Items filtered by date: April 2015

Since April is National Foot Health Awareness month, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society wants to offer tips to those that are always on their feet and may need specific attention such as arthritic foot care. According to the society, the average individual walks takes nearly 10,000 steps a day and when people are busy with their daily activities, they will often forget about foot health.

It is important to regularly pay attention to your feet to promptly find and treat associated arthritic symptoms including joint stiffness, swelling, and overall pain. For those that are out and on their feet often, make sure shoes are changed after signs of excessive wear begin to show. Often changes in the feet occur most specifically with age, making regular check ups important.

Arthritic foot care is an important part of preventing long term problems and reducing pain. If you have any concerns about your foot and ankle needs contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Arthritic Foot Care
Arthritis is a joint disorder that involves inflammation of different joints in your body, such as in your feet. Arthritis is often caused by a degenerative joint disease and causes mild to severe pain in all affected areas. On top of this, swelling and stiffness in the affected joints can also be a common symptom of arthritis.

In many cases, wearing ill-fitting shoes can worsen the effects and pain of arthritis. Wearing shoes that have a lower heel and extra room can help your feet feel more comfortable. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the arch in your foot may become problematic. Buying shoes with proper arch support that contour to your feet can help immensely.

Alleviating Arthritic Pain

• Exercises that stretch the foot can prevent further pain and injury and increase mobility
• Most of the pain can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory drugs, heat, and topical medications
• Massages can help to temporarily alleviate pain.

It is best to see your doctor for the treatment that is right for your needs and symptoms. Conditions vary, and a podiatrist can help you determine the right method of care for your feet.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Media, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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 For those suffering from diabetes, it is important that they pay close attention to their feet on a daily basis in order to prevent and treat and problems that may arise. Odd Color, swelling, sores, drainage, temperature, pain, blood sugar, and fever are all things to look out for when it comes to maintaining diabetic foot health.

If your feet are swollen and appear to a pink, red, purple or yellow green color, they may be infected. When open sores occur in the feet and toes, most patients would treat it right away, but diabetic patients often feel numbness in their feet and toes making them unaware of the wound.

Since diabetic wounds are easily infected, it is important that patients check their socks daily to bring any issues to immediate attention. If you have any concerns about your diabetic feet contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes affects millions of people every year. Diabetes can damage blood vessels in many parts of the body, including the feet. Because of this, taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes, and having a podiatrist help monitor your foot health is highly recommended.

The Importance of Caring for Your Feet

• Routinely inspect your feet for bruises or sores.
• Wear socks that fit your feet comfortably.
• Wear comfortable shoes that provide adequate support.

Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their blood levels because blood sugar levels play such a huge role in diabetic care. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised.

It is always best to inform your healthcare professional of any concerns you may have regarding your feet, especially for diabetic patients. Early treatment and routine foot examinations are keys to maintaining proper health, especially because severe complications can arise if proper treatment is not applied.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in New York, NY. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Curtis Penix of Kentucky wanted to follow in the pioneering footsteps of his ancestors and decided to hike 240 miles in the Appalachian Trail. Accordingly the trail is where the American dream began when axe men carved it out in 1775. Penix relived the journey starting in Tennessee and ending five days later in Kentucky. On his first day he walked through approximately seven streams and rivers, which soon proved to be a mistake by the blisters on his feet.

He stated, “I quickly found out that by getting your feet wet and then continuing to walk, you could get what the pioneers called ‘scaled feet.’” The blisters caused a slight change in the trail, choosing to walk over bridges than through streams of water.

Blisters on the feet can result in many problems if not treated properly. If you have any concerns about your blisters contact one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Blisters on the Feet
When tight or ill fitting footwear is worn, many times a foot blister may develop. Blisters can even develop by constant rubbing from the shoe, often times leading to pain.

What is a Foot Blister?
A foot blister is a small pocket that is filled with fluid, forming on the upper most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid, and may lead to drainage of blood or pus if the area has become infected.

How do they Form?
Blisters of the feet are almost always the result of shoe rubbing and constant friction of the skin and material. Long periods of walking in shoes, sandals, or boots which don’t fit properly can result in a blister. Those who often have moisture or humidity in the feet, are prone to blister formation easily.

Prevention & Treatment
Proper care is vital to alleviate pain and prevent infection to the affected area of the foot. The best treatment is to leave them alone. New skin will develop under the blister and during the healing stages, your blister will pop.

• Do not lance the blister , which can lead to infection
• Place a band-aid over the blister to provide pain relief
• Seek a doctor if you see blood or pus in a blister
• Keep your feet dry, and wear proper fitting shoes  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Media, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and treatments for your foot and ankle needs.

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High heels are a major staple in nearly every woman’s wardrobe; unfortunately many doctors are telling their patients to avoid them at all costs to protect the feet and ankles from serious damage. Many women are aware that high heels will cause the usual pain of blisters and corns, but in a recent study, it was found that the shoe has the potential to change the entire way the foot moves even after they are taken off.

The study listed nearly twelve possible injuries heel wearers can obtain from wearing the shoe type too often including: Morton’s neuroma, Achilles tendonitis, hammertoes, pump bump, sprained ankles, and arthritis. If avoiding high heels is not possible, professionals recommend wearing a lower heel or a heel with a wider toe box to avoid some of these ailments.

High heels can negatively affect your feet if they do not offer enough support. If you would like to learn more, speak to one of our podiatrists of Sutera and Jones Surgical Podiatry. Our doctors will answer all of your foot- and ankle-related questions.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet
High heels are popular shoes among women because they are associated with femininity.  Despite their appeal, they can cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

What parts my body will be affected by high heels?

• Ankle Joints
• Achilles Tendon – may shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
• Balls of the Feet
• Knees – heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
• Back – they decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  Also, the vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What kinds of foot problems can develop from wearing high heels?

• Corns
• Calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis

If you have any questions, please contact our office in Media, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle injuries.

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