It’s that time again; award season and of course the best and the worst shoe fashion can be seen parading up and down the red carpet all evening. On award night no matter if the celeb was deemed a musical winner or loser, for the week after the fashion winner and losers will still be up for grabs.

We saw the stunning Christian Louboutin, Giusceppe Zannoti and other high end fashion names donned on the feet of the most famous and successful singers. Extremely gorgeous, but most of the time it means not very comfortable.

Look at Kat Von D for instance, very avant-garde with the inverted red velvet wedged heel (SEE ABOVE). Although our lady podiatrists need to look fashionable too, there are limits! These shoes totally fit the reality TV star’s personality, intimidating and playful at the same time; not to mention painful to watch!

What all these star studded feet are in need of our slim fit custom orthotics. These special made orthotics help offload the added pressure on the forefoot, caused by wearing such high heels. Orthotics are useful in prevention of those ugly corns and calluses. They will also help provide relief from painful ball of foot pain, while fitting in your fashion friendly shoes!

If you or someone you know has experienced this shoe fashion dilemma, form over function, like the stars do, come on into our office Frederick Foot & Ankle Specialists  and get your custom slim fit orthotic for those fashion friendly shoes. We would be more than happy to schedule an appointment, at either of our locations in Frederick, MDand Urbana, MD. Whether you are walking the red carpet or not; we all deserve comfort that slim fit orthotics provide!

By: Dr. Coralia Terol, AACFAS

If you don’t already know about the pains of pregnancy, such as achy back, fatigue, nausea and vomiting the list goes on and on; but you can add foot pain into that mix! With the recent announcement of Kim Kardashian expecting a little one with her boyfriend Kanye West, we are all thinking what kind of pains will Kim K be experiencing and how pregnancy will affect her shoe wardrobe!?

Pregnancy can cause a whole bunch of hormonal changes in your body that can effect, smell, taste, mood and also your feet. The most experienced symptoms that occur in pregnancy are painful, swollen feet, arch pain, and foot cramps. A couple of our team members will be expecting little ones soon so they can relate to the different foot pains, luckily for them they work in a podiatry office.

This swelling of the feet stems from extra fluid in the body pooling at the feet, due to the weight or position of the baby. Arch pain can develop with ligament tension and natural arch fatigue that comes along with motherhood. And finally foot cramping is caused by the increased blood volume in the body. With these changes and pains in your feet they may cause you to adjust your activity level during your pregnancy; especially the type of shoes that you choose to wear.

Now with that in mind, I wonder what the fashionista Kim K will be wearing on her feet for the next 9 months! Do you think that she will wise up and wear something reliable or do you think she will continue wearing her sky high diva shoes (Stilettos a no-no!)?

If you or someone you know is pregnancy and are experiencing nagging foot pain, come on into our office Frederick Foot & Ankle Specialists. We would be more than happy to schedule an appointment, at either of our locations in Frederick, MDand Urbana, MD. We will be able access your current foot and overall health and recommend the best way to evaluate and treat your pregnancy foot pains!

By: Dr. Nikki Ho, AACFAS

Are you on your feet constantly all day while at work? Well, the reason might not be having the right shoes for the job! At Fredericks Foot and Ankle Specialists we can help explain the proper walking movement and shoes one should have in order to avoid foot pains. Feet are probably the most overlooked and underappreciated body part. No one really minds for them until, well, they start to hurt.

If you work in the service industry, you know you’re on your feet the whole day. You probably take more steps than the average person (10,000 steps/day) does. Service workers are more susceptible to foot problems due to the amount of time they are on their feet and type of shoe they wear. 

At our locations in Frederick and Urbana, MD we always mention to patients that high heels are not ideal footwear to wear for 8 hours/day. We recommend, if you can only wear them for a few hours a day; by simply following that recommendation you will be better serving yourself in the long term. If you wear high heels like Gwyneth Paltrow or any female celebrity wearing heels over 3 inches high, please read carefully the following facts. Wearing high heels constantly cause fractures on your ankle, disrupt the posture of your walking movement and shift your body pressure to the front of your foot. This can cause unwanted calluses and lead to many other problems that can range from knee pain to lower back misalignment.

For men, it is equally important for you to find a nice comfortable pair of dress shoes. It is important to get the proper size, width, arch support and material in order to assure a comfortable day at work (at least while being on your feet). If you stand for extended periods of time shoes with soft, pliable, and cushioned soles will protect your feet and help keep them comfortable. For both genders: It is advised to have three to five pairs of shoes for work so that you can alternate your shoes on a daily basis. This can avoid wear and tear and let the shoes air out and prevent fungi growth.

If any foot-related problem arises, take the time and visit our doctors Dr. Steinberg, Dr. Ho, or Dr. Yanes. At our offices we can help trim and debride unwanted calluses, treat corns, hammertoes (caused by tight shoes), and provide custom-fit orthotics. It is better to have a professional look and treat your feet to avoid reoccurrences and future painful episodes!

As always check your feet daily and stop by! It can help avoid future health problems!

All across the nation the weather temperatures are rising, the sun is beaming and more people are wearing sandals. It is hard avoiding wearing sandals all the time. But should you be wearing sandals each hour everyday? Dr. Steinberg does not recommend wearing sandals all the time unless proper arch support is provided.

Here is why: Sandals cause the foot to be unstable. Recent research from Auburn University states that certain sandal types, such as the thong-style sandal, can actual alter your normal gait (or walking cycle).  As you can imagine, any alternation to your normal walking will cause strain or pain towards foot, ankle and even leg regions.

One of the most common foot problems with sandals is heel pain. Without proper arch support an individual can develop inflammation of band tissue at the bottom of their feet (plantar fasciitis). Due it the tissue’s origin at the heel, an individual can interpret it as heel pain.

But there are remedies that can be done at Frederick Foot and Ankle Specialists local offices in Frederick, MD and Urbana, MD! Treatments can range from stretching, anti-inflammatory medication, ultrasound, and custom-molded orthotics. Though over-the-counter inserts may alleviate the pain temporarily; it is advised to get custom-molded orthotics, especially if you plan on wearing sandals for long periods of time.

Unfortunately, heel pain isn’t the only thing you should be conserned about in the summer! You should make sure to keep your feet dry and odor-free. It’s our body’s natural response to increase sweating when the heat is increased. So naturally, our feet can tend to get ‘sweatier’. So when you go out to enjoy the weather and plan on wearing close-toed shoes make sure they’re breathable shoes for your feet! And remember to always wash your feet daily and dry them thoroughly before putting any socks (Wick-away moisture socks are ideal!) or shoes.

Summer is a time to have fun and relax a bit, but always mind the condition of your feet! We want you to have many pain-free summers in the future!

By: Dr. Brenna Steinberg

It's summertime! The sun is out, the weather is warm and most importantly, you can finally start wearing more heels to go along with those summer dresses. Though heels are fashionable, they can come at a cost. At Fredrick Foot and Ankle Specialists we don’t condemn this style of footwear but, we tell our patients that heels can have physical toll on your feet. Frequent heel-wearers can see complications of heels range from forefoot pain, pain in your Achilles tendon, bunions, corn and calluses. Not to mention you can easily get a sprained ankle.

Forefoot pain is generally located at the ball of your foot and is caused by the pinching of nerves. Heels, in some people, cause the Achilles tendon to shorten or tighten up. This affects your ability to walk and you may need some sort of wedge for added support. The most common complications from heels are corns and calluses. They are generally caused by an increase in rubbing of bone. The skinnier the heel is the less balance and stability you may have while walking. The slightest misstep in skinny high-heels can leave you prone to a sprained ankle.

Generally, women ages 30-40 or women wearing heels on a daily basis can be more prone to heel-usage complications. In recent news, Popstar Lady Gaga has recently sought out medical treatment from a podiatrist in the UK. She had been wearing high-inch heels every day from nearly the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to bed. Her constant wear of heels has caused her to get corns. The high-heels have exacerbated her genetically predetermined bunions and have also started shooting pain in her Achilles tendon. If Lady Gaga is interested she should stop by our offices for some treatment!

Dr. Yanes and Dr. Steinberg are the podiatrists at Frederick Foot and Ankle Specialists and are here to help if you have any complications from the heels or any foot-related problems. They understand that sometimes heels are necessary and sometimes even avoidable to wear. But what is important to keep in mind is the height of the heel and how much you wear it. Feel free to stop by our one of our two offices at Frederick, MD or Urbana, MD to seek consultation or medical treatment.

By: Dr. Yenisey Yanes