FOOT OF THE CLASS

The sounds of back to school season include the ringing of school bells and cash registers, the slamming of locker doors, the noisy ruckus of school hallways and cafeterias, and the moans and groans of students over tests, homework, relationships, and increasingly, their aching feet.

Flip-flops are the summer footwear of choice for many students. But while these sandals are inexpensive and stylish, they don’t cushion or support the foot, leading to problems. After wearing flip-flops all summer, some students will head back to school this fall with foot pain and even injuries.

People may not realize that even into your mid-teens, there’s new bone growing in your heel. Flip-flops don’t cushion the heel, so repetitive stress from walking can inflame that heel bone growth area and cause pain and tenderness. Heel pain and arch pain rank among the most common complaints among students who wear flip-flops. Other flip-flop feet problems students can take back to school include inflammation of the Achilles tendon, painful pinched nerves, sprained ankles, broken or sprained toes, cuts and scrapes, plantar warts, Athlete’s foot, and callus build-up on the heels and toes.

Simple treatment methods can be done to reduce or eliminate students’ foot pain. These include stretching exercises, ice massage, anti-inflammatory medications and custom and/or over-the-counter shoe inserts.

Back to school season will always be painful for some students, but it doesn’t need to involve foot pain. If you or your child is suffering from foot pain please give our office a call and set-up a consultation, 440-946-5858.

Simple At-Home Checks to Aid in Underlying Foot Problems In Your Child

Back to school season is getting underway, therefore I recommend parents take five minutes to inspect their child's feet for problems that could sideline your son or daughter from sports and/or other activities.

Some warning signs parents should look for are:

•Do the bottom of the child’s shoes show uneven wear patterns?
If your child's shoe is worn on the big toe side of their foot, it could be a sign of poor arch support or flat feet.

•Does the child walk irregularly? Is one leg longer than the other or do feet turn in or out excessively?
If you find out one of your child's legs is longer than the other, heel lifts may be required to restore proper balance. Early intervention may prevent things such as scoliosis, a curvature of spine, later in life.

•Does your child often trip or stumble?
I see young adults every autumn complaining about pain from walking and/or frequency of stumbling while walking. For most students, daily stretching and proper walking shoes can solve the problem. If there are foot deformities like hammertoes and/or bunions, surgery may be advised to make walking more comfortable, if proper shoes do not relieve the symptoms.

•Does your child complain of tired legs, night pains and/or cramping?
Complaints about tired legs, heel pain or leg or foot cramps at night, can be a warning sign. Leg and foot pain can indicate flat feet or other disorders that are easier to treat the earlier they're diagnosed. Children with flat feet are at risk for arthritis later in life if the problem is left untreated.

Following the checklist listed above can uncover common problems afflicting your child, like ingrown toenails to more serious problems like flat feet, that should be addressed early in life to allow pain-free ambulation and prevent further problems later in life.

If your son or daughter are suffering from any of the conditions listed above please contact our office to set-up a consultation, 440-946-5858.

Flip Flop Fiasco

As we enter summer, more and more patients are coming into the office with new foot and leg pain. The only thing they have changed in their daily routines is a transition into flip flops and sandals with the warmer weather. Why could this type of footwear cause problems? Listed below are some of the reasons:

1.Most sandals and flip flops do not offer enough arch support. Without a well supported arch, heel pain (plantar fasciits) or pain to the inner ankle (tendonitis) can develop.
2.Sandals and flip flops also do not offer support in the region of the back of the heel and ankle. Therefore, the ankle is unstable which can also cause tendonitis and other ankle injuries.
3.Sandals and flip flops do not fit snuggly to feet. Because of this, a decrease in the length of stride is warranted which can lead to abnormal muscle usage in the lower legs, thighs and back. Also because of the loose fit, the toes/digits have to work overtime to grip the ground to stabilize the foot during gait. This can lead to the development of callus formation, ingrown toenails and/or hammer toes.

Running shoes and cross trainers would be a much better option for feet. But if you can't resist your sandals and flip flops, and pain occurs, our office is available to help. Please feel free to call our office for an appointment, 440-946-5858.


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Avoid Risks of Summer Heat to Diabetic Feet

As public health officials nationwide take precautions to help senior citizens endure the sizzling summer weather, another group vulnerable to heat related health problems is the diabetic population. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons urges diabetes patients to be aware that prolonged hot and humid weather can lead to myriad foot woes -- even third-degree burns -- if they don’t protect their feet carefully.

Concerns for diabetes patients in extreme heat involve swelling, dryness and cracking from wearing sandals and problems associated with walking barefoot, such as puncture wounds and burns and blisters from hot pavement. Just a few minutes walking barefoot on a hot driveway or sidewalk to fetch the newspaper can badly burn the soles of a diabetic patient’s feet due to impaired nerve sensation from the disease. Most diabetes patients know they shouldn’t walk barefoot, but sometimes think there’s no harm if it’s just for a few minutes.

Any type of skin break on a diabetic foot has the potential to get infected and ulcerate if it isn’t noticed right away. Therefore, wearing sandals all the time in the summer poses problems. Feet constantly exposed in flip-flops or strap sandals lose moisturizing oils, causing dry, rough skin prone to cracking.

Some diabetes patients experience foot swelling in hot weather, which makes their shoes fit tighter and may exert blister-causing pressure on the toes and heels. Like it or not, diabetes patients whose feet get swollen in hot weather should wear support stockings. Compression is the best way to reduce swelling and avoid complications such as poor circulation and further impaired nerve function.

Vigilant foot care is a year-round responsibility for diabetes patients, but the temptations of summer can test even the most conscientious patient’s resolve.

What’s more natural than bare feet and sandals in the summer? Unfortunately, there’s no off-season for diabetes, so patients must be very careful with their feet to avoid skin breaks and subsequent infections and ulcerations that result from this disease.

For further information about diabetic foot care and other conditions please visit our website at www.drrobertrosenstein.com and/or call our office for a consultation, 440-946-5858.