Items filtered by date: October 2021

Sever’s disease is a painful condition that can affect growing children. It involves inflammation of the growth plate (apophysis) located at the back of the heel bone where the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon attach to it. Repetitive stress on this area by overuse of the Achilles tendon or through weight bearing activities can cause it to become irritated. This condition usually flares up during growth spurts, typically in children who participate in high impact athletic activities. If your growing child feels pain at the back of their heel, a podiatrist can examine them and possibly take an x-ray to diagnose the issue. If the cause of their pain is Sever’s disease, the podiatrist may prescribe rest, icing, certain calf stretches and shoe modifications or orthotics that lift the heel and provide better heel and arch support.

Sever's disease often occurs in children and teens. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, see one of our podiatrists from Itasca Foot & Ankle. Our doctors can treat your child’s foot and ankle needs.

Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is also known as calcaneal apophysitis, which is a medical condition that causes heel pain I none or both feet. The disease is known to affect children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Sever’s disease occurs when part of the child’s heel known as the growth plate (calcaneal epiphysis) is attached to the Achilles tendon. This area can suffer injury when the muscles and tendons of the growing foot do not keep pace with bone growth. Therefore, the constant pain which one experiences at the back of the heel will make the child unable to put any weight on the heel. The child is then forced to walk on their toes.

Symptoms

Acute pain – Pain associated with Sever’s disease is usually felt in the heel when the child engages in physical activity such as walking, jumping and or running.

Highly active – Children who are very active are among the most susceptible in experiencing Sever’s disease, because of the stress and tension placed on their feet.

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

You may have seen or heard of over-the-counter shoe inserts in the form of insoles, heel liners, or arch supports. While they do provide minimal cushioning, none of these inserts are designed to fit to your individual feet, nor can they correct any particular gait or structural issues. Custom orthotics prescribed and fitted by a podiatrist are specifically designed to improve your body’s biomechanics (how it moves). Orthotics can help reduce pain, adjust an abnormal gait, compensate for a congenital foot deformity, create more support for your feet, and help distribute weight more evenly across your feet. If you live with any type of foot pain or discomfort, or have ambulatory issues, check with a podiatrist to see if custom orthotics can help your particular condition.

If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact one of our podiatrists from Itasca Foot & Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are inserts you can place into your shoes to help with a variety of foot problems such as flat feet or foot pain. Orthotics provide relief and comfort for minor foot and heel pain but can’t correct serious biomechanical problems in your feet.

Over-the-Counter Inserts

Orthotics come in a wide variety of over-the-counter inserts that are used to treat foot pain, heel pain, and minor problems. For example, arch supports can be inserted into your shoes to help correct overarched or flat feet, while gel insoles are often used because they provide comfort and relief from foot and heel pain by alleviating pressure.

Prescription Orthotics

If over-the-counter inserts don’t work for you or if you have a more severe foot concern, it is possible to have your podiatrist prescribe custom orthotics. These high-quality inserts are designed to treat problems such as abnormal motion, plantar fasciitis, and severe forms of heel pain. They can even be used to help patients suffering from diabetes by treating foot ulcers and painful calluses and are usually molded to your feet individually, which allows them to provide full support and comfort.

If you are experiencing minor to severe foot or heel pain, it’s recommended to speak with your podiatrist about the possibilities of using orthotics. A podiatrist can determine which type of orthotic is right for you and allow you to take the first steps towards being pain-free.

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

The plantar fascia is the band of tissue that run along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel to the toes. When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed or partially torn, it results in the condition that is commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The pain is usually worse in the morning and after long periods of rest. Common causes of plantar fasciitis includes sitting or standing for long periods of time, having tight calf muscles, having flat feet or high arches, obesity, and arthritis. Patients who are struggling with heel pain should consult with a podiatrist because there are a variety of causes. Once you visit with a podiatrist, they will be able to provide a proper diagnosis, as well as a customized treatment plan for your condition.

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that is often caused by a strain injury. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact one of our podiatrists from Itasca Foot & Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. When this ligament becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. If you have plantar fasciitis you will have a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As the day progresses and you walk around more, this pain will start to disappear, but it will return after long periods of standing or sitting.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Having high arches in your feet
• Other foot issues such as flat feet
• Pregnancy (due to the sudden weight gain)
• Being on your feet very often

There are some risk factors that may make you more likely to develop plantar fasciitis compared to others. The condition most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60. It also tends to affect people who are obese because the extra pounds result in extra stress being placed on the plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Take good care of your feet – Wear shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• If you are a runner, alternate running with other sports that won’t cause heel pain

There are a variety of treatment options available for plantar fasciitis along with the pain that accompanies it. Additionally, physical therapy is a very important component in the treatment process. It is important that you meet with your podiatrist to determine which treatment option is best for you.

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

If you are suffering from ankle pain, one of the most important questions to answer is: where does your ankle hurt? The location of the ankle pain provides key information to help diagnose the problem. Pain along the inside of the ankle may indicate an eversion ankle sprain, fracture, tibial posterior tendonitis, or tarsal tunnel syndrome. Pain along the outside of the ankle could mean that you have a sprain, sinus tarsi syndrome, peroneal tendonitis, or a peroneal tendon dislocation. Pain at the front of the ankle is often a symptom of tibialis anterior tendonitis or ankle impingement. Pain at the back of the ankle might indicate an Achilles tendon injury, bursitis, or Sever’s disease. A podiatrist can examine your injured ankle, determine the cause of your pain, and find the right treatment for you. 

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists  from Itasca Foot & Ankle. Our doctors 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 Itasca, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.