Podiatrist - Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee, Mt. Dora, Orlando, and Sandlake-area.
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My Blog
Posts for: April, 2011
School will be out before you know it, warm weather is here, and vacation time might be on your mind. With gas prices rising, many people are staying closer to home. One of the great things about living in Florida is that the beach is within an easy drive of either coast. So a day / week-end at the beach makes a mini-vacation possible. Don't forget your feet when you apply your sunscreen. According to the APMA, even if you are just soaking up the rays in a beach chair or around the pool, your feet are vulnerable. You can get a serious sunburn on your feet without realizing it. Apply sunscreen all over your feet, especially the tops and fronts of your ankles. Don't forget to reapply after swimming. Stay hydrated when enjoying the sun, drink plenty of water. This will not only help your overall health, it will also minimize any foot swelling caused by the heat. For additional health tips on summer foot care, visit www.apma.org.
The human foot is amazing! During the course of an average day, your feet endure a cummulative force of several hundred tons. The 52 bones in your feet make up about 1/4 of all the bones in your body.
Did you know that . . .
- Your nails grow fastest in hot weather, in pregnancy, & during the teen years.
- The ancient Romans were the first to create a distinct left & right shoe - previous to that all shoes could be worn on either foot.
- Shoe sizes were devised by King Edward II of England in 1324 - who declared that the diameter of one barleycorn (a third of an inch) would represent one full shoe size. Today it's still true.
- An average foot expands about 5% in volume as the day goes on - so it is best to shop for shoes in the afternoon.
- The average person engaging in non-strenuous activitity, walks about four miles every day - that's about 115,000 miles in a lifetime.
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The most common foot injury is plantar fasciitis (pain under and in front of the heel). Your podiatrist can help!
Yesterday we talked about some of the ways to enjoy wearing flip-flops and prevent foot predicaments by remembering some helpful tips when purchasing and wearing flip-flops. Today, let's look at some of the DON'TS:
DON"T wear your flip-flops year after year. Inspect your older pairs for wear - throw away any that show severe wear.
DON'T ignore any irritation between your toes where the toe thong fits. Irritation can lead to blisters and possible infections.
DON'T do yard work while wearing flip-flops. Always wear shoes that fully protect your feet while doing any type of yard chores.
DON'T wear your flip-flops while playing sports. Wearing your flip-flops while engaging in these activities can lead to twisting your foot or ankle, even sprains and breaks.
If you have any foot / ankle concerns, be sure to contact your podiatrist. Remember, foot pain is not normal.
One of the perks of living in the state of Florida is the summer-like weather we enjoy almost year round. If you are like me, you can't wait to get home after a day of work, kick off your shoes, and put on your favorite pair of "flip-flops". But beware, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are some important do's and don'ts to remember to avoid a "flip-flop fiasco". Today we will talk about the do's and tomorrow, the don'ts that will make your feet say AH!
DO choose flip-flops made of high-quality, soft leather. Leather minimizes the potential for irritations & blisters.
DO buy flip-flops that hold the APMA Seal of Acceptance. These products are shown to allow the most normal foot function & promote quality health. Visit www.apma.org for a list of flip-flops with the "seal"
DO gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, ensuring it will bend at the ball of the foot. No shoe of any kind should ever fold in half.
DO wear a sturdy pair of flip-flops when walking around a public pool, the beach, hotel rooms, or locker rooms. Walking barefoot in these public places can expose your feet to plantar wart's or athlete's foot.
DO be sure that your foot does not hang off the edge of your flip-flops.
Visit our blog tomorrow for tips to avoid when wearing flip-flops!
When do I see the foot doctor? Part II
In yesterday's blog we discussed some common foot ailments and whether or not they can be handled with OTC products. So when do you involve your podiatrist?
Ingrown Toenails - It is best not to use OTC products to treat an ingrown toenail. You should make an apointment to see your podiatrist as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of infection. Your podiatrist can not only remove the ingrown nail, but he/she may also be able to alleviate the problem in the future.
Foot & Ankle Sprains & Strains - Foot or ankle sprains and be initially treated at home using the RICE treatment - Rest / Ice / Compression / Elevation. But if the swelling / pain persists, you should see your podiatrist to determine if there are any broken bones.
Use any / all OTC or home remedies in moderation, sometimes they can make an existing problem worse - or create a new problem. Anyone who has PVD (peripheral vascular disease) or diabetes and has foot/ankle problems should always make an appointment with their podiatrist. Anyone without diabetes or PVD should be wary of pain, drainage, color changes, swelling, heat, or any open areas in any part of the foot or ankle. These are signs that warrant an appointment with a professional.
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