CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS

Patient Education

Our doctor and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.

As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.

Forms
Patient Instructions
AmeriGel Post Op Kit
Epsom Salt Soaks
Hyperhydrosis (sweaty feet)
Musculoskeletal Pain (heel pain)
Onychomycosis (fungal nails)
Verruca (warts)

Patient Education
Achilles Tendon Disorders
Acute Inflammation
Ankle Fractures
Ankle Sprain
Bunions
Charcot Foot
Chronic Ankle Instability
Crossover Toe
Crutches Instructions
Diabetic Complications
Diabetic Foot Care
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
Flatfoot
Ganglion Cyst
Gout
Haglund's Deformity
Hallux Rigidus
Hammertoe
Heel Pain
Ingrown Toenail
Morton's Neuroma
Osteoarthritis
Pediatric Flatfoot
Pediatric Heel Pain
Personeal Tendon Injuries
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
Puncture Wounds
Tailor's Bunion
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Toe and Metatarsal Fractures

Links
Foot and Ankle Health Associations
The American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
American Podiatric Medical Association
Illinois Podiatric Medical Association
Pedorthic Footwear Association

Preferred Vendors
Amerx Health Care Corporation
Bako Pathology Services
Biofreeze
Burns International, Inc.
Dr Jill's Footpads
Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish
Powerstep Insoles

Shoes
Acor
Aetrex Worldwide
Brooks
CrocsRx
Dr. Comfort
Hush Puppies
New Balance
OrthoFeet
Pedors
Safe Step

Our Community Partners
Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers
Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine Services
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
Champion Fitness
City of Bloomington
Fox and Hounds Day Spa
Girl Friday Spa and Boutique
Healthy Cells Magazine
Ireland Grove Center for Surgury
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
O.S.F. St. Joseph Medical Center
Town of Normal

Our Partners in Foot Health
Advanced Foot Care Centers, Ira Kraus, DPM, Chattanooga, TN
Affiliates in Podiatry, William McCann, DPM, Concord, NH
Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, Hal Ornstein, DPM, Howell, NJ
Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, Ben Weaver, DPM, Wichita, KS
Christie Clinic, Kim Eickmeier, DPM, Champaign, IL
Complete Foot & Ankle, Elizabeth Kurtz, DPM, Chicago, IL
Death By Pedicure, Robert Spalding, DPM, Signal Mountain, TN
Family Foot & Ankle Specialists, Peter Wishnie, DPM, Piscataway, NJ
Family Podiatry Center, Marlene Reid, DPM & Larry Kosova, DPM, Westmont, IL
Foot & Ankle Associates of North Texas, Marybeth Crane, DPM, Grapvine TX
Foot & Ankle Specialists, Bruce Werber, DPM, Mesa, AZ
The Foot Doctor of San Diego, Ronald Worley, DPM, San Diego, CA
Foundation Foot & Ankle Centers, Julie Lester, DPM, Houston TX



Everything from serious foot disorders to more common foot and ankle conditions can be exacerbated by one, avoidable cause: inappropriate, poor quality, and/or ill-fitting shoes. Any podiatrist will tell you that a quality, properly fitted shoe pays big dividends for your feet—now and in the future.

The most important quality to look for in shoes is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them comfortable. Shoes that do not fit properly can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other disabling foot disorders.

The Fitting

Here are some tips to help reduce the risk of foot problems when shopping for shoes:

  • Don't force your feet into a pair of shoes in order to conform to the shape of the shoe. The shoe needs to conform to the shape of your foot.
  • Fit new shoes to your largest foot. Most people have one foot larger than the other.
  • Have both feet measured every time you purchase shoes. Foot size increases as you get older.
  • If the shoes feel too tight, don't buy them. There is no such thing as a "break-in period."
  • Many high-heeled shoes have a pointed or narrow toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into an unnatural triangular shape. As heel height increases, the pressure under the ball of the foot may double, placing greater pressure on the forefoot as it is forced into the pointed toe box. Limit heel height to two inches or less to protect your feet.
  • Shoes should be fitted carefully to your heel as well as your toes.
  • Sizes vary among shoe brands and styles. Judge a shoe by how it fits on your foot, not by the marked size.
  • There should be a half-inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe.
  • Try on new shoes at the end of the day. Your feet normally swell and become larger after standing or sitting during the day, which makes for a better fit.
  • Be sure to try on both shoes. Walk around the shoe store in the shoes to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable.
  • When the shoe is on your foot, you should be able to freely wiggle all of your toes.