We Answer Your Top Questions About Podiatry and Physical Therapy

A foot burn—or any type of burn on your skin—needs immediate first aid to alleviate the inflammation and limit the damage. The more quickly you begin treatment, the faster your skin can begin the healing process and the less likely you’ll suffer an infection. For minor to medium burns, hold the affected area under cool, but not cold, running water to alleviate the burning sensation. If you notice your skin beginning to blister, avoid popping the little bubbles. Gently apply aloe or some other cooling, moisturizing ointments to your skin. Use a non-stick gauze bandage to cover the damage, so nothing gets stuck.

If your burn is serious, however, first aid will not be enough. Make sure you are safe and not in additional danger of further burns. Then immediately call for medical assistance. Cover the area with a cool, moist cloth or bandage and elevate it. Do not immerse the burn in water. Experts like our podiatry team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. will help treat the damage as soon as we can. Make an appointment at our Parker, Castle Pines, or Cherry Creek locations through our website or by calling (303) 805-5156.

Warts on your feet are a common problem. The key to preventing these bumps is to make it less likely your feet will come in contact with the virus that causes them. The virus thrives in warm, damp environments and transfers to your feet when you touch contaminated objects. For that reason, always wear sandals or shower shoes instead of going barefoot in locker rooms, on pool decks, at saunas, or in any other high-risk location. Use clean socks and avoid sharing towels, footwear, or other hygiene items with someone who has a wart, too.

If your feet do touch a wart directly, wash them thoroughly. Inspect your feet for obvious cuts or damage near your nails. Tiny breaks in the skin are how the virus infects your feet. You may not be able to entirely prevent warts, but you can certainly make an infection less likely. If you’re at all concerned you may have developed a wart on your lower limbs, let our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. inspect it and help you eliminate it. Make an appointment online or by calling (303) 805-5156 to reach our Castle Pines, Parker, and Cherry Creek, CO, offices.

Warts are stubborn and difficult to eliminate, but some people have found home remedies that helped them. The most common treatment, of course, is to keep your wart covered in duct tape. This “suffocates” the bump, shrinking it, and also help you avoid spreading it around. Over-the-counter wart removers may have more success. These mild acids can be a liquid you apply directly to the growth, or a bandage you place over it. Some people have even combined these over-the-counter methods with duct tape.

All of these home remedies tend to have mixed results. Some people who use them religiously may find it does shrink the warty growth. Others, however, may find they do very little for the bump. The best thing to do is to discuss your wart care with experts, like our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’ll help you plan out the best treatments for warts on your feet or toes. Make an appointment with us online or call (303) 805-5156 to take care of your warts today. We have offices in Cherry Creek, Castle Pines, and Parker, CO.

Clubfoot is normally very treatable. The earlier you begin treatment, the better, too. Failing to take care of this deformity can have serious consequences for your child and make it difficult, or even impossible, for them to walk normally or wear regular shoes. A clubbed foot does not heal on its own. The foot will remain in the twisted position unless it’s treated. When you child starts to walk, this means his or her foot will be twisted and unable to function properly—and your child won’t be able to walk normally. This could lead to arthritis in his or her joints. The foot and leg muscles won’t be able to develop, either.

Your child will also need special shoes to accommodate the foot deformity. Pain from walking abnormally may limit his or her participation in activities. He or she may feel self-conscious about the appearance of his or her feet as well. Fixing clubfoot in older children or adults is difficult and complicated, too. Don’t wait to take care of your baby’s clubfoot. Call (303) 805-5156 or use our website to make an appointment with Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Cherry Creek, Castle Pines, or Parker, CO, today.https://www.footdoctorscolorado.com/contact.cfm

Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects in children. In fact, about 1 out of every 1,000 babies born in the US every year is diagnosed with it. With just under four million babies born in our nation annually, that’s quite a lot of children with clubfoot each year! While it’s unfortunate that so many children have this birth defect, the number should encourage parents facing the treatment process with their little one, they remind you that you are far from alone in this. Many, many families have successfully dealt with clubbed feet. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. has seen and treated our own share of those children in our offices.

The key is to seek professional care from a foot and ankle expert shortly after your child is born so you can begin planning out treatment and the recovery process. Our experts at Podiatry Associates will evaluate the severity of your child’s condition and help you understand the methods available to you for treatment. Make an appointment with us through our website to take care of your child’s feet today. You can also call our Parker, Cherry Creek, and Castle Pines, CO, locations at (303) 805-5156.

Straining, spraining, or even tearing your medial collateral ligament (MCL) can destabilize your whole knee. Fortunately, physical therapy can help an MCL injury. Many of these injuries can be treated using entirely conservative efforts. Right after the injury, you’ll need to rest your knee and avoid any activity that could strain it. Wrap the joint in a compression bandage and apply ice regularly to combat the swelling. After the first couple of days, you may be able to begin exercises.

The goal of therapy is to stabilize the knee and help the ligament as it heals. You will have a variety of exercises designed to alleviate pain, improve motion, build strength, and restore balance and stability. These can include variations on bending and flexing the joint, as well as activities to build up your quad, hamstring, and calf muscles. All of this therapy will be adjusted to fit your unique needs and goals for recovery. Let our teams at Castle Pines Physical Therapy and Cherry Creek Physical Therapy help you establish a plan for recovery. Call our Castle Pines and Denver, CO, offices at (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment, or contact us online. 

Tearing your medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a serious injury that requires a fair amount of time to heal, although exactly how long will depend on the extent of the damage. A partial tear will heal more quickly and easily than a complete rupture. Typically, a partial MCL tear takes around four weeks to heal. A complete rupture can take eight weeks or more to recover. The recovery time will also depend on how quickly you get the appropriate treatment for the damage.

You may need to immobilize the knee for a time so the tissue can repair itself. Icing and elevating the joint reduces inflammation and swelling around the torn ligament. After a little while, you’ll need rehabilitate your knee. This helps re-stabilize your joint and support the ligament while it recovers. It also helps you return to your strength and prevent the problem from reoccurring. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely you’ll need invasive methods to repair the damage. Contact our experts at Castle Pines Physical Therapy and Cherry Creek Physical Therapy for an appointment today. You can reach our Castle Pines and Denver, CO, offices online or by calling (303) 805-5156.

There are plenty of conservative bunion treatments you can try to ease your bunion pain -- from footwear with deep and wide toe boxes, to custom orthotics, splints and spacers, and even exercises. However, if you have exhausted these options and still can’t find relief for your bunion pain and symptoms, that is a sure sign it’s time to consider bunion surgery. Other signs a surgical procedure has become necessary to maintain a good quality of life include:

• Persistent pain
• Increased size of bony protrusion
• Difficulty walking or wearing shoes
• The pain is forcing you to alter or give up activities
• The joint is stiffening and causing balance issues
• The big toe is drifting so far over that it is overlapping or causing friction with the second toe

When you start noticing these symptoms, and they are only getting worse, it’s time to give us a call and discuss your surgical options. We will help you determine which procedure best suits your needs and lifestyle, and get you back to the pain-free days you thought were long gone! Schedule an appointment by dialing (303) 805-5156 or by using our online contact form. When you’re ready for bunion surgery, you can count on us.

Recovery time for bunion surgery will depend on exactly what procedure is done. There are many variations—from repairing soft tissues like tendons and ligaments to total reconstruction of the big toe joint.

For the first 2 weeks, recovery involves dressing care, keeping stitches dry, and keeping weight off your foot. You will likely use crutches and wear a protective boot during this time for protection.

Your foot continues to heal over the next 4 to 6 weeks. Any pins will be removed between 3 and 6 weeks after surgery. You may need a walking cast, splint, or special shoes when you begin putting weight on the foot. You might be able to switch to roomy athletic shoes at about 5 or 6 weeks. Serious surgeries could mean no weight-bearing for 6 to 8 weeks, and only partially for a few more weeks after that.

As you can see, immediate healing can take 6 to 8 weeks, and full recovery will be several months. If you are considering surgery for your bunion and need more information, call Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Colorado at (303) 805-5156 to set up an appointment at our Castle Pines, Cherry Creek, or Parker, CO office today.

As is the case with various medical procedures and treatments, there are side effects that can potentially come with cold laser therapy. When you are considering this particular treatment option, it is important to weigh these versus the benefits that can be achieved from the procedure.

Cold laser therapy side effects may include bleeding, pain, infection, scarring, and skin color changes. These effects might not be permanent, however. If additional treatment sessions are needed, the side effects may return.

In cases where the therapy is performed while a patient is under general anesthesia, the usual side effects of being put under anesthesia apply. These include nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, headache or confusion, and itching.

In spite of the potential risks and side effects, there are many benefits that can be had from cold laser therapy. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. today to find out more about laser treatment. Either call us at (303) 805-5156 or use our online form to schedule an appointment at any of our Parker, Castle Pines, or Cherry Creek, CO locations.