and competent in getting patients back on their feet pain free. For further information regarding ingrown toenails please visit Dr. Garvin’s website here।

**The picture above is an example of an ingrown toenail

Onychomycosis (fungal infection of the toenails)

Onychomycosis is a very commonly encountered fungal infection of the nails seen in Podiatric practices. 

 

Generally, the first sign of a fungal nail is a yellow discoloration of the nail. Depending on the severity of the infection, nails can also become thickened or brittle, loose, and present with a generally rough texture. A distal subungual infection is the most common type. This simply means the infection often takes place at the end of the nail, and under it. The causative agents of onychomycosis are usually Dermatophytes (most often Trichophyton Rubrum). Yeast infections may also present in about 5% of patients due to a Candida Albicans infection.
Onychomycosis is generally a very straight forward and simple nail condition to treat. Podiatric physicians have found that oral and topical anti-fungals are often very effective in treating fungal infections. 

 

Dr. Michael Garvin of Port St. Lucie Florida is a board certified Podiatrist with a great deal of experience in treating fungal infections of all types. If you are looking for more information regarding fungal nails visit Dr. Garvin’s website here. You may also find information to schedule an appointment with Dr. Garvin here.