At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center a condition that we frequently see in both experienced athlete’s and “weekend warriors” is Achilles tendonitis. The Achilles tendon, also known as the heel cord, is a band of tissue that runs down the back of your lower leg, connecting your calf muscle to your heel bone. Although it is the strongest tendon in the body, it is also one of the most frequently injured. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, known as Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury which is caused by putting too much stress on the tendon too abruptly. If left untreated, the ongoing stress to the tendon prevents the body from repairing the injured tissue and the result is a continued pain. Below are some strategies for avoiding this common podiatric disorder:

1. Slow and steady wins the race. And, it helps prevent Achilles tendonitis, too. If you have been inactive for a period of time and wish to resume or start a new exercise program, begin slowly. Gradually increase the length and intensity of your activity.
2. Don’t choose pain before gain. Even experienced athletes can experience Achilles distress if they decide to significantly increase the difficulty of their workout. Running hills and stair climbing puts particular strain on the Achilles tendon and should not be suddenly increased.
3. Stretch it out. One of the best ways for anyone to head off an Achilles tendon problem is by stretching. Exercises that specifically help to stretch and strengthen your calf muscles will help avoid tendonitis.
4. Get some support. Patients with flat feet have a higher risk for Achilles tendonitis because as the arch flattens it increases the strain on the Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Be sure the shoes you wear (both on and off the field) have adequate arch support. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley, and Dr. Constance Omelas may suggest a custom orthotic device to wear in your shoes for added support.

If you are experiencing soreness, aching or stiffness anywhere along your Achilles tendon, contact our Long Beach office (562-420-9800) to get it evaluated.

World Arthritis Day takes place in October and here at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we’d like to take this opportunity to explore the relationship between food and joint health. Overall, we know that maintaining an appropriate weight greatly reduces the strain on your joints (and the rest of your feet), lowering your risk for arthritis and other foot problems. Below are some foods to choose or stay away from if you suffer from arthritis or other joint conditions:

Eat These:

Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. These include salmon, sardines, tuna, anchovies, scallops and other cold-water fish. Omega 3’s have inflammation-fighting properties and research has shown that people who consume the highest amounts of them have the lowest levels of two inflammatory proteins in their bodies. If you can’t stand fish, take a fish oil supplement. A recent study found that 600-1,000 mg per day could ease joint swelling and pain and reduce the duration of morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Fruits and Vegetables. Eating a rainbow of produce will give you many nutrients and antioxidants. Among the heavy hitters for reducing inflammation are: citrus fruits, red and purple fruits such as blueberries, strawberries and cherries and dark greens like spinach, kale and broccoli.

Good oils. Of course, all oil should be used in moderation but 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil a day can help reduce joint pain because it contains a compound that has properties similar to that of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications. Other “good oils” include safflower and avocado oil and also walnut oil which is high in omega 3’s.

Skip These:

Sugar. Foods with processed sugars (cakes, cookies, candy bars, sodas and fruit juices) release messengers called cytokines that actually create an inflammatory response in the body. Read labels because sugar has many names. Anything ending in “ose” is usually a sugar.

Saturated and Trans Fats. These trigger fat tissue inflammation which not only worsens arthritis but is an indicator of heart disease too.

Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG). Although most often found in prepared Asian foods and soy sauce, MSG is also added to many fast foods, soup mixes, salad dressings and deli meats. MSG opens 2 pathways to chronic inflammation.

Food is just one way to help control arthritis. If you are experiencing pain, stiffness and/or swelling of the joints in your feet and ankles, contact our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Omelas will examine your feet and help develop a plan to best deal with your joint issues.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we treat many conditions that are made worse by the patient being overweight. The risk and severity of arthritis in the feet and ankles, metatarsalgia and flat feet, for example, are all increased by obesity. In addition, being obese increases the risk for diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which also have serious health consequences for your feet. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Studies have shown that obese children tend to continue to be obese as adults. For that reason, it’s important to foster healthy lifestyle habits during childhood. Below are some do’s and don’ts to help your child maintain a healthy weight:

Do: strive to have your child spend at least 60 minutes a day being physically active. Encourage them to participate in a wide variety of activities to be sure they get exercise that is aerobic, muscle and bone strengthening. Not all activities have to be organized. Just playing in the yard children are likely to run, jump and climb which will give them all the types of exercise they need.

Don’t: force your child to be active if they complain of foot or ankle pain. If you suspect a podiatric problem is sidelining your child from being physically active, contact our Long Beach office (562-420-9800) for an appointment. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas will examine your child’s feet to determine if there is an injury or other disorder that is causing them pain.

Don’t: allow unlimited amounts of time spent in front of a screen. If your child has full-time access to cell phone, television, computer and video games they are less likely to engage in physical activities.

Do: make changes in your family’s eating habits. Increase the number of fruits and vegetables in your menus, replace sugary drinks with water and have healthy snacks readily available. Involve your children in menu planning and grocery shopping and teach them how to make good food choices.

Do: set a regular bedtime for your child or teen that allows them to get enough sleep. Depending on your child’s age, they may need between 8 and 12 hours of sleep per night. Studies show that lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity.

Approximately 1 in 5 children today are obese. Working together, families and communities can help greatly reduce this number with lifestyle choices that will make for healthier children and, ultimately, healthier adults.

You may think you know about athlete’s foot—at least how to recognize it. A red rash that’s dry and flaky and itches and burns like crazy are the telltale signs. However, at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we know there’s more to know about this disorder than how it feels. Below are some important facts about this skin condition:

FACT: Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection. There are many different types of fungi that cause athlete’s foot. It’s necessary for our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas to examine your feet and determine the fungus responsible for the outbreak in order to prescribe the correct medicine.

FACT: Athlete’s foot is easily spread to other parts of the body. Fungal toenails and jock itch, for example, can develop when you touch a spot on your feet that has athlete’s foot and then touch someplace else on your body. Athlete’s foot is also extremely contagious to other people.

FACT: Fungi love moist, warm, dark places. Gym locker rooms, the cement around the town pool, public showers, nail salons and the insides of closed-in shoes are all prime spots for fungi to grow.

FACT: You can greatly reduce the risk of getting athlete’s foot if you keep your feet covered when walking in public places and avoid sharing soap, towels, footwear, nail clippers and any other items that touch another person’s foot.

FACT: Personal care habits can also decrease your risk of athlete’s foot. You should wash your feet every day and dry them completely. Using a talcum foot powder on your feet before putting your socks on can help keep feet dry.

FACT: Your footwear choice is important if you are prone to athlete’s foot. Look for socks designed to specifically take moisture away from your feet. Change your socks during the day when you notice that your feet feel moist. Choose shoes that allow air to circulate and feet to breath.

Good podiatric care can help eliminate your chances of getting athlete’s foot. If you have a chronic fungal foot infection problem, contact our Long Beach office (562) 420-9800) to learn ways to get permanent relief.