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 Things happen fast in medicine so whatever you read could well be outdated, especially if it was written many years ago.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


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TODAY’S HEALTH June 12, 1994

Footnotes On Health

By: Michael Zapf, DPM, MPH, FACFAOM

I was thrilled to be invited by the publisher of Today’s Health, Randy Strong, to write a series of articles about podiatric care. I have known Randy for several years and have found his health care publications to be honorable, reliable and accurate. With the first two issues of this magazine already published I can see that he is only adding to his reputation. I hope Today’s Health enjoys the success it deserves.

Probably the most frequently asked question of a podiatrist is, "Why would someone want to treat feet?" The answer is both simple and complex. The simple answer is "I don’t. I treat people who happen to have feet that have problems." I assume that this is the same answer given by other doctors, like gynecologists, ear, nose and throat specialists or urologists, who treat a specific region of the body. Nobody can know everything about the body so it is kind of nice that people have chosen to get to know just one part in excruciating detail. I chose feet.

The more involved answer involves the challenge of mastering the exquisite details of the foot and the joy of using that knowledge in making people better. Few of us will get through life without foot problems. When problems happen, there is comfort in knowing that someone is dedicating his or her life to helping you and your foot problem.

The foot is an incredible machine, in some ways more advanced than the hand. The lower primates use their foot like a hand. Notice the feet of primates next time you are at the zoo. With an opposable thumb the primate can grasp objects, throw things and groom each other. The only thing they cannot do with a foot is walk on it. Even gorillas cannot spend much time on their feet. Only human beings have the foot so adapted that we have a flat surface to walk on and all the toes out in front.

The foot has to accomplish two opposite activities every walking step. When the foot lands on the ground it becomes loose and flexible to adapt to changes in the terrain. This magic process is called pronation and is seen as a flattening of the arch. Every foot pronates to some degree at foot strike. The trick in efficient walking is to have the foot transform itself into a rigid lever by the time it pushes off the ground. This transformation is called supination and results in an increase in the arch height. Walking is nothing more than a series of pronation-supination motions.

While efficient walking is impossible without some pronation and supination, problems occur when either is done to excess. Too much pronation leads to hip and knee pain, shin splints, tendonitis, bunions, hammertoes and the very common heel and arch pain. Too much supination can also lead to hip and knee pain, heel pain, hammertoes and even a type of bunion.

The purpose of my series of articles is to discuss each of these foot maladies, and more, in what I hope is an interesting manner. I will use examples of actual patients to illustrate the various things that go wrong with feet. You will learn about bunions in adults and children, ingrown nails and how to prevent them permanently and the latest techniques in treating warts and fungal nails. I will tell you about my monthly trips to Mexico to treat childhood foot deformities. I will even tell you how to prevent a variety of athletic injuries and purchase the right athletic shoes.

With each foot problem I will lead you through the cause and what you can do on your own to make it better. If you cannot make it better and need professional help, I will tell you what questions you need answered by your doctor. I believe in the value of an educated patient. When you understand the intricate complexity of even the simplest appearing foot trouble, you will come to appreciate the role of the podiatrist. Then instead of asking why I study and treat feet you might be asking me how you can do it too.

 

Dr. Michael Zapf is a board certified podiatrist in practice in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. For more information please call his office at (818) 707-3668 or (805) 497-6979.

   

 

 

 

 

 

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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