No matter how you spend your day, part of it is on your feet, keep that spring in your step pain free

By Patricia Nugent

If the fourth quarter signifies anything, it’s a mad scramble for families who have met their insurance deductibles to schedule anything and everything medical before December 31.

While you’re checking off last-minute physicals, vision and dental appointments, don’t forget about your feet. As the body’s foundation, your only contact to the ground upon which you stand, the feet play an integral part in your overall health. Injuries, deformities and chronic wear and tear can cause pain and also affect other parts of the body.

Dr. Danielle Shaper, founder of Finesse Footcare in Lyndhurst, has devoted much of her career to exploring emerging technologies to treat foot and ankle conditions in a conservative and minimally invasive manner. Her approach is to intensely research the latest advancements in her field and bring them to her patients.

As a dancer, Dr. Shaper understands how hard-working and prone to injury our feet can be. She’s earned a reputation for treating other dancers’ feet in the area and helping them get back to the barre as soon as possible.

She named her practice Finesse because she felt it communicated a heightened level of skill, expertise and, most of all, an extra amount of focused, personalized care.

“When it comes to foot pain, I feel that it should never be ignored, and no one should have to needlessly suffer,” she says. “I can almost always improve any foot condition through treatment or surgery. Foot pain can also trigger pain elsewhere by travelling along the nerves, such as the knees, hips, back and even neck.”

What’s Covered?
Dr. Shaper treats every condition of the foot and ankle, whether you suffer from ingrown toenails, heel pain, bunions, warts, corns, toenail fungus, plantar fasciitis, bunions, Achilles tendinitis, wounds, sprains, heel spurs, flat feet or hammertoe. She’s also passionate about treating those with diabetic foot care needs, pediatric foot care and sports injuries.

Diagnostics, including digital X-rays and gait analysis, are covered by insurance. She can provide better care by basing it on the most accurate picture of what’s going on with the foot.

All types of durable medical equipment (DMEs) are also covered. This ranges from tapings to night splints, boots, ankle braces and custom orthotics. Cortisone injections to relieve pain are covered, too.

“I like to use a taping technique called Low-Dye taping for tendon problems, lower foot issues and shin splints,” says Dr. Shaper. “It’s designed to off-load the plantar fascia and provide medial ankle arch support.”

Getting the Biomechanics Right
Custom orthotics are an integral part of the practice, and she works with Forward Motion 3D orthotics for the most precise product. New technology allows Dr. Shaper to digitally cast a person’s foot when creating custom orthotics. “No more messy plaster casts,” she says. “And the fit is perfect.”

Orthotic shoe inserts can be made to fit any footwear, from athletic shoes to business casual shoes, dress shoes, even ski boots and skates.

In addition to pain relief and improved functionality, she reports orthotics can also correct patients who have one leg that’s longer than the other.

“Any patient of any age or stage in life can see benefits from wearing orthotics,” says Dr. Shaper, who wears them herself.

Finesse Footcare is located at 5035 Mayfield Road, Suite 202, in Lyndhurst. Financing options are available. Dr. Shaper recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl and is currently on maternity leave. She returns to the office soon and is now taking appointments. The helpful ladies in the office can get you on the schedule to maximize your care before the deductible goes back to $0 on January 1, 2022. Call 216-382-8070 or visit FinesseFootcare.com for more information.