Advice on Foot Care

Superfeet Premium Blue Insoles are multi-purpose prefabricated inserts designed to offer full arch support. Superfeet has a unique two component design to help provide lasting comfort & support. Factory made insoles just don’t compare. Superfeet Insoles help reduce the cause of foot, knee and back problems by maximizing comfort and improving shock absorption. Superfeet Blue Insoles are primarily designed for footwear with a removable insole, but work well with tighter fitting shoes. Superfeet BLUE can fit many shoe and foot types, but are ideal for low & medium arch feet, which can’t tolerate maximum arch support.

Recommended footwear for Superfeet Blue: Cleated athletic footwear and all types of Casual and Dress shoes.

The heel cup is moderately deep and aids in shock absorption. The anatomical arch shape offers comfortable support and the compressed foam, full length top cover helps to control friction. Read more at www.northcoastfootcare.com

ARCH Molds: Moldable Custom Insoles for arch pain relief and general arch support. The Heat Moldable inserts mold to the shape of your foot, helping arch and heel problems without compromising support. They eliminate the gaps between your foot and footwear. You can re-mold them up to 5 times! Preheat the oven to 225 degrees, bake, place in your shoe and stand on the insole for 1 minute. Instant custom insoles. Arch molds heat moldable insoles are firm and supportive, have an aggressive arch support, yet they are still comfortable because they are molded to the exact shape of your foot. Available in hard to find sizes! Women’s shoe size 4 & 5 and Men’s shoe size 13, 14 and 15.

- Deep Support Heel Cup: to keep the foot stable inside your shoe. – Anti-Bacterial Nano-Silver Top Sheet: kills bacteria & reduces odor. – Aggressive Arch Support: support your arch and reduce arch pain. – 1.5 mm Polyurethane Cushion: supports and cushions. – Heat Moldable Sub Layer: custom molds to your feet.Read more at www.northcoastfootcare.com

During Diabetes Awareness Month, the American Podiatric Medical Association encourages patients to see a podiatrist for regular foot examinations.

Bethesda, MD—The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise toward record levels, with an estimated one in three adults predicted to have the disease by the year 2050, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Because many serious complications from diabetes present in the lower limbs, proper foot care for those with the disease is a vital step to keeping the disease in check. In fact, a new study on foot care for people with diabetes conducted by Thomson Reuters confirms that care by a podiatrist can drastically reduce the incidence of diabetes-related hospitalizations and amputations.

“During November’s Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s important to realize that simple lifestyle changes can go a long way toward staying healthy with diabetes.Read more at www.apma.org

Don’t let sore, achy feet ruin your holiday season. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons offers five tips to healthy holiday feet.

1. If the shoe fits, wear it—When hitting the dance floor or the shopping malls during the holiday season, don’t compromise comfort and safety when picking the right shoes to wear. Narrow shoes, overly-high-heeled ones or shoes that aren’t worn very often, such as dress shoes, can irritate feet and lead to blisters, calluses, swelling and even severe ankle injuries. “To ward off problems, choose a shoe that has a low heel and fits your foot in length, width and depth while you are standing,” says Tennessee foot and ankle surgeon Christopher Hendrix, DPM, FACFAS. “Be proactive, protective and preventive with your selection of appropriate shoes for the occasion.”

2. Don’t overindulge in holiday cheer— Did you know your feet can feel the effects of too much holiday cheer? Read more at www.foothealthfacts.org

Wearing a brace can help people with osteoarthritis better manage their pain, the Arthritis Foundation says.

The foundation mentions these possible benefits of bracing, which can improve pain and mobility:

Improve stability in weakened joints. Improve distribution of weight and joint alignment. Improve joint function. Improve a person’s risk of falling, providing an increased feeling of security. Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov

An extra jolt or two of caffeine may trigger a gout attack in people with the painful and often disabling arthritic condition, preliminary research suggests.

“We found that overall, as the number of servings of caffeinated beverages increased, so too did the chance of having recurrent gout attacks,” says Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

For example, drinking four servings of caffeinated beverages in the previous 24 hours was associated with an 80% increased risk of recurrent gout attacks, compared with having no caffeinated drinks.

Drinking more than six servings of caffeinated beverages in the previous day was associated with a 3.3-fold higher risk of a flare-up, the study of 663 gout patients suggests.

When habitual and occasional caffeine drinkers were looked at separately, the link was only observed in people with gout who typically drink less than two caffeinated beverages a day, Neogi tells WebMD. Read more at arthritis.webmd.com

A new study confirms that two common and often painful foot disorders can be inherited.

As part of the Framingham Foot Study, which examined common foot disorders among more than 2,000 participants between 2002 and 2005, researchers studied 675 people with a bunion deformity in which the big toe angles towards the smaller toes (known as hallux valgus), and 154 people with high-arched feet that don’t flatten when bearing weight (known as pes cavus). Their average age was 66, and 57 percent of the participants were female.

Using statistical genetics software, the researchers determined that the bunion deformity was hereditary in about 39 percent of women and 38 percent of men. They also found that the condition was inherited in 89 percent of people under age 60.

The disorder involving high-arched feet was inherited in 68 percent of women and 20 percent of men. Among those younger than 60, the condition was inherited in 99 percent of women and 63 percent of men. Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov

According to a new study from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), patients with acute plantar fasciitis who perform manual plantar fasciitis stretching exercises, as opposed to shockwave therapy, had superior results and higher patient satisfaction.

Study details and findings

A total of 102 patients who had acute plantar fasciitis pain, were randomly assigned to two groups. Acute is defined as any patient that experiences pain for less than six weeks. 54 people performed an eight-week stretching program, while 48 people received repetitive low-energy radial shock-wave therapy once a week for three weeks. Each group was asked to refrain from any other forms of physical therapy.

Patients in the stretching group, were told to perform stretching exercises three times a day, for eight weeks. All patients were contacted by phone every two weeks to check on training compliance.Read more at www.medicalnewstoday.com

Wearing shoes that don’t fit can contribute to a long list of foot problems.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests how to choose the right footwear and keep your feet happy:

Always measure both feet each time you go shoe shopping. Try on shoes late in the day, when the feet tend to be a bit larger. Women should opt for heels that are no higher than 2 1/4 inches. Make sure the shoes fit properly in the heels and the toes, with 1/2 inch of space between the shoe and your longest toe. Try on both shoes to be sure that they fit comfortably on both feet. Opt for the size that is most comfortable on your largest foot. Walk around the store with both shoes on to make sure the fit is comfortable. Don’t count on “breaking them in.” Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov

Runner’s knee, shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis — these are the last words any runner wants to hear. Whether running a marathon or a five-mile loop in the park, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center physicians Dr. William Levine and Dr. Christopher Visco offer six important steps to prevent painful and debilitating injuries.

1. Don’t go beyond your fitness level. Gradual training is essential. If you aren’t ready to run 26.2 miles, don’t try a marathon. The same goes for half marathons and other distances.

2. Have a training schedule. There are many schedules available to gradually increase your mileage. Slowly and progressively increase mileage.

3. Listen to you body. If you feel sore, fatigued or have pain, you may need to rest. If the pain persists, see a medical professional. Most injuries occur when fatigued, and at the end of a run. Running with an injury may worsen it or lead to a secondary injury. Read more at www.medicalnewstoday.com

Gymnastics can lead to injury without some preparation. In 2007, more than 69,000 kids under age 14 were treated for gymnastics-related medical problems, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

The academy suggests how to help gymnasts ward off injury:

Always stretch and warm up the muscles before a workout. The gym should have a padded floor and equipment that is well maintained. Gymnasts should always wear routine-appropriate footwear. Use protective gear, such as braces for the joints and special belts to protect the joints and torso. Always have a spotter while practicing. Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov

Tyreke Evans admitted that he is suffering from plantar fasciitis on the bottom of his foot.

Evans insists that it’s a minor case of plantar fasciitis, and we certainly believe him after he logged 40 minutes in a preseason game Tuesday night. The concern is that this injury almost never heals completely without rest and can cost players significant time when it becomes severe. Joakim Noah missed 18 games due to plantar fasciitis last season. Still, the Kings are surely on top of it and we would not downgrade Evans on draft boards. Tons of NBA players play through minor cases of this injury every season.Read more at nbcsports.msnbc.com

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis (plan * tar _ fash * ee * i * tis) is tearing and inflammation of a ligament on the bottom of the foot. “Plantar” refers to the bottom of the foot, the “fascia” is a long ligament-type structure and “itis” means inflammation. Plantar fasciitis is the result of excess stress through the plantar fascia, which causes tearing, inflammation and pain. Plantar fasciitis is also called heel spur syndrome, but a heel spur will rarely causes any pain. The most common symptom is a sharp pain in the heel when first stepping down in the morning. The pain may also extend into the arch and start after stepping out of a car or standing up after finishing a lunch break. Other individuals experience heel pain at the end of their work day or after activities like running, soccer or tennis.

There are many treatments for plantar fasciitis…..

The first step is to identify the cause of the plantar fasciitisRead more at www.northcoastfootcare.com

Today’s Patient Money column takes a look at the many upgrades shoe makers are adding to athletic shoes.

Shoe manufacturers keep adding bells and whistles to shoes in the form of cushioning gel pods, microprocessors and so-called thrust enhancers, but these upgrades don’t seem to make runners safer. A review of current studies on running shoes published in 2009 found that there were no evidence-based studies that show running shoes actually help prevent injury. Indeed, injury rates have not gone down.

Fancy running shoes may even lead to injury, experts say. Some studies show that when runners don expensive running shoes that promise superior cushioning, they incur more injuries than runners using cheaper shoes.

To learn more about how to shop for running shoes, read the full column, “For Running Shoes, It’s Fit First and Price Last” and then please join the discussion below. Read more at well.blogs.nytimes.com

Superfeet Green Insoles are quality, prefabricated inserts designed for maximum arch support. Superfeet insoles have a unique two component design which provides long lasting support & comfort. Superfeet insoles decrease the key cause of foot, ankle, knee, back and neck pain, maximize comfort and improve shock absorption. Superfeet Green insoles provide maximum shock absorption arch support. They are designed for footwear with a removable insole. Superfeet have an Agion® antimicrobial top cover treatment. Agion® helps to reduce bacteria and prevent foot odor.

Ideal for feet with medium or high arches. Superfeet are available in 5 sizes.

Recommended footwear for Superfeet Green: Running, walking, hiking, alpine and industrial footwear.

Superfeet GREEN have an extra deep heel cup that provides added shock absorption. The anatomical arch shape allows for comfortable support and the compressed foam, full length top cover helps to control friction. Read more at www.northcoastfootcare.com

Unexplained foot fractures may be the first sign of osteoporosis, a bone thinning disease which affects over 28 million Americans and accounts for 1.5 million bone fractures a year.

Osteoporosis is frequently referred to as the “silent crippler” since it often progresses without any symptoms or isn’t diagnosed until a person experiences pain from a bone fracture. Georgeanne Botek, DPM, FACFAS, a Cleveland foot and ankle surgeon, explains that the porous nature of bones in people with osteoporosis makes them more susceptible to bone fractures, especially in the feet. “Because the bones are in a weakened state, normal weight-bearing actions like walking can cause the bones in the foot to break,” says Dr. Botek. “In fact, many patients visit their foot and ankle surgeon suffering from foot pain only to find out they actually have a stress fracture, without having experienced an injury.”

While osteoporosis is most commonly seen in women over age 50, younger people and men are also affected.Read more at www.foothealthfacts.org

HealthDay

Problems with your feet shouldn’t be ignored. They can get worse over time, and can signal trouble elsewhere. The American Podiatric Medical Association mentions these issues that should be discussed with a podiatrist: An open sore or ulcer on the feet, as they can indicate problems such as high blood pressure, sickle cell disease or a blood vessel condition. Swelling of the feet, which can indicate problems with the heart, circulatory system or kidneys. A burning sensation in the feet, which may indicate poor circulation. These underlying medical issues also should be discussed with a podiatrist: Cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure, which could lead to insufficient blood flow to the feet. Rheumatic heart disease, as medications used to treat it may interfere with some medications used to treat foot problems. Diabetes, as it may affect sensation and circulation in the feet. Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov