It has been observed that obese children usually have at least one parent who is also overweight.  These children overall are less active.  Obesity is linked with many conditions, including diabetes, which can have negative effects on the feet. Seeking out the help of a podiatrist, such as Dr. Michael Stein at his practice, is another way to ensure healthy feet.

It is imperative for people to care for your feet as much as you would care for the rest of your body. For example, the following health concerns people can face with weight issues are:

Obesity and your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, eventually, any added weight you’ve put on will cause your feet to hurt and swell. Being overweight is one of the biggest problems that can lead to complications with your feet.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds can create serious complications with your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain in even the simplest tasks, such as walking

Diabetes - People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores and bruises, and you also become more prone to infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot.  The pain and stiffness involved with this condition can be debilitating, preventing you from doing even the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Solutions 

Footwear – Specially made footwear that supports your joints, arches, ankles, and allows room for good circulation is a great option. A podiatrist will help you decide what works best for you.

Orthotics – Special inserts that are inserted into the shoes, absorbing shock. These also support arches and keep your feet properly aligned. You can find these in some stores or have them fitted by a podiatrist.

Exercise – Exercise will help the pain and give your body the strength it needs to support functionally healthy feet. Exercise also increases blood flow to your feet, allowing them to remain healthy and strong. 

Most importantly seek the help of a podiatrist for foot care if something is wrong or doesn’t seem to be working. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot ankle injuries.

Read the following article to learn more about obesity and other foot issues.

Five people suffered several injuries during a police chase in Sacramento California on July 4^th. A police officer tried pulling over a Chevy Camaro for speeding. The car came to a stop but then took off again at 120 mph. The Camaro quickly turned sideways, unfortunately an elderly woman who was in the car suffered a broken foot and needed surgery.

These injuries can be avoided by being careful and making sure to seek medical attention in case you do injure your foot.  Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay is accustomed to helping people with all types of foot injuries.
 

Foot Surgery

Foot surgery is necessary in events where regular therapy is shown to be ineffective. Surgeons often use foot surgery as a last option because of its invasive nature. In most cases, physical therapy, medication, rest, exercise, and casts can help to heal a foot injury.

However, sometimes you might need to have surgery done without ever having an injury. Foot surgery can be used to correct a birth defect or deformity or be used for reconstructive purposes. Foot surgery is designed to improve the quality of your feet and to help you get back on track with your life.

In extreme cases where the foot cannot be saved, or is beyond repair and is hindering the health of nearby parts of the body, amputation may be necessary. Again, this is the last option a surgeon would choose; the main goal would be to save the foot.

As technology becomes increasingly better, podiatric surgery yields better results and many surgeries contain procedures that are less invasive, but still allow for successful surgeries.

If you have any questions about foot surgery, please feel free to contact our offices in San Leandro, Pleasanton, or Los Gatos, California. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot concerns.

Read the full article on Foot Surgery.

19-year-old Sam Mikulak spent Friday icing down his left ankle after a painful finish on vault during the final rotation Thursday for the Olympic Preliminaries. Sam's father said his son was "doing well" but added the ankle has been bothersome since a meet in Puerto Rico last summer in which Sam broke both of his legs just above the joint. Mikulak wore walking boots on both of his feet for several weeks after the injury and took his time rehabbing.

Getting back onto the mat after an injury like ones Mikulak sustained can be facilitated with the help of a podiatrist, like Dr. Michael Stein at his practice, Foot Doctor of the East Bay. They can help you rehab your foot and ankle injuries back to full form and allow you to get back to the game you love.

Most common injuries

People who are constantly on their feet are prone to a variety of injuries. Whether it is a turf toe injury, a damaging fracture, or an ankle sprain, these can be very frustrating. Therefore, it is important to attend the physical therapy sessions prescribed by your doctor in order to get back on your feet.

What to do when injured

Physical Therapy – This specialized treatment will focus on the affected area, speeding up recovery and the overall healing process. This is important for those who want to get back into the game quickly. It is a proven method that has helped millions of people return from any injury.

During physical therapy, you will undergo regimented training to get back into full form. Training is often very difficult, especially during the initial phases of recovery. These are some steps physical therapy often involves:

1. Basic stretching & twisting exercises – get the feet’s mobility and flexibility up.
2. Massaging – the therapist will massage the injured area in order to activate the muscles and relax them.
3. Strengthening Exercises – this allows the muscles in the affected area to regain their full strength, a vital step towards full recovery.

With the advancements in technology and greater knowledge of how muscles and joints work, physical therapists can turn things around dramatically.    

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot ankle injuries.

Read the Full Article on Foot Therapy.

Often times, we ignore our foot problems by masking the issue through getting pedicures and pretty toe nails. When we ignore foot pain, corns, chafed skin, and cracked heels, not only are we doing a disservice to our feet, but we are also jeopardizing our long term health overall.

According to Female First, a celebrity and lifestyle magazine, “a quick DIY pedicure a few times a year might be enough to get our feet looking good, but with summer just around the corner, warm-weather footwear choices provide the perfect opportunity to start caring for your feet.”

Seeking out the help of a podiatrist, such as Dr. Michael Stein at his practice, is another way to ensure healthy, beach-ready feet.

It is imperative for people to care for your feet as much as you would care for the rest of your body. For example, the following unsightly issues people can face include:

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are unappealing, and make it harder for you walk around in sandals. Not only may they look bad, but they can also tear stockings, socks, and wear out your shoes. There are several methods to help restore a cracked heel and prevent further damage.

How do you get them?

Dry skin is the number one culprit in creating cracked heels. Many athletes, walkers, joggers, and even swimmers suffer from cracked heels. Age and skin oil production play a role to getting cracked heels as well.

Promote Healing

Over the counter medicines can help, especially for those that need instant relief, or who suffer from chronic dry feet.

Wear Socks – wearing socks with medicated creams, helps lock in moisture so it can stay on longer.

Moisturizers – applying it both day and night will help alleviate dryness which causes cracking.

Pumice Stones – these remove dead skin, and then you can massage cream onto your foot. This way the cream will be absorbed. The skin needs to be exfoliated; therefore the outer layer dead skin needs removal.

Change in Diet

Eating healthy, with a well-balanced diet, will give the skin a fresh and radiant look. Your body responds to what kinds of food you ingest. Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc supplements will also help with skin tissue.

Most importantly seek a health professional for foot care if something is wrong or doesn’t seem to be working. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot ankle injuries.
 

Read the following article to learn more about cracked heels and other foot issues.