Summer Heat hurting your Feet?

Chicago was very hot last week. Did you remember to apply sunscreen to your feet? Did you forget to apply it to the bottom of your feet and the front of your ankles? Before you get sunburn on your feet, which is not pleasant, apply sunscreen to all exposed skin.

• Wash and dry feet thoroughly when exiting a pool or the beach, especially between the toes. Apply a topical anti-fungal medication on any cracked or itchy skin to prevent warts and athlete’s foot. The last thing you want to deal with this summer is a foot virus or fungus, so keep feet clean and dry.

• Sharing towels can spread athlete’s foot and other diseases. Keep track of your towel and make sure you are the only one using it.

• Did you know toenails are especially vulnerable around damp areas? If the nail bed is injured, it becomes more susceptible to infection. If you notice discoloration, you may have an infection. Call to schedule an appointment.

American Podiatric Medical Association. (2011). Summer Foot Care. Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/FeatureArticles/SummerFootCare.aspx

Image by Kevin H. License CC BY-NC-NC-2.0. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevharb/4325861693/

Recycle Your Old Shoes

Do you have shoes that you want to get rid of? If you’re swapping out the old to have room for the new, consider donating your old styles to Soles4Souls. The American Podiatric Medical Association posted a newsletter from Soles4Souls on its website that caught my attention. This prompted me to do a little research on this organization.

Soles4Souls is a non-profit organization with a simple, yet clear objective: “to procure shoes and get them to those in need by changing the world one pair at a time.

Natural disasters are leaving many parts of the world without shoes when more than 300 million pairs of shoes are clogging up landfills. So far, Soles4Souls has pledged a million new or slightly used pairs of shoes for Haiti. As an organization, they have delivered their ten millionth pair of shoes in over 150 countries! Most of the donations come from shoe companies, retailers, churches, schools, and nonprofit ministries.

Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, has been noted as saying,

“Shoes are vital for health reasons. Viruses such as hookworms are a big cause of death. People also need shoes to feel better. Shoes let kids look forward to running, playing and having fun. Every 15 seconds, a child dies from some disease that can be prevented with proper shoes. We give away a pair every 9 seconds. You need to ask, what is the need out there?”

Soles4Souls urges the average person to organize a shoe drive or create an awareness campaign. Before you throw away your next pair of shoes, think about donating them to a worthy cause. To learn more about the organization, visit their website. (www.soles4souls.org)

What do you do with your old shoes now? Do you donate them or throw them away in the garbage?

Citations:

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/APMA-in-the-News/Foot-Care-and-Footwear.aspx?FT=.pdf

http://www.soles4souls.org

Blister Prevention & Treatment

Blisters have become a very common ailment these days. People seem to think it is inevitable when they purchase a new pair of shoes that they will end up with a blister while trying to "break in" the new shoes. But this doesn't have to be the way. Blisters can be prevented and proper treatment of blisters is important.

What really causes the blisters? 

• They are caused by friction from shoes or clothing which rubs repeatedly on the skin causing friction burns. What is happening is that as the outer layer of skin becomes separated from the inner layers of skin, and that gap fills with lymph fluid.

How can blisters be prevented? 

• First, make sure you are purchasing shoes that fit correctly. An improper fitting shoe is the number one culprit of blisters. If you have a pair of shoes that rub on certain areas of the foot, protect those spots by taping that area. Keeping feet dry as possible by using foot powder will help prevent blisters as well as changing socks regularly.

What should you do if you have a blister? 

• The first sign of blisters will be redness over the skin and then the blister bubble forms. Apply a dressing or blister plaster and tape the effected area. Make sure that the feet are dry and put on a new pair of clean socks. If the blister is painful, you can put petroleum jelly on the blister and then cover it back up.

To drain or not drain the blister? 

• If the blister is a blood blister, do not drain it. If the blister is a fluid blister, you can drain it. If the blister has not burst, you can make a small hole at the edge of the blister with a sterilized pin or needle. Sterilize the pin or needle by passing it through a flame. Wait a few seconds for it to cool off so you don't burn yourself. Drain the fluid but leave as much of the skin as possible covering the wound to prevent infections from forming. Once drained, clean the blister with a sterilizing wipe. Cover the wound with a second skin, blister plaster, or band-aid.

What do you do when you get blisters? How do you prevent them in the first place? Feel free to comment.

Image by Tashwayne. (2011). Flicr. License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cinciw2/160365051/

How to Tell if You have a Broken Toe

You hurt your toe. Is it broken? Is it sprained? What do you do?

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Remove your shoe and sock and feel for any deformity. Gently run your fingers up and down your toe. If your toe feels crooked or lumpy, it's more likely that it's broken than sprained.

• Wiggle your toe. Severe pain suggests the toe is broken.

• Listen to your toe while wiggling it. If you hear a grating or popping sound, a piece of bone may be rubbing against another piece of bone.

• Check for swelling. If your toe is double its size in puffiness and the skin is stretched, your toe may be broken.

• Compare your injured toe to the same toe on the other foot. If the injured toe looks shorter or deformed, chances are it may be broken.

• Check your temperature. Within two to three hours after a bone breaks, the body's natural defense mechanisms automatically raise your temperature. A fever above 99.6 degrees F suggests the toe is broken.

• Try to stand for a minute or so. If your toe is broken, it won't be able to support your weight. A broken toe will tend to buckle underneath you when you stand on it.

Once it has been determined if that the toe is broke, call your podiatrist immediately to make an appointment. This is very important because if left untreated, one can develop persistent foot pain and arthritis. 

In the time prior to the appointment, rest the leg and foot and apply ice to reduce swelling. Ice packs work well but be sure to put a towel around the ice pack so that it doesn't come in contact with the skin. Leave the ice pack on for 20 minutes at a time. If it is necessary to be mobile, wear a shoe with a wider stiffer sole.

Have you ever had a broken toe? How did you know? What did you do? Please comment below!

Citation:

Image by

(2011). License Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Retrieved from

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidcross/4552686533/

7 Travel Tips for your Feet

• If you already experience foot problems, consult with your podiatrist before leaving for vacation to review proper footwear and lower extremity issues.

• Sightseeing is a common activity on vacation which usually results in walking more than usual. Set a walking plan a month in advance. Be sure to walk every day leading up to your vacation in order to condition your body and get used to wearing your “vacation shoes”. Don’t buy shoes before you leave; have time to break them in prior to leaving. Your feet will thank you later.

• Review your shoe selections and prepare for possible activities. Even if you are planning a fun in the sun relaxing on the beach vacation, bring a pair of tennis shoes. You will want to be prepared for any type of activity. Don’t forget socks!

• Taking an airplane or even a long car ride? Remember to hydrate by drinking plenty of water and periodically flex feet at the ankles, wiggle toes, and unlace shoes. This will minimize swelling of the feet during travel.

• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen on your feet. The tops and bottoms of your feet can get sunburned.

• Pack a little first aid kit with Band-Aids, talcum powder, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, and nail clippers.

• At the end of the day, treat your feet with a massage and elevation.

Diabetes: 1 of the top 10 causes of death in Illinois

The Cost of Diabetes in Illinois

• “The total cost of diabetes in Illinois exceeds $7.3 billion per year.

• The American Diabetes Association estimates that a third of this cost stems from indirect costs such as lost work productivity, and that two thirds of the cost is a direct result of medical bills.

Complications from Diabetes

• $51,585: the average cost of each amputation.

• In 2009, 1,641 non-traumatic lower limb amputations were performed in Illinois due to the effects of diabetes.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation; however, these amputations can be prevented."

Access to a Podiatrist Can Lead to Savings

Thomson Reuters Healthcare compared the outcomes of care for diabetic patients treated by a podiatrist vs. care from other healthcare professions:

• Patients with insurance saved $19,686 per patient with diabetes over a three-year period if patient sees a podiatrist once a year after a diabetic ulceration, which is the main factor of lower extremity amputations. For every $1 in care results in $27 to $51 worth of savings.

• Patients with Medicare saved $4,271 per patient with diabetes over a three-year period if the patient sees a podiatrist once a year after a diabetic ulceration. For every $1 invested in care results in $9 to $13 of savings.



Citations:

American Podiatric Medical Association. (2011). Fact Sheet: Studies Prove Podiatrists Prevent Complications, Provide Savings. Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/Hidden-Documents/TR/TRH-Duke-One-Page-Summary.aspx

American Podiatric Medical Association (2011). Diabetes by the Numbers: Illinois. Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/ILDiabetesData

Image by Tracey O. (2011). Money! License: Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0). Retrieved from 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_olson/61056391/

6 Steps to Preventing Foot Pain

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This picture is taken from an event in Finland where ladies ran in high heels! Although this may look like lots of fun, running in high heels are not advised. This brings us to our first point of preventing foot pain.

• High heels. Ladies, I know you are not going to throw away your heels, but limit the time you spend wearing them. If you are going to standing for long periods of time, I don’t advise wearing heels. Also limit the heel to 2 inches. Look for friction points, which tend to be near the pinkie toe. Bandage the area with a band-aid prior to wearing the heels.

• Be aware that feet change with age. In prior posts on Facebook and blogs, I have discussed that around age 40, feet begin to change. The exact age will differ for everyone, but pay attention to how the feet are changing. The fat pads on the bottom of the feet, the cushioning part, deteriorate with age. Combat this by wearing sturdier shoes and measure feet every time shoes are purchased. Feet tend to get bigger with age because the tendons in the foot loosen.   

• Rethink running around barefoot. If you already have foot problems, don’t even think about walking around indoors or outdoors without shoes. The likelihood of stepping on debris or hitting your toe on the furniture increases. Chances of infection are also higher if walking around barefoot. One can pick up Athlete’s Foot or a fungal infection. So before going outdoors without shoes, think about where you are and what you may catch.   

• Cleanliness. Good hygiene is very important and feet should not be ignored. Pedicures at home or in a salon is a great way to keep feet healthy and clean. Even though there are over 250,000 sweat glands in the foot, moisturizing is a necessity to prevent cracking of the skin. If the skin cracks, the more likely it is to become infected.  

• Orthotics. Proper arch support helps to alleviate foot pain. Orthotics are designed to provide arch support by altering the angle at which the foot strikes the surface. But they don’t last forever. Every couple of years Dr. Vittori should inspect the orthotic and your foot for proper support.   

• Flip-flops. If you are planning on wearing flip-flops this summer, choose a sturdy flip-flop that is endorsed by the APMA. Ankles tend to roll due to no protection, support, or stability in flimsy flip-flops. 

Image by Vestman. (2011). License: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/61417318@N00/3210770788/