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How would you estimate your risk of a fall? High, medium, or low? Interestingly, a majority of adults do not know that they are at risk of falling, and of the foot and ankle injuries that can result.  In fact, nearly one third of Americans over the age of 65 will fall each year, and…

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a chronic condition affecting circulation to the feet and lower legs. In order to understand this problem, you must first understand the process of circulation. With every beat, your heart sends bright red, oxygen-rich blood throughout your body via a system of arteries. The cells throughout the body use this…

Your feet are among nature’s most complex structures. There are 206 bones in your body. Over one quarter of them is located in your feet and ankles, arranged in delicate joints and arches. They are supported by over 100 muscles, miles of nerves and blood vessels, and a wide variety of soft tissues and are…

Many patients come to My Chicago Foot Expert: Stavros Alexopoulos, DPM to be treated for a foot or ankle injury. Happily, many of these are relatively minor and don’t require surgery or other invasive treatment to heal. A boot or cast and a pair of crutches often do the job. However, patients are often confused to learn…

What’s your favorite athletic activity? Whether it’s tennis, yoga, running, or something else, you probably have a favorite piece of equipment. It might be a preferred racquet, mat, or pair of sneakers. But, no matter which sport you like best, there’s one piece of equipment you can’t do without: healthy feet and ankles. When injury…

A bunion is a painful foot deformity that occurs when pressure causes the bones at the big toe knuckle to move out of place and protrude toward the inner edge of the foot. In addition to the change in foot shape, other bunion symptoms include redness and swelling. A bunion can make it hard to stand, walk,…

Just like there are steps you can take to increase overall health and wellness, there are things that you can do to improve the health of your feet, ankles, and lower legs. How many of these bad habits are you still engaged in? Today is the day to stop! Going barefoot in public: Whether you’re…

Your nail bed is made up of three parts: The nail bed is the soft tissue that lies below the nail itself. Its health is essential for proper nail growth. The nail matrix is the part of the nail bed from which the nail originates and grows. The nail plate is the hard part of…

Phlebitis is a common health issue affecting the lower legs. It can be uncomfortable and, if untreated, dangerous. Do you know what phlebitis is and what causes it? The pumping action of your heart circulates blood through your body via a complex, miles-long system of blood vessels. Arteries bring blood cells from the heart to…

If you know about osteoporosis, you might already know that it’s a chronic and dangerous condition that weakens the bones and leaves people vulnerable to fractures and other injuries. You probably think of it as affecting the spine and hips, and possibly the wrists and ribs. But do you know that osteoporosis can also cause…