The Orthofeet Blog

By Dr. Steven Gershman My blog "Can plantar fasciitis cause leg pain" describes plantar fasciitis pain and its causes. In this blog I will discuss what most of you are probably looking for and that is plantar fasciitis relief or treatment. As I have written in many of my blogs, treatment of most foot afflictions begins with looking at shoes. I ALWAYS have my patients bring in a bag of their shoes on the first visit and again if new issues arise later. I find many of the problems patients present with often start with poorly fitting or old worn...

By Dr. Steven Gershman In my podiatry practice of over 31 years, heel pain is one of the leading complaints presenting and one of the most challenging to treat. It can negatively affect everyday life, especially at work and for just plain ambulation. Heel pain is divided into bottom heel pain or plantar heel pain which is the most common, and back of heel pain or posterior heel pain which is the more difficult to treat. Both can make walking miserable. Plantar Heel Pain Plantar heel pain can be a component of plantar fasciitis which I have written about in...

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
To begin discussing shoe insoles, I will start with explaining what is a shoe insole and what types there are in general. A shoe insole is the footbed or material inside the shoe that the bottom or plantar surface of your foot lays on. In most well-made shoes today, the material or insole is removable. There are shoes that have glued in insoles, however in general these are shoes that are not as well made. The removable insoles that come in most shoes vary in type and material ranging from very simple thin cushioning to...

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
So, you are about to purchase new shoes and have heard about neutral vs. overpronation shoes. Which do I buy? Which is better? What do I need? Does it really matter? Let's start with a short tutorial on what exactly is pronation, what causes overpronation, and why it even matters. What is pronation? Pronation is actually a 3-plane motion of the foot that begins at the sub-talar joint under the ankle. Mainly it involves the heel rolling inwards or medially, the arch drops and the foot becomes looser or more flexible. It is an important...

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
Plantar fasciitis is causing "A real pain in the foot”. That is what many patients complain about to me as it disrupts their life. It makes it hard to stand, walk, run, and work. Many patients have severe issues working with this foot condition as plantar fasciitis pain can be very debilitating. So, what can seem like just "foot pain" can be life altering. What is plantar fasciitis? Well the story starts with discussing the culprit, the plantar fascia, a thick, web like ligament on the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia lies just...

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
Tennis shoes are generally another name for athletic shoes or sneakers, styles that can be worn for active use. Good tennis shoes have more functional features built in them than dress or casual shoes and are especially designed for active activities. Their purpose is allowing activity while protecting the feet from the forces that accompany the actions taken by the person. For the most part, a casual shoe will be made from leather but will lack extra motion control features, while an athletic shoe will have added features to control foot motion in all directions....

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
What is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome? While many people have never heard of tarsal tunnel syndrome, most have heard of or actually have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the arms, wrists, and hands. It is basically a nerve entrapment causing pain, electrical like sensations, numbness and weakness. Tarsal tunnel syndrome (sometimes referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome in feet) is a similar problem that affects the feet, ankles, and sometimes the lower leg. The word carpal is a Latin term meaning hand, while tarsal is a Latin term for feet. The...

By Dr. Steven Gershman, DPM
The underlying causes of most diabetic foot ulcers are neuropathy, causing poor or no sensation, poor circulation, deformities in the feet causing hot spots or areas of pressure or rubbing in the shoes or on the floor, and trauma. Now what is an ulcer? It is a wound or hole in the skin that occurs when the skin is damaged and breaks down. The outer layers of the skin initially wear or slough off. If left untreated, the ulcer can reach deeper into the fat, muscle or bone which is why it’s important to prevent...