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Foot Health
Posted on 05-08-2025 in Foot/Ankle by Dr. Sonya Ahmed, Dr. Erik Nilssen
Posted on 05-08-2025 in Foot/Ankle by Dr. Sonya Ahmed, Dr. Erik Nilssen
A study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise noted that the average person takes 5,117 steps per day. With so much time on our feet, Foot Health Awareness Month in April is an opportunity to focus on the health of our feet and give them the attention they deserve.
Injuries and conditions of the foot can cause significant pain and impact mobility. Health In Aging noted that 87% of people experience foot pain during their lifetime for various reasons. Foot problems can also indicate other underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, foot complications are a leading cause of hospitalizations for people with diabetes.
While early detection and treatment can prevent long-term complications, the following tips serve as preventative measures and can improve your quality of life today!
If you have a foot condition or injury, it's important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to avoid potential long-term problems. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, ankle sprains, Achilles tendon ruptures and flat foot are also common and can cause significant pain and discomfort. Visit the common conditions section to learn more about these and other issues that impact the lower extremities.
At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, Dr. Sonya Ahmed and Dr. Erik Nilssen specialize in various foot and ankle conditions and offer a wide range of innovative procedures, including minimally invasive treatment and surgical intervention. On-site physical therapy is also available at the Davis Highway and Midway offices.
If you have any questions or concerns about your foot health, don't hesitate to contact our office at 850-435-4800 or complete our online Appointment Request form to schedule a visit with one of our foot and ankle orthopaedic experts.
Arthritis represents a wide variety of joint inflammation diseases. Patients most often have chronic Arthritis in their wrists, hands, and fingers, experiencing flares of inflammation, soreness or stiffness affecting the joints. As we recently wrapped up Bone & Joint Action Week, this is an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to the most common categories of Arthritis, proactive methods for pain prevention and available treatment solutions.
Arthritis literally translates to “inflammation of the joint” and describes the degenerative process through which a joint space loses its “cushioning,” whether are the result of injury, illness or the natural process of aging. It is the leading cause of musculoskeletal pain and can be found in almost every part of the body, from the shoulder all the way down to the smallest joint of the toe. Our joints are intricate structures shaped from cartilage, bone, muscle and connective tissue, all of which can gradually weaken over time or be damaged by acute injury. While there are more than one hundred known types of arthritis, the three most common forms are osteoarthritis, which is by far the most prevalent; rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused by the body’s own immune system generating a chronic inflammatory response in the joints; and post-traumatic arthritis, which is caused by the lingering structural damage of acute injuries.
Research from the National Library of Medicine states that one in seven people in the United States suffers from some form of wrist arthritis. That estimate indicates that just over 13% of the American population experiences discomfort, inflammation or limited range in motion due to this condition. As we usher in the month of May and recognize National Arthritis Awareness Month, we want to emphasize wrist arthritis and provide an overview of the condition, symptoms to be aware of, treatment options, and tips for managing its symptoms.