Items filtered by date: August 2025

Improving foot strength and stability is key to maintaining good balance and preventing falls. Simple exercises include sideways walking to engage hip and leg muscles, the grapevine step to enhance coordination, heel to toe walking to train stability, and standing on one leg to build ankle strength. These activities can be done at home with minimal equipment and are suitable for most fitness levels. A podiatrist can assess balance issues, recommend personalized exercise plans, and provide orthotics or footwear advice to enhance results. If you have foot pain, experience unsteadiness, or want to improve your stability, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can treat various foot conditions, and offer you additional advice for improving balance.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries and build strength. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Metro Foot & Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Exercise for Your Feet

Exercise for your feet can help you gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important, and we often forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate enough to not have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure good health in the long run.

Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rises, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, and flexing the toes. It is best to speak with Our doctors to determine an appropriate regimen for your needs. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different, and the activities required to maintain strength in the feet vary from individual to individual. 

Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.

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

Surgery for Morton’s neuroma is performed to remove thickened nerve tissue in the ball of the foot when conservative treatments no longer provide relief. This condition causes burning pain, tingling, or the feeling of a pebble under the foot, often due to nerve compression from footwear or repetitive stress. Surgery for Morton's neuroma is recommended when symptoms interfere with daily activities, despite other treatments. Recovery time varies but generally takes several weeks, with gradual return to normal footwear and activity. A podiatrist can determine if surgery is the best option, guide you through the process, and provide post-operative care. If foot pain persists, it is strongly suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can discuss the benefits of this type of foot surgery with you.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of Metro Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

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

Gout,  one of the oldest known diseases, is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe joint, leading to sudden, intense pain, swelling, redness, and warmth. Risk factors include a diet high in purines, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, certain medications, and family history. Attacks can be severe enough to limit walking and daily activities. A podiatrist can diagnose gout, provide treatment to reduce pain and inflammation, and offer guidance on lifestyle changes to prevent future flare-ups. If you experience sharp pain or swelling in your big toe joint, it is strongly suggested that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Gout is a painful condition that can be treated. If you are seeking treatment, contact one of our podiatrists from Metro Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. The condition usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe. A gout attack can occur at any random time, such as the middle of the night while you are asleep.

Symptoms

• Intense Joint Pain - Usually around the large joint of your big toe, and it most severe within the first four to twelve hours
• Lingering Discomfort - Joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
• Inflammation and Redness -Affected joints may become swollen, tender, warm and red
• Limited Range of Motion - May experience a decrease in joint mobility

Risk Factors

• Genetics - If family members have gout, you’re more likely to have it
• Medications - Diuretic medications can raise uric acid levels
• Gender/Age - Gout is more common in men until the age of 60. It is believed that estrogen protects women until that point
• Diet - Eating red meat and shellfish increases your risk
• Alcohol - Having more than two alcoholic drinks per day increases your risk
• Obesity - Obese people are at a higher risk for gout

Prior to visiting your podiatrist to receive treatment for gout, there are a few things you should do beforehand. If you have gout you should write down your symptoms--including when they started and how often you experience them, important medical information you may have, and any questions you may have. Writing down these three things will help your podiatrist in assessing your specific situation so that he or she may provide the best route of treatment for you.

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

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the feet, often beginning between the toes. Symptoms include itching, burning, scaling, and cracked skin. It thrives in warm, moist environments such as locker rooms, communal showers, and sweaty footwear. Causes include walking barefoot in public places and wearing damp socks or shoes. Risk factors include poor foot hygiene, compromised immunity, and tight footwear. A podiatrist can confirm the diagnosis, recommend effective treatment, and provide tips to prevent recurrence. If you notice symptoms of athlete’s foot, it is suggested that you promptly consult a podiatrist who can offer effective relief and treatment tips.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact one of our podiatrists from Metro Foot & Ankle.  Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

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