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Saturday, December 1, 2012
December Shoe of the Month: Fashion Sneakers
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Why Do New Shoes Need Breaking In?
Most people, when they purchase shoes, expect that there will be a break in period. They think most shoes won't fit correctly for a while until they've been worn a couple of times. The break in period of time is an awful time when man and shoe are not in harmony.
Shoe brands are reluctant to let their consumers know that their shoes will require a break in period. Dress shoes are notorious for being the worst when in comes to getting the perfect fit. L.L. Bean even includes a disclaimer card with its handsewn footwear that says "The initial fit of a handsewn style shoe should feel snug in the forefoot. Shoes will stretch to a correct fit within a short period of time."
Did you know Queen Elizabeth II has someone to break in her shoes for her, so her foot discomfort is minimal?!!
Some shoe brands are recognizing the pain and discomfort that comes along with breaking in shoes and are attempting to reduce that period of time. They are finding that many consumers will put those painful shoes in the back of their closet and never shop that brand again.
The most common place for pain when breaking in shoes is in the forefoot, the area between the ball of the foot and the toes. Cole Haan released this summer a men's dress shoe that protects the forefoot by placing a layer of foam cushioning technology that is called Lunarlon. The shoe will also feature the Lunarlon sock liner that runs the full sole of the shoe, which is not typically of most men's dress shoes, says Gareth Lewis, Cole Haan's men's design director. The outer sole has flex grooves, that help the sole bend with the movement of the wearer's foot.
Johnston & Murphy's XC4 shoe collection, launched in 2010, uses footbeds, that contain polyurethane and are molded to the foot. The shoes themselves also have a layer of memory foam and a molded polyurethane outer sole injected with rubber inserts in key pain locations, which offers the wearer more flexibility in the forefoot.
"If there's any break-in time at all, it's a couple of wears at the most," said Jason Jones, vice-president of design and development at Johnston & Murphy.
Allen Edwards deleted instead of added by taking away a inner layer of leather near the top of the instep as part of its collection of unconstructed shoes. Chief marketing officer Colin Hall says that by removing the inner liner it creates "less layers and a softer shoe that wraps around the foot."
In the women's shoe brands, Stuart Weitzman is using malleable uppers, flexible soles, and soft-tanning processes for leathers used in their high heeled shoes. In 2007 the company began using spongelike latex fillers between the shoe's lining and upper to provide more comfort.
When it comes to areas of pain in the foot caused by shoes, men typically complain of pain across the tops of the toes, while women complain of pain in the ball of the foot and the heel.
So how do you know when the best time is to go shoe shopping? In the later afternoon and evening are the best times to try on shoes, since your feet have swollen through the day. Fluid retention, age, health issues, and even gravitational pull are reasons why our feet swell during the day. The difference from the beginning of the day to the end can be as large as a half a size.
When trying on shoes, you should, with two hands, bend the toe portion of the shoe toward the back of the shoe. If it bends easily, it is more likely to be comfortable from the beginning. Look for shoes that are made of calfskin, which conform to the shape.
If you are experiencing a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Hornets' Davis Out With Stress Reaction
The New Orleans Hornets rookie forward Anthony Davis will be out several more weeks with a stress reaction in his left ankle and spraining his ankle three times in three days.
Davis suffered the stress reaction about a week ago in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and has been listed as day-to-day since then. A stress reaction is often a precursor to a stress fracture. Davis had an MRI done on his ankle. The team is targeting a return date near December 3rd. He said something that made every Hornet fan cringe: "The fact that I sprained my ankle three times in one week, that was odd. So they found that inside my foot. And you know the whole Grant Hill story, so they wanted to be very cautious with the way I handled things."
What happened to Hill is not dissimilar to what happened to Davis. Hill injured his ankle the week before the 2000 playoffs and rather than resting and healing Hill played through it and made it worse in Game 2 of the first round. He had surgery in the offseason and again that December. It was the beginning of the end for Hill, who had a career that was promising. The Hornets however, are doing the right thing by making Davis rest.
Davis originally injured his ankle while working out with Team USA over the summer, but says this current injury is not related to that one.
In the first six games of the season Davis had put up good numbers, averaging 16 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Those would be great numbers for a veteran player, showing Davis is figuring out professional basketball quickly. He has averaged just 28.3 minutes a game too, giving a lot of value to the time he's playing. Davis is also on fire with 49.3% shooting from the field and 83.9% shooting from the free throw line.
The most telling sign that the Hornets are missing Davis is that they have lost all six games he has missed, putting them in last place in the Southwest Division. It guarantees that he will get a lot of playing time when he returns.
If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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What happened to Hill is not dissimilar to what happened to Davis. Hill injured his ankle the week before the 2000 playoffs and rather than resting and healing Hill played through it and made it worse in Game 2 of the first round. He had surgery in the offseason and again that December. It was the beginning of the end for Hill, who had a career that was promising. The Hornets however, are doing the right thing by making Davis rest.
Davis originally injured his ankle while working out with Team USA over the summer, but says this current injury is not related to that one.
In the first six games of the season Davis had put up good numbers, averaging 16 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Those would be great numbers for a veteran player, showing Davis is figuring out professional basketball quickly. He has averaged just 28.3 minutes a game too, giving a lot of value to the time he's playing. Davis is also on fire with 49.3% shooting from the field and 83.9% shooting from the free throw line.
The most telling sign that the Hornets are missing Davis is that they have lost all six games he has missed, putting them in last place in the Southwest Division. It guarantees that he will get a lot of playing time when he returns.
If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
My Feet Are Looking Ugly!
Got calluses or rough spots?
Regular use of a pumice stone or foot file on damp heels and calluses will keep your feet looking good in open-backed shoes. Soak your feet in water or a foot bath for 10 to 15 minutes to help soften up the skin. Then gently remove the thickened skin with a pumice stone. You may want to add black tea to the bath, as tea is a natural antibacterial agent that may reduce the chance of getting athlete's foot.
Moisturizing foot scrubs made from botanicals such as crushed fruit pits, sugar, or chemical exfoliates also help remove dead skin. After you scrub apply a rich foot lotion containing shea butter or cocoa butter. Look for balms or heel creams containing salicylic acid or urea to soften tough calluses.
Got cracked heels or feet?
If your heels become extremely dry and cracked, see a podiatrist for a prescription treatment, as these are more than just cracks, they are heel fissures. If they aren't that bad, there are plenty of moisturizing products for you to choose from. First, you should pick up some medicated heel pads to soften your calluses while you walk. After you've exfoliated the calluses (or followed the ideas above) use a heavy cream to moisturize tough skin on your heel. Look for creams containing petrolatum, an emollient, or a humectant such as lactic acid, which draws moisture into the skin.
Got a fungus?
This is something that cannot be effectivly treated at home with over the counter remedies. Fungus goes deep into the skin and those products only touch the very top layers. It's like just coloring the tips of your hair and leaving the rest of it uncolored- you want the whole head of hair colored, right? Well, you want to go down and kill the fungus from the roots of where it starts.
Whether it's athlete's foot or toenail fungus, we can treat your fungus with prescription products that will work. Remember- fungus will take a while to go away, so keep at the treatments prescribed. Many patients do a few weeks of the treatment and then give up.
Got a sunburn?
Remember to always put a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or higher everywhere on your body, including your feet. Skin cancer does occur on our feet.
Got foot pain?
Try inserting an orthotic or insole in your shoes to relieve the pain. If the pain isn't corrected with over the counter insoles, call a podiatrist who may dispense an in-office orthotic or may fit you for a custom orthotic.
Got toenail problems?
Our toenails, like our fingernails, can be an expression of our personalities. But sometimes our toenails get away from us and start to look shabby. The leading cause of hangnails and ingrown toenails is improper nail cutting. You should always follow the curve of the nail when cutting your toenails, and for your cuticles, push them back, never cut them. If you're finding your toenails are becoming brittle, some nail polishes and polish removers will dry out our nails. Use a nail polish that is free of formaldehyde, toulene, and dibutyl phthalate. To moisturize your nail, put a cuticle cream, petroleum jelly, or vitamin E oil on the entire nail.
If you are experiencing a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
Safe Levels of Lead Linked To Gout
Got lead in your house? Here's another reason to remove lead from your home: adults with "safe" blood levels of lead have an increased incidence of gout and hyperuricema than adults with low blood levels of lead.
The new population study, after adjustments for population characteristics, people with the highest blood levels of lead had a threefold risk of gout compared to those with the lowest levels. "This study documents that low-level exposure to lead... as it occurs in the general population is associated with a significantly elevated presence of gout. These data suggest that there is no such thing as a 'safe' level of exposure to lead. Further refinement in national goals for prevention, detection, and removal of lead from the environment should be pursued," wrote study authors.
However, current standards for acceptable lead exposure do not reflect the actual threshold for harm. Authors cited recent studies showing the blood lead levels under a certain amount are associated with progression of chronic kidney disease and with cardiovascular mortality. The association between lead and gout and hyperuricema is a controversial issue for lower levels of lead exposure. Population based studies have had conflicting results.
Co-author Eswar Krishnan, MD, of Stanford University, and colleagues studied whether current accepted standards for lead exposure have an association with gout. Mercury and cadmium were also included in the study. Data for the study was taken from the 2005 to 2006 and the 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Researchers limited the study to adults 40 to 85 with information on serum creatinine, blood levels of heavy metals, and serum urate concentrations. Participants who had a history of renal problems or dialysis were excluded. The final number of participants was 6,153 with an even distribution between men and women.
Of the 6,153 participants, 290 had gout, 229 of the cases were men. The subgroup with gout was older and had kidney ailments.
Author of an accompanying editorial, Ashwini R. Seghal, MD, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland said, "Lower thresholds for toxic lead levels are desirable and feasible. Lead and its myriad uses will remain an integral part of our external environment. However, both children and adults deserve an internal environment that is as unleaded as was our evolutionary past."
If you suspect you have gout, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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The new population study, after adjustments for population characteristics, people with the highest blood levels of lead had a threefold risk of gout compared to those with the lowest levels. "This study documents that low-level exposure to lead... as it occurs in the general population is associated with a significantly elevated presence of gout. These data suggest that there is no such thing as a 'safe' level of exposure to lead. Further refinement in national goals for prevention, detection, and removal of lead from the environment should be pursued," wrote study authors.
However, current standards for acceptable lead exposure do not reflect the actual threshold for harm. Authors cited recent studies showing the blood lead levels under a certain amount are associated with progression of chronic kidney disease and with cardiovascular mortality. The association between lead and gout and hyperuricema is a controversial issue for lower levels of lead exposure. Population based studies have had conflicting results.
Co-author Eswar Krishnan, MD, of Stanford University, and colleagues studied whether current accepted standards for lead exposure have an association with gout. Mercury and cadmium were also included in the study. Data for the study was taken from the 2005 to 2006 and the 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Researchers limited the study to adults 40 to 85 with information on serum creatinine, blood levels of heavy metals, and serum urate concentrations. Participants who had a history of renal problems or dialysis were excluded. The final number of participants was 6,153 with an even distribution between men and women.
Of the 6,153 participants, 290 had gout, 229 of the cases were men. The subgroup with gout was older and had kidney ailments.
Author of an accompanying editorial, Ashwini R. Seghal, MD, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland said, "Lower thresholds for toxic lead levels are desirable and feasible. Lead and its myriad uses will remain an integral part of our external environment. However, both children and adults deserve an internal environment that is as unleaded as was our evolutionary past."
If you suspect you have gout, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Does Your Child Have A Foot Problem?
Foot and ankle problems in children often go unnoticed. Signs and symptoms can be subtle, and sometimes children can't explain what's wrong. But it's important to protect growing feet and have problems checked out early. If your child shows any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with our office for an examination:
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- Your child can't keep up with their peers. We've found that if a child lags behind in sports or backyard play, it may be because of tired feet or legs. Fatigue is common when children have flat feet. The muscles in the feet and legs tire easily because the feet are not functioning as well as they should.
- Children voluntarily withdraw from activities they usually enjoy. If they are reluctant to participate, it may be due to heel pain- a problem we often see in children between the ages of 8 and 14. Repetitive stress from sports may cause muscle strain and inflammation of the growth plate, a weak area at the back of a child's heel.
- They don't want to show you their feet. Children may feel pain or notice a change in the appearance of feet and nails but don't tell their parents because they fear a trip to the doctor's office. Make it a habit to inspect your child's feet starting at a young age. Any changes, such as calluses, growths, skin discoloration, or redness and swelling around the toenails warrants a visit to the podiatrist's office.
- Your child often trips and falls. Repeated clumsiness may be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems, or neurological conditions. We can evaluate your child's feet and legs to help determine the cause of the problem.
- Your child complains of pain. Remember, it is never normal for a child to have foot pain. Injuries may seem minor, but if pain or swelling lasts more than a few days, have your child's foot examined.
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Michigan's Toussaint Done For Season
The redshirt junior suffered the injury on Michigan's first drive of the game on the tail end of 10-yard rush. Toussaint was tackled on a wide run to the right against Iowa and his left leg buckled as he was brought down. In the picture to the right, you can see Toussaint's ankle twisted in an unnatural way.
Toussaint was carted off the field immediately and his left leg was put in a temporary cast right away. He was taken to UM Medical Center for evaluation. ESPN's Michael Rothstein tweeted Monday that "Toussaint had surgery, went well. Hoke saw him yesterday. Expected out of hospital today. Full recovery."
Starting quarterback Devin Gardner said Toussaint's injury won't be a handicap in Saturday's game against Ohio State. "It has to stay the same. It has to be consistent. You know, this is Michigan. Toussaint went down, and we were really sad about that because he's our brother, but we have to keep moving."
Toussaint pleaded guilty to drunken driving in August and was suspended for the season opener against Alabama. He had a rough beginning to his 2012 season, but averaged more than five yards per carry in each of his last two starts. Toussaint had a highlight of his career in an overtime victory against Northwestern, a 28 yard touchdown catch. Entering Saturday's game, Toussaint carried the ball 127 times for 483 yards and five touchdowns. It is likely Toussaint will be back for next season.
If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.
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