Items filtered by date: July 2022

A foot ulcer is a severe wound on the foot that can be serious in diabetic patients. It is defined as a wound that does not heal and can be a result of peripheral arterial disease. The increased blood sugar levels in diabetic patients can cause a lack of feeling in the feet and this can make it difficult to notice existing cuts, bruises, or scrapes. A wound on the foot needs to have immediate treatment as this can be helpful in proper healing. Correct treatment of a foot ulcer may begin with removing dead tissue, which is referred to as debridement, and taking antibiotics is necessary if the wound is infected. An antibiotic cream may be applied to the wound followed by wrapping it in a bandage. Some patients may wear a specific type of boot that can allow walking while maintaining proper healing. If you have any type of wounds on the feet, it is strongly advised that you speak with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can effectively treat foot ulcers.

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Dr. Rouder from S.I. Podiatry. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

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

Pregnancy changes many things about a woman’s body. In addition to all of the many bodily changes that a pregnant woman experiences, she might notice increasing foot pain. There are a number of reasons for this pain. Most notably, a pregnant woman can gain a significant amount of weight as the baby grows, which essentially puts more pressure on the woman’s feet and changes her gait. There are several ways to manage foot pain during pregnancy. One way is to manage your weight gain. By watching what foods you are eating, you can ensure that you are not putting on any extra weight that will further increase the stress put on your feet. Additionally, since foot pain during pregnancy is often caused by the swelling of the woman’s feet, you might consider elevating your feet to approximately 6-12 inches above your heart. This will encourage blood circulation and promote blood flow to the heart. Lastly, pregnant women can manage their foot pain by being diligent about drinking a significant amount of liquids, like water, and avoiding caffeine. By drinking a lot of water, pregnant women can flush out the salt in their bodies that might cause inflammation in the feet. If you are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant, then contact a podiatrist for the best recommendations about keeping your feet healthy.

Pregnant women with swollen feet can be treated with a variety of different methods that are readily available. For more information about other cures for swollen feet during pregnancy, consult with Dr. Rouder from S.I. Podiatry. Our doctor will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

What Foot Problems Can Arise During Pregnancy?

One problem that can occur is overpronation, which occurs when the arch of the foot flattens and tends to roll inward.  This can cause pain and discomfort in your heels while you’re walking or even just standing up, trying to support your baby.  

Another problem is edema, or swelling in the extremities. This often affects the feet during pregnancy but tends to occur in the later stages. 

How Can I Keep My Feet Healthy During Pregnancy?

• Wearing orthotics can provide extra support for the feet and help distribute weight evenly
• Minimize the amount of time spent walking barefoot
• Wear shoes with good arch support
• Wear shoes that allow for good circulation to the feet
• Elevate feet if you experience swelling
• Massage your feet
• Get regular, light exercise, such as walking, to promote blood circulation to the feet

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

Taking small but deliberate steps everyday to care for your feet can help to keep them functioning well and feeling great. Although each individual’s daily foot care routine is a highly individualized process, there are a number of steps you might consider incorporating into your routine. First, try washing your feet every day with soap and warm water to ensure that they are clean. This can be done either in the shower or in a small tub of water. After washing your feet, dry them thoroughly with a towel and apply your favorite moisturizer, focusing especially on the heels to prevent cracks and dryness. You might also consider taking time each day to briefly inspect your feet, checking for any signs of infection. During these inspections, you should be on the lookout for cuts, redness, and inflammation. To cap off your daily foot care routine, you might also check to make sure that your toenails do not need to be trimmed. Leaving your toenails untrimmed for too long might put you at a greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail. To learn more about these daily health tips and others, reach out to a podiatrist. 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Rouder from S.I. Podiatry. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

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

The importance of knowing how to prevent running injuries is crucial for people who enjoy the sport of marathon running or light jogging. Research has indicated that approximately 50 percent of injuries can happen every year to people who run regularly. An injury to the Achilles tendon is a common running mishap, and this can cause severe pain and discomfort. It often happens as a result of increasing speed and intensity too quickly, which may rupture or inflame the Achilles tendon. An effective prevention technique is to warm up and cool down for several minutes, and gradually increase the force of the running. Many people develop and suffer from plantar fasciitis, causing severe heel pain. It can occur from not stretching the calf muscles before running, and prevention can be increased when range of motion is expanded in the overall foot. An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments and tendons in the ankle become overstretched from rolling the ankle beyond its normal limitations. When the muscles are strengthened surrounding the ankle, the chance of incurring an ankle sprain may be decreased. If you would like more information about how running injuries affect the feet, and how to prevent them, please consult with a podiatrist.

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Rouder of S.I. Podiatry. Our doctor 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 Staten Island, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.