Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

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Feeling Good
On a recent trip with
her family to Muir Woods, a
national redwood forest in San
Francisco, Toni Knorr struggled
to keep up with her three young
nephews. After more than 40 years
of wearing high heels during her
demanding career as a hotel executive, Knorr has painful
bunions on both feet. Surgery, the
best option, requires several weeks
off your feet, which is difficult for a
career woman.
Dr. Rahn A. Ravenell of Coastal
Podiatry said Knorr’s situation is
not uncommon, but he added that
people should know that foot pain is
not normal at any age.
“We have found that proper
early intervention with foot injuries
and pain results in much better
outcomes,” he said.
Born and raised in Charleston,
Dr. Ravenell said he knew he would
go into medicine when he attended
a health career fair at a pre-medicine summer program at
Duke University. After graduating magna cum laude from
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, he went on
to obtain his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. During
this time, he worked at a local shoe store, fitting runners
with shoes and performing basic gait analysis to fit runners
with orthotic inserts for their shoes.
“I learned the importance of proper overall body
mechanics and how the foot and ankle are vitally important
in achieving this,” said Dr. Ravenell.
Dr. Ravenell and his wife, Dr. Tamika Ravenell, opened
their Mount Pleasant office in 2013. Their practice
specializes in pediatric foot care, flatfoot surgery, bunion
surgery, heel pain and neuromas. The most common
injury they treat is plantar fasciitis (heel pain), which is
an inflammation, irritation and swelling of the ligament
that typically comes from an overuse injury. Repetitive
motions, no matter how ordinary, can cause small micro
tears that occur each time you use your plantar fascia.
When the micro tears do not heal properly, fasciitis/
fasciosis (ligament degeneration) can occur.
“Don’t suffer in silence. Catching heel pain early can
mean the difference between healthy feet and chronic
discomfort,” Dr. Ravenell said.
High-heeled, pointed-toe shoes have a narrow toe box
that crowds the toes and can cause numerous orthopedic
problems, leading to discomfort or injury to the toes,
ankles, knees, calves and back. These
shoes distribute the body’s weight
unevenly, placing excess stress on the
ball of the foot and on the forefoot.
This uneven distribution of weight,
coupled with the narrow toe box,
can lead to discomfort, bunions,
hammertoes and other deformities.
To relieve the abusive effects of high
heels, women should limit the amount
of time they wear them and alternate
these shoes with good quality sneakers
or flats for part of the day. Low-heeled
shoes (one inch or lower) with a wide
toe box are the ideal choice for women. An ample toe
box that can accommodate the front part of the foot is as
important as the heel in determining fit.
Coastal Podiatry is located at 180 Wingo Way,
Suite 201, in Mount Pleasant. To learn more, visit
or call 843-856-5337.
By AMy Mercer
Dr. rahn A. ravenell of coastal Podiatry. Photo courtesy of Coastal Podiatry.
Your Best Feet Forward
Coastal Podiatry
A study conducted by the American
Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society found that:
> Nine out of 10 women wear shoes that are too small
for their feet.
> eight out of 10 women say their shoes are painful.
> More than seven out of 10 women have developed a
bunion, hammertoe or other painful foot deformity.
> Women are nine times more likely to develop a foot
problem because of poorly fitting shoes than men.