Podiatry

With the fall weather comes football season – and unfortunately, with football season comes injury. Whether you find yourself at your local football field to cheer on your own football star, cheering on your high school team from the stands, watching the Buckeyes take the field on Saturdays or the Bengals or Browns on Sundays, chances are you’ll hear the expression “turf toe” at one time or another this season. The expression turf toe might lead one to believe that the injury is a minor ailment limited only to those wearing football helmets and jerseys; however, this is not the case. Turf toe often plagues dancers as well, and can actually impact anyone in the right circumstances as it is an injury to the soft tissue around the big toe joint that occurs when the toe is extended beyond its normal range of motion. Turf toe isn’t a simple injury that pulls a player out of a game or a dancer out of a single performance. It can leave athletes sidelined for weeks in extreme pain. The good ...

If you have orthotics or are considering purchasing them, you may want to consider the following tips to ensure that you are getting the most for your money and doing the best thing for your feet. First, keep in mind that orthotics are not just for wearing with one particular type of shoe – they can be worn with athletic shoes, dress shoes, work boots, snow shoes – pretty much all types of shoes that have a back to them and provide some support at the base of the shoe.   When going shoe shopping, be sure to bring your orthotics with you and wear them when trying on new shoes. You want to be sure that the shoe will work with the orthotic while providing comfort and the right kind of support for your foot. Likewise, you want to be sure that the orthotic will work with the shoe you have in mind. Also, you will want to have the same shoes or stockings that you plan to wear with the shoes you purchase so that you can see how they work with your orthotics and your shoes. Make sure the...

A new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism reveals that 8.3 million Americans suffer from the incapacitating condition of gout – up from 6.1 million Americans 20 years ago. Gout is caused by high uric acid levels in the bloodstream, causing crystals that precipitate in joints of the foot. Gout pain typically affects the joint of the big toe. (This is true in just about 75% of cases.) As uric acid levels increase, so does the likelihood of gout pain. Gout pain typically manifests in episodes – called gout attacks or gout flares. During a gout attack or gout flare, a person feels an extreme amount of pain and experiences severe swelling and redness in the big toe. A gout attack or gout flare can last just hours or days, but over time they can last longer, occur with greater frequency, or even become more painful. These attacks or flares may occur only at certain times of the year. Typically they start during the night without warning. Patients sometimes complain th...

Are you taking a walk down the aisle anytime soon? Invited to a wedding where you plan to dance all night? Make sure you say “I do” to wearing appropriate foot wear for the occasion – and your feet will thank you. If you are the one making the trip down the aisle, don’t make your shoes your ‘something new’ for the day. Take some time to break in new shoes prior to your wedding day. Wear them around for the length of time you would be wearing them on that particular day to put them to the comfort test (and acclimate your feet to them). If they are not comfortable enough to wear for as long as you would want them to, you may want to consider getting two pairs – one fancier pair to make it through the ceremony and formal photos, and another more comfortable pair to kick up your heels in at your reception. Flip flops tend to be a popular reception shoe, but most do not provide much in terms of support. And if you are wearing a long gown, flip flops might prove a tripping hazard. Also, if...

Women are 4 times as likely to have foot problems than men. The likely culprit? High heels and other types of shoes that do not provide adequate support! It is important to wear shoes with support built in. If you must wear high heels, go for those with a lower heel or change into high heels from more comfortable, supporive shoes when at work.

by Allen C. Guehl, DPM A recent survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medicine Association, found that 72 percent of those surveyed indicated that they do not exercise because foot pain prevented them from doing so. The survey also found that respondents viewed their feet as the least important part of the body in terms of health and well-being, but the number one body part to experience pain. For those of us who practice podiatric medicine, this information is disheartening. We know we can provide relief for many of those people complaining of foot pain. We know the critical importance of the feet to overall health and well being. We know that foot pain is not normal and may be an early indication of a number of health problems including diabetes, arthritis, and nerve and circulatory disorders. With obesity rates across the U.S. on the rise, and foot pain – especially heel pain which is very common in the Dayton area – identified as a deterrent to exercise for many Americans, it ...

The average person takes about 18,000 steps a day! Just think of how many steps that would mean a person would take in a year – not to mention a lifetime! In a year, the average person would take 6.5 million steps. That’s a lot of work for your feet!

Your feet contain 25% of the bones in the entire human body. That’s a lot of little bones, so it is no wonder that they are subject to stress fractures especially considering the weight they carry on a daily basis.

You would think after walking the aisles of your local drugstore that many of your foot ailments could be solved by picking up product off the shelves without having to set – well, foot – in a podiatrist’s office. In reality, while some of these products may work to solve your problem, others may cause other issues for you. Here’s a run down of what to try and what to toss in terms of drugstore foot care remedies for the following ailments: Blisters. These ailments can often be handled at home without the help of a podiatrist. Make sure that if the blister pops, you cover it with a sterile dressing or Band-Aid and monitor it to make sure it is healing properly. Ingrown Nails. Drugstore remedies can often do more harm than good with ingrown nails. Doing it yourself may put you at risk for infection. Schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists to avoid the possibility of infection and have the nail removed. Letting a professional handle this problem may help you get rid of the...

Many companies who specialize in products for the feet are trying to cash in on the trend towards those fashionable, and occasionally painful, high heel shoes. If you wear high heels, which according to the American Podiatric Medical Association are about 90% of women, and have experienced some foot pain, you may have spent some time in the foot care aisle at your local grocery or pharmacy. They are marketing insoles made specifically for high heel wearers that claim, “guaranteed relief of foot aches and pains” or “all day comfort.” So, did those claims stand up to the test? Consumer Reports says no. In a report just published this month, consumer reports noted that of the 14 women who tried these insoles made specifically for high heels, none of the wearers reported a relief in their foot pain. A couple wearers said that the shoes were a little more comfortable, but the insoles were not worth the money. Local podiatrist, Dr. Allen Guehl, says that much of the foot pain that he sees ...

Buyers beware – the trendy Ugg brand sheepskin boots and their generic counterparts may be hurting your feet! While they may look soft and cuddly, studies have shown that the slipping and sliding going on inside the boots combined with the limited arch support they provide is putting unnecessary strain on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. The makers of Ugg boots maintain that their boots provide more support than the knockoff variety, but many experts see no real difference between the two. If you want to continue to wear the popular boot, Dr. Allen Guehl, a Dayton-area podiatrist recommends that you do so sparingly and when you aren’t going to be doing a lot of activity. They aren’t the type of boots you want to be wearing if you are walking or standing all day. You may also want to add supportive insoles to help cushion your feet and provide more support, which can be custom made orthotics fitted for you in our office, or over-the-counter drugstore insoles.

As the summer gets hotter and school is back in session, our feet are relied on for many things: walking, running, most importantly sports! That's right, it is the beginning of sports season, baseball is in full swing, football is beginning, and track will soon be here and gone. As sports begin so dones school, all the book bags, and back aches will soon return. During these hectic times there is a great solution to save your poor, painful feet. JM Orthotics have come out with an exclusive product to help with different foot problems. JM Orthotics offers a full line of custom molded orthotics to save your feet during these hectic times. Benefits of these orthotics: Reduces heel and arch pain. Reduces back and all over pain. Increases stamina and relieves pressure of feet. JM Orthotics are heat molded to fit your feet right in the office. There is no wait like with other brands. JM Orthotics are lighter yet more durable than other more expensive brands. JM Orthotics offers many prod...

Watching tv early Sunday morning, I saw an infomercial for the orthotics with the interchangeable heel piece so each person can adjust their insert to their foot. Later on, I saw a similar ad for a hi-tech computer force plate that you simply stand on in a pharmacy, and a computer will tell you what number insert you should buy for your feet from their store. The bottom line is, “what will make my feet feel better?” For the person seeking relief from foot pain for the first time, I do not discourage trying one of these alternatives to traditional orthotics from your podiatrist. It is human nature to try the easy route before finally breaking down, months after the onset of pain when it becomes unbearable to work even for a few hours, and schedule an appointment to see a foot doctor. Sometimes, the problem is simple and can be relieved for a while by a plastic insert that you can buy from a pharmacy shelf. Other times, the right decision is to schedule an appointment with a trained...