Houstonian Foot And Ankle Specialists

Expert care for your baby’s tiny feet sets the child up for lifelong wellness. Board-certified podiatrist and founder of Houstonian Foot and Ankle Specialists, Dr. Elnaz Sabeti, told us why podiatry check- ups are essential, helping to catch any budding issues on your tot’s tiny toes, feet, and ankles. With a conservative approach to treating common childhood foot development issues, the podiatrist helps shield your child from deformities and more complicated interventions or surgeries down the line.

For adults with their own aches and injuries, she explained how non-invasive MLS laser technology can provide relief in painless, quick treatments, helping many patients avoid surgery.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY

Developmental issues of the foot are not uncommon in children. “A lot of kids are born with soft ligaments that can lead to flat foot deformity, or they could have mild congenital deformity such as in- toeing,” said Dr. Sabeti. Luckily, early- stage treatment can prevent surgery, or even multiple surgeries, correcting any deformity and avoiding later life discomfort. Many pediatricians lack the expertise and bandwidth to address feet in detail, feet specialists are the safest bet when seeking proper guidance. Evaluation can check a young child for deformity-causing issues such as bunions, hammertoes, or other biomechanical gait imbalances.

Perfectly precious baby feet develop arches around 18 months of age, helping the tikes walk. Proper walking heralds good foot health, but too many falls and trips, or a preference for tippy-toeing means the babe should be evaluated by a specialist. Medical professionals like those at Houstonian Foot and Ankle Specialists can help diagnose underlying causes of behaviors like toe-walking, referring to neurologists and other specialists where necessary. They also have resources like an in-office 3D scanning method for fabricating custom orthotics.

Regardless of the etiology of a budding foot deformity or other issues, conservative treatments such as orthotics and braces can be used to correct the gait and other foot misalignment issues such as in- toeing, when a child’s foot lands with the large toe pointing inward, toward the centerline of walking.

NON-INVASIVE RELIEF

For adults, the MLS laser machine utilizes a cold laser for pain and inflammation, but make no mistake. Patients receiving treatment do not feel a cold temperature during their session. MLS Laser has been an innovative and non-invasive to treat pain and inflammation conservatively.

For multiple foot trauma injuries and inflammation, the non-invasive MLS laser helps avoid surgery, marking a deeply valuable resource for patients experiencing a wide range of problems such as tendonitis, fractures, or swelling. For those experiencing peripheral neuropathy, the MLS therapy can also block pain receptors in the brain as it boosts blood flow to make the patient more comfortable. To aid in recovery from surgery, the laser also helps prevent scar formation.