Varicose Veins

Podiatrists are known to treat the foot and ankle and leg. To the average person, it seems like the typical problems a podiatrist is limited to are bunions and warts. The common conception is that their expertise is confined to the foot in the areas of the muscle, bone and skin.

However, podiatrists are well-versed in many aspects of the foot, ankle and leg – nervous system disorders, musculoskeletal pathologies, dermatopathologies and vascular anomalies! Varicose veins are one such anomaly that is quite common in the population.

What are veins? Veins are a type of blood vessels that take the blood from different parts of the body TO the heart. They only function in ONE direction. The one-way direction is due to the one-way valves that are within the vessels. Varicose veins arise when the valves are malfunctioning. When a valve stops working properly, blood which was destined to the heart starts to flow back towards the legs (or other extremities). The blood is now going in the opposite direction it was supposed to be going! As a result of this backward blood flow, pressure in the veins starts to rise and causes varicose veins! Varicose veins are essentially veins that are receiving so much pressure that the start to expand and engorge. The elastic properties of the vein allow for it to expand due to pressure and it thus it protrudes out of the skin.

There are a variety of risk factors which can cause the veins to start swelling due to the pooling of blood.

A. Family history is one factor – you may genetically have valves that are incompetent;

B. Occupation – standing on your feet for greater periods of times increases venous pressure

C. Obesity

D. Pregnancy

E. Age – with increased age, vessel function starts to deteriorate

Varicose veins are not usually painful but you may feel a deep ache in the area. Swelling and discoloration may also be noted in the area of the engorged veins. The color starts out reddish and may turn to brown with time. The most common complaint is the fact that these veins just look ugly! If untreated, skin erosions can occur; this may progress to venous stasis ulcers which have a poor ability to heal! If you find that you do have varicosities, don’t hesitate to see your podiatrist! They have the knowledge and expertise to guide you to a solution and prevent this medical condition from becoming worse!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC

101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Small Girls and Tall Heels!!

Every little girl has tossed on a pair of her mom’s high heels, doused herself in red lipstick, put on a string of pearls and topped off her ensemble with a floppy oversized hat! It is one thing to play dress up; however, it’s another thing when infants or little girls are seen wearing high heels for any period of time!

Many women are already well-aware of the damaging effects of heels on the feet. Heels themselves are a hazard for walking because they alter your center of gravity. In addition, all of your body weight which is meant to be distributed evenly across your feet is now on the ball of your foot. The ball of your foot is not designed to bear your weight and does not function well in terms of shock absorption. So the impact of the forces from the ground and the body weight from above leading to pain called metatarsalgia!

Other conditions that can occur with heels are Morton’s neuromas, corns, calluses, bunions, and hammertoes. The damaging effects of heels are not just limited to feet either! Heels affect your posture by pushing your hips and spine out of alignment! The knees are also prone to injury because heels place additional force on the inside of your knee! The calf muscles may shorten and tighten as a result of excessive contraction needed to adjust to the angle of high heels.

Many podiatrists are concerned with the advent of celebrity moms dressing their children in high heels and being seen in public. High heels are ill-advised in adults and the implications on children can be even more devastating. The bones of a child are not yet fully-formed or fully-calcified; bone formation in the foot in particular partly relies on how the forces are transmitted. The wearing of high heels alters these normal forces and can affect the normal ossification pattern of the bones! And remember, foot problems will not be the only problems that will arise from wearing high heels too early. Knee, hip and back problems can occur due to the change in the body’s center of gravity as a result of high heels. These are not problems young children should ever have! One way to AVOID these musculoskeletal problems is to delay wearing heels as long as possible! Talk to your podiatrist about the implications and possible complications of wearing high heels at any age!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com