When it comes to women’s shoes and fashion, high heels are here to stay! After a brief decline in popularity a few years ago, they are back, more popular than ever. Indeed, a recent study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery reported that high heel related injuries doubled in the past decade. These included falls from imbalance from the shoes, as well as foot problems.
Why the popularity of high heels? Simply because they make the female leg look attractive and make the gait more alluring. They are nothing new. Although probably used in some cultures before, the current Western fascination with high heels is said to have begun in France in 1533. The petite Catherine de Medici was to marry King Henry ll . She had high heeled shoes designed for the wedding to make herself appear taller. She looked so fabulous at the wedding that high heels became the rage of fashion in Europe. They arrived much later in the USA, in the 1880’s.
High heels pose several potential risks for women who wear them. In addition to the imbalances that they can cause, creating a fall risk, they cause excessive pressure to be transferred to the front of the foot. This can aggravate such conditions as bunions, hammertoes, and neuromas. Additionally, their use causes shortening of the posterior leg muscles and lead to Achilles tendinitis.
Although it may be unrealistic to forbid high heel use completely, reducing the total amount of time in these shoes may be prudent, especially time spent walking or standing. Also, using a shoe with a heel height of 2 inches or less is preferable. Platform type-heels and wedges are also better for the feet than stiletto –type narrow heels. A soft upper and a more rounded toe box are also preferable. Finally, if high heels are to be worn for prolonged time periods in individuals prone to problems, a custom high heel orthotic can be prescribed.
Sensibility and moderation are the important factors in women who choose to wear these attractive, but potentially dangerous, fashion statements.

Gait abnormalities in children are not uncommon. These include in-toeing, out-toeing, flat –foot, and toe-walking (equinus).

Gait abnormalities can be caused by a deformity within the foot, the ankle, leg, knee, thigh, or hip. It is often difficult to diagnose the cause of the abnormality. A thorough clinical examination, including gait evaluation and possibly imaging techniques, such as radiographs, is essential. The treatment of the condition depends on the diagnosis and could include stretching, physical therapy, bracing, and shoe inserts (orthotics).

Unfortunately, parents are often told that their child will “grow out of the condition”. Although this may be true for certain conditions, more often it is not. Failure to treat gait abnormalities may lead to permanent problems later in life.

The physicians of Melbourne Podiatry Associates are very well-trained in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric gait abnormalities. If you suspect such an abnormality in your child, please call our offices.

This past weekend, Dr. Thomas Wilson was a guest lecturer at the 2017 Health First Orthopedic Conference at Holmes Regional Medical Center.  He was honored to join several other physicians, including orthopedic surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and a physical therapist.  The lecture focused on arthritis of the foot and ankle.  It included advances in current treatments, including anti-inflammatories, injections, braces, orthotics, physical therapy, and surgical reconstruction.  Dr. Thomas Wilson discussed arthroscopic and open surgical techniques for the various arthritic joints of the foot and ankle.  Treatments for bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinitis were also included.  The lecture was well-received by the audience of medical professionals consisting of over 90 physical therapists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.

Don’t let heel pain affect your daily life. Manage your symptoms and reduce your discomfort.

You were planning to lace up those shoes and go for your morning run but what you weren’t planning on was painful achy heels. Now your whole routine is thrown off. While heel pain is rarely a cause for concern, dealing with sharp, stabbing heel pain that affects your day-to-day activities can certainly put a damper on things. Our podiatrists at our Downtown Melbourne, Eau Gallie and Palm Bay offices are specially trained to treat these common symptoms.

While there are many reasons for heel pain, the most common cause is plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition that affects the plantar fascia. This band of tissue runs from the heel of the foot to the toes. If you suffer from a stabbing pain that is often worse in the morning, after physical activity or after standing for long periods of time, then you could be dealing with plantar fasciitis.

Fortunately, heel pain can often be tackled with simple measures such as:

Resting

Obviously giving the inflamed tissue time to heal is the most important. Avoiding high-impact activities until the heel pain has gone away is always a safe bet. If exercise is an important part of your daily routine, swap out that pavement pounding for low-impact activities like swimming or riding a bike.

Stretching

When the tendons in the foot become overstretched they become inflamed, but performing the right stretches can actually help to stabilize and strengthen the ligaments in the foot to prevent the injury from getting worse and to prevent injury in the future. Our Melbourne, FL, foot doctor would be happy to talk to you about some helpful stretches to alleviate discomfort and improve the health of your feet.

Orthotics

Placing shoe inserts into your footwear can actually provide your heel and arches with the support they’ve been craving. While you should always wear shoes that will cushion and be good shock absorbers, custom orthotics can sometimes provide just a little additional support and elevation to keep the heel from taking on too much pressure when walking.

There are several other treatment options that may be necessary if the symptoms do not resolve. One of the more advanced treatment options that we offer at Melbourne Podiatry is an amnio-fix injection. According to recent studies, this type of treatment has been able to significantly reduce and even eliminate pain for people suffering from plantar fasciitis. This is just one of the more advanced treatment options that we offer at Melbourne Podiatry Associates.

If you are suffering from severe heel pain in Melbourne, FL or Palm Bay, FL or if heel pain is affecting your routine, it’s time you turned to some of the best podiatrists in Brevard county at Melbourne Podiatry Associates to get the proper care you need to get back on your feet again. Call our office today at 321-723-3500.

¿Sabía usted que, después del inglés, el español es el idioma más común en los Estados Unidos? Español es hablado por más del 20% de la población estadounidense.
Aunque muchas personas hispanas hablan el Inglés con fluidez, algunos se sienten más cómodos hablando su lengua materna, especialmente cuando se trata de condiciones médicas. En Melbourne Podiatry Associates entendemos esto. Tenemos un médico y personal bilingüe para su preferencia si usted lo desea.
La Dra. Jessica Wilson es una nueva asociada en Melbourne Podiatry Associates. Ella es nativa de Miami, obtuvo su licenciatura en la Universidad de Florida, su Doctorado en Podologia en la Universidad de Barry, y completó su residencia en cirugía de pie y tobillo en el centro médico de la Universidad de Pittsburgh. La Dra. Jessica Wilson es hija de imigrantes cubanos, habla español fluidamente y tiene un profundo conocimiento de las culturas hispanas. Ella está aceptando nuevos pacientes en ambas oficinas de nuestra practica.
Así que, ¡Bienvenido a Melbourne Podiatry Associates! Y si usted prefiere hablar español, háganoslo saber. Queremos que su experiencia con nosotros sea cómoda y agradable.
[English translation follows]
We Speak Your Language!
Did you know that, after English, Spanish is the most common language spoken in the USA? Spanish is spoken by over 20% of the American population.
Although many Spanish speaking people speak English fluently, some are more comfortable speaking their native language. This is especially true when dealing with medical conditions. We at Melbourne Podiatry Associates understand this. We have a bilingual physician and bilingual staff to make this interaction more comfortable.
Dr. Jessica Wilson is a new associate at Melbourne Podiatry Associates. A Miami native, she obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida, her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at Barry University, and she completed her residency in foot and ankle surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Jessica Wilson is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, is fluent in Spanish, and has a deep appreciation of Hispanic cultures. She is currently accepting new patients at the New Haven and Eau Gallie office locations.
So, welcome to Melbourne Podiatry Associates! And if you prefer to speak Spanish, let us know. We want your experience with us to be comfortable and enjoyable.

While everyone knows to apply sunscreen to other parts of the body, people forget to apply it to the feet! we have treated many cases of sunburn of the top of the feet. Worse, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause skin cancers, and these can affect the skin of the feet and legs There are three main skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma . By far, the most serious is the malignant melanoma, which can be fatal. These often begin as moles that change their color or shape. They are usually located on exposed areas of the body. While uncommon in the foot, those that do affect the foot are often very aggressive. The skin of the feet and legs should be inspected frequently, and any suspicious skin lesion should be shown to your podiatrist. This is particularly important in moles that increase in size, darken in color or show different shades of color within them, and in growths that enlarge, become painful, or start to bleed. Prevention of these skin cancers and of sunburn of the feet is simple. Apply sunscreen liberally to the feet when outside. Use a type that is sweat- and water-resistant, and re-apply it frequently. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (Skin Protection Factor) of at least 30, which will block 95% of the ultraviolet radiation. Enjoy the sun of the summer while keeping your feet comfortable and safe!

Melbourne Podiatry Associates is proud to announce that it will be opening a new location in the Palm Bay area. The address will be 580 Malabar road SE Suite 5, Palm Bay Fl. After careful consideration, there was an obvious need in the area for another podiatrist to help serve the Palm Bay community.

Dr. Jared Moyles will be practicing out of this office two days a week. He will be seeing patients on Wednesdays and Fridays starting in late May. This will provide a much needed opportunity for the residents of Palm Bay to seek quality podiatric care in their own neighborhood.

According to recent statistics, the Palm Bay area has been rapidly growing and continues to do so. Due to this growth, there have been substantial wait times for Palm Bay residents to receive quality foot and ankle care from a foot and ankle surgeon. Melbourne Podiatry Associates believes that by opening this location, Palm Bay residents will now be able to seek quality care for their foot and ankle needs in a timely fashion and at a convenient location.

Despite the fact that this will be a designated satellite office that willonly be in use two days a week, the quality of care will not differ from the primary office location. There will still be state of the art diagnostic and treatment tools available at the Palm Bay office. Some of these include state of the art electronic medical records, diagnostic ultrasound as well as digital x-rays.

This new location will be able to provide Palm Bay residents with multiple treatment options. Dr. Jared Moyles is a board certified foot surgeon from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Some of conditions that he treats are diabetic foot care, wound care, foot and ankle fractures, Achilles tendonitis, Achilles tendon ruptures, plantar fasciitis (heel pain),nail fungus, and many others.

If you or a loved one are looking for a foot doctor in the Palm Bay, Fl area, give us a call today at (321) 417-0822