What We Can Learn from Kendall Jenner's Foot Shaming - Dr. Ragland Contributes to The Queen of Style, Part of the Vogue Influencer Network

When Kendall Jenner posed nude, sharing two beautiful black and white photos of herself on Instagram with her 87 million followers, it was her feet that drew attention from the Internet:

• “So much money and you can’t fix your feet?” one user commented.

• “Is it just me or her foot looks weird?” another added.

• “I swear there is something wrong with this woman’s feet,” a third fan wrote.

My heart goes out to Kendall Jenner if she is not only suffering from painful feet but also body shaming. I became a podiatrist because wanted to empower women with a strong foundation, so it’s very disappointing to see how mean people are online.

Ladies, Let’s Stay Stylish and Healthy in Heels

The desire for style makes us grin and bear the pain, regardless of the consequences: agonizing foot bunions, toe corns, and hammertoes that come with donning ill-fitting footwear. Women covet shoes more than any other accessory. However, unlike all other adornments including handbags, footwear is necessary for trotting to work, play and running errands.

In Jenner’s case, foot problems are common among models because they get to the runway and often must wear shoes of the wrong size. It’s hard for me to tell from the photo, but her feet don’t look that bad. In fact, I would be happy to take a closer look at Kendall Jenner’s feet, and even fix them if necessary. However, she may not need surgery.

For Jenner and busy women on the go, having a wider range of shoe options at your fingertips will decrease associated pain with forefoot conditions like foot bunions and corns. Bring your sneakers, flip-flops, or whatever shoes are most comfortable for you, in tow.

When Should Women Fix Their Feet?

There are three ways to tell if you should see a podiatrist. First, if you have developed hard skin or corns on the joints or knuckles of your toes. Second, if you have issues with your big toe, like a bump growing out the side or bottom, or if the big toe is ‘bullying’ the other, lesser toes. Lastly, if you are constantly in pain in those areas, stop suffering and see a medical professional.

Today, sporting footwear is a rite of passage to womanhood. However, foot-surgical repair should only be considered after conservative therapy is exhausted, including modifying shoe types. Anyone contemplating foot-surgical procedures should take heed and remember: the surgery in question should always be with the intent to maintain or improve foot function and alleviate foot pain.

10 Tips to Manage Plantar Fasciitis, Featuring Advice from Dr. Ragland in U.S. News & World Report

Got heel pain when you wake up in the morning? You may have plantar fasciitis...

Plantar fasciitis can have several causes, including:

• The use of shoes that lack good support for your feet.
• Not warming up properly before sports or exercise.
• Flat feet.
• Excessive walking or running.
• Major changes in running surfaces.
• Trauma to the foot.
• Being overweight or obese.

People with or without diabetes can be more prone to developing plantar fasciitis if they are overweight, says Dr. Yolanda Ragland, a podiatrist and foot surgeon in New York and Bowie, Maryland.

So how do you know if you have plantar fasciitis? The telltale sign happens when you first wake up...

You also may have pain after prolonged standing or after exercise, but not during the actual workout, Ragland says.

Here are some tips to help manage plantar fasciitis and guidance on when to see a health-care professional.

Ice the affected area. Elevate and rest your aching foot when it gets aggravated, Harms advises. “Rolling the bottom of the foot on a foam roller or frozen bottle of water is also therapeutic,” Ragland says.

Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen. This should only be a short-term option.

Try shoe inserts. There are shoe inserts you’ll find at a drug store or custom-made through certain health care professionals that may lessen the impact on your plantar fascia. However, it may take some trial and error to find an insert that helps you.

Rethink your exercise routine. It’s still important to work in physical activity, but Rettig advises the avoidance of foot-pounding exercises, such as running or jumping, until symptoms subside. Try some lower-impact options and avoid overdoing things. Ask a health-care professional about a more suitable exercise routine while you recover.

Another stretch recommended by Ragland: “While seated, take a towel or a flat-resistance band wrap under the ball of the foot, and pull the ends of the towel or band so that your toes are being pulled toward the body to keep the plantar fascia lengthened.”

Foot and calf stretches before and after physical activity are also helpful when you have plantar fasciitis.

Click here for the full story, by Vanessa Caceres on U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Ragland in BUSTLE: The 7 Best Insoles, According to Experts

Whether you actively suffer from foot pain or just want to prevent foot-related health problems, finding the best insoles or shoe inserts for your feet will make an enormous difference. Not all insoles are created equally, and in fact, most of them are designed with different purposes in mind.

"No single insole is perfect for all feet, whether they're for a running shoe, high heel, or flat," explains Dr. Yolanda Ragland of fixyourfeet.com. This is why it's important to get to know your feet before you consider insoles. People's feet break down into three categories — over-pronators (flat feet), neutral foot types, and hyper-supinators (high arches) — and the first step in picking the right insole, is identifying which of those categories your feet fall into.

I reached out to the experts to figure out which insoles are appropriate for different kinds of feet as well as which are best-suited to different activities and shoe styles. Opting for the proper insoles can prevent the development of plantar fasciitis and other foot concerns. Not to mention, shoe inserts can simply make your shoes comfier — and anything that can make a stiletto bearable for a few hours is well worth the investment.

These popular insoles cover all the bases for over-pronators, hyper-supinators, and everyone in between — whether you're going on a run, going out in your favorite heels, or simply standing around at work all day.

The Best Insoles For High Arches

HappyStep, Memory Foam Insoles, $14, AmazonBUY NOW

According to Dr. Ragland, "A hyper-supinator requires a highly cushioned, flexible running sole."

Enter: These insoles made of extra cushy memory foam. The memory foam provides the cushion that high arches need while also custom-forming to your foot for a personalized fit. These insoles are designed to be lightweight and offer extra air circulation, so you won't feel weighed down or overheated. The insoles also have active carbon fibers inside that help prevent odor-causing bacteria and keep your shoes smelling fresh.

For more tips, read the full story by Emily Estep at Bustle.com.

FEET DON’T FAIL ME NOW

Walk This Way for Relief from Foot Bunions…..

Fix Your Feet podiatrist Dr. Yolanda Ragland has the answers to your foot-surgery concerns so you can say ``bye bye’’ to bothersome foot bunions:

How do I know when I need foot surgery to fix my bunions?

Bunions aren’t pretty and the appearance of a visible bump that forms on the joint of your big toe can be unsightly and visible to all when you’re wearing sandals or walking barefoot on the beach. More importantly, when you have swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint, plus fleeting or persistent pain from the formation of a bunion, it’s time to take care of it. Ouch fact: once a bunion is formed, it’s permanent unless surgically corrected. Even worse, bunions can bring on other foot complications such as bursitis, hammertoe or metatarsalgia--a condition that causes foot pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.

Do I have to be put to sleep for foot bunion surgery?

General anesthesia is preferred for lengthy or complex foot bunion treatments. Whether a podiatrist elects to do so varies from foot doctor to foot doctor. Fix Your Feet is a firm believer in using sedation anaesthesia blended with local nerve blocks for optimum comfort during foot bunion surgery. Sedation anaesthesia is very safe when administered by a licensed podiatrist or nurse anaesthetist. Adding a local nerve block simply means using a numbing medication in the foot area that requires the procedure. It is the same as getting an injection in the gums by a dentist so the dentist can perform necessary procedures in the mouth without inflicting pain. Also, the local nerve block will wear off several hours after the foot bunion treatments are completed.                                                                         

How soon can I drive after a foot bunion surgery?

Fix Your Feet patients are permitted to drive 48 hours after foot bunion surgery. For your ultimate safety, do a test drive in an empty parking lot or less traveled street to adapt to the post-op condition in shoes and bandages. Patients should also limit their drives to under twenty minutes. Choose your routes ahead of time so that you can be mindful if you have a 20-minute drive to work or unexpected events may occur like accidents which can leave the patient vulnerable to increased swelling and pain.

Will I be able to walk after foot bunion surgery?

Absolutely. Patients are free to walk the same day as surgery. Fix Your Feet recommends 48 hours of bed rest with your feet elevated above your heart and minimal ambulation. After forty-eight hours, it’s important to get up and walk around to insure blood circulation and to avoid complications such as a blood clot or deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

How long does it take to recover after foot bunion surgery?

Post-operative swelling and tenderness can be expected after foot bunion surgery and complete recovery varies from patient to patient. In general, bone healing takes 6 to 12 weeks to repair while soft tissue structures take approximately 12 to 14 weeks to repair. Last but not least, nerve repair can take up to 6 months. In total, complete healing time after foot surgery can take up to one year in some patients due to weight bearing and the patient’s medical history.

How can I prevent getting another foot bunion?

Hereditary aside, the exact cause of foot bunions is unknown but there are factors that will certainly increase your odds such as: crowding your feet by wearing high heels which force your toes into the front of your shoes. Or wearing ill-fitting shoes that are too tight, too narrow or too pointy. Patients with an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis are also more susceptible to bunions. To put your best foot forward: Steer clear of pointy-toe footwear and opt for styles with a wider front. All of your future footwear purchases should have enough space in front to avoid cramping, pressing or squeezing your feet in any way. Yes, style matters but your feet matter more!

Don’t Let The Chill Cramp Your Chic Side

Because these boots were made for walking

By Dr. Yolanda Ragland, 

Fall is my favorite time for the RISE of footwear. That’s right, when the temperatures drop it’s time to go to any lengths--from Mod booties to thigh-hi’s and over-the-knee leg-hugging boots--for showing off your style in NYC while protecting your precious feet from inclement weather. Here is your podiatrist’s tips on breaking out the boots!

No matter what your style or purpose, boots should become your best footwear ally from the time the first autumn leaves drop into the chilly depths of wintertime. A boot is a specific type of footwear that mainly covers the foot and the ankle while some cover part of the calf and others extend up the leg sometimes as far up as the thigh. Thanks to the international status of the UGG brand--flat rubber heels and soles are seen all around town--with their stylish, comfy Australian fleeced-lined, all-weather sheepskin boot styles. The latest UGG style is the LIDA sheepskin boot with its signature Australian shearling inside and overflowing on the outside with Mongolian fur trim!

Boot camp basics: Rubberized water-resistant lace-ups, sturdy leather cowboy boots or hiking boots also generally have lower heels and offer tremendous ankle support and protection from harsh weather. If you’re planning on walking great distances or involved in outdoor activities, wearing insulated thermal socks will add another layer of foot protection against callouses and unnecessary foot friction while you’re trekking along.

For sophisticated style, most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece. Some of the hottest styles right now are wrapped block heels and wrapped stiletto heels using man-made fibers. Hot off the block is the KENNETH COLE Alyssa Bootie in velvet fabric or patent faux leather which define an essential almond-toe and ankle-hugging shaft. Taking your style even higher are pull-on thigh-hi satiny, microfiber or suede boots with wrapped 4-inch stiletto heels such as ALDO’s Zoania leg-hugging boots or CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN sexy black net lace boots with their signature red leather outsole.

MOD style ankle-length booties also ripped the runway this season and they certainly provide chic ankle support and comfort since most boast a chunky mid-height heel--some of which are  bejeweled and glitterized to the max! Traditionally, most boots were made of leather, suede or rubber, but modern boots are made from a variety of materials such as microfiber and patent leather.  VIA SPIGA’s LARA ankle-length bootie in IVORY or BLACK patent leather with side-zippered closure brings the MOD to modern-day pavement chasing in a sexy way.

No matter what your stylish height preference is, even stiletto boots should be worn both for their style and functionality such as protecting the foot and leg from water, extreme cold, mud or snow--so make sure to buy them in the right size and opt for ones with a lightly padded footbed. When it comes to footwear, boots should never be too tight around your toes and feet. Sure, you can buy a pair of sandals that are too snug because you absolutely love them and will take them to the shoe repair to be stretched, but your feet should not be ``trapped’’ inside a pair of boots that are too tight in the hopes of stretching them out with wear. If the boot doesn’t fit you comfortably when you try it on--don’t buy it! Italian designers such as Dolce and Gabbana and Prada have a tendency to make footwear that runs smaller on American feet with the exception of STUART WEITZMAN or DONALD PLINER--probably because they are American designers who manufacture their footwear in Italy. When it comes to buying new boots, always think big--as in a slightly bigger size. After all, boots are normally worn with socks to prevent chafes and blisters, absorb sweat and to improve the grip inside the boot--or better yet, to insulate the foot from the cold. As a matter of foot fact, when it comes to showing off your winter style, don’t cramp your feet. Let them breathe inside your boots!

Listen to Dr. Yolanda Ragland on Rushion McDonald’s ‘Money Making Conversations’ on iHeartRadio Podcast

On Rushion McDonald’s Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio Podcast, Dr. Yolanda Ragland, Founder of Fix Your Feet, revealed her unique take on the recent Nielsen report that went viral, “African American Women: Our Science, Her Magic.”
Watch the full show now:

“I am part of a group that was underserved, and was an afterthought to marketers,” said Dr. Ragland. “My frustration fueled me to serve African-American women - I know what it’s like to walk in their shoes. The heels of strong, African-American women are what carry us. I wanted to empower women with a strong foundation, so I became a podiatrist.”

What Recovery is Like for Foot Bunion & Toe Corn Removal Surgery

When the time comes to take care of foot bunions and toe corns through surgery, it’s best to be thoroughly informed.  For starters, how much pain can be expected? Recovery from post-operative bunion surgery varies from patient to patient and even foot surgeon to foot surgeon. The truth is, a patient’s threshold for pain and even perception of pain will range from mild to severe. Additionally, the podiatrist’s finesse with the soft tissue and bony structure will have a great impact on post-op foot surgery recovery. Furthermore, factors like smoking and not following instructions will play an important role in each patient’s recuperation.

If you do a little research or cyber-sleuthing, horror stories about bunion-removal surgery will certainly surface. Unlike urban tales, however, these stories are probably true--but remember, they’re not consistent with every foot surgeon or patient.  A podiatry practice like Fix Your Feet strictly focuses on the repair of foot bunions and hammertoes; it’s our specialty all year long. Having a foot surgeon in the operating room multiple times per week performing several bunions, hammertoes and cosmetic foot surgery procedures per week results inthe type of positive feedback from patients below:

1. Recovery is not as bad as the patient was expecting.
2. Day three and four is when the patient experiences the most pain because this is when the local anesthesia has completely worn off.
3. The pain is minimal because the medication prescribed typically covers the pain when the local anesthesia has worn off.
4. Most patients do not finish all of their prescription regardless of the amount of foot procedures performed such as: both foot bunions and one toe corn;  one bunion removed or a few toes at a time.

So what is a typical postoperative period? For Fix Your Feet patients it goes as follows:

1. After the foot surgery is performed, the foot is placed in a cushioned-compressive bandage. The patient is given a postoperative shoe which must be worn when walking even if it’s just to the bathroom.
2. For the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, the patient is restricted to complete bed rest with the foot/feet elevated above the heart. After 24 to 48 hours the patient must walk and move around to promote blood circulation which is vital to optimal healing.
3. The bandages that are placed on the foot must remain clean, dry and intact until the first postoperative visit, which is usually 12 to 14 days from the date of foot surgery. The patient keeps the foot bandage clean, dry and intact when taking showers with a waterproof foot cast protective cover.
4. The patient returns to see the podiatrist to have the bandages and stitches removed. X-rays are also taken, and typically the patient returns to sneaker-type shoes or any other type ofcomfortable shoe the patient can tolerate. Many patients prefer getting a slightly larger size shoe to accommodate foot swelling and tenderness. The return to normal shoes varies from patient to patient but it’s common to still have some residual swelling even four months after the foot surgery procedure.

For optimum foot-surgery success and to ensure a tolerable experience it’s best to research every perspective foot surgeon. What to look for: Find out if they have a certificate of surgical training.  Inquire, how many of these types of cases the podiatrist performs weekly and monthly. Look to see if they have a large cache of photos of ``before and after’’ results. Equally important: don’t be fooled by fast and footloose procedures such as Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) foot surgery; these are not always the best options. Sure, they sound good on paper and may appear to result in less pain; but this is simply not the case. The pain and recovery for MIS procedures is the same as traditional approaches, but in the long term they don’t stand the test of time.

The bottom line is: by doing the necessary research you become an informed patient and can make you postoperative foot-surgery recovery easier and speedier and guarantee positive long-term results.

How Many Cortisone Shots Are Enough For Foot Heel Spur Or Plantar Fasciitis?

We should all live by the motto: “Feet don’t fail me now.” So what’s the cause of excruciating foot pain with a first step? Generally, it’s a medical condition directly related to foot heel spur syndrome known as plantar fasciitis. Medical foot injections composed from a steroid broadly known as cortisone can be used to ease the pain of plantar fasciitis. This type of steroid is not an enhancement-performance drug and is legal in the United States and international anti-doping regulations. According to Dr. Cathy Fieseler, president of the American Medical Athletic Association, “Cortisone is a wonderful, terrible drug.” It is wonderful because it knocks out the precise inflammation in the affected area of the foot. This relief of foot pain can be perceived as immediate when combined with short and long-acting local anesthesia. However, if the issue which caused the inflammation initially is not resolved the foot discomfort will inevitably return.

In podiatry practice, the rule of thumb for medical foot injections is no more than three cortisone injections in the same area during a one-year span. Overuse of corticosteroids can in fact be a terrible thing. While cortisone certainly does eliminate foot pain and inflammation, it’s also erosive to soft tissue. Consider this medical fact: cortisone is also used to reduce keloids and does so by breaking up excessive scar tissue formed in lesions like keloids. However, cortisone cannot discriminate scar tissue from healthy tissue, therefore, it will damage joint cartilage, rupture tendons and cause fat-pad atrophy. What’s a fat pad? In the foot, a healthy fat pad plays an important role in shock absorption in the heel and the ball of the foot. Too many cortisone injections to the area puts the fat pad at risk and may trigger additional foot problems which can be permanently worse than plantar fasciitis.

If someone has been suffering with plantar fasciitis for more than a year and exhausted all conservative foot-pain therapy such as, but not limited to: stretching exercises, shoe inserts, foot splints, physical therapy; then, cortisone injection surgical intervention should be considered. Frankly, this option is under-utilized. Most of us cringe at the thought of foot surgery and being out of commission. But the truth is, recovery is speedy and the relief of foot pain can be instant and, more importantly, permanent.

In order to understand why surgical intervention is a viable option for foot-heel-pain sufferers, it’s necessary to understand what plantar fasciitis is. The plantar fascia is a taut broadband, ligament-like structure located in the bottom of the heel. Plantar fascia strength can be comparable to that of duct tape: super strong and tough to tear. Extremely flexible flat feet, for example, can easily acquire micro tears in the plantar fascia. Where the split occurs elicits the inflammatory process which in turn produces agonizing foot pain. The surgical procedure of choice is known as “plantar fasciotomy.” This simply calls for the foot surgeon to make a small incision through the plantar fascia to relieve tension. By doing so, the plantar fascia is elongated and no longer taut and prone to tearing. Best of all: the incision can be closed with a few stitches and the patient can return to work the next day absolutely pain free.

What Does It Mean When Your Second Toe Is Longer Than Your Big Toe?

Did you ever wonder about the significance of your toes varying lengths? For starters, take a look at your second toe to see if it’s longer than your big toe known as the hallux. It’s widely believed that a longer second toe is associated with being ill tempered and it’s recommended to keep one’s emotions in check. Additionally, women who possess a second toe longer than the big toe signifies that she will dominate her marriage! On a cultural note, different parabola of the foot have been associated with various ethnic origins. For example, a second toe longer than the big toe is known to be linked to Grecian descent.

Folklore aside, it’s completely unknown if any of the above is true. However, what is medical fact: having a second toe longer than the big toe is perfectly normal because the metatarsal or the long bone connected to the second toe is normally the longest metatarsal of the foot.

In medical terms, possessing an excessively long second toe is called Morton’s toe. This can lead to excessive pressure under the foot causing painful calluses in the foot. Morton’s toe is also related to hammertoe or claw toe and can lead to agonizing unsightly foot corns on the top of the toe. What’s the remedy? Relief of foot corns due to hammer digits varies from shaving them down with a razor, padding, or over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. The only permanent solution is foot surgical intervention. This involves removal of a small section of bone in the toe joint. As gruesome as this may sound, it’s a relatively simple procedure and has a twofold beneficial effect. First, by removing a small fragment of bone, the toe is shortened. Secondly, the bony resection stiffens the toe allowing it to remain straight and preventing recurrence of corns or lesions on the toe. The end result, your podiatry problem is solved.

How Much Experience Should Your Foot Surgeon Have With Foot Bunion & Toe Corn Removal?

What is Considered Sufficient?

Whether your shoe size is dainty or daunting, stepping up to medically necessary yet elective surgery, such as foot bunion or toe corn removal, can be an overwhelming decision. The mere thought of having a medical professional surgically repair your foot, putting it back together better than it was before, is frankly frightening. But when you have reached the point where bunion shields, toe sleeves, corn pads, corn removal kits, razoring off toe corns, orthotics and wearing “fugly shoes” simply does not relieve the pain, your feet will tell you it is time to seek surgical foot intervention. That is why when shopping for your foot surgeon, be sure to arm yourself with the short checklist of crucial questions below that will aid you in selecting the best foot surgeon for your precious feet.

How long has the foot surgeon been practicing foot surgery?

Medical degrees on walls are impressive indeed, but a seasoned foot surgeon who has been in the foot trenches is your best option. Finding a podiatrist who practically knows their way around human anatomy often means they have refined their skill set and possess foot finesse when handling the bony and tissue structures. This type of experience, lends itself to a patient’s easier and speedier recovery from foot bunion repair and toe corn removal.

What specific types of foot surgery does the foot surgeon perform?

Because a foot surgeon has been practicing for a lengthy amount of time doesn’t mean they’re performing substantial foot bunion correction or toe corn removal procedures. For example, check if the foot surgeon is hospital based. Such a surgeon may be dealing mostly with physically ill patients who possess poor circulation or have difficulty healing, which in turn can mean the foot surgeon is in the operating room often alright, but mainly for performing amputations, wound debridements, limb salvage and traumatic injury foot surgery, which is vastly different than finessing foot bunion, toe corn removal, and cosmetic foot surgery.

How many foot bunion and toe corn removal surgeries has the podiatrist performed recently?

When shopping for your foot surgeon, ask them specifically, how many foot bunionectomies have they performed, or how many hammertoes with corns have they repaired? Dig deeper and challenge the foot doctor by also asking, how many of these surgical procedures have they have done in the past week or month? An experienced foot surgical expert should be able to boast without pause that they perform the procedure you are interested in on a weekly basis, if not twice a week.

What types of bunionectomy or corn removal surgery does the foot surgeon perform?

Not all bunionectomies are created equal. What you don’t want to fall for is a practice called Minimal Incision Surgery (MIS) which affords a surgeon to conduct a bunionectomy in as little as three minutes and toe corn removal surgery in even less time. This can make a foot surgeon appear to be highly skilled because they can significantly increase their volume of procedures performed. Thepractice of MIS was extremely popular in the eighties but diminished due to increased recurrence and poor outcome. Recently MIS has resurfaced with fallacious rebranding. Now some claim it is a new procedure mostly performed in Europe and doctors in America simply don’t know how to execute the foot surgery. It is merely MIS in sheep’s clothing and is marketed this way to avoid using the tainted acronym for a quick-fix procedure that is time and cost efficient in a climate where reimbursements for foot bunion and toe corn removal surgery has drastically plummeted. Surgeons who adopt this style of foot surgery are merely operating a “foot factory” which produces a reduced level care and an increased rate of unacceptable results.

Find out the answers to the questions above and you should be able to deduce if the foot physician in question is proficient enough to perform the surgeries required for your precious feet!