Items filtered by date: June 2024

Choosing the right office shoes can significantly impact productivity. Anti-microbial shoes maintain hygiene and reduce odor, creating a more comfortable environment. Shoes with good traction prevent slips and falls, ensuring safety and allowing for confident movement. Lightweight shoes reduce fatigue, making it easier to stay active and focused throughout the day. Breathable materials help regulate foot temperature, preventing discomfort from overheating. Additionally, flexibility in shoes supports natural foot movement, reducing strain and promoting better posture. Adequate support is essential for preventing foot and back pain, enabling longer periods of standing or walking without discomfort. The combination of these features leads to improved comfort, safety, and overall well-being, which in turn boosts productivity by allowing employees to concentrate on their tasks without being distracted by foot-related issues. If you have developed foot pain or a foot condition from wearing the wrong shoes during the workday, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can offer you relief remedies, in addition to educating you on what shoes to wear for your profession.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Emmanuel Bustos, DPM from New York. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

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

Read more about How to Handle a Long Work Day on Your Feet
Tuesday, 18 June 2024 00:00

Understanding Different Types of Gout

Gout, a form of arthritis, arises from a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream, causing sharp crystals to form in the joints. It primarily affects the big toe but can also occur in other joints, like the ankle or knee. The uric acid buildup may happen due to certain dietary factors, such as consuming foods like red meat, seafood, and alcohol. Genetics and underlying health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and kidney problems can also increase the risk of developing gout. Gout can present in various forms, including acute attacks, causing sudden and intense pain in the joints. Chronic gout involves recurrent episodes of pain and swelling, which may lead to joint damage over time if not treated properly. Another form, called tophaceous gout, occurs when urate crystals accumulate under the skin, forming lumps or nodules known as tophi. Symptoms of gout typically include severe joint pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area. If you struggle with gout or any symptoms that may result in gout, it is strongly suggested that you visit a podiatrist to receive proper care and treatment.

Gout is a painful condition that can be treated. If you are seeking treatment, contact Emmanuel Bustos, DPM from New York. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. The condition usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe. A gout attack can occur at any random time, such as the middle of the night while you are asleep.

Symptoms

  • Intense Joint Pain - Usually around the large joint of your big toe, and it most severe within the first four to twelve hours
  • Lingering Discomfort - Joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
  • Inflammation and Redness -Affected joints may become swollen, tender, warm and red
  • Limited Range of Motion - May experience a decrease in joint mobility

Risk Factors

  • Genetics - If family members have gout, you’re more likely to have it
  • Medications - Diuretic medications can raise uric acid levels
  • Gender/Age - Gout is more common in men until the age of 60. It is believed that estrogen protects women until that point
  • Diet - Eating red meat and shellfish increases your risk
  • Alcohol - Having more than two alcoholic drinks per day increases your risk
  • Obesity - Obese people are at a higher risk for gout

Prior to visiting your podiatrist to receive treatment for gout, there are a few things you should do beforehand. If you have gout you should write down your symptoms--including when they started and how often you experience them, important medical information you may have, and any questions you may have. Writing down these three things will help your podiatrist in assessing your specific situation so that he or she may provide the best route of treatment for you.

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

Read more about Gout

For seniors, falls can pose significant risks to health and independence, and can seriously impact the feet, necessitating the need to make fall prevention techniques in the home important. Start by ensuring adequate lighting throughout the house, especially in hallways, staircases, and bathrooms, to enhance visibility and reduce tripping hazards. Remove clutter and secure loose rugs or carpets to prevent slips and falls. Install grab bars in bathrooms and near toilets and showers to provide stability and support. Additionally, consider adding non-slip mats or adhesive strips to bathtub and shower floors. Keep commonly used items within easy reach to avoid overreaching or straining. Regular exercise to improve strength, balance, and flexibility can also reduce the risk of falls. Ensure that footwear fits well and provides proper support and traction. Regularly review medications with a healthcare provider to identify potential side effects that may increase fall risk. If falling has happened and foot conditions have arisen, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can offer you effective treatment and additional prevention methods.

Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with Emmanuel Bustos, DPM from New York. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.

How to Prevent Falls

Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:

  • Enrolling in strength and balance exercise program to increase balance and strength
  • Periodically having your sight and hearing checked
  • Discuss any medications you have with a doctor to see if it increases the risk of falling
  • Clearing the house of falling hazards and installing devices like grab bars and railings
  • Utilizing a walker or cane
  • Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning
  • Talking to family members about falling and increasing awareness

Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.  

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

Read more about Falls Prevention
Thursday, 06 June 2024 00:00

Are Bunions Affecting Your Everyday Life?

Have you noticed a bony protrusion on the side of your big toe? If so, you may have developed the foot condition known as a bunion. Don't let bunions interfere with your daily activities.

Tuesday, 04 June 2024 00:00

Common Foot Injuries in Soccer

Soccer players frequently encounter foot injuries due to the sport’s high physical demands. Foot blisters are common, starting as irritated skin and developing into fluid-filled bubbles from the friction inside the shoes. Ankle sprains, the most common soccer injury, occur from twisting or impact, leading to ligament stretching or tearing. Wearing tight shoes often cause toenail injuries, and can lead to blood forming under the nail, loose nails, or nails falling off. Turf toe, a painful sprain of the big toe joint, occurs from sudden jamming movements, especially on artificial turf, and necessitates rest and immobilization. Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain, resulting from inflammation of the tissue that connects the heel to the toes, and is considered an overuse injury. Achilles tendonitis affects the back of the heel and can be caused by overuse, inadequate warm-ups, or wearing improper footwear. Foot fractures and stress fractures often result from direct impacts, acute twisting, or repetitive stress during play. If you have sustained a foot or ankle injury while playing soccer, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a diagnosis and treatment. 

Ankle and foot injuries are common among athletes and in many sports. They can be caused by several problems and may be potentially serious. If you are feeling pain or think you were injured in a sporting event or when exercising, consult with Emmanuel Bustos, DPM from New York. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Common Injuries

The most common injuries that occur in sporting activities include:

  • Achilles Tendonitis
  • Achilles Tendon Rupture
  • Ankle Sprains
  • Broken Foot
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Stress Fractures
  • Turf Toe

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending upon the injury and in some cases, there may be no symptoms at all. However, in most cases, some form of symptom is experienced. Pain, aching, burning, bruising, tenderness, tightness or stiffness, sensation loss, difficulty moving, and swelling are the most common symptoms.

Treatment

Just as symptoms vary depending upon the injury, so do treatment options. A common treatment method is known as the RICE method. This method involves rest, applying ice, compression and elevating the afflicted foot or ankle. If the injury appears to be more serious, surgery might be required, such as arthroscopic or reconstructive surgery. Lastly, rehabilitation or therapy might be needed to gain full functionality in the afflicted area. Any discomfort experienced by an athlete must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.  

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

Read more about Sports Related Foot and Ankle Injuries

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