We Answer Your Top Questions About Podiatry and Physical Therapy

Podiatry Associates NurseHave questions about bunion removal, orthotics and more?

When you live in constant pain, you have questions about what causes your pain and how you can get the relief you crave. Get the answers you need from our podiatrists and physical therapists.

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  • At what age is physical therapy an option?

    Physical therapy is a treatment option at pretty much any age—there is no minimum or maximum age limit. In fact, physical therapy for children is an important part of treatment and recovery for some childhood injuries and disabilities. The goal of this method is to help your child improve or regain movement and function in his or her body. This can be achieved multiple ways.

    Typically stretching and strengthening exercises play a large role in physical therapy. Some exercises may be designed to help control pain. Others may be to condition your child’s body to handle hard impacts and return safely to sports. Exactly what therapy will do for your child will depend on what he or she needs.

    The key is having your son or daughter evaluated by an expert like Dr. Jennifer Molner, DPT and our team at Castle Pines Physical Therapy or our associated location in Cherry Creek in Denver, CO. We will determine what therapies best meet your child’s needs, then help you establish a plan. Let us help keep your whole family moving. Call us at (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment or request more information.

  • Do my child’s high arches need to be treated?

    Whether or not your child’s high arches need treatment largely depends on whether or not they cause pain or difficulty when walking, or if the condition is connected to a neuromuscular disorder. If your child’s feet aren’t uncomfortable or connected to a bigger problem, he or she might not need treatment. If there is discomfort or another condition, though, it’s important to treat high arches and any underlying causes sooner rather than later.

    In most cases, conservative care is enough. Support the arch with custom orthotics that help your child’s feet distribute weight more evenly. Have your child wear shoes with cushioned soles as well. If his or her ankles are unstable, a brace or high-top shoes might be helpful. Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen andthe team will check for neuromuscular problems and help your son or daughter get the right care if a condition exists. Let Podiatry Associates, P.C. help you care for your child’s arches. Call (303) 805-5156 to reach our offices in Castle Pines or Parker, CO.

  • How do I know if my child has high arches?

    High arches in children’s feet are usually a visible problem. When your son or daughter stands, the curved area under the midfoot will appear higher than normal. Your child may have difficulty finding shoes that fit well without pinching the top of his or her feet. Your child might be prone to metatarsalgia or heel pain, too. In some cases, the pressure on the ball of the foot from higher-than-normal arches can lead to callus build-up, claw toes, or hammertoes. This kind of midfoot also makes the lower limbs unstable, which could increase ankle sprains.

    Because there is some degree of risk that high arches are connected to a neuromuscular disease, it’s a good idea to have your child’s feet checked if you’re concerned about his or her midfoot. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. will also help your child manage any discomfort from the condition. Make an appointment with us today by calling our Castle Pines or Parker, CO, offices at (303) 805-5156. You can also use our online request form. 

  • Why does my baby’s foot turn inward?

    Babies’ feet turn inward for a variety of reasons. It could be as simple as intoeing. If your newborn has twisted, turned feet, though, your child is more likely displaying clubfoot symptoms. Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects. The tendons connecting the lower leg muscles to the inside of one or both of your child’s feet are shorter than normal. This twists the feet sharply in at the ankle, so instead of the sole pointing downward, the side or even the top of your child’s foot points down. The affected calf may be significantly smaller and less developed, too. Fortunately, while your child is young and not walking, the condition doesn’t cause pain and can be treated conservatively.

    The key to dealing with a twisted foot like this, of course, is to address the problem right away. Let our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek, and Parker, CO, help you straighten out your baby’s feet. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment with us today. You can also use our web request form to reach us.

  • Can clubfoot be treated without surgery?

    Successful clubfoot treatment doesn’t require a big surgery. In fact, the most common treatment plan is entirely conservative. It uses a process of stretching and casting to manipulate your baby’s foot into the correct position and help it grow there. Clubfoot surgery is reserved for stiff feet that aren’t helped by conservative methods.

    Treatment begins shortly after your child is born. Our team of specialists will carefully and gently stretch your baby’s flexible feet to loosen up the soft tissues along the inside of the leg that are too short. After your infant’s feet have been moved into a natural position, they are casted into place to keep the stretch. After a week or so, the cast is removed. The whole process repeats for several weeks until your infant’s feet are completely corrected and straightened. As long as your baby’s Achilles is long enough, then, your child will move to wearing special brace shoes to keep the feet corrected. Your child will wear these braces for varying lengths of time for the next few years to make sure the deformity doesn’t come back. Let Podiatry Associates, P.C. help your child with treatment. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment.

  • Does an ulcer need to be treated professionally?

    Yes, ulcer symptoms need immediate professional treatment. They deteriorate without the proper foot care and can easily develop serious infections that could lead to an amputation if they get out of hand. Appropriate ulcer treatment means seeing an experienced podiatrist like Dr. Cynthia Oberholtzer-Classen so the wound can be evaluated and managed before it becomes worse.

    In fact, if you have diabetes, you should be seeking professional help or urgent care as soon as you notice any of the earliest symptoms of a wound. Spots of redness, swelling, small cuts, blisters, or even bleeding could signal the start of an ulcer. Don’t let the problem progress. Contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker, Castle Pines, or Cherry Creek, CO for an appointment the moment you notice a problem. We now offer special urgent care hours on weeknights and on Saturdays so that you get the wound care you need when you need it. Call (303) 805-5156 to make your appointment with us.

  • Why won’t my wound heal?

    Slow wound healing is usually the result of several different problems. Diabetes is the biggest factor—the disease impairs your circulatory system, which weakens your immune response. This extends your healing time from a few weeks to longer than a month, even if you receive proper care. However, other factors can certainly play a role.

    An infection prevents your body from restoring a wound quickly; your immune system is so busy fighting the invading pathogen that it can’t repair the tissue damage. Excessive or repeated pressure to a diabetic wound causes tissue breakdowns. Dehydration dries out cells, while being over-hydrated erodes them away. Poor nutrition doesn’t provide your body with the nutrients it needs to effectively heal a wound. If you have any kind of foot ulcer that isn’t healing, contact our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker, Cherry Creek, and Castle Pines, CO. We’ll help you eliminate the problem. Use our online request form, or call (303) 805-5156, to make an appointment with us. 

  • How soon can I return to running after a knee injury?

    How soon you can resume running after a knee injury entirely depends on how serious the damage was and how quickly you’ve recovered. The more serious the damage, the longer you’ll be out of the sport. Running too soon while you’re still recovering can make knee pain worse and delay your return.

    Other factors can play a role as well, though. Your general fitness, your experience as a runner, and your ability to cross-train can affect how soon and how well you can jump into your regular routines. The fitter and more experienced you are, and the more training you’re able to do while you heal, the sooner you’ll be able to get back to your regular jog.

    In general, you should be able to return to the sport once your knee pain is largely gone when you’re active. Dr. Jennifer Molner should be able to help you decide when it’s safe. Even as you start up again, remember to take it slow and be careful. If you notice any increase in joint discomfort, slow down and go back to walking. Let Castle Pines Physical Therapy help you manage your recovery. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment. 

  • Can I run with a hamstring injury?

    Hamstring injuryWhether or not you can continue running with a hamstring injury will depend on your individual pain level and the severity of the injury. A mild issue with low-level pain might not keep you from running; however, it’s still a good idea to take it easy and reduce your normal intensity or distance. Your usual routine might make an injury worse—and then you will have to stop running so you can heal.

    If the initial pain is significant, particularly when you’re active, you should pause your training so you can focus more on hamstring treatment. RICE therapy—rest, ice, compress, and elevate—works well as initial treatment for muscle strains. Our staff might also recommend anti-inflammatory pain killers.

    Once the pain has resolved, you can begin therapy to return to running. You’ll need to carefully stretch your hamstring to restore flexibility and range of motion. You’ll also need to strengthen the muscle to help protect against other injuries in the future. Let the Castle Pines Physical Therapy team help you restore your legs for safe running. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at our Castle Pines, CO, or associated location in Cherry Creek. 

  • Should I run with orthotics?

    Running with orthoticsIf you need orthotics to control biomechanical problems that could lead to injuries when you’re running, then yes, there are benefits to running while wearing them. Your prescription inserts will help you support your lower limbs and absorb hard impacts on the ground. They’ll keep your feet functioning in the way they were meant to, so that you can run without pain.

    Just keep in mind that this will affect how you fit and select your running shoes. To be fitted correctly, always bring your custom insoles and slip them into the shoes. Inserts change how your foot fits in a shoe, so you need to know and be able to accommodate that when you buy a new pair.

    Also, you won’t need stability or motion control sneakers. The orthotics already function in that way; wearing shoes that control movement, too, can over-control your lower limbs. That may actually prevent your foot from striking and pushing off the ground correctly.

    If you think you’d benefit from foot supports, or already know you need them, contact Podiatry Associates, P.C. to get a truly custom insert. Make an appointment by calling our Parker or Castle Pines, CO, offices at (303) 805-5156.