Podiatry

Ace Anglin, M.S., DPM
Chief of Podiatric Medicine
Health Services Incorporated
1000 Adams Ave
Montgomery, AL 36104

Welcome!

Podiatry is the science concerned with the disorders, diseases and deformities of the foot. We provide care for infants and adults and specialize in foot care and sports medicine for athletes of all ages.

About our Doctor
Dr. Anglin received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from the Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences Podiatric Medicine and Surgery program. Dr. Anglin completed a Rotating Podiatric Residency at the Central Alabama Veterans Medical Center in Tuskegee, AL. After graduating, Dr. Anglin started his career in private practice with the East Montgomery Foot Clinic and the Central Alabama Wound Care Center. Dr. Anglin has been the Chief of Podiatric Medicine at Health Services Incorporated for over eight years. Dr. Anglin is currently the local team leader for the Southeastern Atlantic Health Disparities Collaborative. To stay at the leading edge of his profession, Dr. Anglin regularly participates in courses and seminars focused on the latest breakthroughs in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Because of this, you can be sure the care you receive is informed and on the forefront of medical treatment options.

Treating Conditions of the Foot and Ankle



Comprehensive Medical Care



Common Foot Disorders

Heel Pain

Heel pain is one of the most common afflictions we see here at Health Services Incorporated Podiatry Department. Life simply keeps us on our feet a great deal of the time, and most of that time is on hard surfaces such as cement floors. The heel takes the brunt of most of that pressure. Your heel and arch try to compensate for and absorb the shock of every step, not to mention the strain of standing for long periods of time. If your foot is too flexible, you may have a relatively high degree of strain on the muscles and ligaments in your heel and arch leading to a variety of inflamed conditions of the foot including Planta Fasciitis and Tendonitis.

Bunions

"Bunion" is a common term describing a condition of the foot in which there is an enlargement or prominence of the big toe joint on the inside of the foot. There are strong hereditary factors in the development of a bunion. This is tied into the overall biomechanics of the foot and the resultant lack of stability at this great toe joint. Appropriate shoes and orthotics may help to stabilize the arch and help in the treatment of the bunion. Surgical correction is common outpatient procedure to reduce this bunion deformity and straighten the great toe so that it may function better.

Hammertoes

Hammertoes, as they are commonly known are toes that have acquired a contraction at one of more of the small joints within the toe. This gives the toe a bent appearance. Toes that are bent will naturally lead to increased rubbing against the shoes causing discomfort and the formation of hyperkeratosis, or the common "corn." The formation of this hard skin material is the result of the toe shape caused is the bone and joint underneath it. Wearing more appropriate shoes and accommodating the area with padding is a first step in reducing the pressure. Many times this is unsuccessful, and more permanent means are needed to address the problem. A common surgical procedure to straighten the toe is sometimes necessary to completely relieve the pressure causing the corn.

Toenail Disorders

Toenail problems come in many assorted shapes and sizes. Many people are familiar with the "fungus toenail." This fungus is an organism that causes the familiar "athlete's foot" infection. In the case of toenails, the fungus grows underneath the nail near the "root" of the nail. This makes it difficult to treat with anti-fungal creams and liquids since the medicine has difficulty getting under the nail. More recently there have been more successful anti-fungal medicines in pill form. This medicine is prescribed by Dr. Anglin typically for three months, though the final results of the medicine are not seen until six to eight months. Sometimes, because of a severe deforming of the nail caused by the fungus, it is necessary to permanently remove the toenail so that it does not cause continued pain and worse infection.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails can develop for many reasons. In some cases, the toenails are simply too large. Persons whose toes curl (congenially or from disease such as arthritis) are prone to ingrown toenails. Trauma such as stubbing a toe or having one stepped on can cause a piece of the nail to jam into the skin. Frequent running also can cause ingrown toenails. Ingrown nails can be caused by trimming them incorrectly, causing them to grow into the skin, by excessively tight stockings, or by shoes with narrow toe boxes. If the skin is red, painful, or swollen on the sides of the nail, there may be an infection. The ingrown nail is in a warm, often moist, and bacteria-rich environment and it provides a convenient entry for germs that can cause infection. The infection must be cured using sterile instruments and antibiotics.

Athlete's Foot

You don't need to be an athlete to suffer from athlete’s foot infection. Caused by a small variety of funguses, athlete’s foot is typically very easily treated with topical antifungal creams. For chronic and severe athlete's foot it is sometimes necessary to use an oral anti-fungal medicine.

Calluses

Not to be confused with a plantar wart, a callus is simply a build-up of hyperkeratosis or hard material produced by the skin as a result of excessive pressure or irritation on a small area of the skin on the bottom of the foot. This is almost always due to the underlying "architecture" of the bone beneath the callus. These calluses can also be specially padded or treated with insoles or orthotics specifically fitted by Dr. Anglin for you to help evenly redistribute the weight away from this callused area.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are caused by a virus that infects the skin and causes the outer skin cells to produce a hard material or callus. Often times you may heart of "seed warts." This expression came from the tiny black dots sometimes seen on a plantar wart. These are not seeds at all but very small blood vessels called capillaries that grow out from the wart and are clotted at the ends giving the apperance of a black dot. Plantar warts can sometimes be difficult to cure with over-the-counter liquids and patches. These warts may be very thick and require professional paring down of the callus so that topical remedies can be more effective. Sometimes even this is not enough to eliminate the wart. Surgical excision and/or cauterization of the wart are common treatments Dr. Anglin uses to remove the plantar wart. This is most often done in the convenience of his office under local anesthesia.

Flatfoot

A flat foot leads to poor alignment of the joints in your foot and ankle which can lead to everything from localized arthritic conditions to muscle and ligament strain. Dr. Anglin can prescribe the necessary support for your feet as well as discuss the right shoes for you and the appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises for your feet.

Fractures

There are 28 bones in your foot, any one of which can suffer a fracture, or broken bone. Though most commonly this is caused by some type of sudden trauma, a fracture can also occur through short-term overuse. This is the case with a "stress fracture." It is otherwise known as a "march fracture" as it is known to happen to soldiers going on long marches.

Diabetic Foot Care

Leg and foot problems are the most common reason for diabetes-related hospitalization, and diabetes is the leading cause for amputation in the lower leg and foot. Regular examination and vascular testing (e.g., duplex imaging) are important to help diagnose inadequate blood flow in the legs and feet. Patients with diabetes should wash their feet daily in warm water and should inspect them regularly, using a mirror to check the bottom of the feet. Hot water should be avoided because it can cause burns and dry skin. Patients should avoid going barefoot and wearing open-toes shoes to reduce the risk for cuts and infections and injury. Shoes should fit properly and should be made of soft, breathable materials, such as canvas or leather. New shoes should be broken in gradually and worn for short periods of time until they become soft enough to avoid causing blisters. Custom- molded orthotics can help to relieve pressure and reduce irritation.