Keeping Your Feet in Mind

Did you know that there are over seven thousand nerve endings in our feet? Those nerves are encased in and surrounded by roughly 26 bones, 33 joints, and over one hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Considering our feet and ankles are so complex and fragile, yet they take the brunt of our entire weight, it's a good idea to keep them in mind when we think about our health. When even one bone, nerve, tendon, or ligament is out of alignment, this can cause all sorts of issues to develop.

Plantar fasciitis - a condition that impacts the ligament stretching from our heels to our toes, plantar fasciitis can lead to several issues when left to worsen without treatment. Damage to the tendon causes painful inflammation and can take a long time to heal without the help of a foot doctor.

Flat feet/fallen arches - while flat feet, or fallen arches, are sometimes hereditary in nature (meaning it 'runs in the family') excess weight is most commonly attributed to the development of fallen arches or flat feet. This can cause a decrease in the flexibility and stability of our feet, leaving us vulnerable to further injury.

Osteoarthritis - while most cases of osteoarthritis are developed simply due to age, some folks can develop osteoarthritis earlier on because of carrying excess weight. This form of arthritis causes the cartilage in our joints to weaken and thin out, causing pain and stiffness.

Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.