Imagine you are a building. The first part of the building's structure is the foundation. This is the most important part of a building because it stabilizes the structure and allows it to hold up to stress. The same is true for the human body. A balanced and healthy foundation means a reduced chance of injury and increased strength.

Our feet take us through life, they are the foundation for our entire body and if they are not properly, our body is out of alignment. In Pleasanton, Dr. Lucille Andersen of Andersen Orthopedics brings together her engineering and medical degrees to treat the complex biomechanics of the foot and ankle system so the body is working right. Dr. Anderson has been practicing in Pleasanton since July 2013.

The feet must be able to provide proper support or basic functions like standing, walking, running, and jumping are impossible to do without serious pain and discomfort to the entire body. Foot imbalance or dysfunction does not always cause pain in your feet, the pain is most often transferred to other areas like your lower legs, knees, hips or spine.

"I love being a foot and ankle doctor. Every day is different. I see patients from young kids all the way to 90 plus years old, but my goal is the same: keep everybody doing what they want to do, pain-free," says Dr. Anderson.

Dr. Andersen begins with the non-operative care using the latest techniques in physical therapy and bracing. If these are not successful operative intervention is considered using tried and true methods as well as innovative procedures to achieve optimal outcomes.

Eighty percent of people develop some type of foot imbalance by the age of 20, and virtually everyone has foot imbalances by the age of 40. After years of standing, walking, and wearing shoes, the arches of your feet gradually weaken and may not be able to provide the necessary support.

In many people, the foods they eat have a direct impact on their feet. A diet that consists of mostly carbohydrates and sugar can cause inflammation, which can impact the health of your feet. Many common foods cause inflammation, such as the refined grains, sugar, and trans-fats as well as many commonly used vegetable oils, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils.

For women, problems with their feet are most often caused by the shoes they wear. Wearing high heels can cause your knees and hips to push forward and the back has to hyperextend backwards to counterbalance. "A chunky heel is more stable than a stiletto. A wedge or platform give the illusion of height without as much incline and pressure on the foot. I don't tend to see a lot of injuries from high heels," says Dr. Anderson.

There are more than 7,000 nerve endings in each foot constantly sending messages throughout your body and brain. The feet provide the core of our posture, wellbeing, and insight to how our organs are functioning. Your foot is a masterful network of approximately 35 joints and 28 bones, held together by 120 ligaments and activated by at least 20 muscles. Today you will take about 18,000 steps. By age 70, your feet will have logged 70,000 miles. A little care and attention can go a long way to making that a smoother ride.

For more information about Andersen Orthopedics, visit the website at www.andersenorthopedics.com.