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Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for: December, 2018

By Clark Podiatry Center
December 26, 2018
Category: Foot Health Tips
Tags: Bunions   Orthotics   Athlete's Foot   fungal   toe exercises   wart   corn  

The holidays are coming to a close, and now it’s time to ring in the New Year! Whether you’re staying home with family or celebrating with friends at a party, remember to stay safe and keep your feet comfortable. After all, they’ve worked hard for you all year in 2018!

So how will you keep them healthy and in tip-top shape in the New Year? Here are some ways you can help your feet to be healthier and stronger so that they can keep you walking:

  • Daily foot hygiene is key to keeping your feet free from bacterial or fungal infection. Don’t start your year off with Athlete’s foot! Use flip flops in communal showers and wash your feet daily with soap and warm water! Why wait for infection symptoms when you can prevent them?
  • Incorporate foot exercises into your regular physical activity. Remember, we recommend moderate to vigorous activity, at least 3 times a week. Try doing exercises like calf stretches, heel-ups (tip toes), and toe exercises like curls with a small gym towel. You can even do some while sitting at your office desk, like foot circles, as well as pointing and flexing them.
  • Step it up! Got a new phone, smartwatch, or other activity trackers as a holiday gift? Put it to good use! Start tracking the number of steps you’re getting each day. It’s a great motivator to keep active instead of leading a sedentary lifestyle. You might be surprised just how much or how little steps you get in per day!
  • Start wearing the right shoes. We’re not necessarily saying that you are wearing the wrong shoes, but rather that there are shoes that may better suit your feet. Since they are working hard for us every day, why not get comfortable and supportive shoes for our feet? If you need orthotics, get them! That way they won’t be tired or sore at the end of a long day.
  • Stop ignoring your foot problems and finally get around to treating them. Had a pesky wart that doesn’t hurt but won’t go away? How about a new corn that’s been developing? Many women develop mild bunions and when left untreated, can become very large and disfigured. In the New Year, we urge you to come to see your podiatrist so that he can help you get the foot care that you need. Why wait for it to become a bigger problem?
  • Hydrate and Eat well. Most people want to start the year healthy. Eating a nutritious diet and remembering to stay hydrated is a great start. Not only will your whole body benefit, but you’ll also be reducing the risk of potential foot problems as well. Additionally, if you do have some foot problems, foods full of nutrients can help them heal more quickly.

Maybe you’ll incorporate these into your New Year’s Resolutions. It is, indeed the time to make important new healthy habits and break bad unhealthy ones.

Need some more help and encouragement for healthier feet in the New Year? Schedule your annual podiatry checkup by making an appointment to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues and recommend some great ways to keep you walking. Come see us at our Clark, NJ office today!

 

 


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By Clark Podiatry Center
December 18, 2018
Category: Diabetic Foot Care
Tags: diabetes   ulcers   gangrene   self-foot exams  

After a diagnosis of diabetes, there are a lot of things to think about: maintaining blood sugar levels, improving eating habits, removing unhealthy habits, and making lifestyle changes to keep healthy.

With all the possible major complications, such as kidney issues, neuropathy, and even eyesight issues, you’ll have to be careful of diabetic ulcers as well.

About ulcers:

  • An ulcer is a skin problem such as a sore or wound that heals very slowly. Because of the slow process of healing, your skin can be more prone to infections, and the skin can continue to break down.
  • They occur because of poor circulation, loss of nerve sensation from high blood sugar levels, and long periods of pressure from shoes or standing.
  • The more time and amount of pressure on the foot dictates where ulcers are likely to occur. The bottoms of the feet are the most likely to experience ulcers because of this. That’s why it’s important to check the feet, especially the bottom, daily.

The associated danger:

  • When they are not taken care of promptly, ulcers can become so severe that they break down muscle and bone!
  • Ulcers can become infected to the point of becoming gangrene. And beyond that, the entire foot can become so infected that it can require amputation to save the rest of the leg.

Preventing Diabetic Ulcers:

  • Do self-foot exams each night while you wash your feet. You’ll keep your foot hygiene as well as check your feet for any cuts, wounds, or sores. That way, you can make sure you get the appropriate help for healing before they become ulcerative.
  • Control your diabetes (blood sugar levels). High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, which affects your body’s ability to talk to the brain. The sensation loss can reduce the circulation of fluids and blood, which carries healing properties.

If you are worried about diabetic ulcers, consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet, and find a solution to your diabetic ulcer concerts. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep you walking.

 


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By Clark Podiatry Center
December 11, 2018
Category: Shoes

If you haven’t already, dust off those winter boots! The winter weather can cause quite a chill from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Keeping your feet warm can help warm up the entire body, so why resist wearing those boots?

First things first. How are your old boots?

  • They may only be a year old if you bought them last year, but depending on the quality of their build, they can already be worn down. Check for any signs of problems with structural integrity or worn down insoles. Additionally, check if the outer soles are also in good shape. After all, you want them to be able to help you grip when it’s slippery outside.
  • Even as adults, our feet can change shape or size, so double check that they still fit you well.
  • For children, this is especially true and might need new boots each year. Their feet can keep growing until around 16-20 years of age.

Time for new winter boots?

If your winter boots are worn down or don’t seem to fit correctly (maybe due to worsening bunions), consider buying new shoes for the season. Winter boots may feel like they should just be comfortable and chunky, but without proper support, a day of trudging through the snow can leave you with tired and achy feet, like with plantar fasciitis.

Here’s what to keep in mind when buying new boots for you and your family:

  • Get measured in the afternoon. Just like regular shoes, you’ll want winter boots to fit properly. There’s a good chance your children’s feet have become bigger and won’t fit into last year’s boots.
  • Buy boots with grippy outer soles to help you when you walk over any snow or ice.
  • The inner arch and heel cup will also help stabilize your feet if you encounter slippery conditions.

Finally, make sure you try on your boots with thick socks. As the weather becomes even colder, you might want to layer up. Your boots should have enough room to accommodate thicker socks.

Can’t find boots that fit you well? Do you have a foot deformity or other foot issues? We can help you with custom orthotics. Come to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet, and find a solution to keep your feet comfortable and warm this winter. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep you walking. 


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December 05, 2018
Category: Foot Care
Tags: HSA   FSA  

The end of the year is fast approaching (it seems too fast!) and time is running out for utilizing the remaining benefits of your HSA and FSA accounts. These benefits can be used for any products or services not typically covered by your insurance plans. Examples are our Quadrastep, Footstep and LittleStep orthotics, along with custom orthotics not covered by insurance plans. This also applies to the medical grade retail products available in the office.

Moreover, if you've been thinking about making an appointment for your foot problem, consider scheduling during December before your 2019 insurance deductible kicks in. Has your child outgrown their orthotics? Would you like a second pair of orthotics for a different style of shoe?  

Due to outside vendor cost increases, some of our fees for the orthotics and other products will be increasing in 2019. Save on your out of pocket expenses by using those benefits available to you and beat the price changes before it's too late. Use those HSA or FSA benefits before the end of the year or lose them forever!

For more information or an appointment, contact us at 732-382-3470 or visit our website at www.clarkpodiatry.com.  

At Clark Podiatry Center and the NJ Children's Foot Health Institute, we want to keep you walking!

#ClarkPodiatryCenter #NJCFHI

 


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By Clark Podiatry Center
December 05, 2018
Tags: diabetes   arthritis   gout   ulcer   supportive shoes  

If you have recently begun to live with older loved ones or if they plan to move in with you soon, there are a few things to consider for their foot care. Seniors need a little bit more care because of the many problems they can experience in their feet. From arthritis and gout to osteoporosis and hip problems, the risk of injury or pain is higher.

Here are some ways you can make their feet (and their overall person) more comfortable as they live with you:

Around the Home

  • Mats: Anywhere your older loved one might spend time standing for a while, you should install some standing mats. It will reduce the impact on their feet and bones as they walk and stand. Think about locations such as in front of sinks!
  • Rugs/Carpeting: If your older loved one needs cushioning due to bone or joint issues, consider installing carpet in areas they will spend time (i.e., their bedroom). You may want some plush carpeting for the living room if they spend time with you there.
  • Safety bars: If they need some help using the bathroom, you may want to install safety bars along the wall near the toilet, as well as for getting in and out of the shower. They will help reduce the risk of falls that could be potentially life-threatening!
  • Grippy material on stairs: Do your older loved ones have to use the stairs? Reduce the risk of slipping and falling on hardwood stairs by adding grip tape to each step.
  • Trip hazards: Always keep trip hazards out of the way. Seniors using walkers or canes will need a clear path to the rooms they walk in and out of the most.

On their feet

  • Supportive shoes – Make sure when they are wearing shoes, the feet are well supported.  Cushioning, arch support, and heel cups will help them keep their feet stable and healthy.
  • Indoor/Outdoor Shoes/Slippers – Depending on the floors you have in the house, you might want to alter their footwear indoors. If you have hardwood floors, and your loved one is diabetic, you may want to make sure that they wear protective shoes with grippy rubber soles while indoors. However, if you have carpet, the grippy shoes would not work because they can trip on the piles. The same goes for the types of soles on any slippers they might wear indoors.

Daily foot care

  • Wash and inspect the feet every day. It is especially crucial for those who have neuropathy, such as diabetes. Because wounds can go unnoticed when they have loss of sensation, there is a chance that it can become an ulcer.

These tips can help your older loved one be more comfortable as they stay with you. If you have a concern about their foot health, come to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. He can assess your feet, and find a solution to treat your pain. Come to see him at Clark Podiatry Center. Make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office so we can keep you and your family walking. 


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1114 Raritan Road
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Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470