Items filtered by date: December 2019

Monday, 30 December 2019 13:27

Walk Your Way to Healthier Feet This Year

It’s time for New Year’s resolutions, and at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that many of our Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area patients will be thinking about starting new exercise regimens. One of the best and easiest fitness activities you can do is walking.

Some benefits of walking include:

  • It’s a great choice if you have been inactive for a period of time.
  • Walking has a host of health benefits: improved circulation, helps with weight loss or maintenance, reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar, to name a few.
  • Walking can be done indoors or out.
  • You don’t need expensive equipment—just a good pair of walking shoes.
  • It can be done with others or on your own.
  • You can take it with you wherever you go.

Getting Started

Before you begin any new fitness program, you should consult your physician. It’s also a good idea to make an appointment at our Long Beach office (call: 562-420-9800) for a podiatric checkup. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas will want to do a complete foot and ankle examination. If you have any chronic podiatric conditions such as bunions or plantar fasciitis, the foot doctor will want to evaluate how that condition has progressed and alert you to specific shoe features that will make walking safer and more comfortable. Once you’ve got the green light from your doctors, take the next steps:

  • Purchase a pair of good quality shoes designed specifically for walking. Shoes should have a firm heel counter, good arch support, thick, cushioned sole for excellent shock absorption and plenty of room in the toe box. It’s best to go to a sports shoe store and get the assistance of professional. Have your feet measured and let the salesperson know if the podiatrist has told you anything particular about your gait or pronation.
  • Make a plan. There are many walking programs available or you can just start on your own. What’s important is that you start off slowly and gradually build up your speed and the duration of your walking. Too much too soon can result in Achilles tendonitis and muscle strains.
  • Stay accountable. You may want to enlist a friend to walk with to help you both stay on track. If going it alone, try to commit to a certain number of times a week, and best, if it’s at specific times and days to ensure you stick to your plan. Put walking dates on your calendar.
  • Be sure to warm up and stretch before and after your walk. If you experience any pain or discomfort, contact us to get it checked out.
Thursday, 26 December 2019 13:26

6 Care Tips for Diabetic Patients

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care, we want all of our Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area patients to be vigilant about good foot care. For patients with diabetes, however, this is even a more critical concern. Diabetes, also known as hyperglycemia, is a condition where blood sugar levels are not normal. If not properly controlled, the immune system can be compromised and infections difficult to heal. For your feet, the added complications commonly associated with diabetes—neuropathy (loss of sensation) and poor circulation can mean disastrous and debilitating results. This leaves diabetic patients at increased risk for several conditions, including fungal infections, ingrown nails, calluses, hammertoes, corns, and skin problems. You can, however, prevent damage from diabetes by taking some extra care with your feet and avoiding potential problem scenarios. Here are six ways to ensure good foot health if you have diabetes:

  1. Schedule regular appointments with our podiatrists, Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas. The foot doctor will carefully monitor your feet for any changes that may signal an infection or ulcer forming. The podiatrist can also advise you on proper foot care and prescribe treatment for new or existing conditions.
  2. Develop a daily care regimen. Wash feet with warm—not hot—soapy water and dry thoroughly, particularly between your toes. While you clean your feet, look them over for signs of developing problems such as skin color changes, swelling, sores, cuts or blisters, bruises, and redness. Report anything suspicious to our Long Beach office immediately by calling: (562) 420-9800.
  3. Choose shoes wisely. Make sure they do not pinch or rub anywhere that can cause a Look for styles with a wide roomy toes box and soft leather uppers. Avoid high heels.
  4. Keep feet dry. Wear absorbent socks (with no seams or tight elastic bands) and change them as soon as you notice your feet feel damp. If your feet tend to sweat profusely, use an anti-fungal foot powder each morning to reduce the risk of athlete’s foot.
  5. Take care of toenails or let a professional handle. Nails should be trimmed straight across and not too short. File rough edges to prevent them from catching and tearing.
  6. Protect circulation by not smoking, changing position frequently and exercising regularly.

If you are diabetic and have more questions about how to best care for your feet, contact us today.

Wednesday, 18 December 2019 13:24

Give Your Feet the Gift of Good Shoes

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we are confident that if your feet could talk, they’d say all they want for Christmas is a pair of well-made, properly fitting shoes. Wearing shoes that are ill-fitting and of lesser quality can result in a host of ankle and foot problems and even injuries and foot deformities over time. Especially during the busy holiday season when you’re on your feet more than ever, it’s essential to have good shoes. Below are some tips on getting the best for your feet.

Start with a Checkup

If you haven’t been in a while or you have a progressive podiatric condition such as a bunion or flat feet, make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas will examine your feet and ankles and, depending on your disorder, may order x-rays or other imaging studies to see how your condition is progressing. The podiatrist can then make recommendations about shoe designs that will give you maximum comfort and minimize biomechanical issues spurring on your condition. If the podiatrist prescribes an orthotic device, you’ll want to take it with you when shoe shopping to make sure the footwear you choose can accommodate it.

Go to a Professional

Your feet are too important to leave shoe choice to chance and guesswork. Go to a reputable shoe store. There you should find knowledgeable staff who can measure your feet to ensure the correct size and also direct you to shoes that will best suit your feet and the activity you plan to use them for.

Shop for Quality

Some general characteristics of a good shoe or boot include:

  • Soft, breathable material for the uppers that allows toes to wiggle freely
  • Thick soles for shock absorption
  • A good, non-slip tread
  • Cushioned insole
  • Heel height of 2 inches or less—but not completely flat
  • Adequate support in the arch

Get a Good Fit

Shop at the end of the day—that’s when your feet are at their largest and most swollen. Always try on both shoes with the type of socks you would typically wear with them and take your time walking around the store to make sure they feel comfortable.

Follow these simple tips and we know that feet throughout the Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area will enjoy a holiday that’s merry and bright!

Tuesday, 10 December 2019 13:20

Does Your Child Need to See the Podiatrist?

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that our parents in the Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area, just like parents everywhere, may have difficulty discerning when their children have a foot problem versus average complaining, aches, and pains, etc. Good podiatric health starts at birth, and proper care of the feet is necessary throughout childhood to prevent foot and ankle problems in adulthood.

As They Grow

For infants, a tremendous amount of growth occurs in the feet during the first year. For this reason, feet should be unrestricted and free to stretch, move, and kick freely. Avoid excessively confining footwear for babies. As your child becomes a toddler, they will start to walk—when they are ready. Don’t force children to take steps prematurely. Don’t be alarmed if your toddler appears to be in-toeing or walking with another strange gait at first. Over time, most children grow into a normal walking pattern. The most important factors in preventive podiatric care for children are good hygiene and properly fitting shoes. You should check where your child’s foot is in their shoes frequently as little feet can grow quickly.

Spotting a Problem

So just how do you know if your child is experiencing a foot problem? Since children are not always able to accurately articulate a foot or ankle problem, parents sometimes have to become sleuths and look for clues that may indicate an issue. Some tip-offs to foot trouble include:

  • Walking on tiptoes
  • Frequently tripping or falling
  • Not wanting to engage in physical activities they have previously enjoyed
  • Lagging behind friends in backyard play
  • Complaining that their feet feel “tired”

If your child exhibits any of the above consistently or complains of foot or ankle pain, make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas will examine your child’s feet and determine if a podiatric problem exists and the best treatment.

Thursday, 05 December 2019 13:18

Got Gout?

It’s beginning to look a lot like gout season here in the Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area and we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center want to help our patients learn more about this condition and how to avoid it.

Gout is a form of arthritis—in fact, it is sometimes referred to as gouty arthritis. This condition occurs as the result of a buildup of uric acid in the body, which then crystallizes in the joints causing extreme pain, throbbing, burning and tenderness in a joint, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Uric acid is a byproduct of the breakdown of purines, a chemical that is found naturally in the body and in certain foods. Risk factors for developing gout include:

  • An inherited tendency for gout
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Chemotherapy
  • Recent surgery
  • Stress
  • Certain medication and vitamins

Although gout can strike men and women at any age, it is most commonly seen in men ages 40 to 60.

Why Now?

You may be wondering why gout is more prevalent during the holiday season. Two factors are at play here. First, the most frequent site of gout—your big toe—is under extra strain during the holiday season with all the errands to run, shopping to do and long hours spent standing in line or socializing. Second, gout attacks can be triggered by particular foods, many of which are part of traditional holiday fare. If you have suffered from gout in the past, you may want to avoid overindulging on red meat, shellfish, red wine, organ meats, beer, and rich sauces. Drinking plenty of water will also help your body naturally flush out excess uric acid.

Treatment Options

The bad news about gout is that if you’ve had it once, you’re likely to suffer future attacks. If you have a gout attack, contact our Long Beach office for an appointment by calling: (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas will examine your feet and may prescribe medication to deal with symptoms of gout. Other parts of your treatment plan will address prevention with medication and lifestyle choices.

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