Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle by, John Craigo P.T.

Stress fractures are small cracks in the bones of the foot and/or ankle most commonly caused by

unusual or repeated stress rather than by a single hard impact. Bones are living, changing

structures, absorbing and rebuilding cells constantly. When too much stress occurs for the bones

to rebuild themselves sufficiently, a weakened stress point can occur.

Fatigue often is part of the cause - muscles that are over-tired are less able to absorb the shock of

impact when the foot hits the ground and the stress is transferred to the bones. This can occur in

athletes who train too hard or try to do too much or even in non-athletes who do more than usual

or often do too little and have bones that have become weak.

Symptoms of stress fractures may include:

 pain that comes on gradually and worsens with walking or running but improves with rest

 tenderness or swelling on the top or outside of the foot or ankle with no previous trauma

An interview and examination with your podiatrist is warranted for diagnosis - X-rays may not

always show stress fractures until more healing takes place.

In the weight bearing bones of the foot and ankle, healing may be delayed by continuing to put

weight on that limb. Rest and a cast or walking boot are often used for 4 to 8 weeks followed by

rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles of the leg and ankle.

Strengthening muscles and bones by gradually increasing activity levels, avoiding sudden bursts

of exercise, wearing proper supportive footwear, and eating a good diet are all ways to help

prevent stress fractures.

So What Are The Benefits of Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy's treatment methodology is aimed at the treatment and curing of certain ailments, and preventing the chances of pain reoccurring in the same place or at a later point of time. Its primary goal and focus is to bring back the patient to his or her normal self, free of any pain or complications, so that he or she could then move forward with their normal life by performing all the daily activities with very minimum or no difficulty. Physical therapy also deals with cardiopulmonary and neurological conditions too.

Physical therapy is effective to regain mobility of joints, strengthen muscles, achieve flexibility, and acquire better balance and. Apart from all this, physical therapy can also help to significantly improve overall fitness and health. Physical therapy is also a very effective method in aiding/helping children to cope with issues such as developmental delays or muscle and joint weaknesses that could happen in their early stages of life. For physical therapy to be effective, it is very important that the patient also responds positively to their treatments, and for that to happen he or she needs to keep a positive frame of mind and not in a negative mind set. So keep positive and your treatment will have positive affects!

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at: 440-946-5858

or visit our website

http://www.drrobertrosenstein.com/

order a free copy of a our book on our website!

Ingrown Toenails

When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders. This "digging in" of the nail irriatates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.

If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor. However, even if the toe isn't painful, red, swollen, or warm, a nail that curves downward into the skin can progress to an infection.

Causes:

• Heredity- in many people, the tendency for ingrown toenails is inherited.
• Trauma- sometimes an ingrown toenail is the result of trauma, such as stubbing your toe, having an object fall on your toe, or engaging in activities that involve repeated pressure on the toes, such as kicking or running.
• Improperly sized footwear-Ingrown toenails can result from wearing socks and shoes that are tigth or short.
• Nail Conditions- ingrown toenails can be caused by nail problems, such as fungal infections or losing a nail due to trauma.

Sometimes initial treatment for ingrown toenails can be safely performed at home. However, home treatment is strongly discouraged if an infection is suspected, or for those who have medical conditions that put feet at high risk, such as diabetes, nerve damage in the foot, or poor circulation.

Tips for cutting your Toenails

Trimming you toenails may seem simple enough, but it isn't something to be done carelessly. While most people don't need to visit a podiatrists to take of their toes-many people need to be sur they're clipping their nails properly to reduce the risk of future foot problems.

Trimming Toenails: The Basics

• Cut striaght across: Guide the cilppers straight across the nail of each toe and avoid cutting nails into a curved shape.
• Use appropiate toenail clippers: Larger clippers are meant for larger nails, and will be easier to cut toenails with than fingernail clippers. Keep clippers and any other tools you use on your toes disinfected (cleaning them with rubbing alcohol before and after using them will do the trick).
• Leave nails a little long: Don't cut nails too short, as it's another reason ingrown toenails occur. It can also leave your toenail susceptible to infection-plus it hurts!
• Cut nails when they're dry not wet: Cutting dry nails will give you a cleaner, smoother cut.
• Make a few small cuts: Don't try to clip each toenail in one shot. Make a few small cuts across your nail.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website: www. DrRobertRosenstein.com

And remember..........."When your feet hurt, you hurt all over!"

Some Great Tips To Keep Your Feet Happy This Year!

Did you know that the average adult walks the equivalent of more than 4 times around the world in their lifetime? So it's not hard to believe that more than three quaters of adults will experience some type of problem with their feet.

It is extremely important that you take care of your feet as much as any part of your body! The truth is we often ignore and neglect our feet until we know there is a problem.

Below are some great tips to follow to keep your feet healthy:

Wash feet daily- use mild, soapy water for just a few minutes. Dry your feet properly and make sure you get in between your toes!

Apply moisturizing cream to your feet daily- use good quality moisturizing cream and make sure you pay close attention to the sole and heel areas. While avoiding the toenails and spaces between the toes.

File hard skin away gently using a foot file or a pumice stone- try to use the pumice stone in, or straight after a bath or shower while the skin is soft. Follow that step with a foot file after your feet are dry.

Keep the spaces between the toes dry- try to do this daily to prevent sogginess or athlete's foot.

Keep nails trimmed- use proper nail scissors or clippers and follow the natural curve of the end of the nail do not cut or dig into the sides as this can lead to ingrown toenails.

Avoid walking barefoot in public places especially showers!- wearing flip flops can reduce the risk of picking up infections such as verrucae and athlete's foot.

Make sure you are wearing the right size shoe- poor footwear is often the cause of many foot problems, yet we often don't realize we are wearing the wrong size shoes.

See a Podiatrists!- if you have any concerns about your feet, a podiatrists can identify any problems and discuss the best treatment options. Even if you may not have a good specific foot problem, it may be a good idea to visit a podiatrists once in a while just for a routine check-up and to educate yourself on proper foot care.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc.at
440-946-5858 or visit our website www.DrRobertRosenstein.com

And remember....."When your feet hurt, you hurt all over!"

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet = Foot Pain For Mom!

The Last thing you want to worry about during your pregnancy is your feet. However, your feet are more important during this time than you may realize. There are preventative methods that can be taken to stop or lesson the problems.

Your hormones increase during your pregnancy. Some of these hormones help relax ligaments and other strucutres to allow a vaginal birth. But these same hormones can also cause your ligaments in your feet that can lead to flat feet (fallen arches) and over-pronation. This also can increase your shoe size, you may have to wear a half or whole size bigger after you give birth.

Another cause obviously is your growing womb, the weight of the baby, and the enlargement of your breasts. With this extra weight will come extra stress on the arches of the feet. So it's quite common for pregnant women to develop heel pain or plantar fasciitis because of the extra weight. Your center of gravity and your balance are also affected.

Some Prevention and Treatment Tips:

• Try to avoid standing for long periods of time and walking barefoot.
• Take breaks frequently and make sure to elevate your feet.
• Make sure you wear properly fitting shoes. (You may need to see your podiatrist for custom fitted orthotics.)

Swelling is another issue that pregnant women will have to deal with. Swelling of the feet and ankles is very common. This is usually caused by an increase in blood volume that occurs to help you carry extra oxygen and nutrients to your baby. The pregnancy hormones can also cause changes in the blood vessels , which may lead to swelling. All of this extra fluid is pulled down naturally by gravity right to your feet and ankles.

Some Prevention and Treatment Tips:

• Do not stand for long periods of time.
• Elevate your feet as much as possible.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid foods in high sodium.
• Take baths or go swimming if you can this will relax your muscles and skin.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website: http://www.drrobertrosenstein.com/

And Remember........."When Your Feet Hurt, You Hurt All Over!"

Spare the Duct Tape, and just see a Podiatrists for your wart!

Dr. Rosenstein,

      I think I may have a wart on the bottom of my foot. How do warts appear and what are the most common treatments?


Warts are the most common viral infections of the skin. Plantar warts grow on the sole of the foot. Warts can form and be found in this area but usually to produce and appear in areas of the foot where there are the most pressure and friction. The virus that causes warts, the human papillomavirus, infects only the superficial layer of skin that produces a callus-like growth that can become quite irritated and tender.

Plantar Warts can be seen in all age groups, but they are most common among children 12-16 years are more rare in the elderly.

The risks of getting Plantar Warts can include:

• The use of public showers
• Skin Trauma
• Weakened immune system because of certain medications used or type of illness.

Unfortunately since warts tend to appear spontaneously, it may become necessary to treat warts that negatively affect an individuals ability to walk for a short period of time.

The most common Medical Treatments used:

• Acid
• Laser Treatments
• Cryotherapy

There are many more other treatments available for the treatment of plantar warts. No single therapy is so effective that it has eliminated the use of others.

Of course you know or think you may have a Plantars Wart the best solution is to see your podiatrists.
If you need more information or wish to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc.
at 440-946-5858 or visit our website: www.DrRobertRosenstein.com

When Should You Get Bigger Shoes?

Dr. Rosenstein,

      I have been training for a marathon and the shoes I have are great so far. I've been researching and found that some people tend to buy shoes one size bigger because your feet swell over the distance. How will I know if I need bigger shoes?


Feet usually swell a size or more during walking or running with a full affect after an hour or so. Depending on the distance you run, if your not feeling pain then your shoes maybe the right size.

The problems that you would see from wearing too small of shoes include:

• Bunion Pain
• Blisters
• Black toenails/ losing toenails
• Hammertoes

Your feet will always continue to grow and spread as you age. If you gain or lose weight, so will your feet. You should get properly fit shoes every year.

Make sure your shoes fit! You should be able to wiggle your toes around in the shoes. You should also be able to a finger's width in the toebox when you stand up, before you start walking. Your heel should stay put in the heel cup, your foot should not be sliding forward with every step.

If you wear shoes that are too big you may have similar complications that you would have when wearing too small of shoes. If your foot slides with each step you take, you can get black toenails or even lose your toenails. You may also get blisters from that same effect, or you may irritate your bunnions or hammertoes from the extra friction and impact.

Of course it's always a great idea to see your podiatrists if your not sure or experiencing pain.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website www.DrRobertRosenstein.com

UGG Boots are Ugly, But How Ugly Do They Make Your Feet?

Dr. Rosenstein,

      I love wearing my UGG Boots, but my feet have been hurting lately and I think it's from the boots. I'm not ready to give them up yet! Can you tell me why my feet may be hurting from them?


Some girls may think they are treating their feet to something nice and comfortable, however they do quite the opposite and can cause future complications.

UGGs warm, soft, and cozy are really no better for your feet than those terrible high heels!

The number one concern with UGGS is the lack of arch support. Arch support is important for helping the foot absorb shock and poor arch support can mean future complications for your feet.

Another concern with UGGS is the fact that your feet tend to slip and move around inside of them as you walk. With each step that is taken all the force tends to fall towards the inside of the foot. This then flattens the arch and makes it drop. This can later result in significant foot, ankle, and even hip complications.

The imitation UGGS are just as bad because they offer no substantial and necessary orthopedic support for the foot and ankle.

If must keep wearing these ugly...I mean...UGGS then wear them sparingly, like you should high heels, don't wear them if you know that your going to be on your feet for long periods of time.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website www.DrRobertRosenstein.com

And Remember..."When Your Feet Hurt, You Hurt All Over!"

Start The New Year Off On A Good Foot!

It's a new year, so start it off on a good foot! Here are some tips to help you keep your feet healthy this year!

The Top 10 Foot Health Guide

1. Inspect your feet regularly and pay attention to changes in color, texture or appearance.
2. Maintain good foot hygiene, including washing and drying between the toes.
3. Hydrate the skin. Open shoes can cause rapid loss of moisture from the skin and may result in cracking or the formation of fissures. It is helpful to replace the moisture content by using lotions or creams on a regular basis.
4. Buy proper-size shoes. You may not wear the same size in shoes made by different manufacturers. Purchase new shoes late in the day, when feet tend to be at their largest. Always buy the shoes that feel the best.
5. Don't ignore foot pain. Symptoms that increase or do not resolve within a reasonable period of time need to be evaluated by your podiatric physician.
6. Cut toenails straight across. Never cut into the corners — this could cause an ingrown toenail. Gently file away sharp corners or rough edges with an emery board.
7. Exercise. Walking is a great way to keep weight under control and is an excellent conditioner for the feet. Be sure to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising.
8. Alternate your shoes each day. Since the feet have sweat glands, your shoes will absorb moisture from your feet, so it is important to allow your shoes to dry out completely.
9. Avoid walking barefoot to help protect your feet from injury and infection.
10. Put sunblock on your feet while wearing sandals during the day to avoid sunburn

This New Year you owe it to yourself to make a resolution to keep your feet looking and feeling healthy!

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Afffiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website: www.DrRobertRosenstein.com

And Remember ........."When your feet hurt, you hurt all over!"