Net's Williams Has Bone Spurs

Brooklyn Nets player Deron Williams revealed last Wednesday to an ESPN reporter that he will likely require surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle. 
The star point guard sat out practices last Thursday and Friday because of the condition, but expects to be fine during the season. 
"I think probably the majority of athletes have bone spurs that they deal with at some point in their career," Williams told SportsCenter. "I don't know if I'll have to have surgery. I'm just saying that might be something that happens after the season. But as far as right now, my ankle feels like new since I got the shots, so hopefully I won't have to have any surgery at all."
Nets coach Billy King confirmed that an MRI revealed Williams has bone spurs in his left ankle and will likely have surgery in the offseason to clean them up. Williams had a cortisone shot last Friday to ease the pain from the inflammation from the spurs. King however downplayed the results and expects the injury to manageable.
"The injection worked, and then after the season he'll probably get it cleaned up," said King, who has not ruled out more cortisone shots for the point guard.
King says he has seen many players manage their bone spurs throughout the season and then have offseason surgery. "You really wouldn't have noticed if they didn't say anything about it. They ice it, they do all the things preventive. And at the end of the season they just clean it out so it's not a problem."
Don't expect this to slow down the Nets or Williams. The team has a lot going for them this season, including stars Joe Johnson, Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez, and Gerald Wallace. The team has a brand new arena, and is fighting for the heart of New York City against an even more injury riddled New York Knicks. And when Williams says that his ankle "feels like new", you can believe him. Williams is a straight talker who tells the truth.
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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Should Men Wear Socks?

Let's face it: men's socks are boring. Ever go to buy a pair of socks for your dad/husband/grandfather/son and think "Boring, boring, boring."?

Men are getting sick of the same ol' socks too and a sock revolution is happening! They're starting to wear bright, colorful socks that break all the traditional rules (socks that match trousers, shoes, etc), or they're not wearing them at all. Jeans with blue and green striped socks? Suits without socks? Very fashionable.
Here are the new rules for men and how to wear socks:
Ditch socks if...
...you're wearing well-tailored pants. During the warm weather, shorter pant legs require awesome shoes. Choose pants are are right around the ankle, and just short enough to show off stylish shoes. You can also roll up your pant legs a couple of times to skim the top of your shoes.
...you're wearing sandals. This was always a rule, but it needs to reiterated.
...you're at the beach. The beach is a casual environment, and taking the time to take off shoes and socks makes a spontaneous run into the water take more time. You should be wearing flip-flops or boat shoes to the beach or pool anyway.
If you're concerned about foot odor- which most men are- pick up a foot powder and put it on your feet before shoes.
Keep the socks if...
...you're not ready to go bare. If it's too extreme for you, there is a plethora of options. Try wearing colorful, patterned socks instead. They show your personality while still keeping your feet covered and warm.
...you're exercising. One word: blisters.
...you're sticking with a low cut pair . Low-cut athletic or loafer socks provide cushion and keep away the stink.
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Ipswich's Paul Taylor To Have Foot Surgery

Ipswich striker Paul Taylor suffered a broken foot in September's 2-0 defeat to the Wolverhampton Wanderers and was trying to avoid surgery.  

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy revealed Tuesday that the 25 year old Taylor will undergo surgery on his injured foot, which will likely keep him out for the rest of the season. "Paul Taylor's going to need surgery. He's not going to be available to me for a while. He's going to have surgery on his foot," said McCarthy.
It had been originally thought a period of rest would help the healing foot, but further consultation with a specialist resulted in Taylor having surgery. His recovery time could be up to six months. 
"That's a massive blow for him, that's the main thing. He's a lad who is progressing in his career, everybody likes him, and he's a good little player and now he can't play. My thoughts are for him. Maybe we can do something else. He can't, he's just got to have it operated on and get rehabbed. We'll be fortunate to have him available this season," said McCarthy. 
Ipswich physio Matt Byard told the team's official website, "Paul has had a metal plate inserted to fix the injury in his midfoot area. He will be in a cast for six weeks and his total recovery is likely to take around six months. You can never be totally accurate with a return to action on long-term injuries. It's possible he could make the last few weeks of the season, but, more realistically, we are probably looking at Paul coming back fit and well for pre-season."
Taylor had played only three games for Ipswich after signing a 1.5 million (pound) deal.
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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Darren McFadden Suffers Another Foot Injury

One of our doctors, Dr. Craig Kaufman, blogged recently about how Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darren McFadden was looking forward to a healthy season.
Perhaps he spoke too early.
McFadden hurt his right ankle on the first or second carry of the game on Sunday and tried to play through the pain before leaving before halftime. He had just seven carries for 17 yards and caught two passes for no yards in the Raiders loss.
Coach Dennis Allen said X-rays on McFadden came back negative, and he would see how his wide receiver is feeling, but hasn't ruled him out for Sunday's games against the Baltimore Ravens. Teammate Mike Goodson also injured his ankle in the game on Sunday. He underwent an MRI on Monday. It is speculated that both players have high ankle sprains, which can be a long recovery.
"Darren wanted to be back out there, so that wasn't a case where you risk any further injury. Darren is a competitor, he wanted to be back out there, so we put him back out there. Then came in at halftime, he just wasn't going to be able to do it, so we kept him out the rest of the game," said Allen.
When McFadden is completely healthy, he is the best of the best. But unfortunately, his health can be unreliable, suffering from foot, toe, shoulder, knee, and hamstring injuries that have kept him out 19 games over four seasons. Last season alone he missed nine games because of a foot injury.
McFadden hadn't thus far this season captured the magic he has shown previously, rushing 455 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. His 3.3 yards per carry average is sixth worst in the league and the lowest for a Raiders player since Pete Banaszak's 3.2 average in 1976. Ouch.
Goodson has had some flashes of brilliance at tailback with 111 yards on 17 carries and 14 catches for 173 yards. With these two key players out, Taiwan Jones is the only player left to pick up where his teammates have been lacking. However, he has only one carry and one reception all season and he too has been suffering from injuries.
"That's obviously something that he's got to improve on. He's got to make sure that he can protect the football and he's got to make sure that he understands what his assignments are. As we get more comfortable with those things, he'll earn more playing time," said Allen.
In the meantime, let's hope McFadden and Goodson recuperate and heal quickly. The Raiders are 3-5 so far this 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.
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How To Soak Dry, Cracked Feet

Dry, cracked feet are not only unsightly, but they can be painful as well. The causes of cracked feet range from obesity to dehydration. Even wearing shoes with open backs can lead to dry, cracked feet since there is no support for the fat pad at the bottom of the foot. Whether the cause is from one or a combination of these factors, you can help treat dry, cracked feet by giving them a foot soak, which helps promote circulation, adds moisture, and cleanses bacteria off the skin, preventing infection.
Step 1
Use a pumice stone on your cracked heels while they are still dry. This will remove any excess dead skin so the water and salt can be more readily absorbed.
Step 2
Fill a basin with warm water. Put enough to just cover your feet, and add 1/2 cup of Dead Sea or Epsom salt. Both types of salt help promote circulation to the feet, which will aid in healing.
Step 3
Soak your feet for 10 minutes, then remove them one at a time and rub the cracked areas with the pumice stone for three minutes.
Step 4
Put your feet back in the basin for another ten minutes. Upon removal, rub with the pumice stone once again.
Step 5
Dry your feet thoroughly with a towel. Apply a moisturizer such as petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or olive oil to your feet. Massage the moisturizer into the cracked areas.
Step 6
Put on a soft pair of thick cotton socks and leave on for at least an hour or overnight if possible.
If you have a cracked heels, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.

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How Your Nutrition Affects Your Feet

When you think about nutrition, you always think about weight loss or heart health, never your feet. However, what you eat has a lot to do with how your feet feel and act.
Dr. Sherri Greene, a podiatrist in New York City says "When I explain to people that your feet are connected to the rest of your body, and what you put into you makes up your body, they're like 'Wow!' When they feel better after they change their diet, then they get it."
Certain foods can increase chemicals in your body that cause tissue inflammation. Inflammation in the feet can appear in your foot as plantar fasciitis, or heel pain. Foods such as refined grains, sugar, and trans fat in many baked goods and junk food, saturated fat in red meat, and omega-6 fats found in vegetable oils.
Other people may have increased levels of inflammation in their bodies due to chronic allergies to common foods like wheat. As well, eating too many foods that cause your blood sugar to rise quickly, like sweets, white flour, and pasta will also cause inflammation.
To reduce inflammation, you can make the following changes to your diet:

• Eat more omega-3 fats. Fatty fish like salmon, as well as fish oil supplements are good sources of omega-3 fats, which help reduce inflammation. Nutrition experts say there should be a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats. 
• A general diet makeover. Following an overall healthier diet, like eating more green vegetables and other fresh plant foods, can provide anti-inflammatory benefits to your feet. 

Two common conditions that affect millions of Americans' feet are peripheral artery disease and diabetes. Each of these conditions can harm your feet by damaging arteries that bring blood to your lower extremities. Good nutrition can also help protect your feet from these conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium, and rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of PAD. A 2008 study in the Journal of Vascular Surgery specifically found that omega-3s were associated with a lower risk of peripheral arterial disease.
If you have diabetes, a healthy diet can help protect your feet from complications of that condition as well. In general, the NIH recommends a diet rich in whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits, lean meats, and a limited amount of fats and sweets for people with diabetes.
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November Shoe of the Month: Peep Toes

The adaptability and versatility of peep toe flats and pumps make them appropriate for the office board meeting or the office party. However, this style may cause toes to slip forward and make them overlap, pushing nail edges into the skin which can form an ingrown toenail. Avoid this by staying away from peep toes that are too tight and be sure there are no seams near the toe area that will place further pressure on toes. 
If you are experiencing a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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