Locations
Center For Sports Medicine
San Francisco, CA
My office hours
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Blue Cross of California
Richard L Blake, DPM
About
Bio
I am a Podiatrist and have practiced sports medicine and biomechanics for 32 years. I have a podiatry blog that goes over my treatment philosophy at www.drblakeshealingsole.com. I love to educate and have taught sports medicine at the local podiatry school for 14 years total. I will accept inbox consults only for HealthTap patients. Please feel free to email me to start a relationship. Dr Rich Blake
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Podiatry
Sports Medicine
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
165 Answers
13 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Knee Sprain Symptoms: New shoes are not necessarily better. They take time to break into. If you got a different type of shoe, say motion control or minimalist, and you wer... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Flip Flop Unstable: When you go from a stable environment, like supportive sneakers, into a less stable environment, like flip flops you are using your tendons and joints... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Foot Discoloration: I have never seen this pattern before as a practicing podiatrist, so i would definitely recommend you so a podiatrist or dermatologist to start. If th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
DPM vs Orthopod: Both of these professions are surgically based. Popping an ankle back into place if in an acute situation, would be done equally by both. Chiropractor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Knee Sprain Symptoms: There are many patients who complain of ankle swelling after a knee injury. This is because gravity pulls the swelling down to the ankle, before the b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Compensatory Pains: Typically when you fall and hurt a significant body part (like your knee) you limp and use the rest of your body abnormally until the normal homeostas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Ankle Popping: Ankle popping is typically due to loose ligaments where the tendons move too much and pop as they move over the bones. It is normally not painful. Whe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Breathing Exercise: As a sports medicine podiatrist, I constantly refer to Pilates for rehabilitation. The Pilates folks are anal about achieving good breathing. Here is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Black Toenails: Typically the toenail is black because it has been bruised, and bleeding has occurred under the toenail. We see this most commonly on the first and 2n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Overlapping Toes: Definitely you are on your way to bunions. Please see my blog post below on conservative treatment of bunions, especially the yoga toes, night splints... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Ankle Inflammation: What did you do? Sounds like a common sprain, and i know some people forgot a minor twist until 2 days later when the symptoms develop. Do rice--rest ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Drop Foot Exercise: Drop foot is caused by a neurological injury to the nerves that innervate the muscles in front of your shin. Since that injury may not be complete dam... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Foot/Ankle Swelling: The #1 reason for bilatteral foot and ankle swelling is that our veins begin to weaken and not do as good a job moving the fluid back to the heart. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Home Program: Physical therapy is normally started as early as possible in an injury. A home program is the start of a physical therapy program and can be initiated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Spots on Skin: A recent onset on spots that are getting worse may be a delayed hypersensitivity to some new medication he is using, or to something he rubs on his bo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Neural Tension Sx: Nerve pain is the most disabling pain one can get. The nerve pathways go right to the brain. They say if you look at a nerve funny you will have 9 mon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Psoas Stretch: The iliopsoas muscle starts up in the low back and pelvis and attaches into the femur. The tighter it becomes, the more anterior pelvic tilt occurs. F... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Itchy Heels: It would be an unusual presentation of athlete's foot, but possible. The itchy part is typically athlete's foot. The hard white lumps are not. Perhaps... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Never Enough Muscle: You can get muscle bound when you do not stretch enough while you are strengthening the muscles. This is when i hear the most about negative muscle st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Possible Blood Clot: Definitely you need to rule out a blood clot first, although very unlikely at your age. What was the history before? Had you increased your exercise a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Ballet Changes Foot: As you dance ballet, the emphasize is not in flattening your arch, but raising it. The boney structure of the instep can begin to change as the foot m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Foot Drop Shoes: The only shoe type I have ever found useless for some of my patients with drop foot is some stable heel. Since it is hard to lift your foot past ankle... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Back and Leg Pain: I would definitely start by looking at his back. The leg pain may be a version of sciatica caused on a back condition. See a orthopedist, physiatrist,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Sciatica and Feet: Typically sciatica caused by a foot injury is due to the abnormal weight bearing produced by crutches, canes, casts, boots, etc. A physical therapist... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Feet and Knees: Of course, it will slightly depend on the knee we are talking about. Gait is the way we walk or run. It is the summation of motion, and our attempt to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Sensitive Feet: There are more nerve endings on the bottom of our feet than any other area of the body per square inch. That makes them very sensitive. But sensitivit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Athlete's Feet: Athlete's feet condition is a fungal infection. It typically starts on the bottom of the foot or between toes. It needs moisture like sweating or wet ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Never: Never push through pain that comes on during an activity and increases with time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Symptoms post rest: Symptoms like this are typically nerve. The laying or sitting positions can cause you to stress the nerves in your low back causing you to lose sensat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Tight Hamstrings: Typically this is from low back issues (like bulging discs). Please turn your mattress, get a new mattress, sleep more on your side than back (stomach... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Foot Pulse Off: Your foot pulses are just a reflection of your heart pumping. Please check with your primary care doctor. The weakness could be a sign of heart issues... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Post Achilles Surg: Depends on how long it lasts. If it is short lived, you are probably stretching out the scar tissue, and that is fine. If it lasts for several days, y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Scar Symptoms: It is not uncommon for an old scar to act like a callus on the bottom of the foot. Calluses can gradually get worse, and cause low grade swelling and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 65-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Swelling Post Surg: I am always concerned, perhaps overly, with a blood clot in your leg. If the calf is tight and sore, go to the er for a doppler ultrasound now. If the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Medial Knee Pain: As a podiatrist, i would team up with an orthopod and physical therapist to help you. I would design wedges for your shoes to off weight the sore area... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
SwollenToes: You are describing a possible infection which may need antibiotics. Please see a podiatrist to check out how serious this is. Good luck. Dr rich blake... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Systemic Reaction: Any time that you have foot problems accompanied with systemic changes (like high temperatures, malaise, GI upset), you should immediately seek attent... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Calf Pain: The gastrocnemius is one of the 2 calf muscles. It can be stressed out in many different ways. It help protects the knee and becomes the powerful achi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Swelling Leg Foot: There are many causes of swelling in the legs and feet. We must worry about your venous return or lymph drainage. Best to see a vascular specialist to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Constant Calf Cramp: I am glad you did the ultrasound, but I would still get a complete vascular workup from a vascular surgeon. The 2 common causes of this cramping that ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Strength Training: Typically from a medical standpoint we have our patients give the stressed areas 48 hours to recover between sessions. So three non consecutive days a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Gout Attack Reason: Uric acid that produces gout is a normal breakdown product of purines (nucleic acids) in our bodies.A gout attack is caused by an excessive buildup of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Pronation Issues: When your foot pronates too far, the arch collapses inward driving the knee inward. This creates instability issues and a feeling of being off balance... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Knee Problems: When the knee is troublesome, the whole leg from hip to foot gets involved. See an orthopedist to checked out. Probably need some time with a physical... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Ankle Pain Outside: There are lots of treatments available. I would see a podiatrist to make a diagnosis. Try an ankle brace, but it may not be helpful. Try icing 3 times... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Knee Sprain: Untreated knee sprains can take forever to heal. Once the knee goes more than 45 degrees bent, you will feel it more because of the swelling. You shou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Ehlers Danlos: I have patients with Ehlers Danlos syndrome with relatives with the same syndrome. So there is definitely a link and you need a specialist to help you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Leg Swelling: There are so many causes of leg swelling, some serious like a blood clot, that it is important to get this checked out in an er or orthopedic clinic. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
Foot Pain Urinating: I assume that the position you are in while urinating is stressing the low back (check there first) or the pressure in the back of the thighs is irrit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Blakeanswered
Podiatry 47 years experience
First Ray Hypermobil: First Ray hypermobility means that the arch side of your foot is loose and unstable typically due to overpronation. The treatment is to stabilize the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
196
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Blake is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Blake is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you so much, but I have not injured my toe in any way. I was just walking down my hallway. Even now, almost two weeks later, I still feel something flapping around inside my toe.
HealthTap member
No the cramp was just once then the swollen vain appeared and the swallen started to disappear now..and no no no so i guess i have nothing to fear thank you viry much doctor :D
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! TY for answering my ?.. It looks like I have Fred Frinston feet. COPD?
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
California College of Podiatric Medicine
Graduated 1976MD
Residency
California Podiatric Hospital
Completed 1981
Awards
Top Podiatrist, Second Place, California - Summer
2013
Top Doctor, Third Place, San Francisco Region - Spring
2016
Top Podiatrist, First Place, California - Spring
2016
Affiliations
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less