Blog
Baylor College Professors Tips for High Heel Wearers this Holiday Season
According to Baylor College of Medicine assistant professor Dr. Jason Ahuero, women should be sensible about how often they wear high heels. Wearing high heels regularly can lead to many foot problems such as foot pain and ankle sprains. Ahuero states that women should not wear heels for long periods of time and they should alternate heel height if they are unable to just wear flats. High heel wearers should also roughen up the bottoms of their heels to avoid slipping during inclement weather. When buying new high heels, Ahuero suggests that women have their foot measured each time, purchase shoes with thicker heels for stability, and to avoid high heels that are uncomfortable to wear. At the end of a day of wearing high heels, elevating the feet as well as icing them may reduce any pain or swelling.High heels are very fashionable and a necessity to some, but they can cause a tremendous about of harm to the feet and ankles. To learn more, contact Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will answer all of your foot- and ankle-related questions.
Effects of High Heels on the Feet
High heels are popular shoes among women because they are associated with femininity. Despite their appeal, they can cause many health problems if worn too frequently.
What parts my body will be affected by high heels?
- Ankle Joints
- Achilles Tendon – may shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
- Balls of the Feet
- Knees – heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
- Back – they decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain. Also, the vertebrae of the lower back may compress.
What kinds of foot problems can develop from wearing high heels?
- Corns
- Calluses
- Hammertoe
- Bunions
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Plantar Fasciitis
How can I still wear high heels and maintain foot health?
If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems. Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet. Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising. If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Read more about the Effects of High Heels
Arthritic Implant Cartiva eases Toe Pain
Arthritis of the big toe affects nearly half a million of Great Britain’s population. Cartiva, an innovative new implant, has been purported to help ease the pain and stiffness from arthritis through surgery. To alleviate pain and keep them from rubbing together, the implant is surgically inserted between the bones of the toe. Cartiva’s flexibility and putty-like consistency allow it to act as a shock absorber, similar to cartilage. Val Cornwall, a sixty-seven-year-old resident of Hillingdon, Middlesex underwent surgery for the procedure in February 2011 and is now as active as ever. Cornwall was able to leave the hospital the next morning after a forty-minute operation under general anesthetic.If left untreated, arthritis of the feet—especially the big toe—can be very painful. If painful arthritis has been troubling you, consult with podiatrists Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler from Pennsylvania. Our doctors will provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment and alleviate your joint pain.
Arthritic Foot Care
In an average lifetime, we walk approximately 75,000 miles. This can put a great deal of stress on the 26 bones and 30 joints that we have in our feet. As we get older, our feet lose flexibility and elasticity. Our shock absorbers weaken, and if arthritis comes into play, the joints become inflamed and distorted. Arthritic foot care and treatment would become imperative at this point.
It is best to take care of your feet by wearing well-fitted shoes. Certain conditions may develop when you wear shoes that don’t fit properly, for example hammertoes, neuroma, and bunions. Wearing shoes that have a lower heel and extra room in the shoe can help your feet be comfortable. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the arch in your foot may become problematic. Buying shoes with arch support will help; it is also a good idea to buy shoes that contour to your foot.
Alleviating Arthritic Pain
-Specific exercises may help; stretching the Achilles tendon can prevent further pain and injury. Stretching can also increase your mobility.
For more information about Arthritic Foot Care, follow the link below.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices located in Ambler and Plymouth Meeting, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Arthritic Foot Care
Two Year-Old Receives Surgeries That May Allow Him to Walk Again
Tripp Halstead of Atlanta was hit by a tree branch in 2012 and had numerous surgeries since. His most recent surgery was surgery of the feet. When the tree branch hit Halstead, the two year-old suffered severe trauma to the brain and his parents have noticed that his feet have not grown since. His parents and doctors are now hoping that this latest procedure will allow the boy to walk again someday instead of using a wheelchair to get around. The surgery lasted around seven hours, but hospital staff claims that everything went according to plan. Nurses even created his casts based off Cars, Halstead’s favorite movie. “I put more emphasis on the positive,” said Tripps’ mother, Stacy Halstead, “That one day he would be able to walk and run like the other kids and that seemed to relax him.”Foot surgery is sometimes necessary. If you are struggling with a foot or ankle condition, talk to Dr. Michael E. Newman of Pennsylvania. Our doctor can treat your foot and ankle needs.
When Is Surgery Necessary?
Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:
- Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
- Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
- Reconstruction to attend injuries caused by accidents or malformations
What Types of Surgery Are There?
The type of surgery you receive will be dependent on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:
- Bunionectomy for painful bunions
- Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
- Nerve removal for painful nerve endings
Benefits of Surgery
Although surgery is usually a last resort, when it is undertaken, if can provide more complete pain relief than before, and may allow you to finally resume full activity.
Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Such techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Foot Surgery
Researchers Hoping to Save Limbs with Sensor-Equipped “Smart Socks”
Researchers at the University of Arizona have been working on a device that monitors feet with sensors and fiber optics in order to predict areas likely to develop ulcers. Called “Smart Socks,” this technology was created to reduce the devastatingly high number of amputations that often result from diabetic neuropathy.
Neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes that produces a loss of sensation in the extremities. Without feeling in the feet, ulcers can go unnoticed and become infected. If the infection is also left unattended the damage can necessitate amputation. This happens more frequently than many realize. There are 26 million Americans currently living with diabetes, and according to the CDC someone loses a limb because of diabetic complications every twenty seconds. Fortunately, researchers seem to be close to solving this problem and expect that this technology will be available by 2019.
When dealing with systemic disease of the feet, is extremely important to check the affected areas routinely so that any additional problems are caught quickly. For professional help, see podiatrists Dr. Michael E. Newman and Dr. Denise Kohler of Pennsylvania. Our doctors will ensure that your feet receive the care that they need.
Systemic Diseases of the Feet
Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable. Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.
Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body.
Diabetes mellitus – is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin. Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes.
Diabetes of the Feet
Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.
Peripheral Vascular Disease – can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet.
If you have any questions feel free to contact one of our offices, located in Plymouth Meeting and Ambler, PA. We offer the latest in diagnostic and treatment technology to meet your needs.
Read more about Systemic Diseases of the Feet
