Common Conditions
Arthritis
Arthritis and the Feet Arthritis is a frequent component of complex disease processes that may involve more than 100 identifiable disorders. It is characterized by inflammation of the cartilage and lining of the body’s joints. If the feet seem more susceptible to arthritis than other parts of the body, it is because each foot has… Read More
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The fungus most commonly attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungus growth. The warmth and dampness of areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms, are also breeding grounds for fungi. Because… Read More
Bunions
What Is a Bunion? A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe–the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint – that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. This forces the toe to bend toward the others, causing an often painful lump of bone… Read More
Custom Orthotics
What are Orthotics? Orthotics are shoe inserts that are intended to correct an abnormal, or irregular, walking pattern. Orthotics are not truly or solely “arch supports,” although some people use those words to describe them, and they perhaps can best be understood with those words in mind. They perform functions that make standing, walking, and… Read More
Diabetic Foot
Diabetes: Startling Statistics Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects the lives of about 16 million people in the United States, 5.4 million of whom are unaware that they even have the disease. Every day, 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed, and an estimated 780,000 new cases are identified each year. The disease… Read More
Flat Foot
A flat foot is a medical condition where the arch of the foot collapses and the entire sole of the foot comes into complete or near-complete contact with the ground. In some people, the arch may never develop either in one foot or both feet. Most people with flat foot can be treated without surgery,… Read More
Foot & Ankle Fractures
A fracture is a small crack in a bone. This often develops as a result of a rotational injury or overuse injury like those from impact sports such as long distance running or basketball. Athletes who participate in tennis, track and field, gymnastics, dance and basketball are at high risk as these activities stress the… Read More
Foot Pain
A Biological Masterpiece, but Subject to Many Ills The human foot is a biological masterpiece. Its strong, flexible, and functional design enables it to do its job well and without complaint – if you take care of it and don´t take it for granted. The foot can be compared to a finely tuned race car,… Read More
Foot Surgery
Foot surgery is a sub-specialty of podiatry dealing with the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of foot disorders. Conditions Treated Some of the conditions treated by Dr. Mussett include bunions, toe problems, arthritis, diabetic feet, fungal nails, nail problems, heel spurs, warts, hammer toes, neuromas, foot & ankle fractures, tendon injuries and flat foot. These conditions… Read More
Fungal Nails
An Underreported Health Problem Fungal infection of toenails is a common foot health problem. A majority of victims don’t seek treatment, maybe don’t even recognize the existence of a problem. Studies estimate that it afflicts three to five percent of the population; however, doctors of podiatric medicine think that because so many cases go unreported,… Read More
Hammertoe
What is Hammertoe? Hammertoe is a contracture–or bending–of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. Common symptoms of hammertoes include: Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes. Corns (a buildup… Read More
Heel Pain
Many Conditions Affect the Rearfoot Many conditions can affect the back portion of the foot and ankle. Fortunately, many of these problems can be resolved through conservative treatments. However when pain persists or deformity occurs, surgical intervention can often help alleviate pain, reduce deformity, and/or restore the function of your foot or ankle. Heel Surgery… Read More
Nail Problems
Barometers of Health Toenails often serve as barometers of our health; they are diagnostic tools providing the initial signal of the presence or onset of systemic diseases. For example, the pitting of nails and increased nail thickness can be manifestations of psoriasis. Concavity – nails that are rounded inward instead of outward – can foretell… Read More
Neuromas
What is a Neuroma? A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton’s neuroma, which occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. “Intermetatarsal” describes its… Read More
Stiff Big Toe Joint
The base of the big toe is an important joint as it bends every time a person takes step. The stiffness in the joint may make it painful and difficult to walk. This joint is known as metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint. This joint is covered by a smooth articular cartilage and regular wear- and-tear or… Read More
Tendon Injuries
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. These tendons may often get injured by activity or movement. Tendon injuries are categorized as Tendinitis. The tendon gets inflamed or irritated and causes pain near a joint. The main example being the Achilles… Read More
Toe Problems
Toe problems can be a big inconvenience and quite painful. These problems are not uncommon and can be a result of wearing too loose or too tight shoes. However, playing sports, running or a blow to the foot damages the toes. Other factors include diseases such as severe arthritis and gout. Some common toe problems… Read More
Warts
What are plantar warts? Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but, technically, only those on the sole are properly called… Read More
Women’s Footcare
Active Women’s Feet As women move into the US work force in greater numbers, a lot of them are finding that their professional and white-collar employment brings job satisfaction, but that it’s tempered by other realities. One is that the new responsibilities probably haven’t replaced those of the woman’s once-traditional role as homemaker and mother…. Read More
Arthritis and the Feet Arthritis is a frequent component of complex disease processes that may involve more than 100 identifiable disorders. It is characterized by inflammation of the cartilage and lining of the body’s joints. If the feet seem more susceptible to arthritis than other parts of the body, it is because each foot has… Read More
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The fungus most commonly attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungus growth. The warmth and dampness of areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms, are also breeding grounds for fungi. Because… Read More
Bunions
What Is a Bunion? A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe–the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint – that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. This forces the toe to bend toward the others, causing an often painful lump of bone… Read More
Custom Orthotics
What are Orthotics? Orthotics are shoe inserts that are intended to correct an abnormal, or irregular, walking pattern. Orthotics are not truly or solely “arch supports,” although some people use those words to describe them, and they perhaps can best be understood with those words in mind. They perform functions that make standing, walking, and… Read More
Diabetic Foot
Diabetes: Startling Statistics Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects the lives of about 16 million people in the United States, 5.4 million of whom are unaware that they even have the disease. Every day, 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed, and an estimated 780,000 new cases are identified each year. The disease… Read More
Flat Foot
A flat foot is a medical condition where the arch of the foot collapses and the entire sole of the foot comes into complete or near-complete contact with the ground. In some people, the arch may never develop either in one foot or both feet. Most people with flat foot can be treated without surgery,… Read More
Foot & Ankle Fractures
A fracture is a small crack in a bone. This often develops as a result of a rotational injury or overuse injury like those from impact sports such as long distance running or basketball. Athletes who participate in tennis, track and field, gymnastics, dance and basketball are at high risk as these activities stress the… Read More
Foot Pain
A Biological Masterpiece, but Subject to Many Ills The human foot is a biological masterpiece. Its strong, flexible, and functional design enables it to do its job well and without complaint – if you take care of it and don´t take it for granted. The foot can be compared to a finely tuned race car,… Read More
Foot Surgery
Foot surgery is a sub-specialty of podiatry dealing with the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of foot disorders. Conditions Treated Some of the conditions treated by Dr. Mussett include bunions, toe problems, arthritis, diabetic feet, fungal nails, nail problems, heel spurs, warts, hammer toes, neuromas, foot & ankle fractures, tendon injuries and flat foot. These conditions… Read More
Fungal Nails
An Underreported Health Problem Fungal infection of toenails is a common foot health problem. A majority of victims don’t seek treatment, maybe don’t even recognize the existence of a problem. Studies estimate that it afflicts three to five percent of the population; however, doctors of podiatric medicine think that because so many cases go unreported,… Read More
Hammertoe
What is Hammertoe? Hammertoe is a contracture–or bending–of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. Common symptoms of hammertoes include: Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes. Corns (a buildup… Read More
Heel Pain
Many Conditions Affect the Rearfoot Many conditions can affect the back portion of the foot and ankle. Fortunately, many of these problems can be resolved through conservative treatments. However when pain persists or deformity occurs, surgical intervention can often help alleviate pain, reduce deformity, and/or restore the function of your foot or ankle. Heel Surgery… Read More
Nail Problems
Barometers of Health Toenails often serve as barometers of our health; they are diagnostic tools providing the initial signal of the presence or onset of systemic diseases. For example, the pitting of nails and increased nail thickness can be manifestations of psoriasis. Concavity – nails that are rounded inward instead of outward – can foretell… Read More
Neuromas
What is a Neuroma? A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that may develop in various parts of the body. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton’s neuroma, which occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. “Intermetatarsal” describes its… Read More
Stiff Big Toe Joint
The base of the big toe is an important joint as it bends every time a person takes step. The stiffness in the joint may make it painful and difficult to walk. This joint is known as metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint. This joint is covered by a smooth articular cartilage and regular wear- and-tear or… Read More
Tendon Injuries
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. These tendons may often get injured by activity or movement. Tendon injuries are categorized as Tendinitis. The tendon gets inflamed or irritated and causes pain near a joint. The main example being the Achilles… Read More
Toe Problems
Toe problems can be a big inconvenience and quite painful. These problems are not uncommon and can be a result of wearing too loose or too tight shoes. However, playing sports, running or a blow to the foot damages the toes. Other factors include diseases such as severe arthritis and gout. Some common toe problems… Read More
Warts
What are plantar warts? Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but, technically, only those on the sole are properly called… Read More
Women’s Footcare
Active Women’s Feet As women move into the US work force in greater numbers, a lot of them are finding that their professional and white-collar employment brings job satisfaction, but that it’s tempered by other realities. One is that the new responsibilities probably haven’t replaced those of the woman’s once-traditional role as homemaker and mother…. Read More