10 Shoe Trends For Spring/Summer 2012

According to fashion experts, here is a top ten list of shoe trends to look for this spring and summer season:
1. Metallic Toes: Very durable; look for these shoes to be glamorous and trendy.

2. Pointed Toes: Look for the rounded toe sandals of the past few seasons to be replaced by pointed toe sandals.

3. Pastels: Inspired by Kate Middleton, look for nude shoes to dominate the market, along with pale green, yellow, and aqua.

4. Mega Platforms: Think Lady Gaga. Don't plan on wearing them for a long time or when you're going to be on your feet. 

5.Transparent Shoes: These debuted last year with mixed results, but this year designers have made them with vinyl. 

6. Shoes With Laces: Look good and are flattering on everyone.                   

7. Shining Shoes: Seen mostly on the runway but now made practical. Designers manufacturing them so they can be part of your everyday wardrobe. 

8. Braided Sandals: If you had purchased braided sandals several years ago and put them in the closet haul them out. They will be among the hottest trends this summer. Look for them in bright colors. Perfect for keeping your feet cool in the summer. 

9. Espadrilles and Wedges: A hot item from Dolce and Gabanna last year. A shoe style that was extremely popular in the 1960's and 1970's, making a comeback. 

10. Brightly Colored Shoes: Always great for the spring and summer. 

Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Are Custom Orthotics For Me?

If you answer YES to any of these questions, please contact one of our offices today and make an appointment to be seen.

• I have had or currently have increased low back/buttock pain with prolonged standing or walking.
• I have had foot pain/heel pain with prolonged standing or walking.
• I walk or run recreationally/competitively.
• I stand on concrete throughout the day.
• I have had or have knee pain walking or going up the stairs or with prolonged standing.
• I have had or have hip pain with walking or prolonged standing.
• My feet have increased in size over the years.
• I have had or have shin pain with increased walking or running.
• I am diabetic.
• I have or think I have arthritis in my knees and hips.
• I have problems with calluses/corns on one or both of my feet.
• I have bunions or have had bunions on my feet in the past.
• My parents have had or have any of the above symptoms and have not found relief or comfort from them.
• I find walking tiring. 

Connecticut Foot Care Centers 
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• What Are Orthotics?

  ---

April Shoe of the Month: Kitten Heels

Modest and practical, the kitten heel can stand out in a crowd without overdoing it. Kitten heels not only give extra height but are also a great alternative to reducing pressure on the ball of the foot often caused by a higher heel. Because a kitten heel is typically not higher than one inch and is also a bit wider than the average heel, it offers more comfort and stability. Keep in mind, a heel that is three inches high creates seven times more stress than a one-inch heel.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• Dr. Oz and High Heels

  ---

• Pick Your Perfect Heel Height

  ---

10 Fun Foot Facts

We think feet and ankles are pretty awesome here at Connecticut Foot Care Centers, and we'd like to share with you a few fun facts about the appendages that get you where you need to go!

1. Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot and ankle health problems of varying degrees of severity at one time or another in their lives.
2. The foot is an intricate structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and tendons that hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways. 
3. The 52 bones in your feet make up 1/4 of all the bones in your body. Just another reason to take good care of your feet!
4. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Those cover several miles, and they all add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime- more than 4 times around the circumference of the world!
5. Shopping for shoes is best done in the afternoon, says the APMA. Your feet tend to swell during the day and it's best to buy shoes to fit them then. Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes, and do it while you're standing. When you try on the shoes, try them on both feet; many people have one foot that is larger than the other, and it's best to fit the larger one. 
6. Your feet mirror your general health. Such conditions as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet- so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems. 
7. The podiatric physician (doctor of podiatric medicine, or DPM) is the health care professional trained in the care of your feet and ankles. He or she receives conventional medical training, plus special training on the foot, ankle, and lower leg. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require they pass rigorous state board examinations before they are licensed, and most require continuing education programs for regular license renewal. 
8. About 19 percent of the US population has an average of 1.4 foot problems a year. 
9. About 5 percent of the US population has foot infections, including Athlete's Foot, other fungal infections, and warts each year. 
10. About 5 percent of the US population has ingrown toenails or other toenail problems each year. 

Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Meet Your Doctors! Dr. Richard E. Ehle, DPM

Dr. Richard E. Ehle, DPM grew up right here in New Britain, and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. College took him to the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and a minor in chemistry. 

Now called the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Ehle received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1978. He completed his residency hours at the Lutheran Hospital in Baltimore, MD (January- December 1979) and Kern Hospital in Warren, MI (January- December 1980), where he served as the Chief Surgical Resident. 

Like Dr. Kahn, Dr. Ehle has been very involved in podiatric organizations across the state. He was the president of the Connecticut Independent Podiatry Practice Association from 1988-1997, the secretary of the Bristol Medical Provider Organization from 1993-1996, president of the Hartford County Podiatric Medical Society from 1990-1991, and treasurer of the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association from 1988-1989. He was named Podiatrist of the Year by Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association in 1993. 

Dr. Ehle is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (1986) and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot Surgeons. He belongs to the Connecticut Podiatric Medical Association and the American Podiatric Medical Association. His hospital affiliations include Bristol Hospital in Bristol, CT and the Hospital of Central Connecticut at New Britain General (New Britain, CT) and Bradley Memorial (Southington, CT). Dr. Ehle's specialty in the practice is diabetic foot care and diabetic wound care. 

Dr. Ehle has been married for 16 years to Lisa, whom you may recognize as the Bristol location's office manager. They have seven children, ranging in ages from 39 to 26 and several cats. Two children are nurses and one has a Ph.D. Outside of work Dr. Ehle enjoys fishing and gardening. 

Dr. Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• Why Do My Feet Tingle? Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

  ---

• Diabetes and Depression

  ---

• 12 Ways To Never Get Diabetes: Part 1

  ---

• Hispanics and Diabetes

  ---

• Diabetic Recipe of the Week: Charles Mattock's Smoked Salmon Wraps

  ---

• What Is Charcot Foot?

  ---

What's That Itching Between My Toes?

If you've noticed you've been itching between your toes a lot more lately and that area is red or scaly, you most likely have Athlete's Foot.

Athlete's Foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that occurs naturally between the toes. The fungus attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment that encourages fungus growth. Warm, damp areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are also breeding grounds for fungi. So with spring sports and summer weather coming up, the cases of Athlete's Foot will rise.

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot including drying skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters on and between the toes. Athlete's Foot can spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails as well as other parts of the body, which is why timely treatment is so important.
You can prevent Athlete's Foot by:

• Not walking barefoot, particularly in public pools and locker rooms. 
• Reducing foot perspiration by using talcum powder.
• Wearing light and airy shoes.
• Wearing socks that keep your feet dry, and changing them frequently if you perspire heavily. 

While fungicidal and fungistatic chemicals are usually used to treat Athlete's Foot problems, they often fail to contact the fungi in the lower layers of the skin. For persistent Athlete's Foot, a prescription topical or oral antifungal drug may be needed.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter. 

Related articles

• Red, Itchy, Peeling Area between Your Toes - It Might Be Athlete's Foot!

  ---

Spring Walking Tips

Spring is a great time to get yourself off the couch and get on your way to better health. Don't let foot pain slow you down. Follow these helpful tips for your springtime walks and enjoy the weather!

• Wear supportive shoes.
• Wear "moisture wicking" socks. 
• If you've been inactive over the winter, don't over do it. Gradually work into a walking program. 
• Walkers can frequently experience heel pain, especially if you've been inactive over the winter months. 
• If you experience pain in your heels or ankles that does not disappear within two weeks, schedule an exam with our office. 

Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter

Related articles

• U.S. Suffers From Foot Pain

  ---