foot prints Spring 2009 Member An informational newsletter for patients of APMA member podiatrists Blisters are caused by skin friction. Don’t pop them. Apply moleskin or an adhesive bandage over a blister, and leave it on until it falls off naturally in the bath or shower. Keep your feet dry and always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and shoes. If a blister breaks on its own, wash the area, apply an antiseptic, and cover with a sterile bandage. Ingrown nails are nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the skin, often causing infection. They are frequently caused by improper nail trimming but also by shoe pressure, injury, or poor foot structure. Runners are particularly susceptible to nail prob- lems, and long-distance runners often lose some of their toenails entirely while they are training. If an ingrown portion of the nail is painful or infected, your podiatric physician can remove the affected portion to allow for healing. It is possible to permanently remove the offending portion of the nail to prevent occurrence.• Spring is a great time to get back into your running routine or to ramp up your training and exercise for the coming summer months. But it’s always important to take it slowly and to train carefully with the advice of an expert to avoid running injuries. Before you get started, no matter how fit you may be, it’s important to remember that stretching before and after a run is a great way to minimize injuries. Choosing proper foot- wear is very important and your podiatrist can help you choose the right shoe for your level of activity. Finally, you will want to work with the doctor to develop an effective training routine that allows your body (and more important- ly, your feet) to adapt to a new level of exercise. But no mat- ter how careful you are, you may end up with some com- mon injuries such as those listed here. Shin splints: Shin splints, which are painful and appear at the front and inside of the leg, are often caused by run- ning on hard surfaces, overstriding, muscle imbalance, or overuse. Shin splints can also be related to the shape and structure of your feet. Treatment includes rest, stretching, changing your running technique, and rebalancing foot mechanics with the use of an orthotic device in the shoe. Physical therapy can also be helpful. If you begin to feel this type of pain, slow down, take shorter strides, and see a podiatrist at your first opportunity. Stress fractures: A stress fracture is a tiny or incomplete crack in a bone that is often caused by overuse. Stress frac- tures occur most frequently in the foot and ankle, so your podiatric physician is well trained to diagnose and treat this problem. Signs of a stress fracture are pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest, pain that increases over time or pain that persists even at rest. Often a stress fracture will result in swelling and a spot that feels tender to the touch. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of a stress fracture can often prevent further injury. A podiatrist can determine your best treatment with x-ray and a physical exam. Many stress fractures can be treated with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers. For most people, an appropriate period of rest will be sufficient for the bone to heal, but like all fractures, the bone can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to heal completely. In other cases, your podiatrist may need to immobilize the affected bone with a cast, cast boot, fracture shoe, or a splint. Surgical intervention may be suggested if other, more con- servative treatments are not effective. Blisters and nail problems: Runners often have blisters and nail problems but with a little maintenance and care, they can be avoided or minimized so that they don’t limit your ability to keep up your training routine. Running Injuries
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Mar 19, 2016
Member Spring 2009 A n i n f o r m a t i o n a l n e w s l e t t e r f o r p a t i e n t s o f A P M A m e m b e r p o d i a t r i s t s
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footprintsS p r i n g 20 0 9
Member
A n i n f o r m a t i o n a l n e w s l e t t e r f o r p a t i e n t s o f A P M A m e m b e r p o d i a t r i s t s
Blisters are caused by skin friction. Don’t pop them. Applymoleskin or an adhesive bandage over a blister, and leave it onuntil it falls off naturally in the bath or shower. Keep your feet dryand always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and shoes.If a blister breaks on its own, wash the area, apply an antiseptic,and cover with a sterile bandage.
Ingrown nails are nails whose corners or sides dig painfully intothe skin, often causing infection. They are frequently caused byimproper nail trimming but also by shoe pressure, injury, or poorfoot structure. Runners are particularly susceptible to nail prob-lems, and long-distance runners often lose some of their toenailsentirely while they are training. If an ingrown portion of the nailis painful or infected, your podiatric physician can remove theaffected portion to allow for healing. It is possible to permanentlyremove the offending portion of the nail to prevent occurrence.•
Spring is a great time to get back into your running routineor to ramp up your training and exercise for the comingsummer months. But it’s always important to take it slowlyand to train carefully with the advice of an expert to avoidrunning injuries.
Before you get started, no matter how fit you may be, it’simportant to remember that stretching before and after a runis a great way to minimize injuries. Choosing proper foot-wear is very important and your podiatrist can help youchoose the right shoe for your level of activity. Finally, youwill want to work with the doctor to develop an effectivetraining routine that allows your body (and more important-ly, your feet) to adapt to a new level of exercise. But no mat-ter how careful you are, you may end up with some com-mon injuries such as those listed here.
Shin splints: Shin splints, which are painful and appearat the front and inside of the leg, are often caused by run-ning on hard surfaces, overstriding, muscle imbalance, oroveruse. Shin splints can also be related to the shape andstructure of your feet. Treatment includes rest, stretching,changing your running technique, and rebalancing footmechanics with the use of an orthotic device in the shoe.Physical therapy can also be helpful. If you begin to feel thistype of pain, slow down, take shorter strides, and see apodiatrist at your first opportunity.
Stress fractures: A stress fracture is a tiny or incompletecrack in a bone that is often caused by overuse. Stress frac-tures occur most frequently in the foot and ankle, so yourpodiatric physician is well trained to diagnose and treat thisproblem. Signs of a stress fracture are pain that increases withactivity and decreases with rest, pain that increases over timeor pain that persists even at rest. Often a stress fracture willresult in swelling and a spot that feels tender to the touch.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of a stress fracture canoften prevent further injury. A podiatrist can determine yourbest treatment with x-ray and a physical exam. Many stressfractures can be treated with rest, ice and over-the-counterpain relievers. For most people, an appropriate period of restwill be sufficient for the bone to heal, but like all fractures,the bone can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to heal completely. Inother cases, your podiatrist may need to immobilize theaffected bone with a cast, cast boot, fracture shoe, or a splint.Surgical intervention may be suggested if other, more con-servative treatments are not effective.
Blisters and nail problems: Runners often have blistersand nail problems but with a little maintenance and care,they can be avoided or minimized so that they don’t limityour ability to keep up your training routine.
Running Injuries
While having a pedicure at the local nail salon may seemlike a luxury that you deserve, it’s a good idea to keep youreyes and ears open and to make sure that you keep yourfeet safe by following a few easy tips.
If you schedule your pedicure first thing in the morning,you may find that the foot bath is the cleanest it will be allday. If you can’t be the first customer, however, make surethat the technician cleans both the tub and the filter beforeyour pedicure.
If at all possible, bring your own pedicure tools to thesalon. Bacteria and fungus can easily be transferred fromperson to person on these tools, especially if the salon doesnot use proper sterilization techniques. Never allow techni-cians to use blades or knives to cut your calluses or to elim-inate thick, dead skin. Only use pumice stones, foot files,or exfoliating scrub. Once you soak your feet for a few min-utes, this thickened skin can be easily sloughed off withthese types of tools.
The pedicurist should trim your nails straight across. Donot let them dig into the sides of the nails or try to trim outingrown nails. If you think you may have an ingrown toe-nail, see a podiatrist immediately.
Only healthy nails should be painted with colored polish.Make sure to change the polish frequently and to checkyour nails when the polishis off. Signs of fungus andother nail problems canoften be hidden under nailpolish, so be vigilant inchecking your nails.
If your skin bleeds orgets nicked at the salon,make sure to carefullyclean and disinfect thatarea and then watch forsigns of infection. Checkwith your podiatristimmediately if you haveany signs of redness orskin irritation after yoursalon visit. •
footprints
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This patient information newsletter is supported by an educational grant from Spenco, Inc.
P a g e 2
“The doctor said I have a neuroma,” Madeline told her hus-band after her appointment at her local podiatrist’s office.“Now I know why I have that weird pain in the ball of my footevery time I walk or when we go out dancing.”
A neuroma, also referred to as a “pinched nerve,” is apainful condition involving irritation and/or thickening ofthe nerve tissue between the toes, most commonly the 3rdand 4th toes. The condition brings on pain, a burning sen-sation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in theball of the foot.
“How did you get that neuroma?” Harvey asked Madeline.“I’ll bet it’s from wearing those crazy high heels.” Although
Harvey may have guessed one cause of neuromas, there areseveral other causes as well. Biomechanical deformities,such as a high arch or a flat foot can lead to the formationof a neuroma. Trauma can also cause damage to the nerve,resulting in swelling and inflammation. Repeated stress tothe foot, common to some occupations, can create or aggra-vate a neuroma.
A visit to a podiatrist should be your first step in deter-mining a treatment plan when you have this type of footpain. The podiatrist can offer a number of treatment optionsupon diagnosing of a neuroma, including:
• Padding and taping;• Medications such as oral anti-inflammatories, or injec-
tions including cortisone or a nerve destructive agent;• Orthotic devices;• Surgical options when conservative treatments fail.
Madeline found relief with injections which the podiatristperformed in the office and by changing her shoes. Yourpodiatrist can also recommend ways to relieve the pain of aneuroma including opting for other types of shoes, and rest-ing and icing the foot. This type of pain should not beignored, and a visit to your podiatrist can often get offer therelief you need. •
Neuromas
Watch Out at Your Nail Salon