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As we age there are parts of the body that begin to experience “wear and tear” resulting in an increase in certain health problems. Your feet are no exception. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, however, we believe that our senior patients can live active lives if they are proactive in the care of their feet and know how to prevent common foot problems. Below are some areas of concern for seniors:
Fall Danger – falls are a primary cause of injury in older patients and your feet obviously play a big role in keeping you upright. Observe the following precautions:
Circulation – maintaining good circulation is necessary for keeping your feet healthy and also for healing any injuries to the lower extremities. Don’t smoke as this impedes circulation and exercise regularly. Keep the blood flowing! Do not sit or stand in one position for a long period of time.
Healthy Lifestyle – in addition to exercise, watch what you eat. Choose a nutrient-dense diet that will keep bones strong, help you have maximum energy and maintain an appropriate weight. Being overweight increases the risk of foot and other health issues. Keep up with all your medical checkups and listen to your body. Many foot ailments have early warning signs that can signal the need for attention.
If you have additional questions about senior foot healthcare contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800.
A condition that we see frequently at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center is flat feet. True to its name, “flat feet “describe a deformity in the foot where the arch of the foot is virtually nonexistent when a patient is standing. Although for many patients flat feet are not initially painful, they can lead to pain in the ankle, lower leg or middle of the foot. Having flat feet also makes you more susceptible to some other foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis. In addition to pain, flat feet can cause swelling and a lack of flexibility in the foot.
Who Gets Flat Feet?
There are several possible causes of flat feet. For some patients, the arch of the foot fails to develop properly during childhood. In other cases, it is something that occurs over time as the result of risk factors such as:
What Can be Done?
The course of treatment for flat feet will depend on the severity of the symptoms. Whether you have pain or not, if you notice that your feet seem to be flat and the floor without a normal arch you should contact our Long Beach office so that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas can examine your feet. Due to the possible genetic component of the condition, the foot doctor will want to get a family medical history as well. At the very least, the podiatrist will want to monitor your flat feet to ensure that a progressive disability does not develop over time. If you do have stiffness or pain the foot doctor may suggest any or all of the following:
If conservative measures don’t work or the arch issue is severe, reconstructive surgery may be an option.
If you have questions about flat feet or want to make an appointment to have your arches evaluated call us at 562-420-9800. We offer appointments before and after work and our helpful staff will work with you to find a time that works best with your busy schedule.
If you are like many of our patients at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center the New Year is a time to renew your commitment to getting physically fit. This is a worthy resolution that will benefit your feet and your entire body. Improved circulation, maintaining a healthy weight, decreased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure and stress relief are among the many benefits of regular exercise. Before you get started, however, we’d like to make the following suggestions to protect your feet and increase the enjoyment of your fitness program.
Get a Checkup—it’s a good idea to meet with our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas and discuss your fitness goals and how you hope to achieve them. Some exercises put more stress on your feet than others. It’s important to have a complete examination of your feet and ankles and to have the foot doctor address any ongoing problems that you may be having. Sometimes special orthotics or padding may be recommended to protect a vulnerable area and make exercise more comfortable. The foot doctor can also make specific recommendations regarding shoes that suit your gait and foot.
Shop for Shoes—if you are going to be trying out a new activity go to a professional sports shoe store to get the correct footwear for your sport. Sports shoes are designed specifically for the types of movement required for specific activities. You should have your foot measured and also let the shoe salesperson know about any foot issues you have. You can avoid blisters by wearing shoes that are the correct size and don’t rub anywhere on your foot. Be sure to pick up some absorbent socks as well. Keeping feet dry is essential to avoid athlete’s foot and other fungal infections from developing.
Don’t Skip the Conditioning—properly warming up and stretching the ligaments, tendons and muscles in your lower legs and feet before and after exercise can help you avoid common injuries such as shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.
If after you begin an exercise routine you notice pain in your toes, feet, ankles, calves or shins, be sure to make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling: 562-420-9800. Continuing to work out while you are in pain will cause way more harm than good.
When you twist your ankle bones with a significant amount of force the ligaments around the outside of the bone may get over stretched or even tear. This is the definition of an ankle sprain. Symptoms of a sprained ankle include swelling, bruising, pain and tenderness in the ankle. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we know that these injuries can be painful and debilitating. That’s why we want to offer the suggestions below for preventing ankle sprains from happening:
If, despite all precautions, you do twist your ankle, contact our Long Beach office as soon after the injury as possible by calling: 562-420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas will examine your ankle and possibly order x-rays to diagnose the condition. The correct treatment can then be determined to get you back to full health.
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