Are There Healthy Flip Flops ?

The summer is coming and the weather is definitely getting warmer. We have traded our sweaters and pants for shorts and tanks. We also have kicked off our sensible cold winter shoes and now need to

look for sensible summer sandals. But are there summer sandals that are good for you feet? YES.

In general,  the concern with flip flops is the lack of support. The flimsy rubber flip flops offer no arch support and result in overworking  of the muscles in the legs and feet. As a result the toes curl, the arch ligaments can be strained, or you can develop tendinitis around the ankle. In addition, the plantar fascia can be put under strain which can result in heel pain. Also, flip flops tend to be a flat rubber mat which can cause ankle sprains. The lack of a heel cup in a flip flop also allows the heel to move excessively and can allow the ankle to roll and  be more susceptible to a sprain. 

Newer sandals have been engineered to have built in arch support or custom orthotics, such as Sandalistas by Aetrex or Dr. Comfort flip flops. In general cork soles are better than most rubber soles. Look for solid straps or Velcro straps to hold your foot securely in the sandal.

For more information regarding healthy flip flops please watch this informative video from APMA.

Dr. "Sandie" Grulke
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Hakeem Nicks Foot Fracture

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks fractured his foot during OTAs today. He’ll undergo surgery on Friday to have a screw inserted into the broken bone. The team expects Nicks to be out 12 weeks. That timetable would have him back by mid-August. He’ll miss virtually all of training camp, but barring a setback, he should be able to get in some action in the preseason and be ready to roll for Week 1. There are 5 different types of 5th metatarsal fractures. The first type is called a Jones Fracture. Athletes will usually get these fixed because of the poor blood supply to the bone as it heals. 

These still can take a long time to heal and requires one to be in a cast  and non weight bearing.

http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/

Podiatrists can help lower back pain

Recently on the show "The Doctors" TM  a patient suffering from lower back pain was followed. She had attempted massages, strength training but her back pain persisted. She was examined on the show by a chiropractor who determined that in part her lower back pain was caused by her feet. He used a scanner showing areas of high pressure and weight distribution across both feet. Often, the feet are overlooked at the cause of ankle, knee, hip and lower back. However, your feet are your foundation of your body.

 In our office, we use a scanner similar to what is shown in the chiropractor's office. It allows us to visulaize both feet while standing naturally. You can determine with the scan where there are areas of high pressure, where the center of gravity is, the arch height, and size of your feet. We use the scanner with on a large number of patients from patients with sport injuries to diabetic patients. With the results from the scanner you can prescribe insoles or orthotics that will try to restore the arch, regain a normal center of gravity or redistrubute pressure through the foot.

In scans with a decreased arch height often means a flatfoot. With the foot collapsing the ankle rolls inward with the knee and hip follow the ankle. This results in more pressure being in the inside portion of the knee and hip and can result in knee, hip and lower back pain. High arched feet are associated with high insteps. In extreme cases these feet are rigid, limit shock absorption from having reduced ground contact area and can result in foot pain. On a scan that shows an area of high pressure can be as a result of corns, calluses, hammertoes, bunions, etc. The concern especially in the diabetic population is these high pressure areas can result in ulcerations.

The scanner has become an effective tool in our efforts to treat lower extremity pain. Often the feet are overlooked as a cause of back, hip and knee pain. Your feet are the foundation for the rest of your body. If there is some problem with the foundation other problems can result. If you are suffering from lower back pain, knee and hip pain consider that your feet may be the problem.

Dr. "Sandie" Grulke
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/