Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center: April 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Must-Know Tips to Avoid a "Flip-Flop Fiasco"

Find out some easy ways to prevent injury from wearing flip-flops this summer, from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). For more information on healthy flip-flops, visit www.apma.org/seal.

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. 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!

New Tattoo Could Be Just What the Doctor Ordered

Posted on: WWJ-TV (CBS Detroit)

Diabetics may soon be lining up for a special new tattoo that does “tricks.”

Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and at the Texas Diabetes Institute are working on a new tattoo that is designed to change color when a person’s blood sugar drops, or when it spikes.

Oakwood Hospital podiatrist, Dr. Debbie Woody told WWJ she thinks it’s a fantastic idea.

“It’s very fascinating and amazing,” Woody says. “It’s really still a few years away. It can actually monitor a patient’s blood sugar.’

Dr. Woody said it’s not going to be a tattoo that is readily visible to the naked eye. A patient would use a “monitoring device” such as a black light to see the color changes. The tattoo is designed to go from yellow to orange to pink depending on whether a patient’s blood sugar is high or low.

“That obviously would have a lot of benefits,” says Woody. “You can decrease the amount of pin sticks you have. Certainly very helpful in children with diabetes. It also allows a diabetic to closely monitor their sugar. They’re going to know if (their sugar) is getting low or high.”

Woody doesn’t think it will ever entirely replace a glucose meter, but it will give constant monitoring which can’t be done now.

Samantha Mueller, who does body piercings at Eternal Tattoo in Eastpointe, said people are already calling her asking for the color changing tattoo.

Mueller said, “One lady just wants to get a little heart, because she’s just sick of poking herself, and her fingers hurt.”

Friday, April 13, 2012

6 in 10 Teens Have Foot Pain

Hey teens, don’t let foot pain slow you down this spring. You’re way too busy with school, sports, and prom, so find out how to ditch the pain now!

Photo credit: Hemera/Thinkstock

Posted on: Care2

A lot of adults suffer from foot pain and discomfort for a variety of reasons, but did you know that six out of 10 teens have foot pain, too? A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) shows that

sports are the number one cause of foot pain among teens;
two out of 10 teens suffer from pain due to wearing high heels and other uncomfortable footwear; and
less than two out of 10 teens have ever seen a podiatrist to treat foot problems.

“Foot health is incredibly important to a person’s overall health and wellbeing — especially in the teen years when feet are still growing,” said Joseph M. Caporusso, DPM, APMA president. “Our survey found that only about half of teens see feet as important to their overall health, but many are living with foot pain. It’s vital that we educate teens on how to properly care for their feet and when to visit today’s podiatrist, the foot and ankle expert.”

APMA’s survey collected the opinions of 1,000 teenagers on their attitudes toward foot health, foot care, and their knowledge of and experience with podiatrists. Among the key findings:

Almost half reported that playing a sport was the cause of their foot pain. Seventy-five percent of high school students play a school or recreational sport, and nearly 40 percent of that group has injured their feet while participating in sports.
Not surprisingly, gender differences were also found to play a role in how teens care for their feet. Two out of every 10 teens suffer from pain from uncomfortable shoes — girls more than boys. It’s all about the type of shoes — high heels are the most painful, reported by 64 percent of girls who took the survey.

Helpful advice from the APMA includes:

How to Choose Good Shoes

Activity: Sports-specific shoes help protect against injury.
Size: Teen feet are still changing and shoe sizes can vary from one brand to another.
Support: Make sure your shoes support your feet when you walk. Well-made backless shoes and flip flops are fine, but shouldn’t be worn all the time, and high heels should be reserved for special occasions. Stilettos can be a problem due to lack of stability.
Maintenance: Check the cushioning, tread, and midsole, and replace shoes that are showing signs of wear and tear.

Basic Foot Care

Give ‘em a good washing: You’d think this would go without saying, but it is tempting to just swish your feet around in the shower. Podiatrists say it’s important to use soap to remove germs and grime, and it’s important to get in between your toes.
And a thorough drying: Fungus, like the kind that causes athlete’s foot, grows in moist, damp environments. After your shower, dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between your toes. If your socks get wet during the day, change socks. (Keep an extra pair in your locker or gym bag.)
Give toenails a little TLC: Toenails that are too long can harbor bacteria. Use a pair of toenail clippers to cut your toenails to just above or at the edge of your toe. Some docs will tell you to cut straight across the nail, but a slight curve is OK too.

Common Foot Problems…and what to do about them

Warts: Common warts, which can appear anywhere on the body, are rough little bumps. Plantar warts, which occur on the bottom of the feet, are typically hard, flat, and rough. All warts are caused by a virus. Warts aren’t harmful, but they can be uncomfortable and unsightly. If you have warts on your feet, keep your feet clean and dry because viruses flourish in dark, wet environments.
Sweaty, smelly feet: You can cut down on odors by keeping your feet clean and dry at all times. Rubbing powder on the bottom of your feet before putting on your socks and shoes can help too. If possible, let shoes air out for 24 hours before wearing them again. Podiatrists can help with this embarrassing problem.
Ingrown toenails: Symptoms of an ingrown toenail include redness, swelling, and tenderness around the nail. Sometimes you can even see the nail digging directly into the toe. Try soaking the affected foot in lukewarm water and Epsom salts for 20 minutes three or four times a day. If the redness and pain doesn’t improve after a couple days, a podiatrist can easily treat ingrown toenails.
Athlete’s foot: Athlete’s foot, an itchy foot condition that causes the skin to flake and peel, is caused by a fungus. Keeping your feet clean and dry can help. So can over-the-counter athlete’s foot medication. Just be sure to use the medication until the fungus is completely gone. With current medications, two to three weeks of treatment may be enough to treat athlete’s foot fungus. Stubborn cases of athlete’s foot may require a doctor’s care.

APMA has launched the myFEET campaign visit www.apma.org/myfeet during April’s Foot Health Awareness Month to emphasize the importance of foot health to teens. To see the full results of the survey, visit www.apma.org/teen-feet-survey

It doesn’t hurt to point out that people of all ages should take care of their feet.

Source: American Podiatric Medical Association

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. 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!