Items filtered by date: September 2022

Anyone who enjoys running needs to be aware that an injury can interrupt their daily exercise routine. Many people who have endured a running injury will continue to run making the injury worse. It is helpful to implement effective strategies that can help to prevent running injuries. These can consist of stretching before and after running. Additionally, gradually increasing duration and speed as this can provide the body with flexibility. Strength training is essential to practice, which is an efficient method for building and maintaining muscle strength. Research has shown it is beneficial to eat healthy and balanced foods that have adequate nutrients and vitamins. Running injuries often affect the feet and many people can endure a broken foot or ankle. If you would like more information about how to practice effective methods to prevent running injuries, please confer with a podiatrist.

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one our our podiatrists of Newtown Comprehensive Foot Care. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

There are a lot of mistakes a runner can make prior to a workout that can induce injury. A lot of athletes tend to overstretch before running, instead of saving those workouts for a post-run routine. Deep lunges and hand-to-toe hamstring pulls should be performed after a workout instead of during a warmup. Another common mistake is jumping into an intense routine before your body is physically prepared for it. You should try to ease your way into long-distance running instead of forcing yourself to rush into it.

More Tips for Preventing Injury

• Incorporate Strength Training into Workouts - This will help improve the body’s overall athleticism
• Improve and Maintain Your Flexibility – Stretching everyday will help improve overall performance
• “Warm Up” Before Running and “Cool Down” Afterward – A warm up of 5-10 minutes helps get rid of lactic acid in the muscles and prevents delayed muscle soreness
• Cross-Training is Crucial
• Wear Proper Running Shoes
• Have a Formal Gait Analysis – Poor biomechanics can easily cause injury

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Newtown, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Taking good care of your child’s feet is essential in ensuring that they will grow up to have healthy, well-functioning feet. One critical element of maintaining the health of your child’s feet is measuring their feet properly before going shopping for shoes. There are several different ways in which you can take an accurate measure of your child’s feet, but you might consider performing a tracing. Simply have your child stand on a piece of paper with one end touching a wall. Your child should have their heel against the wall. Using a ruler, mark on the paper where your child’s longest toe ends. You can then perform this on the other foot. You might consider even adding one centimeter onto the final measurement so that your child’s shoe provides enough space in the toe box. If you want to learn more about children’s foot health, contact your podiatrist today.

Making sure that your children maintain good foot health is very important as they grow. If you have any questions, contact one our our podiatrists of Newtown Comprehensive Foot Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

Having healthy feet during childhood can help prevent medical problems later in life, namely in the back and legs. As children grow, their feet require different types of care. Here are some things to consider...

Although babies do not walk yet, it is still very important to take care of their feet.

Avoid putting tight shoes or socks on his or her feet.

Allow the baby to stretch and kick his or her feet to feel comfortable.

As a toddler, kids are now on the move and begin to develop differently. At this age, toddlers are getting a feel for walking, so don’t be alarmed if your toddler is unsteady or ‘walks funny’. 

As your child gets older, it is important to teach them how to take care of their feet.

Show them proper hygiene to prevent infections such as fungus.

Be watchful for any pain or injury.

Have all injuries checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Comfortable, protective shoes should always be worn, especially at play.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Newtown, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Many people develop pain in the heel, which can be the result of overuse. This may cause the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs under the foot from the toes to the heel, to become inflamed and painful. One way to prevent this type of damage is to wear the correct shoes. Footwear that has adequate cushioning in the heel can go a long way to reduce the onset of heel pain. Wearing flip flops or ballet flats, and walking barefoot, may add to the risk of developing heel pain. In addition, wearing shoes that are too small can cause the toes to grab, or claw, inside the shoe. This action places further stress on the plantar fascia. Instead, it is thought that a shoe with adequate space for the toes and a slightly elevated heel, such as a running shoe, can reduce the stress on the plantar fascia. For more information on plantar fasciitis and choosing the proper footwear, please consult a podiatrist.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact one our our podiatrists of Newtown Comprehensive Foot Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes                  
• Wearing non-supportive shoes
• Weight change           
• Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress-free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a condition of the past.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Newtown, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection affecting the nails. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments which can cause them to overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections. Such an infection might present itself as yellow or white spots on the toenail, the nail may raise from the nail bed, the skin surrounding the affected toenail may darken, the nail can become brittle and thick, and there may be a foul odor. Complications can arise from toenail fungus, so early intervention is suggested. Toenail fungus is contagious as well. It can spread between nails, onto the skin, and to other people. If you have any of these symptoms, see a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis. Fungal infections can mimic symptoms of other conditions. Once confirmed, a podiatrist will be able to recommend treatment for your specific toenail issue.

If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact one our our podiatrists of Newtown Comprehensive Foot Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Symptoms

• Warped or oddly shaped nails
• Yellowish nails
• Loose/separated nail
• Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
• Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Treatment

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications does not help your fungus, your podiatrist may give you a prescription drug instead. Even if you find relief from your toenail fungus symptoms, you may experience a repeat infection in the future.

Prevention

In order to prevent getting toenail fungus in the future, you should always make sure to wash your feet with soap and water. After washing, it is important to dry your feet thoroughly especially in between the toes. When trimming your toenails, be sure to trim straight across instead of in a rounded shape. It is crucial not to cover up discolored nails with nail polish because that will prevent your nail from being able to “breathe”.

In some cases, surgical procedure may be needed to remove the toenail fungus. Consult with your podiatrist about the best treatment options for your case of toenail fungus.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Newtown, CT . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.