+
Home Blog (Page 52)

Category: Blog

Foot massage therapy for foot health and relaxation.
29Dec

It is a commonly observed notion that many people experience foot or ankle pain at some point of time. Regularly exercising and keeping the foot muscles strong can alleviate soreness and improve overall health and flexibility. Pursuing foot exercises for foot pain doesn’t involve the requirement of complicated equipment. They can be done at home or in the gym as part of a regular exercise regime. Exercises that improve your range of motion may also drastically reduce the chances of getting hurt. Interestingly, with the help of these exercises, you can also improve your strength for lifelong foot health.

Footrub

Exercises to relieve tendonitis

To be precise, tendonitis is a common cause of pain around the back of the foot. Tendonitis can also arise from the damage to the tendons. Note that the personal tendons are usually strong and have cord-like structures. This links the peroneal muscles of the calf to the bones of the foot. By practicing foot exercises for tendonitis, one can increase synthesis of collagen and improve the organization of muscle fiber. The treatment for tendonitis also includes the RICE principle. Here is the list of some exercises which comes handy during tendonitis.

  • Towel Stretch

Stretching the foot muscles may decrease your pain and improve the healing of a peroneal tendon injury. You can perform this stretch by sitting on the ground with your legs straight out in front of you.

  • Inversion and Eversion

With the help of inversion and eversion, one can maintain the flexibility of the ankle. As the peroneal tendon helps assist in turning the foot in all directions. However, during this stretch, ensure that you don’t do any movement which causes pain.

Standing calf raise

It is one of those foot exercises and stretches which is quite effective to relieve pain. While pursuing this exercise, you have to raise one calf by emphasizing on the big toe. This would also enable you to build arch strength. While doing this exercise, you have to stand with shoulder-width apart.

Stretching your Achilles tendons to increase your flexibility

Stretching your Achilles tendons is one of the preliminary foot exercises arthritis. It can help increase your mobility and flexibility. Good exercises involve stretching your feet along with the Achilles tendons so that arthritis pain can be alleviated. It is interesting to note that a good exercise for arthritic feet is to wiggle your toes.

Practicing exercises after foot surgery

To be frank, foot surgery can cause you to miss your usual workouts. This is why exercising on a regular basis would help your feet. For instances, by practicing stretches, you can recover greatly from surgery. You can also undertake yoga sessions to ensure that your muscles are in working condition. Experts from the site https://www.squarehospital.com/buy-levitra-online/ established that some drugs can affect the metabolism of Levitra, and therefore patients should consult a doctor if they are prescribed a new drug. One of the great exercises after foot surgery is to swim. It is also a great aerobic exercise without putting any weight on your foot.

Thus, by practicing the above-mentioned exercises, you can alleviate foot pain. However, it is always a good option to seek your doctor’s suggestion. If you have any questions, or need to see a foot doctor in Houston, please contact our office in the Houston, TX area. Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale will answer any of your foot and ankle related questions.

Close-up of fungal infection on toe with dry, cracked skin and redness.
26Dec

The Athletes’ Foot is also known as tinea pedis, which is a type of fungal infection. In this, the skin of feet gets affected, toenails in particular. Though an athlete’s foot is not serious, it is often hard to cure for the ones suffering from diabetes or poor immune system. It is better to consult the doctor as you start noticing any problems in your feet. With plenty of options for diagnosis, it becomes easy to treat the problem at the earliest.

athletes foot

How foot fungal infection can be treated?

As ways of athlete’s foot treatment, there are plenty of options, and one of them is antifungal medications. Some are also recommended home treatment if doctors think so.

  • Home care

For dealing with foot fungus issues, home care is a suitable option to resolve it. In this, you have to soak feet in saltwater or dilute feet with vinegar. This helps to dry the blisters and reduce the chances of foot fungus. 

  • Alternative therapy for foot fungus

When diagnosed with fungus on feet, it requires suitable therapy that shall get rid of the problem soon. In this, it is suitable to use tea tree oil for better results. Studies are of the opinion that tea tree oil can effectively treat problems of foot fungus.

Preventions of Athletes’ Foot

Some tips can help prevent the occurrence of this fungal infection.

  • Try to keep your toes dry – Try to keep the space between toes dry and walk barefoot when you are at home. Also, after taking a shower, do not forget to dry the space between the toes. 
  • Change socks – With sweaty feet issues, it is a must to change socks regularly. For better results, you can change it twice a day. Thus, it will help avoid problems of fungal infection in your feet.
  • Protect feet in public – In public pools or showers, try to wear waterproof sandals to protect your feet.
  • Treat your feet – Try to use antifungal powder daily to keep your feet clean and free from fungus attack.   

Important facts to know about Athletes’ Foot

  • Athletes’ Foot can occur in any individual

There is a wrong notion that the infection is only common in Athletes. But it can occur to any person. However, the risk factors are having sweaty feet, keeping wet feet for a long time, wearing tight shoes or socks, sharing socks with other infected persons, and the like.

  • Diagnosed just by looking at it

Just by looking at the athlete’s foot, it is possible to understand. Some diagnoses are testing samples of infected skin, looking at the infected area in dark lightand viewing skin samples using a microscope.

  • Chance of infection spreading to other parts

Similar to the infected foot, the infection can also come up on hands. The fungus related can easily spread to nails. In addition, the fungus can also result in jock itch. It happens when you dry different body parts with an infected towel.

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

Diagram showing peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease effects.
16Dec

Peripheral artery disease which is also known as peripheral arterial disease related to circulatory issues. In this, narrow arteries reduce the amount of blood flow in the limbs. When the PAD develops, the legs do not get enough blood supply. It results in certain symptoms such as leg pain when walking for prolonged period and the like.

Diagram showing peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease effects.

The peripheral arterial disease is also linked with accumulation of fatty acids in arteries. In addition, the condition can reduce the blood flow to heart and brain along with legs. One of the ways to successfully treat PAD is to quit smoking and maintaining healthy diet.

What are the common symptoms of PAD?

People suffering from the problem may have mild to no symptoms at all. Some may also suffer from problems of leg pain due to walking. Some common symptoms are given below.

  • Leg weakness or numbness
  • Painful cramping in hips, thighs due to some activities or walking for long time
  • Change in color of legs
  • Sores on legs or feet that may not heal
  • Shiny skin on legs
  • Slower growth of toenails
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  • Weak pulse problem in legs or feet
  • Slow growth or hair loss in feet or legs
  • Coldness in lower leg when compared with the other side

For peripheral artery disease treatment, it is better to diagnose the problem at its initial stage to prevent the situation from getting worst. Once the symptoms start to show, it is better to consult physician at the earliest for suitable diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention of peripheral vascular disease

To prevent the problems of peripheral vascular disease, it is necessary to maintain healthy lifestyle along with other factors that are mentioned below.

  • Smokers should quit smoking
  • Maintaining healthy weight
  • Eat food that contains low fat ingredients
  • Try to keep low cholesterol and blood pressure level if the patient have cholesterol and blood pressure issues
  • Diabetes patient should try to keep the sugar level in control
  • Exercising regularly is important by investing 30 minutes to 45 minutes daily for better results

Peripheral vascular disease is also related to peripheral artery disease that indicates narrowing down of the arteries outside brain and heart. The disease can also be addressed to poor blood circulation issue. Therefore patients should consult doctors soon after they start to notice symptoms in the early stage.

Wrapping it up

Therefore, it is seen that PAD is caused due to atherosclerosis. It is a gradual process in which the fatty acid builds up in the arteries. Among the less common factors, blood clots in the arteries are also seen among some patients. For the disease, ultrasound scan, blood tests, angiography, computed tomographic angiography, ankle-brachial index are some common ways of treatments. Even Doppler and ultrasound imaging is also done and it is decided on the intensity of the disease in the patient. Therefore, without delaying, patients should consult the doctor as soon as they notice any changes or they notice any of the above mentioned symptoms.

 

Patient experiencing foot pain, seeking podiatric care for rheumatoid arthritis effects.
13Dec

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition which comes to the fore when the immune system attacks the joint lining tissue. This causes stiffness along with painful inflammation. Interestingly, nearly 1.3 million people in the USA suffer from this illness. It is important to note that RA affects the hands and the feet. However, at the same time, it can also affect the ankles badly. The condition usually impacts on smaller joints first. After that, it may move to larger joints such as the ankles. So, let’s take a close peek at how RA gives rise to arthritic feet in individuals.

athritic foot

How does RA give rise to arthritic foot pain?

The symptoms of RA are commonly known as flares. It is because they tend to come and go in cycles. The victims may notice their symptoms are worse in the morning when compared to night. As it does in other body joints, RA can cause inflammation and stiffness in the ankle joints. This can also give rise to permanent changes in the shape of the joints. Note that the ankle joint comprises of two smaller joints which usually act as a hinge to move the joint. For instance, movements such as running and striding are dependent entirely on the proper functioning of ankle joints.

The areas on which RA has a bad impact

Remember that the bones in the ankle joint contain cartilage which safeguards them from rubbing against each other. RA causes this to break down over time which in turn increases the friction of the bone. Moreover, the friction between bones can give rise to severe inflammation around the ankle joint. This causes the feet to become weak and unable to support the joint fully. Here is the list of symptoms associated with RA commonly experienced by patients.

  • The front ball of the foot
  • Pain in the Achilles tendon with the appearance of nodules
  • The middle of the foot and bones below the ankle
  • The toes

The feeling rendered by RA in the ankles

It is important here to note that the main symptom of RA in the ankle joint is inflammation. It makes the joint swollen, stiff and painful. This can also restrict the mobility of the joint thereby impairing the ability of a person to stand and walk. In the earlier stages, the symptoms may be mild and not that frequent. However, with the passage of time, inflammation can become worse. This is the reason that it is always wise to opt for arthritic foot surgery. This helps remove joint pain and increases the mobility of an individual.

Person experiencing foot pain, holding their foot with hands.

How physiotherapy is helpful in curing RA?

Physical therapy is certainly needed to restore the normal body functioning. By using certain techniques and treatments, the physical therapist brings about relief. You may be prescribed certain medication and exercises in the process. To stay healthy and fine, you may take up health checkup packages. Regular checkups are required to keep the diseases at bay. If any underlying condition is at the latent state, it may be treated before it gets severe.

You may be asked to change the eating habit or give up certain habits during the treatment process. The most common kind of therapy is the massage therapy used by the therapist. It can ease pain, discomfort and inflammation associated with the joint region. Massage is the part of general therapy and is non-invasive.

Close-up of a person's foot with healthy skin and toenails.
4Dec

 

With the onset of winter months, diabetes patients should take special care of their feet. It is known that diabetes patients are prone to poor blood circulation along with some nerve problems. They should take decision depending on the changes they notice. Without delay, it is better to consult a doctor to get a suitable treatment and maintaining your feet during the winter days. Read the following part to know better about how patients should maintain foot health during winter days.

coldfootcare

Keeping dry feet

Rain or snow can make your feet damp. The moisture collected from socks, toes and feet can result in bacteria that further leads to infection. Therefore, patients suffering from diabetes should frequently change their socks and rub feet with dry towel to prevent the infection problem. Also, they should pay attention to the place in between the toes. 

Maintaining moisturized feet

If you are keeping shoes dry to prevent bacteria formation, keeping your feet dry is also important. By moisturizing your feet, your feet will remain smooth. This shall reduce the risk of cracking that further results into wound. In this case, you can take suggestion from your doctor to get the right foot lotion that shall help to keep it moisturized. It is recommended to use it after bathing to prevent feet dryness.

Avoid direct heat contact to your feet

To reduce the problem of dryness of your feet and chance of feet burning, turn to keep it away from direct heat exposure. As diabetes can cause nerve damage in your feet, it may not be possible to keep your feet warm during winter months. Also, direct hot water on should not be used on diabetic feet. Instead, they should check the temperature of water before using it. Also, they should prevent use of warm items such as electric blankets, heating pads, heated shoe inserts and the like.

Choosing the right shoes

Though choosing the right winter shoe may seem to be a daunting task. But with diabetes choosing the perfect pair shall help keep your feet in good condition. The wrong shoe can make your feet even worse making it too dry during the cold weather. 

Opt for periodic foot checkup from surgeon

By going through periodic check from foot and ankle surgeon, it will be easy to prevent foot issues. A regular checkup from foot and ankle surgeon shall help to prevent the chances of foot issues. Therefore, with suitable foot care from a diabetic foot doctor, diabetes patients can reduce the chances of different foot problems. With regular visits, you can keep an eye on any changes that you notice in your feet. Thus, with the suitable treatment, the doctor can help to keep your feet in good condition even during cold weather.

Wrapping it up

Meeting a foot and ankle surgeon shall be of immense help for diabetes patients to keep your feet safe. Inside of remaining inside your home all winter, it is better to consult your doctor in advance for the right guidance.

Person tying running shoes for optimal foot support and comfort.
26Nov

running shoes

Searching for the right running shoes can feel daunting if you are not sure what the things that you should look for are. There are so many different choices on offer for you, with each claiming to have some or other technology to offer you the maximum comfort. So, here is a brief rundown on the things that you should keep in mind when trying to choose the best running shoes for yourself.

Choose shoes that are specifically made for running

Running shoes look a lot like sneakers, but they have special designs and features that make them remarkably different. While running, your foot is hitting the ground in the same way repeatedly. Running shoes help in shock absorption during this time, so that you do not suffer from troubles, like heel pain, later on.

Getting the fit absolutely right

If the shoes do not fit right, you are just setting yourself up for foot diseases, such as plantar fasciitis, in future. Keep in mind that your feet swell a slight bit through the day and they also spread as you run. So, it is better to try out the shoes in the evening or afternoon to get a more accurate estimate of the fit. There has to be about a thumb width of gap between the end of your shoe and the foot to account for the foot spread.

Select the right kind of running shoes

The kind of running shoes you get should also depend on the intensity of running that you plan to do. So, you need to opt for trail running shoes if you practice on dirt tracks more. Lightweight shoes would work well for races or faster workouts. Finally, you can also opt for daily running shoes, which are the most durable option. It can handle any kind of running that you want to do.

Consider what you are paying for

The price tag of running shoes usually relates to the kind of technology or comfort that the shoes are supposed to offer you. Now, this means getting inexpensive shoes would not really work in giving you the comfort you need to run. On the other hand, it is not like only the most expensive pair is your best bet when aiming to enjoy a run.

Understand a few terms

  • Stack height

Stack height is the amount of material placed between the ground and your feet. The ones who look for high impact protection, opt for higher stack height. On the other hand, those who are looking for a more natural experience of feeling the ground while running can go for low stack height.

  • Pronation

Pronation refers to the rolling of your foot from the heel to the toe by the foot strike. A neutral strike pattern is when you strike with the outer part of the heel and move up to the ball of the foot. If you have flat foot, then you might have over-pronation, which is rolling too much inside of the foot during the strike cycle. The opposite of this is under-pronation, which happens when your feet have high arches.

  • Heel-toe drop

Heel-toe drop is the difference in the amount of material under the forefoot and that under the heel. You should check that there’s more material under the heel to go with your normal stride while running where the heel hits the ground with the maximum impact.

Lastly, keep in mind that it’s not like the shoes that are perfect for your friend would even be right for you. So, keep these points in mind and choose the running shoes that fit your feet the best.