Displaying items by tag: proper footwear

Each June we recognize Men’s Health Month and at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we think it’s a great opportunity to share with our Los Angeles County patients some tips for improving foot health for men.

One of the biggest differences in the way men and women approach health care, in general, is that women tend to be more proactive in taking care of health issues. Studies show that men are more likely to put off seeing a doctor until a problem is really bad. When it comes to your feet (and the rest of your body), detecting disorders in their earliest stages leads to quicker and more successful outcomes.

Here are some suggestions for keeping men’s feet healthier:

• Commit to basic foot care. No, it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It can be as simple as washing your feet daily with soap and water and always starting the day with clean socks and a dusting of foot powder to help keep feet dry. This will reduce the risk of fungal infections.
• Give your feet the once over weekly. Looking at your feet can help you spot changes that may indicate a developing problem. Did you know that your feet can help detect health concerns like high blood pressure and diabetes? Swelling, hair loss on your toes or feet, and discoloration of the skin are a few of the indicators that something bigger may be going on in your body. If you see anything unusual, contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800 office promptly for an appointment so that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas, can examine your feet and determine if there’s an issue.
• Buy good shoes. One of the biggest ways to keep your feet healthy is to wear good-quality shoes that fit properly. Get rid of shoes with worn-down soles, stretched-out heels, holes, or other signs of wear. Avoid shoes that are too tight in the toe box to help prevent ingrown toenails. Always wear athletic shoes designed for the sport or fitness activity you are doing.
• Protect feet on the job. If you are a construction worker or deal with harmful chemicals or toxic materials always wear protective footwear.
• Live a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep will all benefit your feet as well as the rest of your body.

If you have specific questions about a foot issue, don’t hesitate to contact us.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we know that many of our Los Angeles County patients welcome the summer season and the shoe wardrobe that accompanies it. While it’s always fun to wear fashionable footwear that suits the season our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas, always have the health and safety of your feet as a top priority. Below are some do’s and don’ts to consider when making summer shoe choices:

Do: contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800 to schedule an appointment with our podiatrists if you have a chronic foot condition and require specific shoe style recommendations.

Do: make sure all your summer shoes fit properly. Discard shoes that hurt your feet whenever you wear them. Get your feet professionally measured when buying new summer shoes.

Do: use flip flops around the town pool, at the beach and other public places where there are lots of bare feet. This will help prevent common fungal infections like athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. Don’t use these shoes as your daily summer footwear choice, however, unless you buy upgraded versions that feature arch support and more structure to prevent injuries.

Don’t: forget to apply sunscreen to your feet when wearing sandals and other open styles that expose the skin on your feet.

Do: consider wedge-style heels over spikes for greater stability and reduced risk of ankle sprains.

Do: alternate the heel heights on the shoes you wear to prevent repetitive strain on your Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Avoid heels that are over two inches.

Don’t: wear flats for heavy walking days. While they may feel comfortable initially, the lack of an arch will ultimately lead to heel pain and discomfort.

Don’t: wear flip-flops for beach volleyball or sandals for hiking. Always choose the right shoe for the activity you are doing.

Do: wear socks with your sneakers to prevent blisters and absorb sweat. Change your socks as soon as you notice they feel damp. Fungal infections thrive in moist, dark places.

Do: keep moleskin with you to apply to any spot on your foot that feels like it might be forming a blister.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we know that our Los Angeles County patients have suffered through the pandemic shutdowns. One of the most affected are our young patients. As restrictions ease, children are overjoyed to be able to get back to sports, but parents need to be vigilant about potential foot problems. After an especially long period of inactivity, young feet are more likely to experience foot pain and are vulnerable to some common podiatric disorders. Here’s how parents can help:

Update Sports Shoe

The single biggest factor in podiatric health, even in young children, is shoe choice. With fast-growing feet, chances are your child will need new athletic shoes for the sport they plan to participate in. Shop for shoes that are designed specifically to accommodate their chosen sport. Basketball sneakers, for example, offer extra ankle support while running shoes have more cushioning to absorb the stress of repetitive pounding. Fit is just as important as style. Be sure to:

• Have both of your children’s feet professionally measured
• Shop for shoes at the end of the day after children have been active—that’s when their feet will be at their largest
• Bring or have your child wear the socks he or she will use with their athletic shoes to ensure a more accurate fit
• Try on both shoes and have your child walk around the store long enough to determine they are comfortable

Look for Signs of Foot Pain

In many instances, young children are not able to articulate foot pain. However, parents may notice unusual behaviors that can signal hurting feet. These include:

• Lack of interest in sports or fitness activities they previously enjoyed
• Lagging behind peers in casual backyard play
• Complaints that feet feel “tired”
• Limping, walking on tip toe or other strange gaits

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms or complains of foot pain, make an appointment at our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas, will examine your child’s feet and get to the source of foot pain so that they can be properly treated and back in the game in no time.

Feet are often taken for granted and not given much attention, but in April we celebrate National Foot Health Awareness Month. At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we want to take this opportunity to share with our Los Angeles county patients some simple steps you can take to protect the health of your feet and avoid many common podiatric disorders.

• Inspect your feet regularly. When is the last time you really looked at your feet? Changes in skin color or the condition of your toenails, unexplained bruising, lumps, and cuts that don’t heal are all potential signs of a foot problem. Many deformities like bunions and hammertoes also occur gradually. The majority of podiatric disorders can be more easily and better treated in their early stages. If you spot anything concerning, contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800 and make an appointment with our podiatrists, Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas, so that they can examine your feet and determine if there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
• Make smart shoe choices. One of the most important determining factors for the health of your feet is what you put on them. Proper fit is essential. Don’t wear shoes that feel tight or squeeze your toes together. Look for styles with roomy toe boxes, good arch support, and a firm fit around the heel. Avoid spending too much time in heels over two inches high.
• Practice good hygiene. Wash feet daily. Dust with anti-fungal or talcum powder if your feet tend to sweat excessively and moisturize at night with a good moisturizer.
• Engage in a healthy lifestyle. We sometimes forget that what we do with the rest of our body most definitely impacts the health of our feet. High cholesterol, for example, can lead to poor circulation which diminishes the ability of oxygen and nutrients needed for healing to reach your feet in a timely manner. Eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and exercising regularly will all benefit your feet as well.

If you have questions about how to best take care of your feet and ankles, contact us today.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we want all of our Douglas Park/Los Angeles County area patients to have the healthiest feet possible. Often, small changes can make a huge impact on the condition of your feet. Below are some simple ways you can improve your podiatric health and reduce the risk of common foot disorders.

• Be mindful of changes in your feet. Inspecting your feet regularly will help you spot anything unusual or different about your feet, and that is important in detecting problems in their earliest stages. Unexplained bruising, swelling, changes in skin color or temperature, growths, and toes that look like they are moving out of place should all be brought to the prompt attention of our podiatrists, Victoria M. Foley and Dr. Constance Ornelas.
• Keep them clean. Simply washing your feet every day with soap and water will go a long way toward preventing infections. Be sure to dry your feet completely before putting on socks, paying special attention to the spaces between your toes. Accumulating moisture there can create a breeding ground for athlete’s foot.
• Choose your shoes wisely. To prevent a whole host of foot disorders such as bunions, Haglund’s deformity, and plantar fasciitis, wear shoes that are well-designed and fit properly. As many as 9 out of 10 people are wearing shoes that are too small for them! Get your feet professionally measured. Invest in quality shoes with good arch support and cushioned insoles.
• Keep your feet covered, especially in public places. It is the single biggest way to prevent fungal infections and warts, which are spread by direct contact.
• Take care of the toenails. Trim toenails straight across and not so short that the skin on the sides can overlap the nail and cause an ingrown toenail. Always file nails straight across and get rid of rough or jagged nails promptly.

Good foot care isn’t hard or time-consuming, and your feet will reward you with many years of active life. If you have questions or concerns about any aspect of podiatric care, don’t hesitate to contact our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know that fashion boots are popular among our patients. Although this type of footwear can be a stylish accessory to your fall clothes, they need to be designed with the health of your foot in mind and also fit properly, just like any shoes you buy. Below are some tips to remember when purchasing new boots or evaluating the ones currently in your closet.

• Take foot disorders into consideration. If you have a chronic podiatric problem such as weak ankles or plantar fasciitis, you’ll need to choose boots that will accommodate your condition. If you haven’t been to our Long Beach office recently, it may be a good idea to make an appointment with our podiatrists, Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas to have your condition checked. The foot doctor monitors the progression of any chronic foot condition and can also make recommendations for footwear styles that will be best for your individual feet.
• Choose styles with roomy toe boxes. Pointy boots, just like pointy shoes, cram your toes together exacerbating and speeding the progression of toe deformities like hammertoe. Toes that spend too much time pushed up against one another are also more likely to develop ingrown toenails.
• Exercise heel smarts. The heel on your boot will impact stability and comfort. Don’t exceed two inches in heel height. Wide heels will help you avoid slips and ankle twisting injuries. The heel cup should fit snugly and ideally will have some cushioning to help absorb shock.
• Get support. Many patients wonder why their heels hurt at the end of boot season. It’s because many fashion boots contain little or no arch support. When your arch goes flat, it puts excess strain on the ligament on the bottom of your foot and can cause plantar fasciitis which leads to heel pain.
• Have your foot professionally measured. If one foot is larger than the other, buy to accommodate the bigger foot. Always try on both boots and walk around for several minutes to determine if they fit comfortably. Shopping at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen is likely to result in boots that will be comfortable all day.

If you have specific questions about your feet Superior Foot & Ankle Care can help with any foot conditions you may have in the Long Beach office in Douglas Park CA, contact us.