There are 26 bones in each of your feet and ankles, accounting for more than one quarter of all of the bones in your body. These bones come together in more than 30 joints. Arthritis is the commonly used term to refer to over 100 degenerative joint diseases. These include the most common, Osteoarthritis, along with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and even gout.

There are 206 bones in your body, over one-quarter of which are in your feet and ankles. Of those, more than half are in your toes. That’s a lot of little bones!

Millions of Americans live with chronic foot or ankle pain. Madison Avenue knows this, and your nightly television viewing is probably filled with ads for over-the-counter gel insoles that you can purchase at any pharmacy or big box store. But those advertisements promise “just-for-you” relief from a mass-market purchase. That doesn’t make a lot of sense. Your foot problems are unique, and the plan for their treatment should be as well.

Are you planning a vacation involving air travel in the coming months? Flying somewhere far away is exciting, but it can tough on your feet, and a podiatric illness or injury can ruin a long-anticipated adventure. Here are some tips from Dr. Eric Kosofsky and Dr. Robert Rutstein to keep you healthy when you fly:

So much of health and wellness begins with what we put into our bodies. Boosting health through diet choices isn’t complicated, and it doesn’t have to involve strange new foods or obsessive attention to detail. With just a few changes, you can increase overall wellness and positively impact your feet.

Have you ever had a callus? About 5% of Americans experience one every year. Known medically as tyloma or keratoma, a callus is a thick, compacted layer of dead skin cells that protect the skin from damage or injury.

When it comes to exercise, it really is, as people like to say, “all good.” When it comes to strength and cardiovascular health, all exercise offers benefits and any exercise is better than no exercise at all. For foot and ankle health, however, there is one option that is better than all the rest: walking.

You’ve heard the message in so many ways: exercise is good for you. When you exercise regularly, you enjoy numerous health benefits including:

Granted, some aspects of your foot health are beyond your control. Injury, illness, and infection can strike at any time. The good news is that a board-certified podiatrist is always ready to help you with an expert examination, diagnosis, and treatment.

You know that stretching before exercise is important in order to warm up and prevent exercise. But what about stretching as part of your daily routine? There are many benefits to stretching every day:

Mid-summer is a great time to take advantage of sales as retailers clear out summer stock to make room for new fall styles. You can get a great pair of new shoes at significant savings. But that low price is really just a waste if your new sandals aren’t stylish, supportive, and comfortable.

By now, most men and women in America have gotten the message that “you are what you eat.” We know that, combined with regular exercise, smart diet choices will help reduce the risk of chronic illness including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

When you’re walking and step on a pebble or another small hard object, it hurts but it’s easy enough to take care of the problem. You just move your foot or shake out your shoe and everything’s better.

With years of training and experience, a board-certified podiatrist like Eric Kosofsky, DPM and Robert Rutstein, DPM is a medical specialist. Your podiatrist is the best-qualified doctor to examine your feet, ankles, and lower legs; to diagnose any illnesses or injuries; to provide immediate and ongoing care for this part of your body.

It’s normal for your feet to tingle once in a while. It can happen when you put pressure on a nerve by sleeping in an awkward position or by sitting without moving for a period of time. You probably even have words for this sensation: “My foot fell asleep!” or “pins and needles.”

Heel pain is one of the most common reasons that a patient requests an appointment with his or her podiatrist between annual exams. Ignoring pain in your heel or anywhere else is never a good idea

Plantar warts are relatively harmless, but they won’t go away on their own. In fact, the opposite is true: plantar warts are highly contagious. Without proper intervention by a podiatrist like Dr. Eric Kosofsky and Dr. Robert Rutstein, your wart will likely multiply and spread.

Your feet have an important job to do. They support your body as you stand, walk, and move through all the activities of your daily life. When your feet hurt or are injured, or fall victim to an illness, it can be hard to do all the things you like to do. You must take active steps to care for your feet, ankles, and lower legs. One of the most important things you can do to protect your foot health is to maintain a moderate weight.

Have you heard about friends or family members who see a podiatrist? Are you wondering if you or a family member should visit a foot doctor? The answer to that question begins with an understanding of what podiatrists like Dr. Eric Kosofsky and Dr. Robert Rutstein do and who they help.