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HELLO EVERYONE!
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Dr. Vikki
Foley |
Springtime greetings to patients, colleagues,
family and friends. I'm excited to debut
our FIRST online newsletter. The power
of the worldwide web never ceases to
amaze. Plenty of great information to
pass along.
I recently attended an all day symposium
on Tai Chi at UC Irvine. I learned that
exercise does increase certain brain
cells , which then increases memory.
It’s always been said that you were born
with a number of brain cells and once
you lose them you can't regenerate them.
But we can regenerate brain cells in the
hypothalamus for memory. And did you
know slow exercise and breathing
increase your energy, while fast
exercise
strengthens our muscles, but doesn't
increase energy? Now you do! In this
newsletter is a great article on how Tai
Chi is helping to battle diabetes.
In the spirit of full body wellness,
www.socalharvest.org has been
added as a link on my website. I've
begun growing organic lettuce, herbs,
tomatoes, and eggplant while using the
EarthBox container on my deck. Remember,
we are what we eat! Eating better
decreases disease.
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Dr.
Vikki about town with hubby, Tom, at
UCLA basketball game then onto Pro
Tennis Tourney at Indian Wells. |
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Lucy......Lucy.....Lucy.......Yes, the CANINE
QUEEN of
OC is Back! |
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And finally, I've been a bit remiss about
keeping fans updated on my lovely little
Lucy. So back by popular demand, is a
photo of Orange County's Canine Queen. |
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Please enjoy the newsletter. Forward comments
when you have time. |
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FYI -
My blog is updated regularly with informative
commentary and articles about health and lifestyle. Log
in any time !!!! |
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Have a happy and healthy Spring,! |
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Dr. Vikki |
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Don't Let Your Feet Go to 'HEEL'!!
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Oh, women and their love
affair of high heels. Most
fashionistas can’t walk by a shoe
display without stopping and at
least looking.
The price for those high heels maybe
a lot more than they think. WAY
MORE.
“High heels push the body forward
and force the hips and spine out of
alignment, “ says Dr. Foley. “The
altered posture places excess force
on the inside of the knee which can
lead to oesteoarthritis in that
area, “Dr. Foley adds. The
complications don’t stop there. Calf
muscles may contract and shorten
with regular wear. Narrow toe space
in shoes can thicken the nerve
between the third and fourth toes,
leading to pain and numbness. This
cramped shoe area can also bend the
smaller toes at the middle joint and
become impossible to straighten.
“Regular wear contracts the Achilles
tendon and lead to heel pain,” Dr.
Foley said. “Balance can also be a
problem, which can lead to sprained
or broken ankles.”
Medical treatment for these problems
are high. Bunion removal can cost in
excess of $5,000. Toe straightening,
big toe joint replacement cost
several thousand dollars depending
on severity.
Fear NOT. All is not lost style
seekers.
“Women are always going to wear high
heels,” says Dr. Foley. “The key is
moderation, plus targeted stretching
and exercises. ” |
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Dr. Foley suggests lower heels for
many. “A two- inch heel can still be
fashionable.”
“For every inch of a heel you put
25% of your weight on the ball of
your foot. So, a 3 inch heel puts
75% of your weight on your forefoot
and toes!”, Dr. Foley warns.
Preventative measures are critical
to avoiding serious problems.
“Listen to your body. When it hurts
to wear those stilettos, your body
is talking to you”, says Dr. Foley
Dr. Foley features a series of high
heel related exercises on her
website for those looking to stay
stylish AND healthy.
[CLICK HERE TO VISIT
DOCTORVIKKI.COM]
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Tai Chi May Help Those With Diabetes
According to
two small studies published in the
British Journal of Sports Medicine
in April 2008, Tai Chi exercises can
improve blood glucose levels and
improve the control of type 2
diabetes and immune system response.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art
that combines diaphragmatic
breathing and relaxation with soft,
gentle movements. It is considered
moderate exercise, which has
previously been shown to improve
immune system response, in contrast
to strenuous physical activity,
which depresses it. Previous studies
have shown that it improves
respiratory and cardiovascular
function, while improving
flexibility and relieving stress.
“People are always looking for new
ways to stay fit, “ says Dr. Foley.
“Tai Chi is terrific for all ages
and the additional benefits of
practicing Tai Chi are very
encouraging. The great news is 12
weeks of Tai Chi can reduce blood
sugar. It is also good for
borderline diabetics or people with
metabolic disorder. Tai Chi
exercises are also done standing,
which is much easier than Yoga.”
Dr. Foley adds that unchecked or
unregulated diabetes can often lead
to serious complications with toes
and feet.
Dr. Foley attended World Tai Chi Day
to learn more on April 25 at UC
Irvine. “Anything to keep my
patients moving, “ Dr. Foley added.
Anti-Fatigue
Mat Lessons Pressure on Feet & Back
Millions of people who love to cook experience pain in their feet and back from standing on hard, unforgiving kitchen flooring for extended periods of time. GelPro has solved this ergonomic problem with a line of stylish anti-fatigue floor mats manufactured with a soft, shock-absorbing gel core. The unique properties of the GelPro gel enable GelPro mats to provide the most comfortable surface to stand on, regardless of the type of hard flooring in your home. “These mats are wonderful for anyone who stands or works in a small area for extended periods, “ says Dr. Foley. Right now, Cookin’ Stuff in Torrance, (www.cookinstuff.com) is offering these heavy duty mats online for only $70.00, regularly $99.00 during the entire month of May.
Ask
Dr. V If you have a question regarding a foot, toe or ankle injury,
please e-mail me at
drfoley@doctorvikki.com. I can always direct you to general information, but to be specific, I do require you to make an appointment and come in for a full examination. A 20-minute examination will often identify a minor problem before it evolves into a more serious situation.
DoctorVikki.com
Podcast Now Features Fitness
Footwear
In this month’s Dr. V Podcast, Dr. Foley offers her overview.
Click Here to Download this
informative podcast today!
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www.doctorvikki.com
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Sharon’s “Bone” of Contention
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Sharon
with
walking
partner,
Sadie. |
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A bone
spur doesn’t sound like a
serious ailment to most people.
Don’t tell that to Sharon
Barkman. The Lakewood native had
suffered with a large bone spur
for months and now the injury
had caused two small tears in
her Achilles tendon. “It had
gotten so serious, I could
barely walk. “ Sharon said. The
immediate goal was to be mobile
for her son’s July wedding. “I
wanted to feel and look good,“
she said. In stepped Dr. Foley
during Spring 2008.
“Sharon
needed surgery, but there was no
way she could be ready for a
July wedding. Recuperation and
rehab takes six months in the
best cases, “ Dr. Foley said.
Option B included a focused
therapy plan and two inch heels.
Sharon made her son’s big event
in style. “Dr. Foley was
terrific. She explained that
two-inch heels would actually
take the pressure off my
Achilles and bone spur. It
worked.” Now it was time for
surgery.
“Sharon
had a large spur on the back of
her left heel and I had to
re-attach her Achilles tendon, “
Dr. Foley explained. “I used a
new technique with the suture
bridge. It allows much more
force to be placed on the tendon
after surgery so you do not lose
power in the calf muscles,” Dr.
Foley added. The September
surgery was a success.
Sharon was
glad Dr. Foley gave her straight
answers on the pain, the rehab
and long recuperation period.
“Dr. Foley
prepared me for every step of
the process, “ Sharon said. “She
made sure I knew the seriousness
of the operation. I even
cancelled a couple trips because
Dr. Foley felt that flying would
cause serious complications,”
Sharon said. “I’ve followed her
instructions to the letter.
Office staffers, Terri and Anita
were terrific through the entire
process. I’m happy to report
after seven months the recovery
has gone very well.”
One thing
Sharon missed during her months
of inactivity was walking her
dog, Sadie. Sharon and Sadie are
back cruising the neighborhood
regularly.
“We still
take it slow, but it’s such a
joy to back moving around.”
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New Shoes---SOONER THAN LATER !
We all hate to get rid of trusty running, walking or work-out shoes. But just like good fruit, shoes have a shelf life. Worn-out shoes can lead to injury, so be cognizant of wear and tear.
Below are guidelines so assist you in knowing when it’s time to purchase new shoes:
Running- 350 miles
Walking- 120 hours
Tennis/Basketball/Volleyball- 60 hours
Make sure you get proper athletic socks as well.
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Favorite Recipe:
Spring Citrus Salad
A
beautiful salad of radicchio and butter
lettuce in two contrasting colors of
spring: green and deep purple. Topped
with paper-thin fresh fennel bulb and
plump orange segments, tossed with a
homemade raspberry-citrus vinaigrette.
Salads are inherently healthy and packed
with nutrients, but the bonus to this
recipe is that the vinaigrette is very
light in comparison to other homemade
varieties that often use double or
triple the amount of oil.
Ingredients
3 naval oranges
1 fennel bulb, top fringe
removed
2 heads butter lettuce
1 head radicchio
1 shallot, minced
2 tablespoons raspberry white
balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon white wine
vinegar
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
Preparation
To segment
oranges, cut off the stem and blossom
ends and cut away the peel, following
the curve of the fruit. Cut out each
segment, by gently sliding your knife
between the membrane walls toward center
of fruit. Squeeze leftover membranes and
reserve juice for vinaigrette.
Using a mandolin, carefully slice fennel
bulb, paper-thin, horizontally.
Remove core from lettuces and
tear into large bite-sized pieces.
For citrus vinaigrette, combine
shallot, vinegars, orange juice, salt
and pepper; whisk to combine. Slowly add
olive oil, while whisking, until well
incorporated. In a large salad bowl,
toss together lettuces, fennel, orange
segments, and the vinaigrette.
Serve immediately.
*courtesy of
FoodChannel.com
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Victoria M. Foley D.P.M. |
3840
Woodruff Avenue Suite 211 Long Beach, CA 90808
3771 Katella Avenue, #110 Los Alamitos, California 90720 |
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Send Dr.
Vikki an e-mail |
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(562) 420-9800 |
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© Victoria M. Foley
A Southern California Podiatrist
Serving Los Angeles and Orange County with Foot & Ankle Care
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