Shoe companies pour millions of dollars into designing new, innovative styles of footwear each year to help runners improve their performances and avoid injuries. However, many sports medicine experts are starting to think that a shoe’s comfort, not its design, is the most important factor in preventing running injuries.

Bryan Heiderscheit, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, claims that there’s little substantial evidence to suggest that the way a pair of shoes affect the biomechanics of the wearer has any effect on that wearer’s likelihood of getting hurt. Instead, he and many other researchers advise runners to simply go with footwear that feels natural and causes the least amount of discomfort.

When choosing a pair of running shoes, it’s up to you to decide what features are most important to you. For help finding an appropriate pair of running footwear, ask podiatrist Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay. Dr. Stein will explain how different styles affect the feet and assist you in making an informed decision.

Choosing the Right Running Shoe for Your Foot Type

Although it seems simple, running is in fact a complex movement that places stress on the joints, bones, and ligaments of the body. To increase performance and avoid the risk of injury, it is important to choose the right running shoe based on your foot type. The general design of running shoes is centered around pronation, which is the rolling of the ankle from outside to inside when the foot strikes the ground.

• Neutral runners are able to choose from a wide variety of shoes, including minimalist shoes or even go barefoot
• Runners who overpronate, or experience an over-abundance of ankle rolling, should choose shoes that provide extra motion control and stability
• Runners who underpronate, or supinate, have feet that have high arches and lack flexibility, preventing shock absorption. Runners who supinate require shoes with more flexibility and cushion

To learn about your foot type, visit a local shop that specializes in running shoes. Professionals will be able to measure your stride, gait, and arch type and inform you of your footwear needs.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices in San Leandro, Pleasanton, and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

The deserts in California can be described as extremely dry with a cracked and rough terrain. If your feet are described the same way, it’s time for a little TLC!

Dry feet results from conditions like diabetes or athlete’s foot and is most commonly seen in seniors. However, it’s a condition that anyone can have. Because of a lack of oil glands, the skin on our feet is naturally dry. Taking hot showers, using harsh soaps, and not moisturizing regularly can all compound the problem. If your feet are red and itchy, flaky and peeling, rough and cracked, or all of the above, follow these tips:

Use a moisturizing soap and apply lotion immediately after bathing to lock in moisture. Try slathering on petroleum jelly, then putting on socks before you jump into bed—you won’t believe they’re the same feet in the morning! Keep your home cool and the humidity levels not too low. Wear socks and shoes that breathe well too.

Try soaking your feet in lemon juice—the mild acid will dissolve that dry skin and make it easy to remove with a loofah or pumice stone. Out of lemon juice but have honey? Add a cup of it to a gallon of water, then soak your feet in it.  Honey’s natural enzymes bind moisture to your skin and help accelerate healing.

While you’re feeling adventurous, here’s another home remedy you might want to try: Combine equal parts brown sugar and olive oil to make an exfoliating scrub. Rub it all over your feet, focusing on areas that need the most attention, then rinse. Your feet will no longer resemble desert terrain, but will be silky smooth and healthy looking.

For more tips on keeping dry feet at bay, visit Foot Doctor of the East Bay! Dr. Michael Stein and Zeindelin Ahmad, DPM, are here to help. Call (510) 483-3390 for our San Leandro office, (925) 425-9684 for our Pleasanton location, or (408) 356-6767 for Los Gatos, CA.

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A day at the soccer field can lead to stress and anxiety if someone suffers an injury. Ankle fractures are common among athletes, as well as active baby boomers and those with weak joints. They can occur suddenly as a result of an accident, fall, or even rolling your ankle while wearing some stylish high-heels.

Severity of fractures vary, depending on how many bones have been harmed. In some cases, multiple breaks can occur in the same area, resulting in damage to surrounding tissues and ligaments. A small ankle injury can snowball into a more serious break if it is not treated promptly and in the proper manner.

It’s good to expect the best, but it’s smarter to prepare for the worst. This means it’s a good idea to arm yourself with knowledge so that you can act fast when a crisis occurs. First aid know-how comes in handy when you or someone near you experiences an unexpected injury like an ankle fracture. So check out these helpful tips:

First and foremost, you’ll want to stop any bleeding. This can be done by applying pressure to the source of the bleeding with a clean cloth, like an unused towel. Next, you’ll want to stabilize the injured area. Have the injured person lay down. Keep his or her leg elevated above the heart. If any bones are poking out from the skin, do not touch them. If you have been trained professionally, go ahead and apply a splint. Otherwise, leave any altering of the area to the professionals, which is exactly who you should call upon next. If the person injured passes out, is numb, or if the bleeding cannot be controlled, it’s best to call 911 for help.

Ankle fractures can be daunting, but you don’t have to face the challenge alone. If you have any questions or would like more information, Dr. Michael Stein and Zeindelin Ahmad at Foot Doctor of the East Bay are here to help. You can schedule an appointment or visit our offices in Pleasanton, Los Gatos, and San Leandro, CA.

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A growing number of experts believe that wearing shoes has a negative impact on a growing child’s foot, and there is research to support it. An analysis of 11 studies published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, shows that shoes do affect a child’s gait.

Authors argued that when a child wears shoes, they walk faster by taking longer steps, affecting their ankle and knee movements. Footwear ultimately reduces motion, absorbs shock, and encourages a pattern of landing on the heel. At birth, the foot actually contains no bones, and isn’t fully developed until the later teenage years. Wearing big, bulky shoes during childhood may hinder the natural motion of walking, therefore causing later effects on the bones and muscles that could be damaging.

It’s important that infants have good foot care. If you are a parent and need help getting your infant new shoes, see podiatrist Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay. Dr. Stein can examine your infant’s feet and advise you about what size and style of footwear to look for.

Fitting Shoes for Infants

Taking care of a baby to ensure proper development is highly important and necessary to make sure that they grow up to be healthy and happy. Finding shoes for infants may be tricky for new parents because it is a new experience for everyone involved. Also, since infants cannot speak, they cannot tell you which one feels best, which hurts, and which styles they like more. Although often crying is a signal for them being unhappy, it is still difficult to know what fits.

Since their feet are so tiny, it might be easier to go around a store and try to see which shoes fit them best. Most infant shoes are very soft and you will not have to worry about fancy laces or intricate shoe designs. For infants, all that matters is that they are warm, well-protected and comfortable so that they can grow properly.

Once a baby is able to stand or start walking after they pass their crawling phase, it is important to change their shoes as often as they grow.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices in San Leandro, Pleasanton, and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Stiff ankles can you make you feel and move like Frankenstein. Whether it’s walking, running or simply trying to go about your day, they hinder you with pain, discomfort and the inability to move the way in which you want or need. The most common cause of stiff ankles is arthritis. While there are many different types of this condition, each works in a similar way: the bones and cartilage of the body become extremely swollen and inflamed. This inflammation prevents your joints from moving with ease. Those with injuries or past trauma to the ankle are prone to developing this painful problem.

While arthritis is a serious medical condition that should be professionally treated, there are exercises for stiff ankles that you can do at home to improve your flexibility and regain mobility. One such exercise you can try is ankle circles.

Relax your back into a comfortable chair that provides plenty of back support and cushioning. Slowly, raise your leg until it is straightened out before you. Then, make gentle circles with your ankle to the right. Repeat this ten times before allowing your foot to rest on the floor. Next, you’ll want to rotate your ankle to the left. After resting again, move on to the other leg.

Another exercise you can try is to simply flex your ankle and push your forefoot up against a sturdy object like a wall for ten seconds. Do ten sets of these for each leg. This helps your ankle build strength and stability, thus decreasing your chance of stiffness developing.

Do you suffer from stiff ankles? Dr. Michael Stein and Zeindelin Ahmad at Foot Doctor of the East Bay are happy to provide you with more information and support. Visit us at any of our locations, in San Leandro, Pleasanton, and Los Gatos CA.

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