There is currently a lot of debate in the running and fitness world about the minimal, or “barefoot” running shoes. The Vibram FiveFingers model is probably the best known, with its’ signature individual compartments for each toe, but other respected manufacturers such as Merrell have jumped on board, marketing their Barefoot shoes as a way to “strengthen, [...]
I have just finished a jam-packed educational weekend in downtown Bellevue for members of the Washington State Podiatric Medical Association (WSPMA). It’s a great opportunity for physicians to stay current on new procedures or treatments for foot and ankle problems through lectures and interactive workshops. I always look forward to learning new ideas to improve patient [...]
March 1st marked the two-year anniversary for Bellevue Podiatry, which emerged in 2009 after I became the owner of the Bellevue location of my former group, the East Hill Foot and Ankle clinic. With the new name came many exciting changes which continue to this day. This Spring, we will be converting to electronic medical [...]
Over the course of the last month, I have had several patients present with a cold-weather-related condition called “Raynaud’s phenomenon”, or sometimes called, “Raynaud’s disease”. With this condition, the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes (and sometimes other peripheral body parts) constrict in response to a decrease in temperature, leading to an initial white [...]
A stress fracture is a crack in any one of your bones, and it is a true fracture, meaning that your bone is actually “broken”, but is not the result of a single traumatic event or injury. Stress fractures commonly occur after repetitive strain and overuse of one particular area of the body. In the [...]
The Elliptical trainer, found at many local gyms, can be a great way to reduce overall joint stress and still get a good workout. Many people who suffer from knee and/or hip problems will find the Elliptical to be a way to spare the after-pain that they might experience during running or other high-impact activities. [...]
The MBT shoes as well as the Sketchers Shape-Ups are becoming more popular, and it is hard to ignore them in the store, with their thick, rocker-bottom soles. They are advertised by the manufacturers as a way to tone your thighs, calves, and buttocks, but there may be better or more definite advantages to them [...]
Well, the short answer to this question is, “no”, but I can say that it is asked often enough when a new patient presents with warts to make it worth mentioning! The term “plantar wart”, or, “verruca plantaris” refers to a wart that is found anywhere on the bottom, or, “plantar” surface of the foot. [...]
Many people suffer from pain and inflammation on the edge of one of their toenails, often called an “ingrown toenail”. It is most common on the large toe, or “Hallux”, but can occur on any of the toenails. An “Ingrown Toenail” is sometimes a bit of a misnomer, because generally the nail is not actually [...]
One of the most common ailments that brings patients in to my office is heel pain. Most frequently, the location is on the bottom of the heel, which can be related to inflammation of the plantar fascia, or, “plantar fasciitis”. However, not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis, and this is where a good examination [...]
