Even Hollywood Stars Admit To Not Taking Care of Their Feet

Kristin Stewart, star of the "Twilight Series", admits that her red carpet shoe choices have lead to some VERY tired feet lately. Read the story here (courtesy of People.com).

For women, making the right shoe choice can lead to a great night or a sore morning.

Maybe Kristin should have stopped by our office to see our stylish and COMFORTABLE Sandalista sandals (you can check out the styles here). These sandals are a perfect match of style and comfort. They feature an extra depth sole that will accommodate any custom or medical grade orthotic device that you already have. If you don't wear an orthotic device the provided insole allows you to remove pads on the toes and heel to offload any pressure you might be experiencing and give you a custom fit to your sandals.

So call us at 309-661-9975 or visit our website to make an appointment to have our shoe experts check out YOUR toes and order you a pair of Sandalistas today!

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Happy Feet = Happy Kids

As soon as that last school bell rings for the summer, kids hit the ground running. Whether they are headed to the pool, the beach or to camp, the short time between the end of school and the beginning of summer activities is a great time to pay attention to your child’s foot health.

Fun in the sun can end with a day at the doctor’s office if the proper safety measures are ignored. So before children catch their first glimpse of the giant slide at the pool, the oversized toys at the park, or the exciting new rides at the amusement park, prepare them with the right footwear and protect them with the right care. Here are a few tips from your podiatrist to make the summer fun and safe.

• Carefully observe your child’s walking patterns. Does your child have toes that point in or out, or have knock-knees or other gait abnormalities? These problems can be corrected if they are detected early and treated by a podiatrist.
• Children’s feet change size rapidly, so always have your child’s feet measured each time you purchase new shoes. Make sure that measurements are done while the child is standing for a more accurate sizing. The best time to buy new shoes is at the end of the day.
• When shopping for shoes, look for stiff material on either side of the heel, adequate cushioning and a built-in arch. The shoe should bend at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.
• Never wear hand-me-down shoes.
• Don’t buy shoes that need a “break-in” period. Good shoes should feel comfortable right away. For athletic activities, choose a shoe that is designed for the sport your child will be playing.
• Never pack brand-new shoes for your children to wear on vacation.
• Walking barefoot on pavement, hotel or airplane carpeting, in hotel bathrooms or a locker room and near the pool can expose your child’s feet to a host of infections. Always wear a pair of flip-flops or strappy sandals made of soft, supple leather to prevent contracting a bacteria, fungus, or viruses.
• When applying sunscreen, don’t forget about putting some on your child’s feet. Additionally, always remember to re-apply.
• Watch for clues that your child may be injured. Limping, tripping, and hesitating to bear weight are telltale signs that something may be wrong. Remember that lack of complaints by a youngster is not a reliable sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that they can be twisted and distorted without the child being aware.
• Be careful about applying home remedies to children’s feet. Preparations strong enough to kill certain types of fungus in adults may irritate kids’ skin. Your best bet is to visit your podiatrist for treatment of any infections.

If your children suffer a foot injury, don't let it ruin their entire summer of fun. Call our office (309-661-9975) or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

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Melanomas

Summer is often the time we hear more about skin cancer—we’re told to avoid the sun if possible and always wear sunscreen when we are in the sun. But many people never think about their feet when they take preventative action, even though malignant melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer) can affect the legs and feet as well as other parts of the body.

Melanomas on the feet can occur in men and women, and while they usually develop in people over the age of 50, they can be found at any age. Lighter-skinned people are more likely to develop melanomas on sun-exposed areas of the body, but only one-third of African-American patients who have melanoma develop it on sun-exposed areas. In the African- American population, melanomas most often develop on skin that is not exposed to the sun, such as the foot and under the toenails. Early detection is extremely important since malignant melanoma can spread (metastasize) rapidly.

Since melanomas on the foot and ankle often go unnoticed during their earliest stage, routine foot examinations can increase the likelihood of diagnosing and treating malignant melanomas. During routine examinations your podiatrist will always look for moles, or “nevi,” which are usually evenly colored, round spots on the skin or even under the nails. Most are small and don’t change in size or shape. However, the doctor will carefully examine any moles that look “abnormal.” The podiatrist will use a common dermatological rule (the “ABCD” rule) to characterize the melanoma:

• Asymmetrical lesions
• Border irregularity
• Color variation
• Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser.

Skin cancer is rarely painful, so routine podiatric medical visits are important for anyone with questionable lesions on the feet. Other signs to watch for are changes in color or a mole that becomes raised from the skin. Malignant melanomas on the feet usually occur between toes, in and around the nails, and on the soles of the feet.

If you see something on your feet that may look like a melanoma, please call 309-661-9975 or visit our website to schedule an appointment to get it checked out.

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Foot for Thought - June 10, 2010

Summer Foot Care

Summertime is here and so are sunny days spent splashing in pools and relaxing on the beach. As many vacationers know, summer can cause some extra wear and tear on the body. Educated consumers usually protect themselves by purchasing sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses. But many will forget to look after the most important and neglected part of the body -- the feet.

I recommend the following key tips on how to protect yourself, especially your feet, from salt water, sand, and other summer scares:

1. Remember to apply sunscreen to feet, especially the tops and fronts of ankles. Don't forget to reapply if you're in the water!
2. When out of the water, wash and dry feet thoroughly, especially between the toes, and apply a topical anti-fungal medication on any cracked or itchy skin. Clean, dry feet resist disease.
3. Pass up sharing towels to avoid developing athlete's foot and other diseases that can easily be spread.
4. Take special care of toenails, which are especially vulnerable around damp areas. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to infection so make an appointment at first sign of discoloration or infection.
5. To avoid toe and ankle injuries, wear shoes that are specific to the activity or sport you're participating in. Never play Frisbee in sandals and be sure to wear boots or gym shoes when working outside and mowing the lawn.
6. Give yourself plenty of time to break in new shoes before going on trips where you'll be doing lots of walking. And when trying on new shoes, make sure you have on the same socks you plan on wearing with them.
7. When in the ocean, be cautious of jellyfish that often bite at feet and ankles and sharp coral that can cut the undersides of feet. Keeping sandals or water shoes on at all times is a good idea to prevent stings, cuts, and other injuries.
8. Watch out for prickly sea urchin spines when taking walks on the beach. Avoid walking barefoot; wear an old pair of running shoes or flip-flops to protect you from jagged rocks, shells, spines, and debris that could float ashore.
9. And most importantly, swim, walk, and enjoy the summer!! Walking is the best form of exercise for your feet and swimming is a great alternative for those suffering from tendonitis and plantar fascitis, which can make other types of exercise painful.

If you experience any injuries during the summer, please give me a call at 309-661-9975 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. I don't want you to miss any of the fun activities summer has to offer.

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Summer is Here - Show Your Toes

With summer upon us, many of us are ready to shed those heavy shoes and socks in favor of sandals and flip-flops. But over the winter, corns and calluses may have developed, making your feet and toes not quite ready for “prime time.” Help is on the way.

Corns and calluses are protective layers of compacted, thick, dead skin cells. They are caused by repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas or against an irregularity in a shoe. Corns ordinarily form on the toes, and calluses on the soles or the balls of the feet. Corns and calluses can also form when the position of the bones in your feet change. The corns and calluses initially form to provide protection, but as they thicken, they can become painful and inflamed.

The friction and pressure from both corns and calluses can cause a painful or burning sensation. Often one visit to the podiatrist can be all that’s needed to relieve the pain, although most corns and calluses will reoccur without regular monitoring or changes in either your shoes or your foot function. The podiatric physician can work with you to relieve the pain by using a variety of pads or materials on the affected areas.

It is important that you never cut your corns or calluses with any instrument and never apply home remedies, except under a podiatrist’s instructions. Many over-the-counter remedies are advertised frequently, but often these home remedies can be dangerous. Self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.

Corns and calluses can be particularly problematic for patients with diabetes. These patients should always schedule regular yearly visits with their podiatrist to check for foot problems and circulation issues. If more frequent visits are required, the podiatrist will work with you to make sure your corns and calluses are monitored and treated as needed.

One way to control corns and calluses is to make sure that your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest and replace worn-out shoes as soon as possible. Select and wear the right shoe for the activity that you are engaged in (i.e., running shoes for running). Also, it is important to alternate shoes—don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

A visit wit me can be all you need to get your feet in shape for summer footwear, so schedule that now and be ready to show off your “fancy feet.” So give me a call at 309-661-9975 or visit our website to schedule an appointment to get your feet into summer shape.

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