Studies suggest that compression socks can help reduce muscle damage and inflammation, especially after a big physical feat like a marathon. “Compression socks place constant pressure on the legs to prevent the accumulation of fluid; the compression is thought to help the blood circulate better which allows more oxygen to get to the tissues,” says…

Ask any running coach or podiatrist, and they’ll tell you the best way to pick a cushioned running shoe is to try on a few options and decide which feels best to you. “The best evidence for how to select a shoe to minimize risk of injury or pain is to try on shoes by…

  “People typically think about the shoes they’re going to wear if they have a long day on their feet ahead of them, and their choice in sock is not usually the first thing that comes to mind,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “However, socks can have a substantial impact on pain relief when they provide…

The general tactic of using stem cells for diabetic foot ulcers is not new; doctors can already use cells derived from the amniotic membrane of the placenta. Daniel Michaels, DPM, said he has personally found amniotic membrane cells to be very effective in wound healing.     The cells are retrieved from the placenta of…

MD Podiatrist   Deployed with strategy and intention, carbon-plated shoes can be a game-changing addition to an experienced runner’s shoe rotation. Yes, the word “experienced” is key. Dan Michaels, DPM, emphasizes that runners should already have strong running form-including a fast cadence, a slight forward lean, and a strong knee drive to avoid heel striking-in…

MD Podiatrist    “Someone training for a long-distance run such as a marathon can log 800 or more miles before a race,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “With your feet enduring this kind of mileage, it’s essential to choose the appropriate footwear to maintain the health of your feet and prevent injury.”   More than two-thirds…

“A bunion develops because of a pressure imbalance in your foot, which makes your toe joint unstable,” explains Dan Michaels, DPM. “The bones of your big toe begin to shift and angle toward your second toe. Constant pressure causes the head of your metatarsal (the bone at the base of your toe) to become irritated,…

“When questioned, most people would assume a bunion is painful only when there is pressure to the bump from shoes,” says Daniel Michaels, DPM. “Predictably, it is much more complex than that, with surprising ramifications. Although there are exceptions, bunions can become a source of numerous, and very different, problems. Certainly, an abnormal bump on…

Very simply speaking, “A bunion is a bump at the base of the big toe,” Daniel Michaels, DPM says. Picture your big toe leaning sideways, toward your other four toes, and a large bony protrusion sticking out in the other direction – that’s a bunion.   “The benefit of surgery is that you are changing…

Dan Michaels, DPM, said putting shoes on babies is not inherently dangerous as long as it’s not a “tight, structured shoe (worn) for an extended period of time.” He referenced the now-banned Chinese practice of foot-binding as an example of the harm that could be caused by doing so. But he said that practice is…