Official Blog of Dr. Peter F. Gregory and his Foot Health Team
If you’re over 65 years old, it’s essential you take the right steps to treat your feet right. Senior citizens who take care of their feet prevent injuries, falls, and complications from diseases like diabetes. Follow these tips put together by The Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. to properly care for your feet:
Step out in the right shoes. Proper footwear helps prevent falls by helping keep you balanced. Always wear the shoe around the store for a bit to ensure proper fit. Shoes that are too tight, rub on the heels, or slide around can cause blisters and painful sores – especially avoid improperly fitting shoes if you have diabetes or neuropathy.
Show your feet some attention. As you age, your muscle tissues thin and your nerves might not work as effectively, often leading to loss of feeling in your feet, known as neuropathy. Check the soles of your feet and between your toes daily for cuts, blisters, sores, or any noticeable change. It’s especially important to be diligent if you have diabetes.
Trim your toenails right. Trim your toenails straight across and no shorter than the tip of your toe to prevent ingrown toenails. If you have trouble trimming your own toes, schedule a visit with your podiatrist for a medical pedicure or nail trimming.
Increase blood flow to your feet. Senior citizens might have decreased blood flow to their feet and extremities. You can ensure proper blood flow by adding stretches to your daily activity, wiggling your toes when sitting for extended periods and massaging your feet regularly. If you smoke, quitting now can help your blood circulation as well.
Don’t let your feet dry out. It’s important to keep your feet well-moisturized to prevent them from cracking. Use mild soap when you wash and apply a nice dollop of lotion after you step out of the shower. However, make sure you change your socks regularly and don’t let your feet get too damp before putting on shoes.
Visit your podiatrist. We can help discuss foot care with you no matter what step of life you’re in. If you need help planning senior foot care, give us a call! You can also schedule an appointment Our skilled podiatrist, Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. keeps up with the latest trends in foot health.
Dealing with plantar fasciitis sometimes can be a bit of a trial. Fortunately, we have come up with a few clever tips for coping with plantar fasciitis.
Stretch Before You Step
There is nothing more painful than those first waking steps. To ease the pain of getting out of bed, stretch your calf before even putting your foot on the floor. This can easily be done with a towel or even your pillowcase. With your leg straight and the towel around your foot, gently stretch. Once you can feel the muscles begin to pull in the lower leg, do not stretch any further. Hold the stretch for half of minute and repeat a few times. This will help to loosen the muscles and make that first step out of bed a less painful experience.
Tennis Anyone?
If you do not have anyone that is willing to sit around and massage the bottom of your foot, a tennis ball is a good alternative. By rolling a tennis ball underneath your foot, it will cause the plantar fascia to loosen. This should be done for only a few minutes at a time. You want to apply enough pressure to the ball that you get the sensation of a deep massage, but not so hard that it is causing pain. The ligament is less likely to get irritated when it is loose.
More Calf Stretches
Keeping the lower leg muscles stretched out is the key to recovery. There are many calf stretches that will help aid you in the process. One such stretch is the downward dog position in yoga. Try to hold the position for a few minutes to allow the stretch to work. If yoga is not for you, try placing your toes on a step and allow the heels to drop below the height of the step. Remember the point is to stretch out the muscles not to cause yourself more pain.
Ice It
At the end of the day, icing your foot may be just what is needed. Freeze a bottle of water and roll it with your foot. Rolling the frozen bottle of water for ten minutes will be enough to keep the inflammation in check. If the ice is too cold for your foot, consider wearing a sock.
*Remember that these are just tips. Consult the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. before taking this medical matter of the foot into your own hands.
We at the Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. help patients overcome foot issues daily. Many common foot ailments that can be a breeze to treat for some people can cause a huge pain in the foot for diabetic patients. If you have diabetes, here are a few common issues to look out for:
Foot Ulcers -- Ulcers are cracks or sores that go deep into the skin of your foot. For someone with diabetes, an ulcer can start out as a mild blister from a shoe rubbing on your toes or a small cut on your foot. Untreated ulcers can grow to become serious infections, which can need surgery.
Blisters -- For diabetic patients, blisters can become a serious concern. If left untreated, they can lead to a nasty infection. If you notice a blister forming on your foot, call your podiatrist, and never pop it open.
Neuropathy -- High levels of glucose in your body can leave the nerves in your extremities damaged, leading to a lack of sensation in your feet. This doesn’t directly cause pain, but can make it difficult to notice a blister, wound, or crack on your foot. These blemishes can be serious if left untreated.
Fungal Nails -- Circulation issues and diabetes often go hand-in-hand. This makes fungal nails more difficult to treat and potentially more problematic. If topical solutions don’t rid your toenails of fungus, your podiatrist can help prescribe a regimen of oral medication.
Athlete’s Foot -- Dry skin associated with diabetes can leave your skin more prone to bacteria. Even tiny cracks can make athlete’s foot difficult to treat for a diabetic patient. Chat with your podiatrist for a solid solution to stop this infection.
Dr. Peter Gregory is well-versed in diabetic foot care. If you are diabetic and dealing with any of the above foot ailments, or suffering from any other issues, call our office today at 734-522-7676. We can help.
Feet need support. Feet without proper support are prone to serious physical problems. So for those who have experienced problems related to their feet, hips, knees, and even around their lower back, there are several solutions that can help.
One such solution is foot orthotics for extra support. Podiatrists and other medical professionals have long recommended wearing foot orthotics as a solution to foot and back problems.
For those interested in learning more about foot orthotics, here are several tips on choosing and wearing orthotics for foot support.
- For patients who already wear foot orthotics, don't try to fix what isn't broken. If your orthotic works for you and you don't have foot pain, ask your foot doctor for a design similar to what you are accustomed to.
- Foot orthotics must be broken in over a short period of time. Remember that fact when you first get them. You must wear your orthotics for a short time at first, gradually working up to regular wear. Try an hour or so a day and increase the time from there.
- Talk to your podiatrist about your choice of footwear before receiving foot orthotics. Working with your doctor on design and implementation for each type of shoe that you have will ensure that you have support in each pair that you own.
- Avoid vigorous and strenuous physical activity for a period of time after you receive your orthotics. Athletic shoes with orthotics also require a wearing in time so that your foot can adapt to the new and more beneficial posture.
- If you experience any type of pain or discomfort, like arching feet or blisters, during the wearing in time period, talk to your podiatrist about finding a solution.
Foot orthotics are a wonderful solution for people with feet, leg, and back pain. If you think you might benefit from orthotic inserts, talk to The Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. today at 734-522-7676.
One of the most important purchases on any parent’s shopping list should be a pair of proper fitting shoes for their child. The Foot Health Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. would like to share several important factors that parents should consider while back to school shopping:
· Children’s Feet Change with Age. Shoe and sock sizes may change
every few months as a child’s feet grow.
· Shoes That Don’t Fit Properly Can Aggravate the Feet. Always
measure the child's feet before buying shoes, and watch for signs
of irritation.
· Never Hand Down Footwear. Just because a shoe size fits one child
comfortably doesn’t mean it will fit another the same way. Also,
sharing shoes can spread fungi like athlete's foot and nail fungus.
· Examine the Heels. Children may wear through the heels of their shoes
quicker than outgrowing shoes themselves. Uneven heel wear can
indicate a foot problem that should be checked by a podiatrist.
· Take Your Child Shoe Shopping. Every shoe fits differently. Letting a
child have a say in the shoe buying process promotes healthy foot
habits down the road.
· Always Buy for the Larger Foot. Feet are seldom precisely the same
size.
· Buy Shoes That Do Not Need a “Break-In” Period. Shoes should be
comfortable immediately. Also make sure to have your child try on
shoes with socks or tights, if that’s how they'll be worn.
· Consider Closed Toe Shoes. Covering the child’s toes allows for more
protection.
Do Your Child's Shoes "Make The Grade?"
· Look For a Stiff Heel. Press on both sides of the heel counter. It
shouldn’t collapse.
· Check Toe Flexibility. The shoe should bend with your child’s toes. It
shouldn't be too stiff or bend too much in the toe box area.
· Select a Shoe With a Rigid Middle. Does your shoe twist? Your shoe
should never twist in the middle.
· Are the shoes secure on the foot? Laces or Velcro are best to hold the
foot in place.
If your child is experiencing foot pain or you have other concerns, please make an appointment today by calling 734-522-7676
Your feet tell a story...We are here to listen!
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