You put a lot of pressure and use on your feet throughout your life. The average person will walk approximately 100,000 miles in their lifetime so it’s no surprise that foot problems and pain occur in almost everyone.   As you grow older your feet begin to show the signs of overuse.  Although aging is inevitable, there are ways you can care for your aging feet in order to alleviate painful foot problems.  Problems can occur on your feet such as bunions, corns and calluses, fallen arches, tendonitis or plantar fasciitis.

Podiatrist Harvey Danciger strongly suggests incorporating these general foot care tips into your daily routine to meet the needs of your feet. They include:

• Check your feet daily. Don’t wait to pay attention to your feet until they begin to hurt. Spend a couple of minutes each day to look for cuts, sores, redness, swelling, or ingrown and infected toenails. Paying attention to your feet can help catch common problems before they develop into something more serious.
• Wash your feet daily. To prevent bacterial or fungal infection you should wash your feet with warm water thoroughly and pat dry - especially between your toes. Avoid soaking your feet for more than 10 minutes, as this may result in dry or cracked feet.
• Care for toenails and calluses regularly. Keep your toenails cut straight across and never shorter than the end of your toe. For calluses you should use a pumice stone gently while your feet are still wet.
• Keep your feet moisturized. Use lotion or oil on the top and bottoms of your feet if you experience dryness or cracked feet. Avoid applying lotion in between your toes to prevent possible infection.
• Wear the proper footwear. Foot problems can be created, or worsened, from shoes that don’t fit properly or don’t provide enough support. Invest in a proper form of shoe that fits your foot type.
• Wear the proper socks. Be sure to change your socks regularly to keep your feet dry. Avoid wearing socks with ridges or elastic at the tops, as they can irritate or restrict the circulation of blood flow to your feet.

If you notice abnormal foot occurrences, or are experiencing foot pain, contact our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Danciger today! Let us help you keep your feet healthy and fit regardless of your age!

An unbelievable 72 percent of Americans say they do not exercise because foot pain prevents them from doing so, according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). This finding, coupled with the fact that rates for obesity in the United States are skyrocketing, per the Centers for Disease Control, makes getting an appointment with a podiatrist and addressing foot pain critically important.

The study surveyed 1,000 US adults, ages 18 and older, to gain public opinion on attitudes toward foot health and foot care. Results showed that Americans do not take the care of their feet very seriously and view their feet as the least important body part in terms of their health and well-being. This is in distinct opposite to the finding that feet were the number one body part to experience pain, even more so than the teeth or skin. As foot pain can contribute to a variety of detrimental health events, including hip, knee and back pains, it is important that Americans seek the care of a podiatrist immediately if problems arise. Why is this so?

Podiatrists are physicians, surgeons and specialists who treat diseases, injuries and deformities of the foot and ankle. We deal with orthopedic, medical, dermatologic, and neurological problems of the feet and ankles. Podiatrists should be an active part in every patient's health care team. This is very essential, especially for those people who are experiencing frequent foot and ankle pain to seek care from a podiatrist.

It is critical that people examine their feet and pay attention to symptoms of pain, deformity, or changes in their feet and seek expert treatment for foot and ankle problems. A podiatrist can help get you back on your feet quickly so you are able to exercise, but we are also the first doctors to help find possible signs of diabetes, arthritis, nerve and circulatory disorders, which can all be detected in the feet. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the well being of each patient.

Golfers get pain more often in which foot?

Golf is a very popular sport here in the Coachella Valley. Golfers can put excessive stress to their feet during the swing, and over the course of 18 holes, can develop many different injuries. Most common types of injuries are metatarsalgia or pain in the ball of the foot, heel pain, tendonitis, and neuromas.

Neuromas most often occur in the opposite foot to which the person is swinging, i.e.: if swinging right handed, the neuromas is typically in the left foot. This is due to the excessive pressure and forces on that foot during the swing, and becomes more pronounced on longer shots. The symptoms can include burning, tingling, numbness and shooting pains into the toes, usually the third and fourth toes.

Ankle pain can also occur due to the extra motion noted at the rear foot ( heel) area during the golf swing, especially on the follow through. This occurs mostly on the opposite ankle of the swing. Repetitive stress causes the ligaments to become strained and painful. Sometimes the ankle can swell.

Tendonitis can also develop in golfer's feet. Many times the driver of a golf cart will develop tendonitis due to the brake pedal of the golf cart being made of two pieces. The golfer may complain of pain on the top of the foot, along the tendons. The bones are not painful.

Heel pain is another common complaint. Because of the excessive pronation of the feet during the golf swing, stress and pulling of the plantar fascia occurs. This repetition of pulling can cause heel pain in either foot. Over time, this becomes chronic and the pain increases.

So if pain during golf is getting you down, come see us for treatment to get you back on your feet quickly.