New Information for Painful FlatFeet

(Ivanhoe Newswire)-- Have you ever experienced the pain of flat feet? New insight may help millions of Americans who suffer from the painful condition.

Thanks to a team at the University of East Anglia a recent discovery was made that may help doctors understand what may be the cause of adult-acquired flat feet.

Flat feet are most common in women over 40 and are often left undiagnosed and untreated. Adult-acquired flat feet are caused from 'stretching out' a tendon that stabilizes the foot arch near the ankle bone called the tibialis posterior tendon.

Risks of flat feet include obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Although the main cause of the actual stretching of the tendon is unknown, speculation that standing while wearing heels, or walking for long periods of time may be the cause.

Working with surgeons and scientists at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and the University of Bristol, the team showed that the structure and composition of tendon specimens had changed and found evidence of increased activity of some proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes can break down the constituents of the tibialis posterior tendon and weaken it – causing the foot arch to fall.

"Our study may have important therapeutic implications since the altered enzyme activity could be a target for new drug therapies in the future," Dr. Graham Riley, author of the Arthritis Research UK at UEA's School of Biological Sciences, was quoted as saying.

Further research is needed to find which specific proteolytic enzymes should be targeted and whether people could be genetically predisposed to tendon injuries of this type. New treatments could be 10-15 years away and the findings could lead to new drug therapy for flat feet and other common tendon conditions.

SOURCE: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, January 11, 2012

At InMotion Foot and Ankle, we have found a great solution for flatfeet caused by Posterior Tibial Tendon disfunction, we use a combination of ankle bracing, Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) with injection of moralized amniotic membrane and fluid, followed by aggressive home therapy.

Give us a call or go to ZocDoc.com and make an appointment with Dr. Bruce Werber

InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists Dr. Bruce Werber 10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 480-948-2111 www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

Painful Bunions:

Leave the introduction describing bunions and picture intact and add:

Bunions vary in severity from a small bump on the inside of the foot to a large bump with severe outward deviation of the first toe(hallux) sometimes even causing impingement of the first toe onto the second toe. Just as the severity of bunions may vary, so does the range of surgical treatment options for correcting bunions.

Minimal to moderate bunion deformities often require that the surgeon perform a procedure that involves reshaping the bone at the base of the first toe called the metatarsal. Following reshaping , the surgeon then makes a cut in that bone which allows them to move that fragment of bone closer to the second toe and return the first toe to a straighter alignment, as it was prior to the occurrence of the bunion. The cut in the bone is then secured in place with medical grade screws.

Patients who undergo this type of procedure to correct their bunion can expect to spend 3-5 days with no weight bearing on the affected foot. This is followed by full weight bearing in a walking boot or cast for a period of 4-6 weeks. After approximated 4-6 weeks patients are able to return to normal shoe gear and return to regular daily activities.

You will need to be evaluated by your surgeon to determine the procedure that is best for you. More severe bunion deformities may require further surgery and longer periods of non-weight bearing on the affected side.

Please check back for updates that will include descriptions of surgical procedures for the correction of severe bunions.


InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Dr. Bruce Werber
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-948-2111
www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com

Have Foot Pain in Arizona, Call top doc Werber

Dr Werber is Arizona's Top Foot Doc


InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Dr. Bruce Werber
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-948-2111
www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com
inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com