Wearing high heels regularly can take a toll on your body over time, and may produce weakened ligaments, lower back and knee pain, bunions, corns, calluses, plantar fasciitis, hammertoe, Morton’s neuroma, sesamoiditis, stiffened/shortened Achilles tendons, ankle sprains, and more. Women who are not dissuaded completely from wearing high heels can try to minimize their harmful effects with a few modifications. Shoes should be properly fitted and not too small. Foot size changes with age, childbirth, and fluctuations in weight, and feet should be measured for length and width with every shoe purchase. Heels should not be worn every day—only once in a while or on special occasions. Pencil-thin stilettos should be switched out with wider-heeled shoes which distribute body weight more evenly across the heel, or platforms or wedges that offer more stability and support. T-strap or Mary Jane styles help prevent the foot from sliding forward into the narrower part of the shoe, and also keep it more aligned evenly over the arch. A podiatrist may have additional footwear advice as well as the ability to create custom orthotics for support and to relieve pressure points on the foot caused by high heels.

High heels have a history of causing foot and ankle problems. If you have any concerns about your feet or ankles, contact one of our podiatrists from Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because of their many styles and societal appeal.  Despite this, high heels can still cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

Which Parts of My Body Will Be Affected by High Heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – May shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – Heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – They decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  The vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What Kinds of Foot Problems Can Develop from Wearing High Heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

How Can I Still Wear High Heels and Maintain Foot Health?

If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock. Full foot inserts or metatarsal pads are available. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a serious disease that causes plaque to build up in the arteries and restricts blood circulation. PAD can affect the whole body, including the feet and legs—which is especially troublesome for people with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to help manage wounds, avoid infection and tissue death, and reduce the risk of amputation. A podiatrist may perform vascular testing to detect poor blood circulation. Vascular testing is safe, painless, and non-invasive. In Doppler Ultrasound and Color Doppler tests, the podiatrist will hold a transducer against the skin which sends sound waves to the blood vessels and relays visual representations back to a computer screen. These tests show how freely, and in which direction, blood is flowing through veins and arteries, and can detect possible blockages and abnormalities. These vascular tests and more will help your podiatrist properly diagnose your condition and devise a plan to help manage and treat any foot or ankle complications caused by circulation problems.

Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with one of our podiatrists from Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Vascular Testing?

Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.

How Is it Conducted?

Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.

 The most common tests include:

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) examination
• Doppler examination
• Pedal pulses

These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.

If you have any questions please contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Clubfoot causes a baby’s foot to point downward and inward, and the tightness surrounding the ankle can make the foot feel stiff when gently moved. A podiatrist evaluates the structure of the feet soon after birth and can guide each step of care. Clubfoot is often diagnosed when the baby is born, and the podiatrist checks foot position, flexibility, and overall alignment before creating a treatment plan. This often follows a staged approach that improves the shape of the foot, over time. At first, casts are used to gradually shift the foot into a healthier position, and the child may then need surgery to release tight tissue. Next, a brace with boots and a bar works to keep the foot aligned during the baby's long-term growth. If your baby has clubfoot or other congenital foot problems, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Grobowski Foot & Ankle. our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.

What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?

A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.

What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?

Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:

• Clubfoot, where tendons are shortened, bones are shaped differently, and the Achilles tendon is tight, causing the foot to point in and down. It is also possible for the soles of the feet to face each other.
• Polydactyly, which usually consists of a nubbin or small lump of tissue without a bone, a toe that is partially formed but has no joints, or an extra toe.
• Vertical talus, where the talus bone forms in the wrong position causing other bones in the foot to line up improperly, the front of the foot to point up, and the bottom of the foot to stiffen, with no arch, and to curve out.
• Tarsal coalition, when there is an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot leading to severe, rigid flatfoot.
• Cleft foot, where there are missing toes, a V-shaped cleft, and other anatomical differences.
• Macrodactyly, when the toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone or soft tissue.

Treatment and Prevention

While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bellevue, Seattle, and Issaquah, WA, . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.