Educational Articles

As a sports podiatrist, I use natural approaches to address common foot, ankle, and lower extremity problems. However, the foot health approach I use in my office today differs markedly from how I practiced after I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine (now Temple University) in 1995. My education, including my two-year podiatric surgical residency at Legacy Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon, taught... Read more

The Achilles tendon is a strong cord made of fibrous connective tissue that attaches the calf muscle group to the calcaneus, or heel bone. The Achilles tendon is located at the lower end of the calf, and it is the continuation of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This tendon is one of the strongest tendons in the body and is essential for performing many occupational and recreational... Read more

Natural Footgear is a one-stop shop for all your natural foot health needs. We offer in one place all the gear you need to realize lasting foot health, and we are committed to sharing the information and approaches that we’ve found most beneficial for ourselves, our customers, and our former patients. At Natural Footgear, we take the approach that the... Read more

The world of natural foot health is populated with many passionate individuals, practitioners and foot health advocates alike, who are working to increase awareness about the benefits of a more natural approach to feet, footwear, and foot health. In this article, we interview Anya Jensen, the dynamic founder of Anya's Reviews, to get a better sense of her personal foot health story,... Read more

Myths abound in the footwear industry, and many types of shoes that are purported to be “good for your feet” can actually lead to foot pain and problems. In this article, we take a closer look at clogs, a style of shoe that many believe promotes foot health but is, unfortunately, a common contributer to a variety of foot ills. Read on to learn all about clogs... Read more

The flip-flops discussion—are they healthy, are they not—seems to come up every year once the weather turns nice. There are wide-ranging opinions on the merits and pitfalls of flip-flops for foot health, and many healthcare professionals possess strong views on this ubiquitous warm weather footwear. In fact, the topic of flip-flops often generates a lot of controversy, seemingly out... Read more

Here’s a common scenario some of you may find yourself in: It’s been a few months since you last pulled on your athletic shoes, and you’ve been wearing conventional shoes at work that meet the office dress code but are kind of constricting. There is a big annual walking or running event coming up in the not-too-distant future that you... Read more

Arthritis, which literally means “joint pain,” is one of the leading causes of disability among Americans. Arthritis, including arthritis in the foot, toe, and ankle joints, can occur at any age, though certain types of arthritis may be more common in older or younger individuals. There is no cure for this health problem, though there are many treatment options available. Treating arthritis in its early stages may... Read more

Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the feet. In most cases, the fungal infection develops on the bottom of the foot and between the toes. Athlete’s foot is a common health problem that may last for a long time if the proper care and attention is not applied. This condition can be difficult to treat and may recur following treatment. It's... Read more

In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses the underlying causes of ball of foot pain and gives special attention to the condition called capsulitis—an inflammation or irritation of the fibrous capsules surrounding the metatarsophalangeal joints. This educational video also demonstrates how to treat capsulitis using natural, non-invasive methods and discusses some of the... Read more