Educational Articles: Conditions

A hammertoe is a type of crooked toe that involves unnatural contracture, or bending, of the affected toe. In most cases, a hammertoe is characterized by a toe malposition in which the end of the affected toe points down while the first bone of the same toe—the proximal phalanx—points up. A hammertoe resembles an upside-down letter “v” when viewed from the side. This crooked toe syndrome usually... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the foot and toe condition called hammertoes and compares conventional podiatric treatment techniques with natural, preventive, and conservatives techniques. A hammertoe is an upward shifting of the first toe bone, and this shifting, notes Dr. Ray, is caused by two common design features in conventional shoes:... Read more

Plantar fasciosis is a common cause of heel pain, but another problem that can cause heel pain is bursitis, specifically, infracalcaneal bursitis—irritation of the fluid-filled sac that sits directly under the heel bone. With heel bursitis, pain tends to increase with weight-bearing activity, as opposed to plantar fasciosis, a condition in which pain usually is greatest upon waking in the morning. In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan,... Read more

Ingrown toenails, though not a life-threatening health problem, can cause significant pain or discomfort in the affected toe. In severe cases, the infection caused by an ingrown toenail may spread into the toe bones. Ingrown toenails can affect any of the toes, though the big toe is most vulnerable to this health problem (due to the forces placed on it by the toe boxes of conventional footwear).... Read more

This video discusses ingrown toenails—a common (though not normal) toe problem that's often treated by surgically removing a portion of the affected nail. Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, explains why surgery usually is not necessary in treating ingrown toenails and how a natural approach (i.e., appropriate footwear, toe spacers, etc.) can treat and prevent this... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the most common underlying cause of lower leg pain. Dr. Ray notes that two common design features in conventional shoes act to shorten the muscles at the front of the lower leg: Heel elevation and toe spring. Both features encourage the toes to remain in an... Read more

A neuroma is an often painful enlargement of one of the body’s nerves. Though neuromas can develop in any part of the body, they most commonly occur in the foot, usually in one of the intermetatarsal nerves. Interdigital neuroma is the name used to describe this nerve mass or enlargement. An interdigital neuroma is more likely to occur in women than men. A neuroma can arise between... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses foot neuromas. A neuroma is an enlargement of a portion of a nerve and is caused by nerve irritation. Foot neuromas most commonly occur between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones. Dr. Ray states that foot neuromas are a relatively easy problem to treat if there... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the most common causes of foot and toe osteoarthritis. He also reviews common conventional approaches to foot osteoarthritis and compares these with more natural approaches that have proven helpful for his patient base. Learn more about this common problem, and what you can do about it,... Read more

Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a health problem in which plaque—a combination of calcium, fibrous tissue, fat, and cholesterol—accumulates in the arteries that deliver blood to the head, organs, and limbs. Plaque can harden the arteries over time and decrease the diameter of the blood vessels, which reduces the amount of blood reaching certain parts of the body, including the feet. PAD is a common circulatory... Read more