Items filtered by date: July 2019

Wednesday, 31 July 2019 12:36

Beach Day or Bust?

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that many of our patients like to relax by spending a day at the beach. However, besides rain, nothing ruins a beach day faster than a foot or ankle injury. Below are some easy ways to avoid foot trouble and enjoy some fun in the surf and sand.

Watch out for Jellyfish—a dead jellyfish that has washed up on the shore through its tentacles can still sting you. If this happens, use gloves to protect your hands and gently remove the tentacles. Apply vinegar or baking soda to help the pain and swelling decrease.

Wear Flip Flops—this is one of the few times that you will hear us recommend flip-flops, but for a beach day, they can help your feet in several ways:

  1. Getting from the car to your beach blanket, they will prevent the soles of your feet from being burned by the hot asphalt or the sand that’s been baking in the sun.
  2. For walks on the beach, flip-flops can protect your feet from cuts from sharp shells and puncture wounds from debris hidden in the sand.
  3. When using the changing area or restroom, flip-flops will keep you from coming in contact with bacteria, viruses, and fungus that cause athlete’s foot, warts, and other

Re-Apply Sunscreen—a water-resistant sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher should be used on the tops and bottoms of your feet if you are laying out on the beach. To be effective in preventing sunburn, it needs to be reapplied every two hours, and after each time you take a dip in the ocean.

Bring Sneakers—if beach volleyball, Frisbee or other active games are part of your idea of fun at the shore pack sneakers in your beach bag. Wearing flip-flops or playing barefoot can increase your risk for an ankle sprain in the shifting sands.

Remember Your Water Bottle—drinking lots of water is not only essential for staying hydrated, it helps you avoid swelling of the ankles and feet which can be painful and make it difficult to fit into your shoes for the ride home.

If your beach day results in an injury, rash or other foot or ankle symptoms, make an appointment at our Long Beach office (562-420-9800) promptly so that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas can examine your feet and treat any podiatric problems.

Wednesday, 24 July 2019 12:33

Celebrating Youth Sports Safely

During July, we celebrate National Youth Sports Week. As many of our young patients begin to think about conditioning for fall sports, we at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center would like to share some information about how to protect your child’s feet and encourage safe sports participation.

Start Early

Participating in a sport has many benefits. It helps your child be physically fit and maintain a healthy weight and hopefully inspires them to develop a healthy lifestyle. While it may seem like the start of the school year is still far away, it takes time to get a body properly conditioned for a sport. If your child has spent the summer glued to their phone and video games, it’s essential that they get off the couch and start some regular physical activity. Check with your child’s coach to see if there are specific conditioning exercises that are recommended.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Before the start of a new sports season, it’s a good idea to get a checkup with one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas. You can call our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800 to schedule an appointment. The foot doctor can do a complete examination of your child’s feet and ankles and also follow up on any previous sports injuries. If there are chronic conditions such as weak ankles or Sever’s disease, the podiatrist can make recommendations for shoe designs and strategies to help reduce discomfort and risk for injury.

Check the Shoes

The most important piece of equipment for any sport is your shoes. Some tips to consider:

  • Buy shoes that are designed for the sport that your child is doing. Different sports require different types of movement for your feet, and today’s sports shoes are designed to accommodate the specific moves associated with a particular sport.
  • Get your child’s foot professionally measured. Even if your child has played the sport before, chances are they will have outgrown last season’s shoes.
  • Don’t buy big—yes, it’s frustrating how often kids shoes need to be replaced, but a snug fit prevents blisters and feet slipping around which, can result in ankle sprains and other injuries.

If you have additional questions about your child’s feet and sports, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Wednesday, 17 July 2019 12:30

Shoe Tips You Should Know

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas know that your shoes play a significant role in the health of your feet. Many common podiatric disorders can be caused or made significantly worse by wearing improper footwear. That’s why our podiatrists may ask you to bring the shoes you wear most often to our Long Beach office when you come for your appointment. If you have a chronic foot problem, talk to the foot doctor (contact us at 562-420-9800) about the best styles and brands of shoes for your particular condition. Below are some recommendations for choosing good shoes.

  • Start by getting your foot measured by a professional. Some studies estimate that as many as 9 out of 10 people are wearing shoes that are too small for them. Foot size can change as you age.
  • You should not be surprised if one of your feet measures larger than the other. This is true for most people. Always buy shoes that fit the bigger foot.
  • Shop for shoes at the end of the day—that’s when your foot is at its largest and most swollen.
  • Choose shoes with good arch support. This will help prevent heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Wearing shoes that are completely flat like flip-flops or ballet slippers greatly increases your risk of this condition.
  • Cushioned and molded footbeds not only feel more comfortable, they act as shock absorbers, reducing the impact of your foot hitting the ground with each step you take.
  • Wear the type of sock you will most likely use with the shoes you are buying. If the podiatrist has prescribed a custom orthotic, you also try it on with the shoes.
  • Always try on both shoes and spend some time walking around the store to check for comfort and fit.
  • Don’t buy shoes that pinch your feet or feel tight anywhere. There is no such thing as a “breaking in” period. Shoes should feel comfortable from the moment you leave the store.

Did you know that children have a higher incidence of fungal foot infections like athlete’s foot and toenail fungus than adults? The reason being that children are not as concerned with where they walk and keeping their feet clean. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we’d like to offer the following do’s and don’ts to parents to help prevent children from contracting a fungal foot infection.

Do: make sure your child has a pair of easy, slip-on shoes to wear at the lake, beach, pool, or any other public place that tends to see lots of water and bare feet. These are the types of places where fungal infections love to lurk, and they are transmitted by direct contact. Even a quick trip to the bathroom or the changing area can result in picking up an infection if feet are not covered.

Don’t: let your child sit in damp socks. If your child has been running around and their feet get sweaty, have them change their socks. A child whose feet tend to sweat excessively may benefit from a dusting of talcum powder each morning before putting on socks.

Don’t: allow your children to wear shoes without socks. Bacteria and fungi can grow in the shoes and combine with the sweat from your child’s feet to cause infection and foot odor. It’s also a good idea to alternate footwear so that shoes have a chance to air out in between wearing them.

Do: tell your child not to share flip-flops or other shoes, towels, socks, soap, or other items that touch another child’s foot.

Do: wash your child’s feet every day with warm water and soap. If you notice redness, dry skin, flaking or blisters, or if your child complains of itchy feet, 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 child’s feet and determine if a fungal infection is present.

Do you have plans to take a vacation this summer? At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we have seen too many patients happily making travel plans only to return a week later with a foot injury or other podiatric problem. Fortunately, many of these issues can be avoided if you take a few simple precautions. Below are five tips for ensuring safe travels for your feet and ankles.

  1. Take breaks. If your destination is more than an hour or two away, be sure to get up and walk around a bit and stretch periodically. In a plane or train, this is easy enough to do. If you are driving, plan to stop every couple of hours and get out of the car for a short walk.
  2. Wear compression stockings for long flights. These can prevent deep vein thrombosis and blood clots from forming in your legs by stimulating circulation and keeping the blood flowing to and from your extremities.
  3. Choose good travel shoes. Save the strappy sandals and flip-flops for your vacation site. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes traveling to and from your destination. Hauling luggage, running for flights and packing/unpacking requires good shoes.
  4. Check your children’s shoes before you go. Kids grow out of their shoes quickly. You don’t want your first “souvenir” shopping trip to be for new shoes for your child because the ones she has on your trip are too small and hurting her feet.
  5. Don’t forget to pack the foot care basics. Nail clippers, an emery board, moleskin, bandages, and antibiotic ointment can save the day when it comes to minor foot injuries and preventive care.

If you sustain a foot injury or experience acute pain in your toes, feet, or ankles while you’re away, seek medical attention promptly. Be sure to follow up with an appointment at our Long Beach office (562- 420-9800) when you return so that one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas can check your feet and make sure no further treatment is necessary.

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