Pitt Experts Fight Foot Pain with Fat Injections

December 14th, 2016

For people suffering from foot pain, standing for even a short amount of time may be nearly impossible. People with foot fat pad atrophy (the loss of fat in the ball of the foot) may benefit from findings from a first-of-its-kind trial by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. “The fat pads in the foot act as a shock absorber when we walk, cushioning the structures around them. People with pedal fat atrophy face tremendous pain with each step they take,” said lead author of the study, Jeffrey Gusenoff, MD, associate professor of plastic surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The loss of this important natural padding of fat, which can be triggered by age, obesity, high-heeled shoes, or abnormal foot mechanics, among other causes, gives the sensation of walking on bone.”  Learn more about Dr. Gusenoff’s studies at pittplusme.org.