Author: Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM

Most people have normal arches – some have flat feet where the arches have collapsed – and a very few have high arches. The foot arch is formed by tendons that attach to the foot and heel bones. The tendons work together to form the proper arch. The primary job of the arch is to move weight…

At the first hint of warmer spring weather, most of us rummage through our closets looking for our favorite pair of sandals. But are your feet ready for footwear that bares all? The combination of winter’s extra-dry environment and wearing heavy shoes, boots and socks can result in excessively dry skin, callusesand even fungal infections. Usually…

Being injured in a fall is a very real possibility for our senior citizens. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one-third of this age group falls each year, resulting in more than 700,000 hospital stays and 250,000 hip fractures. Many times falls are related to balance problems. As we age, certain conditions…

Have you rushed to the emergency room after receiving the dreaded phone call that your child has been injured while playing sports? You’re not alone – out of the estimated 38 million U.S. teens and children who participate in organized sports each year, more than 2.6 million will be treated in hospital ER’s for recreation…

Tendons are thick cords that attach bone to muscle. When the tendons become inflamed or irritated from repetitive actions and overuse, or from minor or serious injury, the result is tendonitis. Tendonitis can occur in many areas but most often strikes the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and base of the thumb. Two areas in the…

Any joint in the body can develop degenerative arthritis because of wear and tear due to aging. When arthritis settles in the big toe joint, it makes the toe hard to bend and painful. This condition is called hallux rigidus which means stiff or rigid big toe. Until you have a painful big toe, you don’t realize…

Running is so beneficial for your health and well-being! It can improve your overall health, lower cholesterol levels and improve lung function; help you lose or maintain your weight; prevent certain diseases and even boost your mood. If you’re afraid of injuring yourself while running, be assured that running injuries are not inevitable! There are some…

You probably know what a cyst is – it’s a common occurrence where a small sac fills with fluid inside the body. Feet can have cysts too and the most common kind is called a ganglion cyst. The word “ganglion” means tumor on a tendon, ligament or muscle. These growths usually form on a foot tendon…

Ouch! Your foot underneath your heel hurts when you first get up in the morning. Or you have pain and swelling at the back of the heel. Or the bottom of your heel is okay in the morning but hurts more and more as the day goes on. Heel pain can be caused by many…

Having an ingrown toenail is no fun. It’s unsightly and also can be very painful. Can this condition be prevented? If you’ve never had an ingrown toenail then you are very lucky. Ingrown toenails can be caused by heredity, if your family has a history of unusually curved toenails. Other causes include cutting your toenails in a…