Items filtered by date: July 2015

In the last five years, the United Kingdom has seen a 17% increase in diabetic amputations, performed on average 135 times per week. Experts blame this increase on Britain’s obesity epidemic where there has been in a 62% increase in diabetes overall within the past decade. Despite these figures, Diabetes UK believes that these numbers can change and amputations can be avoided if diabetic patients are given the correct care and education.

Feet associated with obesity and diabetes need regular care and attention. If you have any concerns about your feet contact Dr. Harvey R. Jacobs, DPM, FACFAS, and Dr. Marc Berman of Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Obesity and your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Solutions

Footwear – Specially made footwear that supports your joints, arches, and ankles, and allows room for good circulation is a great option to mitigate pressure and pain. A podiatrist will help you decide what works best for your specific needs.

Exercise – Exercise will help alleviate the pain and give your feet the strength it needs to support your body. Exercise also increases blood flow to your feet, allowing them to remain healthy and strong.

Most importantly, seek the help of a podiatrist for foot care if something is wrong or doesn’t seem to be working. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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While the casual recreational walker has fewer needs compared to the runner, those who are looking for shoes fit especially for walking must be as careful as the runner in selecting footwear. A running specialty store is a great place to start, as here shoes are often specifically fit to the foot. Walkers should explain to their salesperson that they are interested in walking long distance in their shoes as opposed to running. While a cushioned heel is excellent for a runner, it may make walking more difficult. When trying on shoes, be sure to walk a little bit in each pair until you can narrow it down to the pairs that feel best.

For more information about walking shoes versus running shoes consult with one of our podiatrists from Quality Foot Care Center. Our doctors can measure your feet to determine what your needs are and help you find an appropriate pair of footwear.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

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

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Patients with poor blood circulation should take care to improve their circulation as the condition is linked to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and several heart diseases. There are several simple concepts patients can keep in mind to help improve circulation: walking, avoiding stress, dieting properly, drinking water, and maintaining a correct posture. Walking causes the body to pump more blood into the heart and can also act as a stress reliever. A healthy diet should include leafy greens and foods rich in iron and vitamins. Hydration is important, and water should be drunk daily; while a straight posture can help improve the way blood flows throughout the body.

Poor circulation is a serious condition and needs immediate medical attention. If you have any concerns with poor circulation in your feet contact one of our podiatrists of Quality Foot Care Center. Our podiatrists will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Poor Circulation in the Feet

Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs is caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the result of a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Plaque buildup or atherosclerosis results from excess calcium and cholesterol in the bloodstream. It usually restricts the amount of blood which can flow through the arteries. Poor blood circulation in the feet and legs are sometimes caused by inflammation in the blood vessels, known as vasculitis.

Causes

Lack of oxygen and oxygen from poor blood circulation restricts muscle growth and development.

It can also cause:

-muscle pain      -numbness in legs

-cramps             -skin discoloration

-weakness          -slower nail & hair growth

-stiffness            -erectile dysfunction

Those who have diabetes and or smoke are at greatest risk for poor circulation, or who are over 50.

If you have poor circulation in the feet and legs it may be caused by PAD, and is important to make changes to your lifestyle in order to reduce risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. Exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will dramatically improve conditions.

As always see a doctor as they will help try and fit a regime that suits you. A doctor will also prescribe you medication which will help for PAD.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Danny McGuire, halfback for the Leeds’ Rhinos, has sustained a broken ankle after being tackled by Hull FC’s Marc Sneyd. The tackle resulted in a penalty for the Rhino’s after Sneyd was carded for holding, but McGuire needed medical attention and had to be helped off the field. Head coach Brian McDermott states, “He could have broken his ankle by the looks of it. He’s not walking - he can’t even put it on the ground. It’s a bad one.”

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles contact one of our podiatrists of Quality Foot Care Center . Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

• Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
• Swelling around the area
• Bruising of the area
• Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Somerset, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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