General Practitioners

• Warts
• Arthritis
• Plantar Fasciitis
  Heel pain is one of the most common complaints from patients. While heel spurs may or may not show up on an x-ray, the spurs themselves are a result of the actual problem: plantar fasciitis.
• Primary Care
  If you are feeling ill, please call your primary care physician, or other healthcare provider. In the case of an emergency, please go to the nearest hospital.
• Diabetic Foot Care
• Immunizations
  Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals which only apply to non-health care settings. CDC still supports workplace safety protocols as outlined by our policy. Fully vaccinated patients will still be required to have temperature control, wear a mask, social distance, and proceed with guidelines established by our practice as patients seen in our office are not required to be vaccinated to be treated.

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• X-Rays

Surgeons

• Wound Care
  Dr. Bishop has special interests in foot and ankle reconstruction, wound care, joint replacement and adult sports injuries. He is a lecturer on complex diabetic infections and diabetic wound limb salvage.
• Ankle Surgery
  Dr. Paul Bishop is a Foot & Ankle surgeon certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He was residency trained in Houston, Texas, and has been in practice since 1996.
• Joint Replacement
• Bunions
  Many people with bunions suffer from discomfort and pain from the constant irritation, rubbing, and friction of the enlargement against shoes. The skin over the toe becomes red and tender. Because this joint flexes with every step, the bigger the bunion gets, the more it hurts to walk. Over time, bursitis or arthritis may set in, the skin on the bottom of the foot may become thicker, and everyday walking may become difficult—all contributing to chronic pain.
• Ingrown Toenails
  Ingrown toenails, also known as onychocryptosis, is usually caused by trimming toenails too short, particularly on the sides of the big toes. They may also be caused by shoe pressure (from shoes that are too tight or short), injury, fungus infection, heredity, or poor foot structure. Ingrown toenails occur when the corners or sides of the toenail dig into the skin, often causing infection. A common ailment, ingrown toenails can be painful. Ingrown toenails start out hard, swollen, and tender. Left untreated, they may become sore, red, and infected and the skin may start to grow over the ingrown toenail.

Dermatologists

• Corns
  Corns are small calluses that usually occur on the feet and on or between toes in weight-bearing areas. Corns are usually caused by ill-fitting shoes and can grow into unsightly, hardened patches that become a nuisance.
• Calluses
  “He was GREAT! I’m following up with another appointment to be fitted for orthotics and already made an appointment for a pedicure through his office (their Foot Spa in office) to care for blisters and calluses on my feet. It was a very informative appointment and he was very knowledgeable!”…Jule C.
• Fungus
  Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection that mostly affects the feet, with the potential to spread to toenails and hands. The fungus thrives in warm, humid, and dark environments, which makes athletes more prone to the infection. Communal showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms are hotbeds for the bacteria.

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  Dr. Rappette has extensive training in pediatric and adult flatfoot surgery, sports medicine, diabetic limb salvage and wound care. His special interests are in pediatric flatfoot reconstruction, sports medicine and adult foot and ankle pathology.
• Physical Therapy
  Physical Therapy at the Foot & Ankle Centers is led by a Licensed Physical Therapist under the guidance of Board Certified Podiatric Surgeons, Dr. Thomas Rappette and Dr. Paul Bishop.
• Flatfoot Correction
• Heel Pain
• Ankle Sprain
  Ankle sprains occur when the ankle is twisted or forced in a way that stretches or tears one or more ligaments. Symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain, bruising, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty walking. The severity of the injury can impact the degree of damage, type, and duration of treatment. Treatment options depend on if the ligaments are stretched, partially torn, or fully torn. Treatment can include resting and elevating the ankle, applying ice to reduce swelling. Compressive bandages also may be used to immobilize and support the injury during healing. Serious ankle sprains, particularly among competitive athletes, may require surgery to repair and tighten the damaged ligaments. If not properly treated, ankle sprains may develop into long-term problems. To prevent ankle sprains, maintain strength, balance, and flexibility in the foot and ankle through exercising, stretching, and wearing well-fitted shoes.
• Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy

Podiatrists

• General Podiatry
• Achilles Tendonitis
  The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, joining the lower portion of the calf to the heel bone. Although it is able to withstand forces of around 1,000 pounds, it is the most frequently ruptured tendon in the body. Typically, injury of the Achilles tendon is caused by athletic activities.
• Ankle Sprain
• Bunions Problems
  Bunions do tend to run in family genes, usually because of a faulty foot structure. Foot injuries, neuromuscular problems, flat feet, and pronated feet can contribute to their formation.
• Calluses
• Diabetic Foot Care
  Diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease that is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can also decrease your body’s ability to fight off infections, which is especially harmful in your feet. When diabetes is not properly controlled, damage can occur to the organs and impairment of the immune system is also likely to occur.
• Flat Feet
• Fungus Toenails
  Fungal nail infections require a process of treatments along with a continual effort to prevent it from recurring. Keeping the infection under control can include thoroughly washing and drying feet, applying anti-fungal cream, not sharing nail clippers or shoes/socks, wearing dry cotton socks and changing them often, wearing dry shoes, and using shower sandals in wet, public places.
• Hammertoes
  Hammertoe is a condition where the second, third, or fourth toe, is bent at the middle joint, overlapping the toe(s) next to it. It is caused by improperly fitting shoes and problems with the toe muscles.
• Heel Spurs
  Also known as heel spur syndrome, the condition is often successfully treated with conservative measures, such as the use of anti-inflammatory medications, ice packs, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, and physical therapy. Note: Please consult your physician before taking any medications. In persistent cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) may be used to treat the heel pain.
• Heel Pain
• Ingrown Toenails
  In most cases, treating ingrown toenails is simple: soak the foot in warm, soapy water several times each day. Avoid wearing tight shoes or socks. Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed if an infection is present. N ote: Please consult your physician before taking any medications. In severe cases, if an acute infection occurs, surgical removal of part of the ingrown toenail may be needed. Known as partial nail plate avulsion, the procedure involves injecting the toe with an anesthetic and cutting out the ingrown part of the toenail.
• Foot Injuries
• Foot Warts
  Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, appear on the soles of the feet and are one of several soft tissue conditions that can be quite painful. Unlike other foot warts, plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries. They are often gray or brown (but the color may vary), with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black. Plantar warts are often contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground. The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in public pools and locker rooms.
• Foot Orthotics
  Custom foot orthotics are designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. They look similar to insoles, but are biomedical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot while you walk. We understand that everyone is different, which is why custom foot orthotics are made just for you.
• Plantar Fasciitis
  Plantar fasciitis is the term commonly used to refer to heel and arch pain traced to an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. More specifically, plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue, called plantar fascia, that stretches from the base of the toes, across the arch of the foot, to the point at which it inserts into the heel bone. Overpronation is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis. As the foot rolls inward excessively when walking, it flattens the foot, lengthens the arch, and puts added tension on the plantar fascia. Over time, this causes inflammation.
• Podiatric Surgery
  Dr. Thomas Rappette is a Board Certified Foot Surgeon by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. He was residency trained in Houston, Texas, and has been in practice since 1996.