Foot Health Awareness Month

April is about to come to a close. The warmer weather is just around the corner. April is also known as Foot Health Awareness Month. But why should just one month be dedicated to Foot Health Awareness, when it should be all year long. We should always take care of our feet, to help us constantly go that extra distance. Everyone should always check their feet routinely for any cuts, bruises, skin lesions, and new lesions. Some of the most common areas to check are in between the toes and on the bottoms and backs if your heels. Yes, I know you are saying that this is difficult to see. If it is, grab a mirror or have someone check this for you. Check before you go to bed each night.

Foot pain is not normal and one should see a Podiatrist for care. I am also going to include a link to the American Podiatric Medical Association website that has a walking guide. It talks about the benefits of walking and exercise. It is very useful material. It will also discuss how often one should exercise per week. Its a great resource so be sure to check it out....as well as our web page for new information and updates.
http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/Foot-Health/FootHealthBrochures/Walking-guide.aspx

As always before going for that walk make sure you are in the proper shoe gear. Many people will wear that old pair of shoes, or those loafers that feel comfortable for their walks or exercise. Sure it may feel great during that time, but in the long run you are only harming your feet and preventing yourself from future activities. Invest in a good pair of shoes and it will surely pay off.

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Plantar Warts

Not only will we talk about heel pain, but we will also discuss other foot conditions as well. One of the more common things that we see are plantars warts, also known as verruca plantaris. These warts can occur at any time of the year but they are more common during the warmer months.

They are called plantar warts because they occur on the sole or plantar aspect of the foot. These warts are caused by a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV). People can pick these up at hotels, pools, locker rooms, gym floors, mats and showers. If someone steps on one of these surfaces that has or had the virus and has a small cut in their skin, they can too pick up the HPV virus and develop the plantars wart. More people will tend to use swimming pools and walk barefoot in the summer time. That is why sometimes there is an increase in the amount of warts seen during the warmer weather. If you have sweaty feet, you also are at a risk of picking up the virus.

Plantars warts may or may not hurt. A lot of it will depend on where it is located on the foot. If it is on a weight bearing area, chances are they will hurt.

Treatment options vary depending on where the wart is located. Usually we may start off with topical acid therapy which is very effective and sometimes we may have to excise the wart.

Some ways to prevent warts is to avoid walking around barefoot, changing socks reguarly if they sweat a lot, and keeping your feet clean and dry.

As always its very important to see your Dr if you have any questions regarding warts. Its important to assess what treatment is best for you.

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Still Being Active With Heel Pain

One of the secrets to a healthy lifestyle includes being very active. Depending on your condition and the nature of your heel pain, it is still possible to be active with certain exercises when at home or going to the gym. A lot of our patients still want to go for that walk or be at the gym with their Plantar Fasciitis pain.

If the plantar fasciitis is under control the best forms of exercise include the elliptical machine, spinning (or cycling), and any type of water aerobics. The first two machines, put less stress on your plantar fascia while still being able to get a great workout.

Notice how I did not mention anything about the treadmill. Depending on the speed that you are running on the treadmill, it can have a high impact on your feet and knees. Not having the proper support in your shoes can lead to heel and knee pain while running on the treadmill. If you are noticing this type of pain after using the treadmill it is important to see your doctor. The treadmill is not going to help with the plantar fasciitis, only make it worse.

Now if you are having any type of heel pain and it simply is not getting better with some of the things we have talked about earlier in the blog, then it is strongly advised against any type of physical activity. Having pain and being on your feet is only going to make the problem worse and not any better. Arch supports, cortisone shots, a period of immobilization, or physical therapy can help you get back on your feet for a healthy lifestyle.

Dont forget, you can always view our webpage for more information

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Kids and Heel Pain

Heel pain not only affects adults, but it can also be prevalent in kids. A common condition we see in kids is called calcaneal apophysitis or Sever's disease. The age range we see this is between 10-14. The cause is an inflammation of the secondary center of growth of the heel bone called the calcaneus. The Achilles tendon which inserts into the heel bone can cause the disturbance that kids typically will feel in the bottom or the back of their heel. So what are the causes? The majority of the time its an overuse injury. Many kids will typically be very active and participate in a number of activities. The constant pulling of the Achilles tendon at this growth center leads to their pain. It also is caused by poor shoe gear, tight calf muscle, and the shape of the foot. These conditions where tendons pull on other growth centers are also common at other parts of the body including the knee and hip. The X-Ray you are looking at is the back part of the heel bone (calcaneus). The area that is separated is the secondary center of growth.

OK so how do we go about treating this? The majority of time is to reduce the amount of physical activity. Ice, anti-inflammatory, stretching, and orthotics or inserts for your shoes are all effective measures as well to help reduce the inflammation that is occurring. A change in shoe gear is important as well. In rare cases a child may need to be casted if the pain is severe enough and the above measures are not helping.

Preventative measures include orthotics and daily stretching.

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Its that time of the season....

For warmer weather to finally arrive. More and more people will be active this time of the year to be outside and play. One of the biggest concerns that we see is the Weekend Warrior Syndrome. What is that you may ask? Well that is if you have not been active and just get right into an activity that you have not prepared yourself for in years. Example, you used to play basketball as a teenager. Now you are in your 40's and want to play that pickup game again with your friends. You have not stretched or done any physical activity in years. You start that pickup game without stretching or warming up your body. You then make that run at the end of the court, as your teammate dishes off that pass to you and you pivot the wrong way and you hear a pop sound. This actually may have been your Achilles Tendon that had ruptured. And depending on the severity of that rupture, it can take you a full year time frame of recovery to get any better. So please, make sure you are not the typical Weekend Warrior and remember to stretch and slowly progress into activity if you have not done so in a while

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Stretching Exercises

Lets talk a minute on some of the stretching exercises for heel pain. This is one of the most important things that needs to be done on a consistent basis to feel better. We tell our patients that its a lifestyle change. One of our favorite stretching exercises is to take a water bottle, put it in a freezer so you have a frozen water bottle. Now, while you are sitting down, watching TV or reading a book, roll it under your heel and arch area for 10-15 minutes. Try and do this at least twice a day. Another easy exercise is to to have a towel on the floor and practice curling your toes to pick up the towel. Still have that pain first thing in the morning when getting out of bed? Try this one, the towel stretch. The key with this is to make sure that your knees are straight so that you can feel the stretch in your calf muscle. Hold this stretch for 10 seconds and repeat it 5 times. Another one to do as much as you can is the wall stretch. The key with this one is to make sure that both heels are on the ground and your toes are pointing to the wall. Hold this for 10 seconds and repeat it 5 times. Its ALWAYS a good idea to stretch out both calf muscles. What may happen with one side hurting, the other limb gets more pressure with walking and the weight shifts to your other side. This can actually cause foot pain to begin. So start with these to try and help relieve some of that heel pain. Remember, 90% of heel pain can be treated conservatively.
For more information please visit the following website:
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Camwalkers

If anyone watched Dancing with the stars they had a quick look at a Cam walker boot on one of the contestants. Cam walkers, depending on the foot and ankle condition, are taking the place of fiber glass casts. They can be used from simple strains and sprains to stable fractured bones in the foot. The pros of the Cam walker boot are that they can be easily removed during the day, not as bulky as a cast, can prevent skin irritation and breakdown, can allow for various increments for range of motion, and a rocker bottom design for easy walking. Some of the cons for the Cam walker boot are compliance with use, and limb length discrepancies. Due to the elevation of one limb, it can cause opposite limb problems such as knee, and low back. This generally can be resolved with a lift in the other shoe. Other uses of Cam Walker Boots include:
Stable fractures of the foot, Achilles Tendon problems, Peroneal tendons, acute ankle sprains, posterior tibial tendinitis, sports injuries, post op courses and more. As always please visit our website for more information
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Dancing With the Stars

Wow 3 people were out for Dancing with the Stars. Wondering if it could be foot or ankle related. Remember, having foot pain is not normal. There are a number of different things that can be done to eliminate these problems if you are having them. Be sure to check out: http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/ for more info

College basketball

I bet all those Syracuse and U Conn players are dealing with a lot of heel and foot pain after their 6 overtime marathon last night. Luckily for them and other people, there are ways to get rid of their heel and foot pain.