Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment used by podiatrists to address chronic foot and ankle conditions that involve pain and inflammation. This therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, delivers high-energy sound waves to targeted areas of the foot to promote healing, reduce pain, and improve mobility. It is commonly used for conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and other musculoskeletal disorders that do not respond to conventional treatments.

The therapy works by stimulating blood flow and cellular regeneration in damaged tissues. The sound waves trigger the body’s natural healing response, increasing collagen production and breaking down calcium deposits that contribute to chronic pain. This process enhances tissue repair while reducing inflammation, allowing patients to experience gradual pain relief and improved function over time.

One of the key advantages of shockwave therapy is that it does not require surgery, injections, or medication. Treatments are typically performed in a podiatrist’s office and require minimal downtime, making it a convenient option for individuals with persistent foot pain. Most patients undergo multiple sessions over a period of weeks, with improvements often noticeable after the first few treatments.

Podiatrists evaluate each patient’s condition to determine if shockwave therapy is appropriate based on factors such as the severity of symptoms and medical history. This innovative therapy continues to be a valuable tool for managing chronic foot conditions and enhancing overall foot health.

Local pickleball club, Paddle Taps (www.pbtaps.com), has announced a new partnership with Columbus Podiatry to provide foot care services to its members.

Paddle Taps is a one-stop shop for all things pickleball, offering indoor courts, lessons, memberships, leagues, a restaurant, bar, and pro shop. This new partnership will ensure that pickleball enthusiasts in Columbus can maintain their foot health and keep playing the sport they love.

Columbus Podiatry is a podiatric practice located at 117 Lazelle Road East, Suite B in Worthington/Columbus. They offer a variety of podiatric services, including treatment for sports injuries, heel pain, bunions, orthotics, and any other foot and ankle ailments Paddle Taps members will have access to high-quality foot care services.

In short, Paddle Taps and Columbus Podiatry have partnered to keep pickleballers in Columbus healthy and on the court!

From Backyard Fun to National Craze: The Rise of Pickleball and How to Keep Your Feet Happy Playing It

Pickleball, the sport with the curiously delightful name, has been surging in popularity in recent years. But what are its origins, and how can you enjoy this fun activity while keeping your feet healthy?

A Brief History of the Paddle
Believe it or not, pickleball wasn't invented for professional athletes. In 1965, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Joel Pritchard, a businessman, sought a backyard game to entertain his family. With badminton equipment unavailable, Pritchard and his friends improvised, using ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a badminton court with a lowered net. The result? Pickleball! The name's origin, however, remains a delightful mystery.

Health Benefits and Foot Care Tips
Pickleball's popularity stems from its accessibility. It's easy to learn, fun for all ages, and provides a great workout. The constant movement improves cardiovascular health, reflexes, and balance. But like any physical activity, proper foot care is essential.
Here are some tips to keep your feet happy on the court:

• Supportive Footwear: Choose well-cushioned shoes designed for court sports. They'll provide shock absorption and support for the quick starts, stops, and lateral movements pickleball demands.
• Maintain Good Form: Proper footwork is crucial. Focus on keeping your knees slightly bent and avoid landing flat-footed. This reduces stress on your joints and ankles.
• Stretch It Out: Before and after playing, take time for dynamic stretches that target your calves, ankles, and feet. This improves flexibility and reduces the risk of injuries.
• Listen to Your Feet: Pain is a sign something's wrong. Take breaks, adjust your playing intensity, and see a doctor if pain persists.

So, grab a paddle, lace up your court shoes, and give pickleball a try! With a little attention to foot care, you can enjoy this fun and healthy sport for years to come.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is here to help you get active and stay active!

Back in June, the Columbus Dispatch published an article on the scary reality of sepsis or septicemia, an infection of the blood that can be deadly. This past week a follow up article was run on the positive outlook of the Columbus man who survived his sepsis and subsequent below the knee amputation. With the help of a new prosthetic leg, the man is learning to walk again.
While sepsis is a terrifying infection of the blood, an often related infection that frequently occurs in the foot and leg is called “osteomyelitis”. Osteomyelitis occurs when bacteria reaches and infects the bone. As bone tries to fight off the infection, it often walls off the dead piece of bone, called a sequestrum, and attempts to envelop the piece away from healthy tissue by quickly synthesizing a weaker woven bone around it called an involucrum. Pain that feels as though it is coming from the bone, and edema, or swelling are the most common initial complaints of a patient with osteomyelitis. In order to diagnose a bone infection, taking x-rays are the first step. A timely diagnosis is imperative to prevent the spread of infection through larger areas of the bone and into the joint. If not caught early enough, like sepsis, osteomyelitis may require lower extremity amputation to prevent further damage.

But how can bacteria get to your bones through the surrounding layers of skin, fat and muscle unless you have had a bad fracture where the bone penetrated the skin? In children, an elevated amount of bacteria in the bloodstream can not only lead to sepsis, but also has a tendency to dwell in and infect the slow moving capillaries of still growing bones. This is called hematogenous osteomyelitis in which the blood has carried the igniting agent for the bone infection. In adults, “direct extension” osteomyelitis is the most common cause of bone infections, with the foot bones of diabetic patients being at a very high risk. Direct extension means that bacteria has infected a wound in the more superficial tissues, such as the skin or fat and then “extended” its way down to attack the bone. Because many diabetic patients often have lost some or all of their sensation in their feet, a small cut or irritation can quickly develop into a major ulcer by the individual unknowingly continuing to irritate the sensationless area. This injury then allows an easy route for bacteria to travel to and attack the bones of the foot. Amputation is a serious risk in diabetic patients through this process.

Amputation is a grave condition on its own for diabetic patients. Within five years of one below the knee amputation, research has shown that risk of below the knee amputation of the other leg greatly increased. The second amputation has an almost deadly effect, with increased mortality seen within the next five years. It is for these reasons that even the smallest wound or ulcer of the foot or ankle must be taken very seriously by diabetic patients. Regular self-exams and visits to your podiatrist at the first sign of injury, infection or bone pain in any patient are critical to preventing and treating these deadly conditions.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

If you are planning on taking a tropical vacation away from cold Columbus winter this year, there is one item that should be packed in everyone’s suitcase: sunscreen. While many people are getting better about covering their faces and shoulders, the feet are often a missed spot when it comes to sunscreen application.

Increased exposure to the sun leads to an increased risk of several types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and the more deadly melanoma. As the tops of your feet are often exposed in warmer weather, whether laying poolside or when out walking in flip flops, it is crucial to protect this area by using sunscreen. It is also extremely important to examine for the development of any new lesions or changes in markings on your feet regularly through self-exams. At the first sign of a noticeable change in the skin of your foot you should contact your podiatrist to catch any potentially malignant lesions early on. The prognosis for a melanoma is related to how deep the tumor is able to grow into the tissues in your foot. The more time a tumor has to grow deeper into your foot, the more deadly it becomes. By catching a tumor early through regular self-exams, you increase your chances of having it treated before it can invade local tissue or metastasize throughout your body.

Like anywhere else on the body, in the foot you want to watch for the “ABCDs” of pigmented, or dark colored lesions including moles and anything darker colored than the normal surrounding skin. “A” stands for asymmetrical shape or pigmentation, “B” stands for borders that are irregular or indistinct, “C” stands for any changes in the lesion, and “D” stands for a diameter of over six millimeters. If you notice any of these features on a skin lesion in your foot it can be an early sign of cancer development and you need to contact your podiatrist who can then do a simple biopsy to check for any abnormal cell growth. It is also important to recognize that while some cancers in the foot may display these “classic” signs to indicate their cancerous nature, skin cancer in the foot can also have a more atypical presentation including being scaly or non-pigmented in which they will be the same or a lighter color than the rest of your normal skin. Cancer of the feet can also appear similar to other typical ailments of the foot. For example, a case of tinea pedis, or “athlete’s foot” that does not resolve with the normal treatment for tinea pedis may require a biopsy to rule out other conditions that can include an atypical skin cancer.
Keep skin safe on all tropical travel this year with sunscreen use and with fair-skinned individuals especially taking further protective measures using clothes or sticking with the shade! Happy travels and take care of your feet no matter where you choose to go!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

An Ohio woman has recently developed a new invention that may of benefit to podiatry patients whose toenails have gone missing! “Nail Creations” is an artificial toe nail that can be stuck on to the skin for all those who may have lost a nail due to toenail fungus, injury or other disease process.

While this addresses a cosmetic non-medical complaint after the toenail is already lost, it is important to consult your podiatrist at the first signs of nail changes to ensure adequate medical treatment against serious infection and disease and perhaps prevent the loss of the nail entirely!!

Nail fungus or onychomycosis is one of the most common disease processes that affect the toe nails. The process of a nail fungal infection begins with some form of trauma. This trauma can be something noticeable such as dropping a heavy item on your toenail or something occurring on a continuous basis going unnoticed. Foot deformities such as hallux limitus, in which the movement in the joint of the big toe is restricted, can cause the toe to regularly undergo small trauma by slamming against the inside of your shoe with each step. If an obvious trauma has happened a bruise under the nail may be seen as a black toenail. Athlete’s foot or a tinea pedis also typically precedes the infection of the nail. This fungal infection of the skin then moves into the toenails where the organisms causing the infection, commonly dermatophytes, thrive by eating the keratin that makes up the nail.

All fungal infections should be treated to prevent spread and worsening of what can be a painful condition. Treatment of a fungal infection once it has reached the nails is more difficult than when only the skin is affected. Oral medications are often needed that often have a variety of adverse side effects throughout the body. At Columbus Podiatry and Surgery, we offer the PinPointe Foot Laser to treat nail fungus in our office in about 30-40 minutes without the harmful side effects. Along with this treatment, it is also a good idea to be examined and treated by your podiatrist for any deformities that may be exposing your nails to unnecessary trauma and making them more susceptible for future infections. With such treatment options not only are you keeping your feet healthy and preventing future fungal infections, but you also may prevent the loss of your toenail in the first place! So while the “artificial toe nail” is a great option for those who have already lost their toe nail, preventing toenail loss is even better!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

The time of year is fast approaching when only the most dedicated of fans will brave the cold weather to attend Buckeye’s football games. Staying warm at the games or any outdoor activities this winter. As snowfall becomes more frequent, it is not only a matter of spectating comfort, but also a matter of safety.

The damage that is incurred by your body depends on exactly what Mother Nature is doing and how long you will be exposed to the elements. When it is damp along with the cold, individuals become more at risk for developing what is called pernio syndrome or acute chilblains. In most cases, skin that is poorly protected or in contact with wet clothing will become red and slightly inflamed with intense itching and burning. Extreme heat over 85 degrees Fahrenheit and itching or scratching should be avoided and the area should clear in less than two weeks. If the skin is repeatedly exposed to such conditions, chilblains may become chronic with the red inflamed area becoming a more serious ulcer type of lesion.

Frostbite is a more commonly heard of cold injury that is more serious than chilblains and occurs with extreme cold exposure, even without wetness. Unlike in chilblains, the tissues making up the area of exposure in frostbite actually freeze with ice crystals developing in or around the cells. As with many cold injuries, the feet are commonly affected as blood is shunted towards the core to keep many vital organs warmed to a temperature that allows them to keep functioning properly. Frostbite is extremely important to stop before permanent tissue damage occurs that can lead to amputation. If the foot still has sensation, displays pinks skin when it is warmed and has no blisters or blisters with clear fluid this typically indicates that you should still contact your podiatrist but your foot should still be able to make a return to good health.

Individuals with pre-existing peripheral vascular disease such as venous stasis or atherosclerosis are more susceptible to developing a cold injury and need to take extra care to keep extremities protected. Everyone should be sure to keep feet warm and dry when braving the elements in order to stay healthy and be able to keep cheering on the Buckeyes!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

While the Cleveland Browns play the Texans this weekend in Houston, another Texas team will be hoping that their punter Mat McBriar has made a sufficient recovery to help them score some points. Unlike the more commonly heard of sports injuries, including ankle sprains, pulled muscles or broken bones, McBriar has injured the nerve in his left foot and leg. Although he kicks the ball with his right foot, the planting foot also plays a critical role in a player’s ability to punt the ball.

Mat has not only been experiencing pain severe enough to disrupt normal walking, but he has also lost the ability to “lift his foot up”. This lack of “dorsiflexion” or lifting the top of the foot up towards the shin is of critical importance not only for playing football, but also is necessary in walking! The nerve that controls this is called the deep fibular or deep peroneal nerve. When the deep peroneal nerve is not functioning properly, the foot will not be able to clear the ground while walking, and the foot will slap to the ground instead of being slowly lowered as it normally would. This can make walking a very difficult and tedious process. Mat may have caused this injury by a sudden stretch of the nerve when planting his foot to punt the ball. Other causes of this nerve injury can include frequently crossing the legs, which is the most common cause, knee dislocation, or knee surgery.

Mat may also want to talk to his podiatrist about the possibility that he could have a mass in his foot that could be pressing on the nerve and causing his symptoms. A neuroma or a ganglionic cyst are both small masses in the foot that can cause problems on their own even without impinging on a nerve in the foot as could be a possibility in Mat’s case. A Morton’s neuroma is an abnormal nerve growth found between the third and fourth toes. A ganglionic cyst is an out-pouching of fluid from a joint that can require surgery to treat.

Symptoms of nerve damage can include, but are not limited to, pain that shoots up or down the foot or leg, loss of sensation and loss of function. If you have signs of a nerve injury it is important to contact your podiatrist as soon as possible because damage can become more severe over time including permanent loss of nerve function.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Last Thursday’s Thanksgiving and the rest of the upcoming holiday season are the time of year when families all around Columbus gather together, reuniting nieces, nephews, cousins and great grandparents that may not get to see each other as often as they would like. As young relatives play together, this can provide a great opportunity for parents and other family members to observe and make sure that kids feet and legs are developing in a normal way, similar to other kids of the same age.

Kid’s feet are not simply smaller versions of adult feet. What may be common in an adult’s foot can be much more serious if seen in a child’s foot. As kids are growing, the earlier injuries and abnormalities are detected and brought to a podiatrist’s attention, the more treatment options will be available. Maladies detected early on also have better chances of being corrected more easily and not continuing to pose problems into adolescence and adulthood.

What you thought was a normal behavior may be brought to light as not being the norm when you can observe your child interact with a group of peers. For example, a child that regularly walks only on their toes is never normal and can be an indication of serious neurological disease. Certain milestones of development should also occur around the same time in all kids. Six months is approximately around the time when a baby should first be able to sit up on their own and by around one year a child should be starting to walk. Slight variation in the timing of these events may be normal. Kids that seem clumsy compared to other kids of the same age and tend to trip a lot can also be a sign of developmental problems that should be watched carefully. Even though hammer toes and bunions are relatively common in adults, children who develop these deformities early on can have a more rapid progression of the deformity becoming severe. Clubfoot is another birth defect that twists the heel and turns the toes upward. The sooner clubfoot is diagnosed the more likely bracing and casting will be able to lessen the deformity. Hip dislocation and dysplasia also occur in infants and their incidence is frequently increased in kids with clubfoot or other foot and ankle deformities.

In summary, it is always important to watch the development of your child’s feet and motor skills, and the holidays can provide an additional opportunity to compare your child’s progression with that of other children. Be sure to contact your podiatrist at the first sign of pain or other abnormal findings – and don’t forget that no matter how cute children’s holiday shoes are, they need to first and foremost fit comfortably!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Halloween can be a rough time of year for children with diabetes as well as for parents trying to keep their kids healthy. Several Columbus area dentists and doctors have made efforts to give more options to keep Halloween healthy and fun for diabetic kids. A local dentist’s office has offered to buy candy from kids after Halloween for $1 per pound to then be donated to Operation Gratitude which then gives the candy to troops overseas.

Type 2 diabetes typically develops later in life than type I diabetes, but is becoming more common in children. This increase in diabetes in kids has been linked to the increase in childhood obesity. While type 2 diabetes has a genetic component, individuals who are overweight or do not exercise are at a greatly increased risk of developing the disease. In this sense, while walking house to house may provide good exercise for kids, the excessive consumption of candy should be avoided.

People with both types of diabetes often develop nervous system disease with loss of sensation in their foot. When sensation is lost in the foot, people may develop injuries without being able to feel any pain and continue to cause further damage to their tissues. This is why it is critical for diabetic patients perform regular self-foot exams and have complete checkups with their podiatrist. These areas where sensation is lost are typically where ulcers develop and can lead to amputation.

While diabetic ulcers are not often seen in children’s feet, it is important to take preventative measures to avoid serious diabetic disease changes that increase the risk of ulcers later in life. One good preventative measure to start with during the Halloween season is to avoid excessive sugar consumption. The more extremely elevated, or uncontrolled a diabetic individual’s blood sugar is, the higher their “HbA1C” values are. The HbA1C indicates an excess amount of sugar that gets “stuck” to hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen to tissues. When the HbA1C is elevated, there is a much higher risk of developing problems with blood vessels, leading to diseases including high blood pressure and problems with the retina of the eye. By not eating too much sugar and getting a lot of exercise at Halloween and all year, kids with and without diabetes will be sure to have a scary good time keeping their feet healthy!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

If you are a follower of football news, this year it almost seems as though turf toe is a contagious disease at both the professional and collegiate level, even though that is not actually the case. Luckily, this injury has not made the news for sidelining any Ohio State football players recently!

While ankle sprains are the most common foot and ankle sports injury, metatarsophalangeal joint sprains in the big toe, or hallux, have also been very common since the injury was first given the name “turf toe” in 1976. Football players including Eddie Lacy of the University of Alabama, Kevin Kolb of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Evan Mathis of the Philadelphia Eagles are just a few of the players this year who have gotten medical attention for their turf toe injuries in order to not only to return to practice and games, but also to prevent long term problems with the use of the joint at the base of their big toe, the metatarsophalangeal joint.

Turf toe gained its name because the hard surfaces of turf, along with more flexible athletic shoes, cause the big toe to hyperflex up towards the top of the foot in a way that stretches ligaments and causes a sprain. This hyperflexion typically occurs when an athlete is on his toes running quickly and the foot is pushed down, flexing the toe past its normal range of motion. As with most sprains, this is a painful injury that will also swell and sometimes bruise. If you see and feel these symptoms in your big toe, it is also important to see your podiatrist to be examined not only for ligament sprain, but also for sesamoiditis, fracture of the bones in your big toe, or a tear of the plantar plate which is a structure crucial for keeping bones in place during motion of the toes. The metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is crucial for normal walking and running, and can be very painful if it is not functioning normally. Thus, proper diagnosis and treatment is imperative in the short term for athletes who want to miss as little of their season as possible. In the long term proper podiatric care of a turf toe is essential for everyone as the injured joint’s articular cartilage can wear down causing arthritis and loss of function. When the motion of the big toe, or hallux is reduced, the disorder is called hallux limitus, and eventually when motion is completely lost it is called hallux rigidus. Both of these conditions can be very painful during walking and when severe enough may require surgical correction.

Hopefully Ohio football players will continue to avoid the notorious turf toe and players on other teams currently suffering from this injury will continue to receive proper care and treatment of this condition!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.