Many of our patients here at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Centreville, Virginia come to us for treatment of plantar fasciitis. It’s the most common reason for heel pain. In fact, you may have heard people use the terms “heel pain” and “plantar fasciitis” interchangeably. But plantar fasciitis – inflammation of the thick tissue that connects your…

Your shoes should accommodate your foot problems. Don’t buy shoes based on how fashionable they look. If you’ve got an existing foot issue that makes wearing certain shoes difficult, then you simply can’t wear certain shoes. Conditions such as bunions or flat feet require shoes with enough room and support to keep you comfortable. If you’re plagued with plantar fasciitis,…

If you’re part of the “me” generation, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear that you’re experiencing “de”-generation in your joints. Grown-up baby boomers, who are ages 55 and up, have been on the planet long enough that their joints may be starting to deteriorate. That deterioration is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis means that the cartilage that prevents…

“He’s got his father’s feet.” That’s what followers of the British monarchy are saying about the newest baby in the family. A recently published picture of newborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor shows that his toes are of pretty even length. That means he didn’t inherit Morton’s toe from his mother. What is Morton’s toe? Photos of Meghan…

Pain in your feet has many causes. Sometimes the cause is (painfully) obvious. You dropped a heavy object on your toe. You fell off the sidewalk and twisted your ankle. You ran 12 miles after spending the winter in couch-potato mode and your heel is killing you. But let’s say you’ve done none of those…

Actress Viola Davis narrates a new documentary film about diabetes called “A Touch of Sugar.” We imagine the name of the film comes from the way some people express the fact that they’ve got the disease. High blood sugar is the hallmark of diabetes. Let’s look at some statistics: First of all, diabetes affects over 30 million…

Many foot problems are painful (think arthritis or plantar fasciitis). Some of them, like athlete’s foot, are contagious. Foot odor isn’t contagious or painful, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating for our patients here at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center. Feet smell when they’re sweaty. However, don’t blame the sweat alone. Smelly feet are actually due to…

At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, we know that there’s an uptick in activities of all kinds when the weather turns warm. So now that spring is in full swing, we expect that you’ll be spending more of your weekends raking the foundation beds, sitting on your heels in the garden, playing a little ball, or…

With the change of seasons (Welcome, spring!), you may be thinking about buying some new shoes. Start by assessing what’s currently in your closet. At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Fairfax County, Virginia, we encourage our patients to examine their shoes on a regular basis for two essential reasons: It’s a safety issue. Worn out heels…

At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, we recognize that most people walk, run, kick, play ball, and get through the workday without thinking too much about their feet. However, when you suddenly get a stabbing pain in your heel that won’t quit, then you realize just how much you depend on them. As children, maybe we weren’t taught…