Items filtered by date: February 2023

Babies’ feet may look like miniature versions of adult feet, but that is only true on the outside. Early development enables the baby to find various ways to move their feet. This generally begins with wiggling their toes to gradually walking. During the crawling stage, the child’s feet will grow approximately three sizes, and the cartilage will start to form into bones. Eventually, this will add up to 26 bones and numerous joints, tendons, and muscles that make the adult foot. It is beneficial to have your child crawl and walk barefoot while indoors. This can help the toes and feet become strong. When the first shoes are purchased, make sure they are made of breathable materials, and having soft soles can help the toes stretch. There are many stages to a child’s foot development, and it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist to learn more.

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact Dr. Tin Quach of Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

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

Studies show that a large majority of cyclists experience foot pain. While cycling, a great deal of force is generated through the legs, to the feet, and onto the pedals. This can cause burning pain, numbness, and sharp pain in the soles of the feet. The reason for these symptoms is thought to be a result of the nerves between the metatarsal bones coming into contact with the rider’s cleats. If the ride is long, the weather warm, and the shoe inflexible, the pain can become even worse. Experts recommend that one way to help alleviate this type of pain from cycling is to wear different shoes. Wider shoes with looser straps can increase the range of motion in the feet. In contrast, stiffer shoes, while thought to preserve energy, can also increase hot spots and swelling. For help with selecting the proper footwear for cycling or other options for foot pain that cycling may cause, please consult a podiatrist.

Ankle and foot injuries are common among athletes and in many sports. They can be caused by several problems and may be potentially serious. If you are feeling pain or think you were injured in a sporting event or when exercising, consult with Dr. Tin Quach from Foot Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Common Injuries

The most common injuries that occur in sporting activities include:

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Ankle Sprains
• Broken Foot
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Stress Fractures
• Turf Toe

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending upon the injury and in some cases, there may be no symptoms at all. However, in most cases, some form of symptom is experienced. Pain, aching, burning, bruising, tenderness, tightness or stiffness, sensation loss, difficulty moving, and swelling are the most common symptoms.

Treatment

Just as symptoms vary depending upon the injury, so do treatment options. A common treatment method is known as the RICE method. This method involves rest, applying ice, compression and elevating the afflicted foot or ankle. If the injury appears to be more serious, surgery might be required, such as arthroscopic or reconstructive surgery. Lastly, rehabilitation or therapy might be needed to gain full functionality in the afflicted area. Any discomfort experienced by an athlete must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.  

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

Caring for a senior, whether you are a professional caretaker or a loved one, can be challenging for many different reasons. One reason is that maintaining the health of a senior’s feet can be particularly difficult. This is due to the fact that an individual becomes increasingly more susceptible to foot complications as they get older. Bringing the senior citizen to the podiatrist is undoubtedly the most effective way for you to ensure the protection of the senior’s foot health. Upon examination of their feet, the podiatrist may make a variety of different recommendations. For example, a podiatrist may suggest a tool is used which can make it easier for senior citizens to clean their own feet. A foot scrubber may help to achieve this goal. Some types of foot scrubbers resemble shoes and stay on the floor. They contain bristles that can clean the feet when they are moved back and forth over the bristles. If you are caring for a senior citizen, please schedule an appointment today with a podiatrist.

Proper foot care is something many older adults forget to consider. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Tin Quach from Foot Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The Elderly and Their Feet

As we age we start to notice many changes in our body, but the elder population may not notice them right away. Medical conditions may prevent the elderly to take notice of their foot health right away. Poor vision is a lead contributor to not taking action for the elderly.

Common Conditions 

• Neuropathy – can reduce feeling in the feet and can hide many life-threatening medical conditions.
• Reduced flexibility – prevents the ability of proper toenail trimming, and foot cleaning. If left untreated, it may lead to further medical issues.
• Foot sores – amongst the older population can be serious before they are discovered. Some of the problematic conditions they may face are:
• Gouging toenails affecting nearby toe
• Shoes that don’t fit properly
• Pressure sores
• Loss of circulation in legs & feet
• Edema & swelling of feet and ankles

Susceptible Infections

Diabetes and poor circulation can cause general loss of sensitivity over the years, turning a simple cut into a serious issue.

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

Some individuals, such as people who are diabetic, may be particularly susceptible to developing wounds on their feet. Therefore, these individuals may benefit from always having some kind of professional wound kit handy in case they must treat wounds on the feet. Many patients might wonder what exactly is in a wound kit like this. Although it can vary from person to person, a standard wound care kit will contain certain essential items. These can include items such as gauze pads of different sizes and rolled gauze. Additionally, a wound care kit may have non-stick pads and paper tape. If you are looking into buying a wound care kit for your own feet, contact a podiatrist today for more advice on foot wound care. 

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Dr. Tin Quach from Foot Center. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

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