Non-surgical Foot and Ankle Service

The Non-surgical Foot and Ankle Service is dedicated to evaluating the majority of foot and ankle problems that often can be treated successfully without surgery. It is a unique service dedicated to providing non-surgical treatment for foot and ankle problems and is the very first in the greater New York area located at a major teaching hospital dedicated to orthopedic/musculoskeletal care and research.

Sports-related injuries include heel and achilles pain, ankle sprains, shin splints, bunion pain, metatarsal pain, neuroma, sesamoid bone, stress fractures, overuse injuries, tendon problems, and all musculoskeletal injuries involving the foot and ankle.

Custom Foot Orthotics

The service is nationally renowned for its expertise in the design and fabrication of prescription foot orthotics used to treat many orthopedic foot and ankle problems. In addition, foot orthotics are prescribed to treat biomechanically related problems involving the knee, hip, and lower back, as these conditions are often responsive to the stability and improved mechanics that these devices provide.

Sport-specific orthotics designed to both improve athletic performance and reduction of sports-related injury are also prescribed for running, tennis, squash, golf, basketball, alpine and cross-country skiing, cycling, spinning, soccer, lacrosse, hockey and figure skates, in-line skating, and hiking.

In addition, prescription foot orthotics are made for a variety of women and men’s dress and casual shoes including pumps, loafers, flats, lace and specialty theatrical performance devices.

Collaborative, State-of-the-Art Diagnostics and Care

The service treats non-surgical fractures of the foot/ankle and has a direct affiliation and access to the Sports Medicine Institute, the Orthopedic Trauma Service (OTS) at HSS and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service. The service also has affiliation with the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at NYP-WCMC, Department of Medicine/Endocrinology at NYP-WCMC, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine, as well as being foot and ankle consultant in the orthopedic service of the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC).

The Non-surgical Foot and Ankle Service provides access to state of the art diagnostic testing that includes diagnostic ultrasound, computerized motion and gait analysis, bone densitometry, MRI, CAT scan, X-rays, and bone scans.

In situations where the foot/ankle problem is not responsive to conservative/non-surgical care, or when surgical intervention is necessary, referral is made to the appropriate surgical specialist.