Items filtered by date: June 2015

hammertoe4According to a study conducted through Public Health England and community interest group of the UK, office employees should stand on their feet for two hours of their work day to maintain optimal health. The researchers recommend two hours of walking or light activity during work hours, regularly breaking up seated work with standing work, alterations of posture while standing so soreness does not occur during the change in office behaviors, and encouraging other healthy activities.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet contact one of our podiatrists of Family Foot and Ankle Care of Moriches. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – choosing this shoe places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – our feet were not designed to be enclosed for hours, or all day. Try allowing yourself to expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and stretches is beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – stretching the foot out flat on the floor, will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen.

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

Keep your feet healthy and your body will thank you for it.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Moriches, NY. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about working on your feet.

broken foot4Danny Amankwaa of FC Copenhagen is recovery from his Achilles tendon injury smoothly. The midfielder snapped the tendon in March and was expected to be off of the field for six months. Amankwaa has went into surgery to speed up the healing process and will soon begin training and rehab to get back to his team soon.

Achilles tendon injuries need immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns contact one of our podiatrists of Family Foot and Ankle Care of Moriches. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What is the Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the lower leg muscles and calf to the heel of the foot. It is the strongest tendon in the human body and is essential for making movement possible. Because this tendon is such an integral part of the body, any injuries to it can cause severe difficulties and should immediately be presented to a doctor.

What are the symptoms of an Achilles Tendon Injury?

There are various types of injuries that can affect the Achilles tendon. The two most common are Achilles tendinitis and ruptures of the tendon.

Achilles Tendinitis Symptoms

- Inflammation

- Dull to Severe Pain

- Increased blood flow to the tendon

- Thickening of the tendon

Rupture Symptoms

- Extreme pain and swelling in the foot

- Total immobility

Treatment and Prevention

Achilles tendon injuries are diagnosed by a thorough physical evaluation, which can include an MRI. Treatment involves rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. However, various preventative measures can be taken to avoid these injuries, such as:

- Thorough stretching of the tendon before and after exercise

- Strengthening exercises like calf raises, squats, leg curls, leg extensions, leg raises, lunges, and leg presses

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

Read more about Achilles tendon injuries.

corns2According to Men’s Journal cracked heels, corns, and calluses, a common problem for men and women, can be a quick fix at home or the salon. The foot condition, although easily treatable, occurs because of ill-fitting shoes or through frequent motions over the foot such as running causing friction between bones, skin, and shoes. If your calluses or cracked heels are more extreme than usual, visit a salon for a pedicure since they can easily remedy the situation. At home, you can soak your feet in warm water for ten minutes and use a pumice stone to scrub and soften the area.

Cracked heels are unsightly and can cause further damage to your shoes and feet. If you have any concerns contact one of our podiatrists of Family Foot and Ankle Care of Moriches. Our doctors can treat your foot and ankle needs.

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are unappealing, and make it harder for you walk around in sandals. Not only may they look bad, but they can also tear stockings, socks, and wear out your shoes. There are several methods to help restore a cracked heel and prevent further damage.

How do you get them?

Dry skin is the number one culprit in creating cracked heels. Many athletes, walkers, joggers, and even swimmers suffer from cracked heels. Age and skin oil production play a role to getting cracked heels as well.

Promote Healing

Over the counter medicines can help, especially for those that need instant relief, or who suffer from chronic dry feet.

Wear Socks – wearing socks with medicated creams, helps lock in moisture so it can stay on longer.

Moisturizers – applying it both day and night will help alleviate dryness which causes cracking.

Pumice Stones – these remove dead skin, and then you can massage cream onto your foot. This way the cream will be absorbed. The skin needs to be exfoliated; therefore the outer layer dead skin needs removal.

Change in Diet

Eating healthy, with a well-balanced diet, will give the skin a fresh and radiant look. Your body responds to what kinds of food you ingest. Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc supplements will also help with skin tissue.

Most importantly seek a health professional for foot care if something is wrong or doesn’t seem to be working. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed.

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

Read more about cracked heels.

feet4According to research published from the University of Alabama, the number of high heel injuries has increased nearly twice as much from 2002 to 2012. The findings showed that wearing high heels too often distorts the biomechanics of the feet, putting users at higher risk for foot and ankle injuries. Wearing high heels can result in Achilles tendon injuries and ankle sprains due to the over pronation of the foot and stiffness in the tendons and calves. High heels also put all of the weight onto the balls of the feet which commonly results in stress fractures over time.

Biomechanics of the feet can help you understand how to prevent injury and help doctors treat your foot and ankle ailments. If you have any concerns contact one of our podiatrists of Family Foot and Ankle Care of Moriches. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Biomechanics in Podiatry

Podiatric biomechanics is a particular sector of specialty podiatry with licensed practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg. Biomechanics deals with the forces that act against the body causing an interference with the biological structure and focuses on the movement of the ankle, the foot and the forces that interact with them.

A History of Biomechanics
- Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
- In 1974 biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination to the area.

Modern technology improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes providing a better understanding of podiatry concepts for biomechanics. Computers provide accurate determinations about the forces, moments and patterns of the foot and lower legs with the most important information captured.

Advances in materials and more awareness of biomechanics have developed enhanced corrective methods, offering further options for foot-related injuries. Understanding foot biomechanics can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

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

Read more about biomechanics of the feet.

orthotics5The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, with that being said, it is not uncommon for injuries to occur in the foot. When the average person takes about 10,000 steps a day, it is important to provide adequate support on the feet such as orthotics to prevent injury. Dr. Alan Jacobsen has created a new orthotic insole made out of lightweight materials that are set to become the new world-class high quality foot support. The insoles are built up of layers of long reinforcement fibers and the technology uses light-curing resin instead of bonding with expensive tools. These new orthotics are lighter, less bulky, and are not made out of foam.

If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact one of our podiatrists of Family Foot and Ankle Care of Moriches. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are inserts you can place into your shoes to help with a variety of foot problems such as flat feet or foot pain. Orthotics provide relief and comfort for minor foot and heel pain, but can’t correct serious biomechanical problems in your feet.

Over-the-Counter Inserts
Orthotics come in a wide variety of over-the-counter inserts that are used to treat foot pain, heel pain, and minor problems. For example, arch supports can be inserted into your shoes to help correct over arched or flat feet, while gel insoles are often used because they provide comfort and relief from foot and heel pain by alleviating pressure.

Prescription Orthotics
If over-the-counter inserts don’t work for you, or if you have a more severe foot issue, it is possible to have your podiatrist prescribe custom orthotics. These high quality inserts are designed to treat problems such as abnormal motion, plantar fasciitis, and more severe heel pain. They can even be used to help patients suffering from diabetes by treating foot ulcers and painful calluses, and are usually molded to your feet individually, which allows them to provide full support and comfort.

If you are experiencing minor to severe foot or heel pain, it’s recommended to speak with your podiatrist on the possibilities of using orthotics. A podiatrist can determine which type of orthotic is right for you and allow you to take the first steps towards being pain free.

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

Read more about Orthotics

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