CAUTION: Ugg Boots May Be Ruining Your Feet!

As the temperature begins to drop many women gravitate towards the warm and stylish Ugg Boots. This style of boot became popularized by many celebrities within the past couple of years. However, the price to pay for being fashion forward may be your posture in the long run.

Ugg Boots provide less than desirable arch support. People that wear them all day are therefore overworking the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones within the foot. The lack of support in the arch ultimately results in ankle, hip, leg, and back problems.  It is reported that the cheaper knock offs of this style boot have even less support than the original.

If you are planning to wear Ugg Boots, which I'm sure many of you are, it is crucial that you have some type of shoe inserts. In our offices we provide over the counter and custom made shoe orthotics. We can fit you in  the office for one of our over the counter inserts that you can take home that day with you. Or if you are looking for an insert personalized to your foot we can take a custom mold which will be ready for you within just a couple weeks.

If you are interested in helping your feet this winter don't hesitate to call our offices. We are always happy to answer any of your questions or to schedule you for an appointment.

What Do Kristi Yamguchi, King Tut and Troy Aikman All Have in Common?

Question: What do Kristi Yamaguchi, King Tut, and Troy Aikman all have in common? 

Answer: They were all born with fetal clubfoot. 

It is a fairly common birth defect that occurs in 1 out of every 1000 live births. Other notable people who were born with clubfoot are Damon Wayans, Gary Burghoff, New Orleans Saint’s Tom Dempsey, Lord Byron, and Mia Hamm.  

Fetal clubfoot is a disease where a child’s feet are misshapen. There are many types of clubfoot and they are jointly called talipes. Talipes equino varus is the most common type of clubfoot, which is characterized by the foot pointing downwards, and tipped inwards towards the ankle. This type of clubfoot can be seen in both feet or sometimes just in one. This birth defect occurs in males more often than females by a ratio of 2:1.

This condition effects all portions of the foot including the bones, muscles, blood vessels, and tendons. Clubfoot contains all of the same anatomical makings as a normal child’s foot making it fairly easy to treat. This becomes evident when you think of celebrities such as Kristi Yamaguchi and Troy Aikman who started with a deformity and became the groundbreaking athletes they are now known as.  

Podiatrists and physical therapists treat clubfoot by the manipulation of the foot.  Different types of bracings often aid to this manipulation. The foot is gradually reshaped by casts, braces, splints, and ankle foot orthoses (AFO) braces. In North America the most common treatment using these braces and castings is called the Ponseti-Method. This treatment is usually begun within the first week after the child is born because the foot can be more easily molded early in life. This method typically requires 5 different casts over a 4 week period and if done correctly has a 90% success rate.

Custom made braces usually are worn for a year after the initial treatment and custom made shoes are also recommended to help position the foot in the correct manner. It is so important for a child to be given the opportunity to walk and run, or even become an outstanding athlete like some of the people listed above.

At our offices we supply custom made braces and shoes to help someone suffering from this birth defect lead a normal life. We also have our on site physical therapist who is able to assist in this process. If you know someone who is suffering from this please give us a call so we are able to help.

NFL Player Suffers Plantar Fasciitis

San Diego Chargers tight end, Antonio Gates, was put on the injury report on Thursday November 4^th. Gates has plantar fascia as well as turf toe. It was reported that Gates was barely able to walk while rehabbing the injury. Plantar fasciitis is a ligament-like band running from your heel to the ball of your foot. This band pulls on the heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as it pushes off the ground. Plantar fasciitis is often caused by poor foot mechanics. If your foot flattens too much, the fascia may overstretch and swell. If your foot flattens too little, the fascia may ache from being pulled too tight. This injury is common in football and other sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, track and field or anything that involves lots of heel movements.

Gates suffered turf toe which is a condition that can sideline the most well-trained football players, and other athletes. Turf toe is a condition of pain at the base of the big toe, located at the ball of the foot. Turf toe is usually caused from either jamming the toe, or pushing off repeatedly when running or jumping. The most common complaint is pain at the base of the toe, but patients may also have symptoms of stiffness and swelling. 

A podiatrist can use X-ray to check for a fracture, apply ultrasound or other electrotherapy treatment, tape the toe to prevent movement, or advise a physical therapy at our practice to help rehab the toe with a strengthening program. If an athlete does not look after this injury then it may develop into Hallux Limitus! This is a decreased range of motion due to arthritis around the joint. This can cause problems in the rest of the foot or lower limb due to changes to your walking cycle. Football is a contact sport and foot injuries happen all time. Remember to seek professional advice if you suffer from plantar fascia or turf toe. A podiatrist will reduce the severe pain and correct what caused the problem. A podiatrist may consider surgery if other types of treatment don’t control your pain. So, remember to take care of your feet if you play sports!

Tips to Treat Toenail Fungus

Fungal toenails are found when the nail plate can have a thickened, yellow, or cloudy appearance. The nails can become rough and crumbly, or can separate from the nail bed. Statistics show that about six million Americans are affected with this disease. Sports players tend to have a larger rate of toenail fungus than non-sports players. The moisture around the shoe and constant foot trauma are often the main cause of this infection. Remember, putting nail polish on the infected toenail will not be good, as the fungus can be sealed within the nail making it difficult to treat even using home remedies. Dr. Remedy Enriched Nail Polish would be something to consider because this nail polish will provide you with a healthier alternative to commercial nail polish. Dr. Remedy is enhanced with naturally occurring anti-fungal ingredients and vitamins to promote healthier nails. Dr. Remedy will enrich the means of a stronger, healthier looking nail, which is appealing to everyone.

Another way to treat the fungus is to cut the infected toenail gently. Cut your toenail and then file down the infected area to cure toenail fungus. Constantly trimming the infected toenail can help lower the infection and can also assist to bring down spreading the infection. A podiatrist or a foot doctor will debrid the nail, this is the process that involves filing down the harden portion of the nail. It is almost impossible to completely and permanently cure toenail fungus. A podiatrist may recommend permanent removal if your toenail(s) are painful and very difficult to care for.

Other Helpful Hints

• Wear dry shoes and socks. Do not allow your feet to remain wet.

• Use natural fibers (such as cotton) and avoid plastic or rubber shoes/soles.

• Change shoes and socks frequently.

• Regular nail care and trimming (as described above) helps prevent problems.

• Use powder regularly in shoes and socks.

It is very important to take good care of your nails in order to prevent any possible disease. Remember, it is not easy to cope with this type of toenail problem and thus treating your toes and feet can help you sustain a better healthy way of life.