Dr. Merrick L. Horn
Your Trusted Local Podiatrist
Monday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Call Us Today!
(305) 949-4189
Functional podiatry is ideal for people who want to proactively improve their performance.
As a former competitive collegiate and international gymnast, Dr. Horn brings firsthand insight into high-level training demands, injury recovery, and performance challenges. This background allows him to approach care not only as a physician but as someone who understands what it takes to stay active and resilient.
Dr. Horn's goal is to combine medical expertise, advanced technologies, and personalized care to help patients move better, recover faster, and stay active longer.
Whether you are a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or simply want to stay active without pain, the focus is on restoring efficient movement, preventing re-injury, and supporting long-term performance through biomechanics, movement science, and integrative care. Dr. Horn seeks to identify why pain or injury developed and create a plan that restores efficient movement, supports healing, and helps prevent recurrence.
Dr. Horn develops individualized treatment plans for foot, ankle, and lower extremity injuries that go beyond common recommendations. A comprehensive plan may include:
By addressing both symptoms and biomechanical contributors, patients often experience better outcomes with fewer flare-ups.
Heel pain, whether acute or chronic, is a great example of why a functional approach matters.
Although pain is felt at the bottom or back of the heel, the true cause is often related to how the foot interacts with the rest of the body during walking, running, or prolonged standing. Limited ankle mobility, poor foot strength, altered gait mechanics, or core instability can all overload the heel over time.
By evaluating how the entire lower extremity functions, treatment targets the source of the problem rather than only calming symptoms.
Functional podiatry evaluates foot and ankle conditions through a comprehensive, whole-body lens. Much like a functional medicine approach, Dr. Horn looks beyond X-rays and isolated findings to understand how your feet interact with the rest of your body during walking, running, training, and daily life.
A thorough evaluation considers many factors that influence foot and leg function, including:
By understanding the full picture, treatment can be more precise and effective.
What Makes Functional Podiatry Different
Functional podiatry visits are typically longer than traditional appointments. This allows time for a detailed assessment, clear explanations, and personalized recommendations.
Rather than relying only on standard treatments, this approach focuses on addressing both local symptoms and upstream contributors. Insurance coverage may vary depending on the services provided, and patients are informed up front so there are no surprises.
Functional Podiatry is well-suited for patients dealing with:
If you are looking for answers beyond temporary relief and want a deeper understanding of your foot health, Functional Podiatry may be the right fit. Contact our office to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and take the next step toward moving comfortably and confidently.
The goal is to restore proper foot and lower extremity function by proactively identifying and treating the underlying causes of pain, not just the symptoms.
These visits are often longer to allow for a detailed assessment and individualized treatment planning.
No. While athletes benefit greatly, functional podiatry is helpful for anyone who wants to move better and stay active with less pain.
Coverage varies depending on the service. Our office will review options and costs with you before treatment.
