Foot Care An Important Factor In Healthy Aging

Posted by: WLFL-TV

(ARA) - Forget aging gracefully. For today's baby boomers, it's more important than ever to stay healthy and active as they age. While growing older causes some unavoidable body changes, more boomers are focusing on healthy lifestyles that can help them prevent problems associated with aging - like mobility issues related to the feet and legs.

Impairment of the lower extremities is a leading cause of activity limitation in older people, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

"Foot problems are a health concern that can lead to further complications like knee, hip and lower-back pain, all of which undermine mobility," says Michael King, DPM, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). "The human foot has been called the mirror of health. Systemic problems often related to age, such as diabetes, arthritis, and circulatory disease often can first be detected in the feet."

Fortunately, boomers can do a lot to maintain and even improve their foot health. APMA offers this advice to keep your feet pain free:

Keep walking

Walking offers many benefits for both physical and mental health. If your feet hurt, however, you may find yourself less willing to get in the daily walking that's good for your overall well-being. To keep your walking regimen comfortable be sure to:

* Choose a good quality, lightweight walking shoe with breathable upper materials like leather or nylon mesh. The heel counter should be firm, and the shoe heel should have less cushioning in order to position the foot's heel closer to the ground for stability. The front of the shoe should offer adequate support but also be flexible. For a list of footwear that have been awarded APMA's Seal of Acceptance, visit www.apma.org/seal.

* Shoe shop in the late afternoon, since feet swell throughout the day, and have both feet professionally fitted. Wear the type of socks you intend to wear while walking and be sure the shoe fits snugly, but not tightly, over the sock. Your toes should have plenty of room to move around.

Deal with diabetes

Diabetes symptoms often appear in the feet first, and the extremities can be hit hard by this chronic disease. In fact, diabetes complications lead to more than 65,000 lower limb amputations each year. Including a podiatrist in your diabetes care can reduce the risk of amputation up to 85 percent.

Learn to recognize warning signs that often appear in the feet, including changes in skin color, swelling, numbness, pain, open sores that heal slowly, ingrown or fungal toenails, bleeding corns and calluses and dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heels.

If you have diabetes, inspect your feet daily for cuts, bruises, sores or changes to the toenails. Wear thick, soft socks without seams that could rub or cause blisters. Always have new shoes properly fitted and never go barefoot, not even in your own home.

Manage arthritis

Arthritis can affect the structure and function of your feet. Common symptoms in the feet include joint swelling, joint pain or tenderness, redness or heat in joints, limited movement, early morning stiffness, and skin changes, including rashes and growths.

Podiatrists are often the first to diagnose a patient's arthritis. Treatment can take many forms, including physical therapy, exercise, and medication. Receiving regular check-ups are vital to successfully managing the condition.

General foot health

In addition to shoes that fit properly, it's important to choose socks, pantyhose or stockings that also fit well and are free of seams.

If you have corns or calluses, never cut them with a razor, pocket knife or other sharp instrument. If corns or calluses are present, consult a podiatrist and only use over-the-counter foot products if he or she advises it.

Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm water with a mild soap that contains moisturizers, or use a separate moisturizer after your bath. Trim or file toenails straight across and inspect your feet every day. If you notice redness, swelling, cracks in the skin or sores, see your podiatrist.

Taking care of your feet can make aging a little easier and healthier.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Many amputations among dialysis patients with diabetes 'unnecessary'

Improvements in foot treatment among people with diabetes undergoing kidney dialysis could lead to fewer amputations, says UK research

Posted by: WebMD Health News

16th September 2011 - Diabetes patients who are also undergoing kidney dialysis need more intensive foot care to reduce their risk of lower-limb amputations, says a new study.

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease, and people with diabetes are already at increased risk of developing foot ulcers and slow-healing wounds which, if become infected, can lead to amputations. The risk stems from damage to nerves and blood supply to the feet.

Preventable

There are an estimated 100 amputations a week among people with diabetes in the UK, but experts say between 49% and 85% could have been prevented.

Dr Agbor Ndip and Professor Andrew Boulton from the University of Manchester analysed what happened to 326 patients with diabetes and late-stage chronic kidney disease. The patients had an average age of 64 and either attended a diabetes centre in the city or one of several dialysis units.

Nerve damage

They found that, in comparison to patients not undergoing dialysis, people receiving the treatment had a higher prevalence of diabetic nerve damage (79%) compared with those who were not receiving dialysis (65%).

Among other findings were that:

·         15% of patients receiving dialysis had undergone amputations, compared with 6.4% who were not having dialysis

·         32% of patients receiving dialysis had a history of foot ulcers, compared with 20% who did not have dialysis

·         21% of patients on dialysis had foot ulcers at the time of the study compared with 5% who did not have the treatment.

Dr Ndip says physical changes, like tissue oxygenation and fluid shifts in the body, can contribute to ulceration. He tells us that the problem is exacerbated by the four hours patients spend lying on dialysis couches. Those with diabetic neuropathy - in which damage to the nerves blocks the sensation of pain in the feet - can end up with blisters, "and it's these blisters which then burst and form an ulcer and the ulcers then don't heel," he says.

Inadequate foot care

Significantly, the researchers also found that people on dialysis were less likely to have regular foot care, compared with those not on dialysis.

Ndip, who was speaking to us from the Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was due to present his paper, says: "When people are on dialysis they fail to attend for other diabetes care; they fail to attend for podiatry care to look after their feet, and they neglect these things because being on dialysis is more important than anything else."

Ndip says this 'treatment fatigue' cannot be blamed on patients alone, and that medical staff need to spend much more time ensuring that patients on dialysis receive appropriate and intensive foot care.

'Challenge'

Dr Victoria King, Head of Research at Diabetes UK, which helped to fund the study, said in a statement: "Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations in the UK so research like this is crucial in helping us understand the factors which need to be considered when trying to prevent and reduce the prevalence of this devastating complication.”

Diabetes UK is calling on the Government and commissioners to tackle the challenge of prevention now - through raising awareness, education and improving access to specialist services. People need help to reduce their risk of developing life-threatening complications which have such a significant impact on the individual and society as a whole."

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Don't Let Feet Show Age: Give Them A Face-Lift

Posted by:  NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - Although your baby boomer feet may have lost their blush of youth, there's still hope. With some TLC and foot care know-how, you can turn back the clock and put the spring back in your step.  According to the International Council on Active Aging, adults are at higher risk for foot problems, with an estimated 87 percent reporting at least one foot-related problem.

Dry skin and callused heels are by far the most common foot complaints. These conditions not only make feet look older and less attractive, but they can pose a significant health risk. 

Dr. Glen Beede, a podiatrist in Fort Worth, Texas, says that dry, cracked heels can fissure, causing pain or even tissue wounds. Left untreated, calluses continue to grow thicker and, if they become infected, they may require antibiotics. 

But, with a little know-how and some due diligence, you can keep your feet healthy and looking great, no matter what your age. Here are some important tips: 

* Give your feet a bath. Soak your feet in lukewarm water mixed with moisturizing soap. This helps heal calluses and tender spots, and a warm footbath is so relaxing at the end of a day.

* Don't use razor blades. The American Podiatric Medical Association warns that razor blades should never be used to cut corns or calluses.

Beede recommends the Artemis Woman Heel Smoother (www.artemiswoman.com), a handheld, battery-operated pedicure tool that has earned the APMA's Seal of Acceptance. The device features a DuraCrystal tip that easily exfoliates dead skin on the feet and smoothes calluses without the use of chemicals or dangerous blades. It's available in stores nationwide.

* Find your "sole" mate. As you grow older, your feet grow larger and the padding on your soles becomes thinner. So make sure that your aging feet are fitted with good, comfortable shoes.

Try on new shoes in the afternoon when your feet are most swollen. Make sure you select shoes that are sturdy, well-cushioned and have room between the toes but are snug at the heel.

* Pad your path. As we age, our bones become thinner, as do our shock-absorbing soles, particularly in women. To avoid stress fractures, make sure your feet are padded. When exercising outdoors, stay on grass or dirt paths that are flat and well-maintained.

* Keep an eye on your feet. Along with proper foot care, monitoring the condition of your feet is one of the simplest ways to ensure foot health and beauty at any age.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of  Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Is Your Salon Causing Toenail Fungus?

Published by:  The Huffington Post

I have listened over the years as countless patients have told me horror stories about their experience at the nail salon, and how before going for pedicures, their toenails were clear and beautiful. You've thought about it, right? All of a sudden your toenails are looking a bit yellow, thicker, maybe they crumble and break.

Blaming it on your nail salon seems like the obvious thing to do. But is this really true? Are nail salons responsible for the epidemic of toenail fungus we now see in our society? Or, is it possible that this is entirely false, and the real cause of toenail fungus is something entirely different?

While it may seem to make perfect sense that nail salons are spreading the bug, inoculating a nail bed with fungal spores is not that easy and requires two simultaneous conditions. The first is the requirement that the nail bed would need to have been cut into in order to introduce the infecting organism into the nail bed. The second would be a compromised immune system that could not fight off the infection. Wounds of this type would more likely cause bacterial infection.

Since it is more common than not to see multiple toenails infected with fungus, can we blame your nail salon for causing injury to multiple toenails? Were they on a mission to inflict pain and suffering? Logic prevails when we ponder this. I have seen thousands of patients with all 10 toenails infected. Were these people left bleeding and wounded at the salon, sitting ducks for fungal infection?

I think you can clearly tell that I firmly believe that the causative mechanism of toenail fungus is not a bad pedicure. To be honest, these organisms are ever-present everywhere. So why do some people get infected while others don't? To answer this question, I think it is important that you drop the notion that fungus crawls under your toenail and infects it. It is rarely a localized phenomenon. Even in situations where a toenail fungus occurs after injury to the toe, I believe it is still not a localized problem.

In fact, it is my assertion that toenail fungus is actually the result of an internal fungal infection. One of the ways the human body deals with these organisms is to discharge them. Since your skin (and skin structures) is the largest organ of elimination, it is not surprising that skin and toenails are frequently affected. Interestingly enough, injured tissues are more metabolically active during repair processes and serve as great sites for the body to use for discharge.

So now let's talk about what this internal infection might be and why certain people are prone to getting them. Toenail infections are borne out of an excess of fungi in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract that leads to eventual discharge into toenails. How does this occur? The answer is right at the end of your fork!

Let's look at what is going on in the GI tract -- the digestion and assimilation of foodstuffs. So what is it about food that may be causative? The answer is that many foods contain high levels of fungus and the mycotoxins that they secrete. Once ingested, if conditions for their growth are present, they begin to populate the intestinal lining.

The foods that most often contain high concentrations of mycotoxins are grains, nuts, sugars and cheese. Grains such as corn, wheat, barley, and rye (and their flour derivatives) contain what is known as "universal contamination" because they contain so many different species of fungi. Sugars -- including sugar cane, sugar beets and sorghum -- not only contain the contamination, they fuel the growth of many of these fungi, because sugar is the food of choice for fungi. All foods high in sugars, including most fruit and especially fruit juices are included in this group.

Nuts and the oils produced from nuts are heavily contaminated, peanuts being the biggest culprit. The last food category on the list is cheese. Now, everyone knows that cheese will grow mold. If you can see the mold growing, you know that fungus is present throughout the cheese.

In fact, fungus is capable of easily spreading throughout the entire GI tract once it increases its colonization of the GI tract. Fungus is competitive with our healthy gut flora (beneficial bacteria) and will displace them in time. What assists fungus in their spread are fermented and acidic foods such as alcohol, beer, fermented foods and vinegar.

So now you know if your diet is high in these types of foods, you are making yourself highly susceptible to GI infestation of fungus which may ultimately create toenail fungus as the body tries to discharge it. Are there any other things that make you more prone to toenail fungus?

Yes, there are. For one, the cavalier use of antibiotics by the medical community does much to wipe out healthy gut flora and allow the overgrowth of fungus such as yeasts, molds and dermatophytes. Other issues, such as anti-inflammatory drugs which can create a leaky gut phenomenon (incompletely digested foods that enter the bloodstream) and suppress the body's immune protection: immunosuppressive drugs, diabetes, chronic adrenal stress (which creates high levels of cortisol in the body that suppress immune system function), digestive disorders, food and environmental sensitivities, heavy metal toxicity and any other conditions or problems that misdirect or interfere with healthy immune system function.

So I hope you see that the toenail fungus is often a symptom of a grander issue and by addressing these issues, we not only alleviate toenail fungus, but can actually help our patients improve their overall health.

Therefore, treatment is patient specific, and is dependent upon the mechanisms in that particular patient. Once those mechanisms are addressed, the toenail fungus can be treated with gentle, natural medicines which are far safer than the pharmaceutical drugs intended to eradicate fungus.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of  Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Do Away with Smelly Feet!

Posted on:  Patch.com

Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes, when you exercise or during the hot weather.

One of my readers contacted me for a natural solution to a common, but embarrassing problem, smelly feet.

Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes, when you exercise or during the hot weather. Wearing shoes and socks that don’t breathe or rough, dry skin on your feet can promote foot odor. Bromhidrosis, foot odor, is due to bacteria that breed and multiply in warm feet, socks, and shoes.

The soles of your feet have thousands of sweat glands that produce perspiration, which can breakdown in contact with certain bacteria, causing an odor.

Bunions, hammertoe, fallen arches, excessive perspiration and odor, or toenail fungus require a visit to the podiatrist. There are several simple things you can do however, to prevent ordinary foot odor. Clean your feet regularly with a scrubber and soak them in salt to prevent calluses.

Choose open toed shoes or sandals during the summer; other times of the year wear leather or canvas shoes, which breathe. Air them out occasionally in the sun and don’t’ forget you can wash your sneakers! Avoid shoes lined with solid rubber or synthetic materials and wear all cotton socks. Sprinkle your shoes occasionally with cornstarch to absorb moisture.

To get rid of foot odor, soak your feet in either white vinegar or tea. Brew 2 tea bags in a pint of boiling water for 15 minutes; add tea to 2 quarts of cool water and soak for about 20 minutes. You may need to do this daily for a week.

Below is a recipe for a foot deodorizer with specific herbs and essential oils known for their astringent and deodorizing qualities.

Foot Deodorizer (Recipe from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles)

Ingredients: Foot tub, 6 quarts water, ½ cup sage, peppermint or rosemary leaves, ½ cup baking soda, 5 – 10 drops rosemary, sweet orange, peppermint, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the herb of choice. Cover and steep for 30 minutes. Strain into the foot tub. Add baking soda and the essential oil and swish with feet to blend. Soak feet for 15 – 20 minutes. Towel dry and coat with moisturizer. (Coconut oil works great!)

There is a natural solution to everything – good luck!

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of  Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Doctors suggest soaking your feet to cool off

Posted on:  KTTC-TV

QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) --If you need some relief from the heat you might pour water over your head, but what about on your feet?

We all think of wearing light clothing or hydrating ourselves as ways to cool down but if you don't have access to a fan or AC, doctors say you should soak your feet in cold water.

The temperature of your feet has a lot to do with how cool you feel because they have thousands of miles of blood vessels in them which dilate when you're hot.

"As the body fluids are circulating through the feet and they get cooled off, especially as the blood vessels are dilating when you're hot, by soaking them in cool water its just like a radiator it cools your body down," said podiatrist, Dr. Brennan Reed.

Doctors say a 20 minute foot soak every hour will provide relief from the heat.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of  Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

Kids' Shoe Shopping: Easy as "1,2,3"

Published by: American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)

Bethesda, MD – Most back-to-school lists this fall will include new lunchboxes, books, and backpacks. But what about smart kids footwear that’s important to overall health?

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) wants to remind those heading back to the classroom that a sturdy shoe can go a long way toward avoiding injury now that school is back in session. While price isn’t necessarily indicative of quality, certain shoe characteristics are better for growing feet.

“A pair of well-made shoes can keep children safe from foot problems such as sprains and strains – both in class and on the playground,” said Michael J. King, DPM, APMA President. “Checking for three different aspects of a shoe’s design makes it easy for parents to distinguish which models are foot-friendly.”

If a child’s feet hurt, APMA recommends that they find a podiatrist immediately to prevent serious injury. To learn how to tell if a shoe makes the grade for your child’s feet—including how to perform the simple “1,2,3 Test”—watch the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=10pWYvbup24

For a full list of children’s footwear products that carry APMA’s Seal of Acceptance for promoting proper foot health, visit apma.org/shoesforkids.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!

How to Find Your True Shoe Size

Posted by: The Huffington Post

Is it better to buy shoes that are too big or too small? How many times do you ask yourself that question? Or think to yourself "now that I bought these hot shoes, how can I make them fit and feel better?" These are questions that cross the minds of many women when purchasing the latest and hottest shoe styles.

In order to find your true shoe size when you are buying shoes use the Brannock shoe measuring device at the shoe store. That will give you both the width and length of your foot. There are many people who find, after measuring their feet, that they have one foot longer or wider than the other. This is a normal variant and there is nothing to worry about. One of the reasons why it happens can be genetic and you can blame it on mom or dad. The formation of bunions and tailor bunions are boney abnormalities that have a genetic predisposition and will change the anatomical boney alignment of the foot making it wider. Another reason could be because of a splay foot where the ligaments weaken and the foot can elongate and widen. Women during pregnancy may experience this type of phenomena because of the hormone Relaxin that is released to allow the ligaments in the pelvis to stretch during the time of delivery. The ligaments in the foot can also become affected and the foot can get wider and longer. However, once the foot gets longer or wider it does not go back to its original size.

The rule of thumb to live by when buying a pair of shoes is that there should be a thumb's width between the tip of the longest toe in your foot and the end of the shoe. The first, second or third toes are often the landmarks because they are usually the longest toes in your foot.

Always buy a pair of shoes that fit the bigger foot. The reason for this is that you can place an over the counter insole in the larger one to either take up some of the room or prevent foot slippage. Never force your foot into a shoe that is too small or too tight. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause foot, ankle, knee and low back problems. Shoes that do not fit properly can throw your balance off and make you walk funny. If the shoe is too narrow you can develop ingrown toe nails, corns on the top and side of your toes and irritate the skin resulting in blister formation.

The solution to these problems is to take your time when selecting a new pair of shoes. Try not to buy shoes on emotion only. Hint: buy shoes during the time of the day that you would be probably wearing them because feet can often swell during the day. If your feet are swimming around inside the shoe and slipping forward, place an insole or an arch support in the shoe to take up some of the extra room as well as prevent the slipping. If the arch in your foot is cramping when wearing shoes that are a little too big and going into spasm because the toes are curling up inside the shoes, my company makes an over the counter shoe product available to prevent that problem. The product is called Instant Arches. This oval shaped arch support product, one size fits all, will stop the foot from moving forward in the shoe and prevent skin irritation. They will also support the arch and eliminate arch cramps.

No matter what type of shoe you buy, find your true shoe size in order to walk happily ever after!

How to find your true shoe size video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIb4u56g0C4

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!