Welcome to the personal website of

Dr. Michael A. Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM

Thank you for visiting the web site of Dr. Michael Zapf. He is a member of the Agoura-Los Robles Podiatry Centers

The "real" practice web site, the one that contains registration forms, doctor information for all the office and directions to the office is located at:

www.conejofeet.com   ç Click here

I am Dr. Michael Zapf. I have been offering a full range of podiatric medical services, from ingrown nails to heel pain and foot surgery, to my friends and neighbors in the Las Virgenes, Conejo and Simi Valleys since 1985. This is my personal web site. It has been up since 1990 and has received more than 2 million visits. The entire site is my responsibility only and nearly everything on the site was written by me. You are welcome to peruse this site and learn what you can about me, your feet and the problems your feet can develop. Things happen fast in medicine so whatever you read could well be outdated, especially if it was written many years ago. On this site you will read historic articles that I wrote for a lay audience as long as 25 years ago, so please do not take anything on this site as definitive or as applying directly to your condition. You may wonder why I have my own site even though there is also an official practice site. Well, my partners are of a younger generation raised on tweets, e-mails and iPhones. They want a professional site that they believe better represents the professional nature of our practice. They also believe that people no longer take the time to read anything of length. I, on the other foot, think there is still a world out there full of people who still read lengthy descriptions of problems and solutions. if you are one of those old fashioned readers, then this site if for you. Let me know what you think. Let me know you are out there.

Please note that all information and photographs on this site are copyrighted by me, Michael Zapf, DPM, and cannot be used for any private or commercial purposes. I work with two other podiatrists in my practice who may or may not share any of my ideas and philosophy. Do not expect them to practice the way I do or even believe in any of the speculation I present here. If you appreciate what I have written and want me to be your treating doctor, you will have to ask for me specifically. Even if my office says at first, " He is booked until next month",  I still want to see you as long as you are a little flexible with your schedule. If your visit is an emergency, I know that  you will be happy with either of my associates, Dr. Darren Payne or Dr. Steve Benson. They are exceedingly well trained and capable in any foot emergency.

Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, FACFAOM     (If you want to know what all those initials mean, click here   è  

Our office phone number is (818) 707-3668 and my e-mail address is zfootdoc [at] doctor [dot] com

Agoura Hills Office: 28240 Agoura Road, Suite 101, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Thousand Oaks Office: 555 Marin Street, Suite 290, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

For the address, hours and registration forms please see the practice web site: www.conejofeet.com

07/24/2010

To Order Foot Supplies è ç click

For Information about Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails Click hereè
 

For information about Shockwave Therapy for heel pain          click here è

Exciting news!!! New Thousand Oaks Location  è

This article was from the January issue of Canyon and Country Times.

Heel Pain Revisited                                                               

By:      Michael Zapf, D.P.M., M.P.H.

 I am happy to report that Marcie and her heel spur are doing fine. As many of my Country and Canyon Times readers know, February is my month for reporting on the saga of Marcie and her heel pain.

 Marcie first came to my office five years ago complaining of severe heel pain. It was the worst in the morning. She dreaded getting out of bed. As her left heel hit the floor the pain started. As she started to walk she felt as if a sharp spike was in her heel bone. After walking for awhile the pain became more tolerable but would return when she stood up after resting or sitting. Eventually the pain started to affect her performance as a nurse and she wanted me to help her.

 With the help of a few diagnostic tests and an X-ray I confirmed that she had a heel spur. Marcie also had an irritation of a ligament that runs the length of the bottom of the foot. This ligament goes by the name “plantar fascia” and the irritation is called “plantar fasciitis.” To explain what is occurring imagine the arch of the foot and the plantar fascia as a triangle. As the foot flattens it also elongates. Unfortunately the plantar fascia does not stretch much. A strong force trying to flatten the foot irritates the plantar fascia especially where it attaches to the heel bone. If this goes on for a long time the fascia becomes inflamed and a spur can develop.

 I did not treat Marcie for her painful heel spur. Instead I treated the abnormal flattening of her foot. I made for her a set of in-shoe orthotic to control her foot flattening. They worked like a charm and they continue to do so. As long as Marcie wears them in her shoes she does not have pain in her arches. At first she wore them all the time by moving them to her various shoes. Last week she reported that she can go for several days without the orthotics. When the pain starts to reassert itself she just starts wearing the orthotics again and it never gets as painful. She continues to be happy with this non-surgical approach to heel pain. She still doesn’t like to get up in the morning, but at least its not due to heel pain.

Dr. Zapf has a private practice in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks and teaches part time at the L.A. County/ U.S.C. Medical Center. For more information please call his office at (818) 707—3668.

Send mail to (zfootdoc at doctor dot com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Michael A. Zapf, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., F.A.C.F.AOA.M.
Last modified: July 24, 2010