Turf Toe - A Real Toe Breaker!

Image by Baha'i Views / Flitzy Phoebie via FlickrImage via WikipediaWhere is the one place you always hear about turf toe? In football right? Well this sports injury is not just limited to the football field, it can happen in any sport. The main reason why it got the name turf toe, is that when athletes play on artificial turf, the foot can stick to the hard surface. When someone has gotten turf toe, what has happened is that they have sprained their big toe. This can happen by jamming the toe, or by bending it too far in either direction. The toe joint is then jammed or stretched beyond it’s limits. The result is very painful, and that pain stays with you for a while because you’ll feel every bit of pressure that you put on the big toe, which is with every step you take. Also the toe will swell and will have very limited movement.

Once you have gotten turf toe, you should follow the RICE treatment. That means to Rest, put Ice on the toe, Compress the injury with a wrap to limit movement, and to Elevate the foot above your heart, which will help with pain. You can take ibuprofen to help with swelling and pain. Remember that the more you are active on the toe that is injured, the more likely it won’t heal and will continue to be re-injured. So make sure to rest as much as possible, taking a break from the sports and training, allowing time for your toe to heal.

Turf toe can be very serious and you should seek to visit your podiatrist to make sure of the extent of the injury. While you might have turf toe, you could actually have broken bones that need attention. If you do not have a podiatrist, Dr. Blaakman at Upstate Footcare would love to be your preferred podiatrist. Turf toe is a common sports injury that he sees and can help you get back in the game as soon as possible.

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Corns - Not the Kind You Eat.

Image via WikipediaIf you have ever had a hammertoe, chances are that you know what corns on your feet are. I’m sure most people have heard of the term “corns” when hearing about foot problems. While a corn is not a major problem, it can still be painful nonetheless. A corn is develops on a part of your foot that has constant pressure on that area. It is different than a callus on your foot because it has a harden material in the center of the corn, like a kernel of corn, hence the name. That hard center is what makes the corn painful, because it is constantly pushing on your foot, adding to the pressure that caused the corn in the first place. The pressure that causes the corn to form usually comes from the shoes that are being worn, and that’s why it’s common for people who had had hammertoes to have had corns also because the top of the curved part of the toe usually rubs continually against the top of the inside of the shoe.

To treat a corn, it is best to see a podiatrist so that you can choose a treatment that is best for you. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Blaakman at Upstate Footcare. It’s best to get the corn looked at because while there are treatments you can get at the store, they might not work for you and Dr. Blaakman can help you find a treatment that will work. He can also help you find the cause of the corn so that it can be taken care of so that the corn will not return. If you have any questions, we’d love to talk to you! Give Upstate Footcare a call at 877-941-FEET (3338) or visit our website at www.upstatefootcare.com and contact us through there. Our goal at Upstate Footcare is to get you to enjoy walking...again!

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Your Foot Arch

When you go looking to buy new shoes, you might notice that some shoes are very built up in the middle, while others are flat. Why is this though? It actually has to do with the build of the arch of your foot. See there are three different types of foot arches on people. There is the high arch, in which, you guessed it, the arch of the foot is higher than normal. There’s also the low arch or flat foot, in which the arch is lower than normal or nonexistent. And of course, there is the normal arch.

Now if you have a high arch or low arch, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have done something wrong to injure your foot. It might have been just something you were born with. No problem, it just means you’ll be looking for a different type of shoe. It’s really easy, if you have a high arch, you want to get a shoe that is more flexible and has a higher arch support in the shoe. If you have a low arch or flat feet, you should look for a shoe that has low arch support and is stable. If you have a normal arch, get a shoe built with just a normal arch support and has enough cushion to absorb shock.

So if you have a different arch then normal, don’t freak out. All you have to do is make sure you are buying the right shoes to fit the arch you have. And believe me, you will know if you bought the wrong type of shoes, because your feet will tell you (via the pain you will be feeling). If you have a high arch and your wearing a low arch shoe, you’ll have no support and you will have a pain by the end of the day in your arch. If your wearing a high arch shoe while you have a low arch, your mid feet will be killing you after a long day. So just do yourself a favor and get rid of those shoes and go get a new pair asap! If you have any questions or need help finding out the right shoes for you, contact Upstate FootCare on our website or call us at 877-941-FEET (3338). We’ll get you in the right shoes and help you enjoy walking again!

Shin Splints - the painful run killer.

If you like to run or walk, you’ve probably heard of the term “shin splints.” Shin splints are a painful condition that is common among runners. It is caused by the constant pulling of the muscle on the front of the leg from the shin bone. The result is obviously not a cheerful one. If you happen to get shin splints, you’ll probably have them in both legs as they usually don’t just occur in one leg. They happen mostly to runners who use improper training technics or an improper running form, have flat feet, are running in damaged or worn out shoes and/or run on an uneven ground.

To treat shin splints, as with most sports injuries, rest is the best medicine. You can also take ibuprofen and ice your shins, which will reduce swelling. You want to make sure that you are using proper running form when you are training, and do you body a favor and make sure to stretch before and after your run. That way your body will warm up and cool down, thus helping preventing injuries and keeping you running instead of resting to recover from an injury. The last thing you can do is to check your running shoes and see if they are still fit for the constant pounding on your feet and ankles with each step you take. The shoes should be durable and sturdy in the sole, protecting your feet on the bottom. Also they should have cushion to them, going back to the pounding factor. If any of those things is not right on the running shoes you are using, throw them out! Running shoes have a limit on them on how much punishment they can take, pushing them beyond that limit will only hurt you.

If you have shin splints, there is other technics that a podiatrist can do to help correct them, so contact Dr. Blaakman at Upstate Footcare today and he’ll help you get back on your feet, and out on the road, park, trail or wherever you like to run.

What Shoes do we suggest?

One question that podiatrists usually hear is what shoes do we recommend. So what shoes do Upstate Footcare recommend? Well there is not a specific shoe that works with everyone, because not everyone’s foot is the same. There are a couple of general rules that do apply to everyone though for you to know as you search for just the right pair. You first want to find a pair of shoes that are supportive from the heel to ball of the foot and bend at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe. I cannot emphasize this enough.

The shoe should also not be stiff like a steel toed boot or flimsy like boat shoe or flip flop. Also you should not be able to twist the shoes easily side to side.

I normally recommend running shoes to people of ALL ages. Running shoes are always good, even if you don’t run in them, since they are supportive. Also make sure that there is a thumbnail length of shoe between the front of your toes to the front of the shoe.

As you get into the specifics, you have to first figure out what type of foot you have. This mostly has to do with the arch of your feet.

If you have a high arch, it’s better to get a laced shoe, since you can take some of the pressure off the top of your feet by loosening the shoe laces, unlike you can with slip on shoes or loafers. Also you want to look for a shoe with a SEMI-Curved/CURVED Lasted shoe.

If you have a low arch or flat feet, go for a good supported shoe to support your arch and that are flexible at the ball of the foot. Be on the look out for shoes with a STRAIGHT LAST.

Finally – many people ask me about steel toed boots and flip flops—this can be very different from person to person. But generally --the same rules apply.

These are general guidelines to be followed when looking for shoes. There is not a shoe that is the best shoe, because our feet are all different. If your not sure simply save your receipt and come ask us !

If you would like to figure out exactly what pair of shoes would be best for you, please make an appointment with Upstate Footcare and we’ll help you find the right fit. We’d love to help you get the most out of your shoes!

What’s fungi got to do with it? – Oh yeah – it’s just Athletes Foot or is it?

Have you ever had Athletes Foot? It is very common and it wouldn’t be surprising if you have. What exactly is Athletes Foot you might ask? It is a condition in the feet where your feet itch, burn, make your skin dry and scaly, and it usually is around the toes. The symptoms are caused by a fungus that has attached itself to your feet. How in the world did you get fungus on your feet you might ask? It was probably from walking barefoot somewhere. At the beach, the pool, the shower, etc. The very reason why it is called Athletes Foot is because it is mostly athletes who get this fungus do to the fact that they frequent locker rooms, public showers, pools, etc. Athletes Foot can form blisters on your feet, and when those blisters break, they expose raw skin that will be painful and irritating.

How do you treat Athletes Foot or prevent it? First if you have it, you can try either a topical Athletes Foot creme or oral antifungal drugs, as they seem to treat the problem the best. The oral medication will need to be prescribed by your podiatrist, and a good inspection of your feet will happen at the same time. This will allow your foot doctor to make sure that what you are really dealing with is Athlete’s Foot and not some other problem. Here are a few other prevention tips - good foot hygiene is the best prevention in for Athletes Foot and helps also get rid of it too. This is accomplished buy cleaning your feet daily with soap and warm water, then drying them thoroughly, especially around the toes. A foot powder will help dry your feet and can be put in your shoes to help them dry too. Also makes sure you are not wearing the same shoes every day. Get at least two pairs that you can rotate in wearing. This gives your shoes time to dry out and any fungus in them to die, plus your shoes will last longer since you’re only wearing them every other day at the most. Make sure you change your socks too, and wash them thoroughly, and if there white, throw some bleach in the wash to help ensure no fungus survives the wash. And lastly, make sure you wear some shower shoes or flip-flops to help protect the bottom of your feet when you’re at those locker rooms and public showers. If you have any questions, please contact us via phone (877-941-FEET (3338)) or visit our website and send us an email at http://www.upstatefootcare.com/contact.html.

Do you trade in your car more often than you trade in your shoes?

With Summer coming to a close and cooler weather just around the corner, it’s time to put away the flip-flops and start wearing shoes. But as we still have a couple weeks left of warmer weather, the question arises as to whether your favorite pair of sandals is actually worth wearing or keeping for next year. If you shoes aren’t doing what they are suppose to, you have foot pain and you will wish your flip flops had been traded in. It is statistically proven that some people actually keep their shoes longer than they keep their cars. If you are wondering if your shoes should go to the junk yard - here are a couple of tests to try out on your flip-flops and sandals and some tips when you go to buy your next pair.

First of all, take one of your sandals in your hands and see if it bends in half. If the front of the sandal can touch the heel of the sandal, you’ve got a bad pair. Also see if you can twist the flip-flop. If it looks like something you can buy at a donut shop, that’s not a good shoe either. So in these two instances – don’t go looking for shoe repair – just throw out the shoe. If you bend the sandal and it only bends in the front half and only a little bit, that’s ok because you want the sandal to move with your feet. If your sandals bend too far or twist really easily, there is absolutely no support for your feet. If the flip-flop is flat and cheap, guarantee they are not good, it doesn’t matter that they only cost five bucks, you’ll pay for it later in pain. Again – relate this to buying a lemon of a car – it may look good but it will leave you with nothing but pain. Next test; see if your toes hang off the end of the flip-flop. If they do, the sandals are too small and this could cause you to trip and hurt your toes. Next, check the material the sandal is made of. You want soft leather, not a cheap plastic sandal. Plastic will tend to give you blisters. Lastly, check your flip-flops for wear and tear. If they are frayed and cracked, get rid of them!

If you need to get a new pair, here are some quick tips. First, don’t go cheap. Like buying a good car – you get what you pay for – if you go cheap – then you get a cruddy car – if you buy a cheap sandal – then you get a cruddy sandal. Good sandals cost more, and you won’t pay for it in pain later. Get soft leather, not plastic. Get a supportive sandal, not a flat one you can bend in half. Remember you want it to bend in the front a little bit, but not to where the front touches the back. Go to your favorite shoe store and ask for help. They will help fit you and make sure you get the right size. Lastly, don’t wear the same pair every year, get a new pair each spring. This will keep you feet happy and pain free. If you have any questions, we would love to help you out. Give us a call at 877-941-FEET (3338) or visit our website at http://www.upstatefootcare.com/.