Best of Southern Utah winner Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic pioneers cutting-edge therapies for diabetic patients

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — In pursuit of healthier feet, Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic works tirelessly to provide the best care and employ the most advanced and effective treatment options available to patients today. 

Stock image | Photo by daizuoxin/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic offers minimally invasive and surgical remedies for plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, hammer toes, bunions, fungus, tendonitis, sprains and other issues keeping patients off their feet. Beyond traditional podiatry services, however, the clinic specializes in cutting-edge treatments including laser therapy and growth factor injections. 

The clinic’s dedication to making sure that foot pain doesn’t interfere with life’s many adventures recently earned them a gold ribbon for podiatrist in the 2022 Best of Southern Utah contest. 

“It’s an honor, especially because we’re so new down here,” office manager Drake Broadbent, RN, said. “But in the small window we’ve been here, we’ve made a big impact on this little city.” 

Whether someone is suffering from a mild injury or a chronic condition, podiatric specialists are the most qualified to care for their feet. Led by podiatrist Dr. Ryan Ellsworth, Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic’s St. George clinic helps patients get to the root of the painful issues that are preventing them from standing tall.

Many musculoskeletal problems either originate from or manifest through foot and ankle symptoms. As the foundation of the body, the feet shouldn’t be ignored when they’re signaling that something’s wrong. However, people often think foot pain is “normal” and try to tough it out. 

Stock image | Photo by VladimirFLoyd/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

“We’re trying to educate people that it’s not normal, and it’s not going to go away on its own,” Ellsworth said. “If it has to do with the foot and ankle, we can take care of it.”

The experienced, compassionate professionals at Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic have all completed podiatric specialty training. The team includes a nurse practitioner focused on diabetic foot care.

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing diseases in the United States, and with it comes a host of foot problems. Many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a condition caused by nerve damage due to chronically high blood sugar levels. Neuropathy is chronically painful and limits mobility. 

Like diabetes, there’s no cure for neuropathy. Typically, the only treatment is medication to manage the pain. But the specialists at Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic strive to do more than just mitigate symptoms. 

“The services that we’re providing are vital,” Broadbent said. “We focus on therapies that a lot of other foot clinics don’t offer.”

Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic uses laser therapy and growth factor injections to repair nerves and restore sensation in the feet. For many patients, this means less pain and a greater quality of life. 

Stock image | Photo by AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

While the most common cause of neuropathy is diabetes, other causes can include traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. The clinic works with a local neurologist to help identify the source of each patient’s neuropathy and determine the appropriate course of treatment. 

Neuropathy causes extensive damage to the nerves and can require many levels of treatment. But with the expert team and multitude of options available at Summit Foot + Ankle, Broadbent said he’s confident the clinic can help reduce and even eliminate the symptoms. 

Foot problems can trip you up and make everything feel off balance. The experts at Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic work tirelessly to provide the best care available and ensure that pain doesn’t keep their patients down.

Call 801-253-6886 today to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal treatment plan and start healing.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D  C O N T E N T • 

Resources

  • Summit Foot + Ankle Clinic | Address: 2019 E. Riverside Drive, Suite A101, St. George | Telephone: 801-253-6886 | Website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!