Please welcome Dr Chris Smith to our office!  He is now taking new patients at 801-532-1822.  We are also now offering In-Office MRI scanning!
Skip to main content
801-285-0849 Request Appointment

Blog Articles

Dan Preece, DPM & Darren Groberg, DPM Blog View all posts
Reasons Why Your Nails Look Warped and Brittle

Reasons Why Your Nails Look Warped and Brittle
If your once-smooth, healthy toenails are looking wonky and breaking easily, they could be trying to tell you something. Here are the underlying causes of common nail disorders and what to do about them.
Aug 5th, 2025
Why a Simple Blister Is So Dangerous if You Have Diabetes

Why a Simple Blister Is So Dangerous if You Have Diabetes
For most people, a blister is a minor annoyance. But if you have diabetes, a blister is the gateway for bacteria and fungi to enter your bloodstream, and you may not notice it until it’s become a huge problem. Here’s why.
Jul 11th, 2025
Tips to Enjoy Summer Hikes When You Have Bunions

Tips to Enjoy Summer Hikes When You Have Bunions
Avid hikers love Salt Lake City for its majestic mountain scenery and challenging treks. Don’t let bunions keep you off the trails this summer. Use these pro tips to manage your bunions and master your hike.
Jun 1st, 2025

Self-Care for Gout: 5 Simple Ways to Prevent Pain Flares
When gout jolts you awake in the middle of the night with stabbing pain in your big toe joint, you need to make some changes. National Arthritis Awareness Month is a great time to adopt some new habits to prevent painful gout flares.
May 8th, 2025
When Walking Hurts: What You Can Do About Plantar Warts

When Walking Hurts: What You Can Do About Plantar Warts
All warts are unsightly, but if they form on the bottom of your feet, they can be downright debilitating. Walking becomes so painful that you change your gait or avoid activities. Here’s how to get rid of plantar warts and regain your life.
Nov 12th, 2024
Do My Bunions Require Surgery?

Do My Bunions Require Surgery?
When your big toe takes a turn and angles toward the others instead of pointing forward, you can blame a bunion — a joint deformity. Conservative treatments may help, but you may need surgery eventually. Here’s what to look for.
Jul 22nd, 2024
5 Most Common Summer Foot Injuries and How to Prevent Them

5 Most Common Summer Foot Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Summer is the time to head outdoors, enjoy the sunshine, and get active. Sometimes, all that fun comes at the expense of your feet. Read on for the five most common summertime foot injuries and how to sidestep them this year.
Jun 3rd, 2024
Where Do Ingrown Toenails Come From?

Where Do Ingrown Toenails Come From?
It may seem to have appeared suddenly, but your ingrown toenail has been developing behind the scenes for a while. Here’s what causes this painful toenail condition and what you can do about it.
Aug 13th, 2022
Muscle Weakness? It Could Be Neuropathy

Muscle Weakness? It Could Be Neuropathy
If grocery bags seem heavier and walking upstairs takes more effort, you may think you need to work out more. But what if the problem isn't weak muscles, but damaged nerves? Find out the link between neuropathy and muscle weakness here.
Jul 1st, 2022
The Link Between Obesity and Gout

The Link Between Obesity and Gout
Gout was once called the “disease of kings” because it was common among wealthy folks who overindulged in food and alcohol. Today, the term is “obesity,” and though it’s less royal, it still points to the connection between gout and your gut.
Jun 1st, 2022
Take These Steps to Prevent an Ingrown Toenail

Take These Steps to Prevent an Ingrown Toenail
If you’ve ever had an ingrown toenail — and the painful, swollen, reddened infection that comes with it — you know you never want to go through that again. Here’s how to sidestep an ingrown toenail.
May 1st, 2022
3 Types of Nerves That Can Be Affected by Diabetic Neuropathy

3 Types of Nerves That Can Be Affected by Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes is a disease that affects virtually every part of the body and it is notorious for damaging nerves; but not all nerve problems are alike. Here’s how to tell the difference between 3 main types of diabetic neuropathy and what to do about it.
Apr 1st, 2022
Sprained Your Ankle? Treat Immediately with the RICE Protocol

Sprained Your Ankle? Treat Immediately with the RICE Protocol
Even if you’ve never seen the acronym RICE, you’ve probably instinctively followed the principle after an injury. Here’s a closer look at the RICE protocol, why it’s important for a sprained ankle, and how long you should follow it.
Mar 1st, 2022
7 Things That May Be The Reason You Have Gout

7 Things That May Be The Reason You Have Gout
The searing pain attacks your big toe suddenly, often in the middle of the night. You reach down and find a swollen joint that feels like it’s on fire. You have gout. Why you? Here are a few of the most common causes.
Feb 1st, 2022
What Makes a Bunion Worse?

What Makes a Bunion Worse?
A bunion — a knob at the base of your toe — can seriously cramp your shoe style, which may be nature’s way of telling you you’re wearing the wrong shoes. Find out what makes bunions worse and what makes them better.
Jan 6th, 2022
How to Get Rid of Mosaic Warts

How to Get Rid of Mosaic Warts
No matter where they pop up, warts are always unwelcome. But when they appear on the bottom of your feet, they can be painful, too. Mosaic warts are one of the most stubborn types you might get on your soles — here’s how to get rid of them.
Dec 3rd, 2021

How Important Is Rest for Foot and Ankle Sprains?
The pain that occurs when you sprain your ankle or foot can be excruciating, but the downtime afterward adds insult to injury. Find out why you should never skip the rest period of your rehabilitation.
Nov 5th, 2021
Five Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis

Five Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis
If you’ve never felt the shock of heel pain when your feet first hit the floor in the morning, you’re lucky. It’s called plantar fasciitis, and it tends to get progressively worse. But you can take steps to prevent it if you know your risk factors.
Oct 6th, 2021
Can Dietary Changes Help You Manage Gout?

Can Dietary Changes Help You Manage Gout?
What will it take to make your gout pain go away and your flare-ups calm down? Believe it or not, swapping out a few food and drink items can make a big difference. Here’s what to eat and what to avoid on the gout diet.
Aug 5th, 2021

Five Effective Treatments for Hammertoe
If you have an angled toe that looks like it could drive home a nail, you may have a hammertoe. While there are several different causes, there are five main treatments to help you live better despite your tool-like toe.
Jul 11th, 2021

Is My Ingrown Toenail Infected?
You stubbed your toe, cut the nail too short, or wore tight-fitting shoes all day, and now your toenail is jammed under your skin. An ingrown toenail is bad enough, but it’s even worse if it’s infected. Here’s how to tell if it’s crossed the line.
Jun 30th, 2021

4 Signs of Achilles Tendonitis
Any kind of “itis” means you have inflammation somewhere. You know it’s in your Achilles tendon when you notice these four telltale signs.
May 18th, 2021

Do Warts Go Away on Their Own?
Warts — those clumps of rough, spongy skin on your hands, feet, and elbows — seem to stick around forever. Are they serious? Do you need treatment? Will they eventually disappear? Here’s what you need to know about warts.
Apr 18th, 2021

Common Signs of Nail Disorders
Do you have one toenail that looks different from the rest? Maybe the color is off or the texture seems odd. Or maybe your toenails hurt and itch. You may have one of several toenail disorders. Here’s what to look for.
Mar 11th, 2021

Why You Shouldn't Ignore Ankle Pain
Perhaps you planted and pivoted in a pick-up game of hoops or stumbled down the stairs for no apparent reason, and now your ankle is screaming. You may be tempted to push past the pain — but here’s why you shouldn’t.
Feb 1st, 2021

Activities That Contribute to Plantar Fasciitis
You wake up refreshed, ready to start a new day, plant your feet on the floor, and zing — plantar fasciitis strikes again! What’s to blame for your shocking heel pain? Find out if you’re doing something to cause or worsen the condition.
Jan 14th, 2021

Neuropathy and Bladder Problems
Diabetes is famous for causing neuropathy, especially in your feet. But did you know it can also impact your bladder function? Learn about how neuropathy affects more than just your foot health.
Dec 22nd, 2020

Common Complications of Flat Feet
Having trouble standing on your tippy toes? Find yourself rubbing your sore, swollen ankles, and feet? You may have fallen arches. But flat feet aren’t a major concern unless they lead to one of these common complications.
Nov 9th, 2020

Causes of Chronic Foot Pain
Why do your feet hurt? Let us count the ways. Your feet bear your entire body weight, and they take a lot of abuse while doing so. Is the pain you feel normal, or could it be that you have one of these chronic foot conditions?
Oct 7th, 2020

Why You Should Care for Your Toenails
You clip ‘em and clean ‘em — that’s all toenails need, right? Wrong. Toenails deserve serious attention, because if you neglect them, they can become infected, invaded by fungus, ingrown, and painful. Here’s how and why to care for them properly.
Sep 24th, 2020

How We Help with Hammertoe
If it looks like your feet are trying to make a fist, you might have hammertoe. Whether genetics, injury, or footwear choices are to blame, there are ways to straighten out the situation. Here’s how we can help.
Aug 19th, 2020

What Is Gout?
You know about rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune disease that inflames your joints, and osteoarthritis, the one that wears down your cartilage. But do you know their angry cousin gouty arthritis? Arm yourself with this valuable info on gout.
Jul 7th, 2020

Steps to Take During a Gout Flare-up
When you stub your big toe, the pain is intense, and you know exactly what to blame it on. But when a similar pain strikes for no reason, especially in the middle of the night, it may be a gout flare-up. Here’s what to do.
Apr 21st, 2020

Living with Plantar Fasciitis
Do you stand for a living? Are you an avid runner or dancer? These are just a couple of the lifestyles that can lead to plantar fasciitis. Here’s how to live with plantar fasciitis while you’re working to get rid of it.
Mar 24th, 2020