Believe it or not, many people do not have a podiatrist whom they see regularly. And while regular visits to the podiatrist’s office may not always be a necessity, there are some certain times when you should know that it is time to go give your local podiatry clinic a visit. Situations such as possible toenail fungus or plantar warts are a good indicator that it is time to seek professional help from an expert in the medical treatment of feet. To help you figure out when it is time to give the podiatrist a visit, here are some of the signs that let you know that it is time to seek professional medical intervention.

*Discolored or Crumbly Toenails. Discolored or crumbly toenails can be a very clean indicator of toenail fungus, and usually require medical intervention. Toenail fungus, contrary to popular belief, cannot be treated at home or with over the counter medications, as they are almost always completely ineffective. Rather, this problem needs medical treatments, such as the innovative and revolutionary laser treatment that is only available at the podiatrist’s office.

*Pain in your Heels. While pain in your heels can sometimes be a sign of an innocent and easily treated problem, it can also be a sign of a bigger and more serious problem, such as bone spur. A podiatrist will be able to determine the source of the problem, and help to work with you to figure out the best course of treatment and the best way to ease your pain. If you are feeling any pain in your heels, it is a good idea to take it easy and rest until you can get in to see a professional podiatrist. Remember, exacerbating these problems can only make them worse.

*Hard Lumps in the Pads of the Feet or Toes. Hard “lumps” in the pads of the feet or twos could be one of two things; they could either be unsightly warts, or painful bunions. Either way, it is crucial that you book an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as possible to ensure that your problem does not worsen. Whatever the condition may be, it can only get worse if left untreated.

If you ever suspect that pain or swelling in your feet may be a result of something serious, it is best to schedule a visit with your podiatrist.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/knowing-when-it-is-time-to-visit-the-podiatrist-milwaukee-foot-care-2761106.html#ixzz0sZOQzPb5

(NAPSI)-If you’re like most people, you take 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Here are 12 more steps you can take to keep your feet in good shape, especially during the warmer months:

1. Sunny days and warm nights may encourage wearing flip-flops, but it’s a good idea to get the kind made of high-quality, soft leather to minimize the potential for blisters. Make sure your foot doesn’t hang over the edge and beware of irritation where the toe thong fits. It can lead to blisters and infections. Don’t wear flip-flops to play sports, do yard work or walk long distances.

2. Keep your feet healthy with a waterproof,oil-free sunscreen every time you wear sandals outdoors.

3. Dr. Kathleen Stone, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, says, “Pampering and grooming your feet promotes good foot hygiene and should be done frequently to contribute not only to your foot health in warmer weather but also to your body’s overall health.” Try soaking your feet for at least five minutes in a bucket of cool water.

4. Use a foot file or pumice stone to gently smooth the skin around the heel and the balls and sides of your feet.

5. Gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Cuticles provide a protective barrier against infection and should never be cut.

6. To prevent fungal infections, and viruses that cause warts, wash your feet daily with soap and water, drying carefully, especially between the toes.

7. Change your shoes regularly.

8. Avoid walking barefoot, particularly in public showers and locker rooms. Bare feet are exposed to plantar warts and athlete’s foot.

9. To prevent hot, sweaty feet and foot odor, rub cornstarch or roll-on antiperspirant directly on the soles of your feet.

10. Use a nail clipper to cut toenails straight across. Then, use an emery board to smooth the nail edges by filing in one direction without drastically rounding the edges. When toenail edges are rounded, it increases the chances for painful ingrown toenails.

11. Consult a podiatrist if you have any foot pain or other problems affecting your feet. Podiatrists, explains Dr. Stone, are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat conditions of the foot and ankle.

12. For more information about foot care or to find a podiatrist near you, visit www.apma.org.

source:  http://bit.ly/bewK7R

The skin on our feet is thicker than elsewhere; providing much needed protection against the stresses and strains we put them under. It is said that our feet absorb between three and four times our body weight whenever they touch the ground.

In an average lifetime, our feet walk the distance equivalent of four times round the earth – so its not surprising that they sometimes feel hard done by. Add the fact that they have around 72, 000 nerve endings and it is not surprising that they need some tender loving care.

* Here is how to give it.

Scrub Up Nicely

The most important thing you can do to promote healthy, beautiful feet is to scrub them. It is no good just giving them a quick wash at the end of a shower. Equally, it is no good using a flannel or a sponge. Instead you need a brush, or even a pan scrubber.

This will help to stop the build up of calluses and areas of hard skin that can prevent skin from absorbing moisture.

Once you have given your feet a really good scrub, them as a next step apply some rich moisturizing lotion. Useful ingredients in such a lotion are those containing Vitamin E oil or a Shea butter, both of which are wonderful for nourishing skin.

Massage Feet Regularly

A regular massage is superb for bringing tired feet back to life. You can either get someone to do this for you or do it yourself. If doing the latter, then start by cleansing your feet with a cotton wool pad soaked in either lavender or orange blossom water. These both have antiseptic properties and are cooling and refreshing to feet.

Next, apply a rich moisturizing or foot massage cream to the palms of your feet and gently work it into your feet one foot at a time. Do not forget the are between your toes.

Follow this by using firmer strokes, massaging from your ankles to your toes with both hands. Use your thumbs to massage the top of each foot, and your fingers on your soles. End your massage by gently massaging your toes – this will assist in helping to boost circulation.

Treat Your Toe Nails

Always remember that nails need regular attention as well. Toenails actually grow twice as quickly as fingernails and are twice as thick. You thus need to cut them regularly.

Trim them straight across with nail clippers and file the edges with an emery board.

If your nails are brittle or flaky, then you could be lacking in certain vitamins, including iron, calcium, manganese, silica, or zinc. If so you could consider using a daily multivitamin supplement.

Get Shoe Wise

The most crucial aid to healthy, pain free feet is adopting appropriate footwear.

Wearing your killer heels to the office may make a style statement, but will often have painful ramifications for your feet.

Wearing the wrong type of shoes for long periods can cause a range of foot problems. These include blister, corns, calluses, as well as potentially serious foot, knee and back pain, as well as damaged joints.

There is so much more to discover about avoiding foot pain and caring for your feet. We have only just scratched the surface here so do research further in order to achieve healthy, happy feet.

Discover more – there is a huge range of interesting and useful information on Foot Care Tips and the management of sore feet available over at:

http://www.sorefeetsolved.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eamon_Greville

Dr. Suzanne Levine gives some tips on how to get your feet in shape for summer. Be sure to comment and subscribe! Let us know what kind of tips and videos you want to see next!!

Massage Can Help Treat Painful Feet

A very effective treatment option is massage . When snug footwear is worn, the feet can develop blisters, hammertoes, corns, and calluses. The best solution is to stop using shoes that hurt after the first day of wear. If you must keep wearing them, giving the feet a soothing massage will get the blood flowing and will help them recuperate. Aches and pains may be caused by compressed nerves, lacking blood supply, and fluid build-up. A good massage to the affected area witheasy circular motions is the best way to relieve aching feet. A soak in warm Epsom salts is also an ideal method to relieve tightened muscles and fluid build-up. Using a foot cream thatcontains cooling action is a good way to provide the foot with a cool boost.

Meeting the Challenges of Excess Pronation

Pronation is the tendency of the foot to rotate either outward or inward during walking or running motions. When the degree of inward or outward roll is harsh, it can cause arch support problems, as well as shin pain and heel pain. Acupuncture has shown to be effective in the treatment of certain painful lower leg conditions. The concept behind the needle and the certain areas they stimulate is to focus the flow of electricity and blood to the affected areas. Therefore, the body is able to cure by itself, and the pain is alleviated. Amedical study conducted in 1996 demonstrated that acupuncture was able to successfully return blood flow to the areas that had previously suffered from lack of blood flow.

How Arch Support Inserts Can Help Heal Feet

Wearing arch support inserts is a good option to provide the feet with preventive care, as well as to treat lesser foot aches due to lack of arch support. When the arch does not support itself during everyday activities, the arch flattens and cannot properly support the weight or the body. The full power of the impact can cause heel spurs, shin pain, and fascia swelling, just to name a few. By using orthotics, the arch is adequately supported, and the entire lower body begins to function adequately with respect to absorption of impact. This ordinary supplement to your footwear can make physical activity better as well as banish foot pain.

For those who suffer from foot pain and conditions of the lower leg, the mere act of walking can be excruciating. However, with appropriate preventive care and effective treatment provided early on, the feet can be healed before the situation worsens and re-injury can be prevented.

If an individual has diabetes, simple injuries to the foot can lead to more serious situations. It can be as simple as a blister or a cut which can lead to an ulcer or something life threatening, such as, gangrene. If the skin and underlying tissues are damaged enough, the only option is amputation. However, there are steps for prevention. Below are some suggestions for preventive foot care:

1. Examine the feet everyday for any changes – cuts, sores, or blisters. If you need assistance to check them thoroughly, use a mirror or ask for help from family or friends.

2. After you wash your feet, put lotion on them, but not between your toes.

3. After showering, use a pumice stone while feet are still moist.

4. Cut toenails as needed.

The best time is after bathing – when nails are soft. Cut and file nails as they naturally grow.

5. Always wear shoes and always wear shoes with socks and/or stockings. Sandals are not a good option as rocks and debris may cut the feet.

6. When you shop for shoes, the best time is later on in the day, when the feet is bigger.

7. Tell your doctor of any foot complications (skin darkening or loss of hair on legs or feet). The rule of thumb is to get your feet examined every year.

8. Ask your doctor for recommendations for the best lotions, sensation tests for the feet that you can do yourself, the best foot care tips, and if needed, a referral to a podiatrist for pedicure assistance. If your feet shape has changed, ask your doctor about therapeutic shoes.

9. Drink lots of water to keep the body hydrated.

Resources: National Institute of Health (NIH), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Mayo Clinic

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And now the results…

Did you have problems doing just one push-up?
If you cannot rise up onto the ball of your foot without putting lots of pressure on your hands, leaning over the counter or experiencing pain, your arch may have a mechanical problem. The arch tendon can stretch or rupture, leading to lowering of the arch. A foot and ankle surgeon should be consulted as soon as possible.

Were you able to do all 10 without a problem?
If you can easily rise up onto the ball of your foot, but have difficulty performing all 10 repetitions, you may be suffering from arch fatigue. Exercises focusing on strengthening and stretching leg muscles will help this problem. The foot push-up described above can also be used as an exercise technique.

Did you have pain in your arch during the exercise?
If you can easily rise up onto the ball of your foot but experience pain in your arch, your arch may be inflamed and may have been overworked. Consulting a foot and ankle surgeon for weak and overworked arches is recommended to manage the problem and keep your feet healthy and free of pain.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common joint injuries, and you don’t even have to be participating in a sport-related activity to have one. A sprain can happen during the simplest movements, such as during a walk or missing a stair step.

Ankle sprains are extremely common, affecting more than 25,000 children and adults every day, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

In its normal state, the ankle joint and bones are held in place by ligaments, an elastic structure that, together with the muscles, secures and protects the joint. A sprained ankle — also known as a twisted ankle — happens when these ligaments are stretched beyond normal range or are torn. This happens when the foot twists, rolls or turns beyond its normal range of motion.

An ankle strain is a different injury, involving injury to the muscle tissue (also called a pulled muscle), as opposed to a ligament.

Ankle injuries affect all ages, whether you’re playing dodge ball in the park or just taking a walk with friends. They happen most often in sports that involve a good deal of running, jumping or sudden changes in weight distribution.

If you’ve ever taken an exercise class or participated on a sports team, you’ve been told by a coach or instructor about the necessity of warming up and stretching before exercising. Inadequate warm-up or insufficient stretching are major causes of ankle injuries.

You don’t even have to be exercising to get an ankle sprain. Other common causes include lack of conditioning (weaker muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the ankle joint), footwear that doesn’t offer adequate support, walking or standing on uneven ground, and a previous history of ankle sprains.

The AAOS ranks ankle sprains from mild to severe, according to symptoms. The degree of pain and symptoms you experience will vary according to the severity of the sprain. In the case of a severe sprain, some patients will initially experience intense pain, followed by lesser or no pain — a result of damage to nerves in the area.

You can care for a mild or moderate sprained ankle at home, but it’s important to discuss symptoms with your doctor to see if an office visit is necessary. While caring for your sprain at home, remember the RICE technique: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory medication to help with swelling and discomfort and, depending on the severity of the sprain, immobilization in a cast or brace, and physical therapy.

If you have a severe sprain, it’s important to have a doctor examine it to rule out a more serious injury, such as a broken bone. Untreated ankle injuries can result in chronic pain, instability and repeat injuries.

A May 2009 article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that approximately 40 percent of people who experience an ankle sprain will have chronic ankle pain, even after treatment for their initial injury, because the condition is untreated or overlooked.

In rare cases, surgery is needed, generally for those cases that do not respond to non-surgical treatment.

With proper care, a mild sprain may take about a week to heal, with rest and protection of the ankle. A moderate sprain takes one to two weeks to restore range of motion, strength and flexibility. For a severe strain, the AAOS recommends a gradual return to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle and doing maintenance exercises.

Once the ankle has regained strength and flexibility — which can take a few weeks to months — activities that require sharp twists and turns, such as sports, can be resumed.

The best course of action is prevention: achieving good strength, balance and flexibility through regular exercise; and maintaining a healthy weight to avoid undue stress on joints and ligaments.

Referenced from pottstownmercury.com

You can do several things at home to treat an ingrown toenail. However, if you suspect an infection, or if you have diabetes, circulation problems, or numbness in the toes, skip the home remedies and see your clinician or a foot specialist immediately.

What causes an ingrown toenail? There are many possible causes. One is trauma; for example, you stub the toe or drop something on it, or someone steps on it. Loss of the toenail, repetitive pressure from certain sports, a fungal infection, or psoriasis may be to blame. Thick or curved toenails (nails tend to curve more with age) are particularly susceptible, and some people have an inherited tendency to develop nail problems. Improper nail trimming — cutting the nail too short at the corners — may be implicated.

The risk of ingrown toenails is raised by wearing shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or too short. According to Dr. James Ioli, Chief of Podiatry at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, women’s high heels are a common source of trouble.

HOME CARE: KEEP IT SIMPLE

If your symptoms are minor (the toe is irritated and red but not infected or very painful) and you don’t have a complicating medical condition such as diabetes, you can start at home with conservative measures.

Soak the foot in lukewarm water two or three times a day for 15 minutes (count a shower as a soak). You can add Epsom salts if you wish, although there’s no scientific evidence that this will improve pain relief or healing. Massage the skin at the side of the toenail (the nail fold), gently pushing it away from the nail. After each soak, dry your foot thoroughly; apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, bacitracin, or Polysporin to the affected area; and cover the area with a Band-Aid.

Wear sandals or other low-heeled open-toed shoes whenever possible. When you wear close-toed shoes, make sure the toe box (the front of the shoe) allows room for the toes to move freely. When the toenail grows out, cut it across in a line that mimics the curving line of the toe tip; do not round the corners down.

You may have read or heard about other measures. One approach is to relieve pressure by lifting the ingrown nail edge and placing a small piece of cotton or dental floss or a splint underneath it. According to Dr. Ioli, this is more likely to harm than help; for example, cotton under the nail could trap bacteria and other infectious organisms. Another risky practice strongly opposed by experts is “bathroom surgery” — trying to dig out and trim the corner of the ingrown toenail yourself.

PREVENTING INGROWN TOENAILS

–Wear low-heeled shoes that provide enough room at the toes, with stockings or moisture-wicking socks that allow your toes to move freely.

–Keep your feet clean and dry.

–Use a toenail clipper (not a fingernail clipper). If your toenails are especially thick, try a spring-handled tool called a toenail nipper.

–Cut your toenails across, going with the curve of the toe; don’t round the corners down as you might a fingernail. And don’t cut toenails too short. You should be able to get your fingernail under the end of the toenail.

Sourced from baltimoresun.com