Ever hear of the “runner’s high?” It’s one of the reasons running is such a popular sport. After a run, athletes report a feeling of exuberance, an energy that can’t be squashed. It’s partly because of the joy of accomplishment – setting a goal to run a couple of miles and getting it done. But it’s also…

May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. It’s fast-growing. It’s more likely than other types of skin cancer to metastasize – that is, to invade other parts of your body. Feet are no strangers to skin cancer, including melanoma. Fairfax County board-certified podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm wants to remind our patients…

The statistics are grim: each year in the United States, about 85,000 people seek treatment in the emergency room for lawnmower-related injuries. 16.2% of them involve the lower limbs. Yes, accidents happen; they always will. But you can help prevent a loved one from losing a toe, foot, or lower leg by following some specific dos…

Picture this: a 66-year-old athlete goes to the doctor complaining of ankle pain. This woman runs considerable distances every week and says she’s participated in 14 triathlons in the last few months. The doctor takes some x-rays and finds severe ankle osteoarthritis. He cannot believe the x-rays he took correspond to this person who can still…

At Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, we see a fair number of lumps and bumps on people’s feet. A lump or bump that hurts, swells up, or oozes pus needs our attention. Visit our Fairfax County podiatry office so the doctor can help with further attention. But what of other bulges, skin lesions, or bony knobs that aren’t…

A bunion is a deformity of the joint at the base of your big toe. It looks like a bony bump jutting outward. There can be redness, swelling, tenderness, and difficulty bending the joint. The tendency to form a bunion is usually inherited.  Still you can inadvertently speed up the process by wearing shoes that are too…

Foot blisters rarely take us by surprise. You’re out for a hike, and pressure from your new boots turns the back of your heel a troublesome shade of red. You know you’re close to getting a blister. Or you pull off your running shoes at the end of a race and find the source of that aching…

Every action has a reaction. If you ask your mom 117 times a day if you can get a new iPhone, the chances are good she’ll lash out at you at #118 – or sooner. And just as you can rub your mom the wrong way, you can unintentionally rub the bones of your feet…

We’re realists here at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center. We realize most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their foot health. Luckily, we’re here to remind our Fairfax County patients that April is Foot Health Awareness Month! It’s easy to increase your awareness of your feet and learn how to keep them healthy. Just…

With March Madness coming to another exciting end, you may have a child who’s expressed an interest in playing basketball. Good for them. Basketball gets the heart and muscles pumping, helping to keep kids in good shape. Unfortunately, the game also has a pretty high incidence of injuries to the feet and ankles. We usually see…