One More Way to Help

In the wake of the Haitian earthquake people nationwide have answered the call to help. Everything from money, food, medical supplies and much more. A supremely worthy cause we promote is Souls4souls, a philanthropic organization dedicated to putting shoes on the millions of shoeless worldwide. When going to your closet today please see if there are any shoes, in useable condition, you don’t wear and donate them to this wonderful cause. For more information please log onto http://www.soles4souls.org/. This informative website lists local donation centers.

Try Walking Poles To Your Fitness Regimen

Balance has become a new buzz word in the fitness industry. There are shoes on the market that can help you improve balance and burn more calories. Many older patients are challenged with less than ideal balance, which often leads them to avoid walking altogether. We KNOW that’s not good. The below link features equipment that can make exercise safe and fun.

http://balancewalking.com/equipment-needed/

Healthy Feet Make the Best Dancing Feet Don’t Ignore Foot Pain on the Dance Floor

You can’t channel surf for more than a couple minutes before coming across a “dancing” reality show. Classical, ballroom, hip hop and more. It looks like so much much fun ! Being ‘light on your feet’ when dancing is not entirely true; dancing the night away can take a toll on feet and ankles. If you enjoy social dancing or have gotten serious enough to take a class, don’t let foot injuries stop the show, be sure to protect your feet and ankles. The most common types of dance-related foot and ankle problems are overuse injuries, which occur due to the repetitive movements in dance. Over 50 percent of dance injuries occur in the foot and ankle. The severity of the damage is often determined by a dancer’s age, strength and flexibility and the type of shoes worn when dancing. Other common types of injuries related to dancing can include:

• stress fractures (hairline breaks in the bone) from repeated jumping and landing
• foot neuromas (thickening/irritation of the nerves in the ball of the foot) resulting from repetitive pivoting
• shin splints (pain and swelling in the front of the lower legs) which can be aggravated by recurring activities
• tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons in the foot) from over exertion
• corns, calluses or blisters—all painful skin irritations resulting from repeated rubbing of the skin on the feet. What’s the best defense to protect your feet and ankles?
• Wear appropriate shoes to properly support your feet and ankles
• Perform dance moves that best fit your skill level

If you do suffer an injury, it is important to make an appointment with our office as soon as possible. Prompt medical attention by a foot and ankle surgeon can make all the different in a proper rehabilitation. Most dance injuries can be treated with conservative care as long as they are not ignored. Don’t dispel foot pain even if you can walk on it; remember it is possible to walk on a seriously injured foot. Common injuries, if left untreated, may require surgical intervention to ensure proper healing.

New Year; New Healthier You

Let 2010 be the year of a healthier you. If you’ve been putting off having foot surgery to correct bunions or hammertoes, make a commitment to yourself for fit feet this year. Something simple as having healthier, pain-free feet can make a huge difference in your overall health and well-being. Many patients don’t realize, in most cases, advances in surgical techniques have made bunion and hammertoes correctable with outpatient surgery and patients return home the same day. I can’t tell how many times I’ve heard, “If I knew it was this simple I wouldn’t have put it off so long.” Don’t let painful foot conditions slow you down another year. Call our office to schedule an examination to determine the best treatment approach and make this your year of healthy feet!