Blog - Foot Doctor, Chambersburg and McConnellsburg, PA

While the summer months were great for keeping the feet free in open air, it is necessary to take the appropriate measures to prep feet and give them that everyday foot care for the fall season. Before shoving your feet into a pair of boots this season, make sure to rid of cracked heels and keep them moisturized. Make sure your nails are trimmed and clean; if they appear to be unnatural or you just don’t want to take care of that ingrown toenail, make sure to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist for the best care.

Every day foot care is important no matter what season we are in. For more information about everyday foot care, consult with Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctorwill provide you with the foot- and ankle information you seek.

Every Day Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. After all, without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks. It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before, for example.

For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops.

Also, wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg and Mcconnellsburg, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle injuries.

Read more about Everyday Foot Care

While barefoot running can do wonders for your body, maintaining proper form is essential in preventing injury during this high intensity activity. Since you are not wearing shoes during a barefoot run, the strain on the Achilles tendon and calves are more extreme and the impact can be nearly seven times harder on the foot if you strike with the heels. Transitioning into barefoot running too quickly can result in problems such as plantar fasciitis. This, along with studies suggesting that barefoot running can deform the heels, can all be prevented with proper form and other changes. Learning how to land mid-foot can help reduce the tension on the heels. In order to change your foot strike, try quieting the sound of your feet on the treadmill by straightening your posture and shortening your stride. For marathon runners, try to switch it up by landing forefoot as a training aid. It is important to avoid overdoing the practice for the sake of your foot health.

Barefoot running has its own share of benefits and disadvantages. To learn more about this trend, consider speaking to Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor will explain the facts of barefoot running and help you decide if it’s a practice you’d like to take up.

Barefoot Running

The Impact of Barefoot Running
-Running without shoes changes the motion of your running, as most running is done by landing on the heel of the feet.
-Running barefoot requires a different way of running; the landing is done on the front part of the feet.

The Advantages of Barefoot Running
-When running and landing on the front feet, the impact on the feet and ankle is reduced, this can reduce stress injuries.
-It strengthens muscles in the feet and ankles and the lower legs.
-Balance of the body is improved and there is a greater sensory input from the feet to the rest of the body.

The Drawbacks of Barefoot Running
-No protection while running, makes it likely that runners will land on sharp objects and scrapes, bruises and cuts on the feet will result.
-Blisters may form.
-Possibility of plantar fascia problems.
-Risk of getting Achilles tendonitis.

So what can runners do to make barefoot running safe? It’s best to make a slow transition from running shoes to barefoot running. Once the feet begin to adjust, try walking, then jogging and gradually increasing the distance. Minimalist running shoes may also be an option.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices located in Chambersburg and Mcconnellsburg, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Barefoot Running

Chance Warmack of the Tennessee Titans and his big toes are feeling better prepared for their next game since having an ingrown toenail removed. During a preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, Warmack played through the pain and immediately went to see the doctor the next day to remedy the situation. The doctor removed the ingrown nail from both big toes with Warmack describing it as “toe meat.” Since then the guard has started to take better care of his feet and toenails stating, “I just have to soak it and take care of it... When I am not practicing it hurts.”

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. To learn more, consult with Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor will provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg and Mcconnellsburg, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about Ingrown Toenails

In the past couple of years, the running shoe market has skyrocketed with nearly thirty-five legitimate running shoe models currently for sale in the United States this year. Experts claim this may be occurring because we live in a fitness conscious society where there is high appeal for running shoes. Since running has become a more accessible form of exercise more people than ever before are interested in purchasing the proper shoe for their foot type.

The right running shoe is essentially different for every person. If you have any concerns feel free to contact Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Choosing the Right Running Shoes for Your Foot Type

Running is a physical activity although fun, can put a lot of stress on the joints, bones and ligaments of the body. Injury and stress on the foot can be an important factor on which kind of shoe you’re wearing. Running shoes should be worn based on your foot type. It is important to find out what fits you based on cushioning, stability and motion.

Determining your type

Speak with a shoe specialist or retail professional to see what your foot type is. They will be able to identify and measure your arch type, stride and gait.

Running Mechanics

When you are running or walking in your shoes, every step determines how your foot is landing. Pronation is the natural rolling of your ankle from outside to inside during foot strike.

Pronation is a correct form of walking or running. It helps absorb shock and store energy from your lower extremities. Neutral runners who pronate correctly do not need specific shoes, since they have stability and control.

Over-pronators

Those who run with excessive ankle rolling. Over-pronators tend to have ankles that angle inward, flat feet, and or bowed legs. This can cause a series of injuries: of the knees, ankles and Achilles tendons.

Under-pronation

Under-pronation is less common than over-pronation. This usually happens to those who have inflexible feet and high arches. Even though there is less rotational stress on the ankles and knees, it prevents any kind of shock absorptions. Under-pronation needs shoes with increase in cushion and flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg and Mcconnellsburg, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about choosing the right running shoe