Advanced Foot & Ankle Center

Advanced Foot & Ankle Center At Advanced Foot & Ankle Center, we believe that healthy feet are happy feet and we offer the highest quality podiatric care in Danbury, CT.

At Advanced Foot & Ankle Center, we are dedicated to relieving pain and treating your foot and ankle conditions promptly so you can get back on your feet and living a healthy, active life. Our board certified podiatrist, Paul Betschart, D.P.M. has over a decade of experience treating common foot problems, such as warts, bunions, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, fungal toenails, and athlete’s foot, as well as more serious ailments, like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, flatfeet, gout, cysts, and neuromas. Advanced Foot & Ankle Center also treats ankle sprains, strains, fractures, and other sports related injuries. We want our patients to be educated about good foot health so they can make informed choices about their care. We believe that the foot doctor is your partner in developing a healthy lifestyle and we promote proactive and preventive care for diabetic patients, children, and seniors. Advanced Foot & Ankle Center has two easily accessible locations, one in Danbury, and offer convenient appointments and digital x-rays in both offices. Healthy feet are the foundation of a healthy body and that’s why our friendly and compassionate staff is committed to meeting all your foot and ankle care needs with the best quality care currently available. If you have questions or concerns about your feet, we urge you to call us today to set up a consultation and take the first step to good foot health.

Custom orthotics are specialized shoe inserts tailored specifically for your individual foot structure and needs. Unlike...
02/13/2026

Custom orthotics are specialized shoe inserts tailored specifically for your individual foot structure and needs. Unlike over-the-counter insoles, which offer a one-size-fits-all solution, custom orthotics are crafted based on detailed measurements and assessments of your feet. This ensures they provide optimal support, alignment, and comfort.

Why Consider Custom Orthotics?
1. Personalized Support
Each person's feet are unique, and so are their support needs. Custom orthotics are designed to provide the precise support required, correcting any biomechanical foot issues that may be present. This can improve your foot function and help in evenly distributing body weight across your feet.

2. Alleviation of Foot Pain
If you experience foot pain due to conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions, or flat feet, custom orthotics can offer relief. By correcting foot positioning and providing cushioning where necessary, they help reduce strain and discomfort, allowing you to move with ease.

3. Improved Posture and Comfort
Foot health is directly linked to overall posture and comfort. Properly supportive orthotics can help to align your feet, ankles, and knees, which can enhance your posture and lead to reduced discomfort not just in your feet, but throughout your body.

Who Can Benefit?
Custom orthotics can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals, from athletes looking to enhance performance and prevent injuries to older adults seeking more comfort and mobility. They are also invaluable for anyone involved in occupations that require long periods of standing or walking, providing that extra support needed to get through the day unscathed.

Taking the First Step
At Advanced Foot and Ankle Center, we provide professional consultations and evaluations to create the perfect custom orthotics tailored specifically for you. Our team of experts is here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your feet get the attention they deserve.

Investing in custom orthotics is a step toward prioritizing your foot health and well-being. Reach out to us at our Danbury location to schedule an appointment and take the first step comfort and support today!

More than 400 amputations happen in the U.S. daily. Not from gun violence, shark attacks, or car crashes, but from a dis...
02/03/2026

More than 400 amputations happen in the U.S. daily. Not from gun violence, shark attacks, or car crashes, but from a disease that is easily diagnosed, preventable, and treatable, if caught early. Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a circulation problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most often the legs. More than 200 million people suffer from PAD, yet many aren’t even aware they have it until it’s too late. Symptoms can be subtle and easy to dismiss like persistent leg pain and walking difficulty.
From high-profile people like President Donald Trump, former NFL star Deion Sanders, and NBA player

Zach Wheeler to the everyday American, vascular conditions affect people in different ways; some experience leg pain when walking, while others have no symptoms at all. Because these conditions can present so differently, it is critical to understand who is most at risk.

Vascular disease disproportionately impacts people 60 years and older. Common risk factors of PAD include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of vascular disease.

Symptoms and signs of PAD include: pain in the leg muscles when walking, Pain in the feet when lying down, coldness of the feet, color changes of the skin, unusual swelling of the feet and slow or non healing skin wounds.

PAD is widely unknown and misunderstood by patients and medical providers alike. Podiatrists are often the very first line of defense when it comes to spotting the warning signs of vascular disease. That puts them in a powerful position to change lives, sometimes even save them, by catching problems early and helping patients avoid devastating complications. A vascular assessment should be a regular part of any foot care encounter, especially for those over the age of 50 or with risk factor for PAD. Primary care providers can help catch vascular problems during encounters as well. People should not feel like they are imposing if they take off their socks and shoes and ask their provider to check their feet!

If you or a loved one have signs or symptoms of PAD, come in for an assessment. If needed we can refer to one of our vascular specialist colleagues for detailed non invasive vascular testing.

Two of the most well-known and common nerve conditions in the body are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and sciatic nerve pain. If...
01/28/2026

Two of the most well-known and common nerve conditions in the body are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and sciatic nerve pain. If you have had either of these, you know how painful and persistent they can be.

Nerve conditions are common in the feet as well.

One of the telltale signs that distinguish nerve pain from other types of pain is that it often occurs when sitting or lying down. Pain in the foot from a tendon, ligament, bone or joint problem usually only hurt when standing or walking.

For example, if we diagnose someone with plantar fasciitis, they’ll usually have pain when stepping out bed or after being on their feet for a while. If this person indicates pain is present when they’re off their feet, we start to suspect a nerve may be irritated.

The common symptoms of nerve pain are burning, sharpness, electrical sensations, tingling and numbness. A burning sensation in the foot when sitting or lying down is classic for a nerve condition.

You may also find that nerve pain doesn’t respond to ice, heat, better shoes, or over-the-counter medication.

Two of the most common nerve conditions in the foot are called Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome and Neuroma. The former hurts on the inside of the ankle and the arch, the latter usually on the ball of foot. Diabetic Neuropathy is another common nerve condition that usually hurts most while sitting or lying down at night.

Consistently feeling something like this is reason to get it diagnosed as quickly as possible. Long-standing untreated nerve pain in the foot can lead to years of unnecessary suffering, just like people who have sciatica or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

We specialize in diagnosing and treating nerve pain in the foot and ankle. Let us know if we can be of help to you.

The reason that viruses such as measles are such a public health problem is how easily they can be spread.Certain germs ...
01/20/2026

The reason that viruses such as measles are such a public health problem is how easily they can be spread.

Certain germs are more contagious than others. And as far as the foot is concerned, fungus and viruses are the two most common germs that lead to problems with bacterial infections being a distant third.

Fungus infection of the skin is commonly known as athlete’s foot. Fungus can also invade the toenails, leading to discoloration and increased thickness of one or multiple nails.

The most common virus infecting the foot causes the plantar wart, which is a hard, callous like growth on the bottom of the foot.

Most people have heard of these common conditions, but don’t necessarily know that these germs are contagious. One person in the household can transfer a fungus or virus in the foot to others.

Sharing space barefoot increases the chance of these germs spreading. This is why we always recommend wearing something on your feet in public places.

If one or more people in your home has one of these unfortunate conditions, make sure each person gets treatment and precaution is taken to decrease the chance of spreading it to others.

We have effective treatment options for these conditions should you become the victim of attack!

Don't risk needing avoidable foot surgery!If you are experiencing pain on the ball of your foot, you may have a common c...
01/14/2026

Don't risk needing avoidable foot surgery!

If you are experiencing pain on the ball of your foot, you may have a common condition we see every day.

You may feel like you are walking on a ball or something raised. Women over the age of 40 are most prone to this symptom.

An injury is rarely the cause of this pain. Avoiding being barefoot on hard surfaces and wearing shoes with good padding usually relieve it a little bit. But the most important step in successfully eliminating the pain is getting an accurate diagnosis.

We find that the culprit is often the 2nd toe, right where it connects to the foot. It’s definitely not apparent to the untrained eye, but is quite obvious to us.

It could be something as simple as inflammation of the joint, or more complex - such as a torn ligament on the ball of the foot.

We can find a solution, but how involved it will be depends on the severity and longevity of the problem.

A simple inflammation of the foot can turn into a ligament tear or a deformity of the joint if not treated early enough. Don’t risk needing an avoidable surgery or suffering longer than needed by hoping consistent foot pain will just go away.

We are here to help guide you to the fastest and easiest remedies

Many of the people we see for foot and ankle pain have arches that are flatter than normal. Some foot conditions come fr...
01/07/2026

Many of the people we see for foot and ankle pain have arches that are flatter than normal. Some foot conditions come from having very flat feet. The foot type that doesn’t get much attention is the one with a high arch. For clarification, the position your arch assumes when standing is the arch shape we are referring to. Almost everyone has a high arch when sitting. If there is a nice dome to your arch when standing, you have a high arch.

Since high arches usually come with a heavier stride, the term “Chandelier Shaker” has been affectionately used. High arches come with a different set of potential issues that can cause pain in the feet, legs and back.

Some of the problems we see from high arches are:

1. Pain on the balls of the feet.

2. Tendinitis on the outside of the ankle.

3. Back pain.

4. Heel pain.

5. Pressure on the outside of the foot.

6. Ankle Instability on the outside. (Prone to ankle sprains)

We have seen all of these conditions many times. Wearing shoes that have adequate cushion and good arches is best for high arched feet. If a person with high arches loses some of the cushion on the heels and balls of the feet, as some do, barefoot walking on a hard surface is painful.

High arched feet is one of the foot types we’ve successfully made custom orthotics for. Cushioned shoes with good arches aren’t always enough to solve some of the problems listed above. Knowing a person’s arch type is important to finding the ultimate solution to pain in the feet, knees and back. If you think high arches are a problem for you, come in for a visit and we will get you the right solutions.

Losing the feeling in your toes and feet is a weird sensation.There are many reasons why numbness of the feet can occur....
12/17/2025

Losing the feeling in your toes and feet is a weird sensation.

There are many reasons why numbness of the feet can occur. Three common ones are diabetes, chemotherapy, and low back conditions. Alcohol, medications, and some autoimmune conditions can also cause neurological symptoms in the feet.

Regardless of the cause, the symptoms can be quite similar. Numbness, tingling, burning, and sharp stabbing sensations are what people describe the most.

The general term for these symptoms is NEUROPATHY.

A serious cause for concern is that these sensations can cause your balance to be compromised.

The biggest challenge we face in the healthcare industry when it comes to neuropathy is finding an effective solution.

Medications such as Gabapentin, Lyrica and a few others have helped some people with neuropathy, especially when caused by diabetes. Some vitamins have been known to decrease symptoms, and topical pain relievers such as CBD products and capsaicin can help too.

Unfortunately, neuropathy from chemotherapy and lumbar conditions are much less responsive to any treatments. And a small percentage of people have what’s called idiopathic neuropathy, which means there’s no known cause.

In any case, neuropathy is a frustrating condition to have and equally frustrating to treat.

Depending on the particular circumstance, we have a method to help relieve the symptoms of neuropathy and potentially reverse the nerve damage of neuropathy. The technique is a one of a kind electric signal therapy using the Neurogenx Nerve Pro 2000 device. This therapy is the only one available that can improve the function of damaged nerves leading to the clinical benefits of decreased pain and numbness, improved balance and improved function. We have ad an over 85% success rate with this therapy over the last 7 years. If you or a loved one are experiencing the signs or symptoms of neuropathy, come in for an evaluation to see how this comfortable, private treatment can benefit you!

Chemotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, significantly improving survival rates for many patients worldwide. Ho...
11/19/2025

Chemotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, significantly improving survival rates for many patients worldwide. However, its life-saving benefits often come at a cost, with nerve damage to the lower limbs emerging as one of the most debilitating side effects. Known as Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN), this condition affects nearly half of patients undergoing certain chemotherapy regimens, particularly those involving platinum-based agents such as Oxaliplatin. Despite the severity of the potential complications of neuropathy, a study from the University of South Australia reveals a distressing gap in supportive care: fewer than 20% of patients at risk utilize podiatry services that could dramatically alleviate their symptoms, improve their function and prevent complications. The results from the US population would be no doubt similar.



CIPN manifests as a constellation of sensory and motor impairments, including numbness, burning sensations, tingling, and muscle weakness that predominantly affect the feet. These symptoms often develop insidiously during or after chemotherapy, dramatically reducing patient quality of life. Podiatrists possess specialized skills in managing lower limb disorders and are uniquely positioned to address the multifaceted challenges posed by CIPN. Our expertise encompasses assessment, prevention, and treatment strategies aimed at preserving neuromuscular function, preventing falls, and minimizing foot trauma. Early podiatric intervention can contribute to fall prevention—a critical factor given that CIPN-related balance impairments significantly heighten fall risk. Moreover, effective podiatric care can reduce the incidence of ulcerations and infections, which, if left untreated, may escalate to amputations.



In our practice we have taken the additional step of addressing the nerve damage itself utilizing an innovative treatment, electric signal therapy with the Neurogenx Nerve Pro 2000 device. This sophisticated electrical therapy uses biosimilar electrical waveforms delivered through the skin to directly stimulate the damaged nerves promoting an increase in cellular metabolism and neurotransmitter release.

This can lead to improvement in nerve function and an increase in skin nerve fiber density. We have seen great clinical improvement in patients treated with this method over the last 7 years with over 85% of patients experiencing a positive effect.

If you or a loved one have been exposed to chemotherapy, we would be happy to help with any foot or leg issues including neuropathy.

If you stop to think about it, it is rather amazing what our feet do for us throughout our lifetime.Anyone who can get t...
10/28/2025

If you stop to think about it, it is rather amazing what our feet do for us throughout our lifetime.

Anyone who can get through life unaffected by a foot problem is incredibly lucky.

When a foot problem does arise, we usually ask our feet to plow through in spite of the pain. But getting a foot condition to resolve while sticking with your normal routine isn’t always possible.

We certainly do our best to help foot and ankle problems without suggesting downtime. But here’s the thing… there are just some foot conditions that require us to give our feet a rest.

That rest could be in the form of avoiding the treadmill or power walking. For runners, it could mean not running for a while. For people who stand all day at work, it could even mean taking some time off.. Certain conditions might require the use of a boot or crutches to allow them to heal.

There is so much pressure on our feet, that hoping they will heal without giving them some rest is just plain asking too much.

If you’re not sure whether your foot pain needs a rest to heal, feel free to come and see us for an opinion.
We will get you back on your feet in no time!

For most people that have surgery or an injury, healing of the area progresses normally with a gradual reduction of pain...
10/08/2025

For most people that have surgery or an injury, healing of the area progresses normally with a gradual reduction of pain which eventually goes away. In some cases pain can persist and even worsen during the recovery process. When this type of pain persist and impacts function it is labeled as a chronic pain syndrome. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a type of chronic pain syndrome that affects a certain area of the body, for example an arm or leg. CRPS is further categorized into type 1 and type 2. There are similarities and differences to both types. The underlying pathological cause of the development of CRPS is not known. The prevailing theory is that of an abnormal response of the sympathetic nervous system to injury.

Definition:
CRPS Type 1: Also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), it occurs after an injury or trauma without direct nerve damage.
CRPS Type 2: Also known as causalgia, it develops after a specific nerve injury.

Symptoms:
Both types share similar symptoms, including:
Intense, burning, or throbbing pain
Allodynia (pain from normally non-painful stimuli)
Hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain)
Swelling, redness, and warmth
Changes in skin color and temperature
Hair loss, nail growth abnormalities
Muscle weakness and spasms

Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria, including: History of trauma or nerve injury, Characteristic symptoms, Physical examination findings, and Ruling out other conditions.
Treatment:
Treatment aims to manage pain and improve function:
Medications (analgesics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants)
Physical therapy (range of motion exercises, nerve blocks)
Sympathetic nerve blocks
Spinal cord stimulation
Surgery (in rare cases)

Prognosis:
The prognosis varies depending on the severity and duration of symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes.
Key Differences:
Cause: Type 1 occurs without nerve damage, while type 2 results from a specific nerve injury.
Prevalence: Type 1 is more common than type 2.
Treatment: Treatment is similar, but type 2 may require additional interventions to address the underlying nerve damage.

It's important to note that CRPS can be a complex and challenging condition. If you or someone you know experiences symptoms suggestive of CRPS, it's crucial to seek medical attention right away. Early treatment can prevent long term complications.

The short foot exercise is a foot strengthening exercises from the Yoga tradition that aims to restore strength and stab...
09/10/2025

The short foot exercise is a foot strengthening exercises from the Yoga tradition that aims to restore strength and stability to the arch of the foot.
How to Perform:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Engage the muscles in the bottom of your foot, as if you are pushing your toes into the ground.
Spread your toes wide apart.
Lift the arch of your foot, bringing the ball of your foot closer to your heel.
Hold the contraction for 5-10 seconds.
Relax and repeat.

Benefits:
Reduces pronation (flattening of the arch).
May help prevent foot injuries, such as plantar fasciitis.
Strengthens the intrinsic muscles of the foot, which support the arch.
Improves foot posture and alignment.

Variations:
Sitting: Perform the exercise while seated.
One-legged: Perform the exercise on one leg at a time.
With weights: Hold a light weight in each hand while performing the exercise.

Precautions:
Avoid over-contracting the muscles, as this can cause pain.
If you have any foot injuries or conditions, consult with a healthcare professional before performing this exercise.

Frequency:
Start with 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions per day.
Gradually increase the number of sets and repetitions as you get stronger.
Video explanations of this technique are available on YouTube

The short foot exercise is a complementary exercise that can be used in conjunction with other foot strengthening exercises and stretches. It is important to have a comprehensive foot health routine to maintain overall foot health.

Address

57 North Street, Ste 108
Danbury, CT
06810

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+12037910466

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Our Story

At Advanced Foot & Ankle Center, we are dedicated to relieving pain and treating your foot and ankle conditions promptly so you can get back on your feet and living a healthy, active life. Our board certified podiatrist, Paul Betschart, D.P.M. has over two decades of experience treating common foot problems, such as warts, bunions, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, fungal toenails, and athlete’s foot, as well as more serious ailments, like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, flatfeet, gout, cysts, and neuromas. Advanced Foot & Ankle Center also treats foot and ankle sprains, strains, fractures, and other sports related injuries. We want our patients to be educated about good foot health so they can make informed choices about their care. We believe that the foot doctor is your partner in developing a healthy lifestyle and we promote proactive and preventive care for diabetic patients, children, and seniors. Advanced Foot & Ankle Center has two easily accessible locations, one in Danbury and one in Middlebury, and offer convenient appointments and digital x-rays in both offices. Healthy feet are the foundation of a healthy body and that’s why our friendly and compassionate staff is committed to meeting all your foot and ankle care needs with the best quality care currently available. If you have questions or concerns about your feet, we urge you to call us today to set up a consultation and take the first step to good foot health.