Your feet work very hard your whole life! They get you where you need to go and back, and sometimes take a lot of abuse while doing so! It’s important to know the changes that will come to your feet as you age. Knowing this will help you know what to do to keep your feet in shape to avoid complications. Even with proper exercise and exquisite care, you might still develop one or more of the following issues in your golden years:

Arthritis – Your feet have more than 30 joints. Everyday use can cause any of these joints in your feet and ankles to become painfully inflamed with arthritis. It’s typically your big toe that is affected, which can exacerbate deformities like bunions or hammertoes.

Loss of balance – As you age, your balance and coordination can waver. Diabetes can also be a contributing factor to balance difficulties and falls. Custom-made orthotics can help correct issues, minimize falls, and provide stability.

Swelling – The natural hormonal shifts that come with advanced age can cause your feet to swell. Certain medications and peripheral artery disease can make edemas appear or worsen as well.

Skin issues – Lesions and moles naturally occur on aging skin. These spots are often harmless, but if you notice a change in color or size or any other abnormality, it should always be seen by your foot doctor. As we age, our collagen levels deplete, which can make your feet drier than they were in your youth as well.

Lasting abrasions – Diabetes, vein diseases, and other ailments are more common with old age. These conditions can slow down blood flow to your feet and can make abrasions, cuts, or blisters harder to heal.

Changes in our bodies are as natural as the aging process. Taking care of our bodies – especially our feet – can help mitigate some of the lasting effects of time, and seemingly slow the aging process down. One way to ensure good foot health that will last until your golden years is to have your feet and ankles evaluated by your podiatrist.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help recommend best practices to help your feet age gracefully. If you’re a patient with diabetes looking for a professional, friendly foot doctor, give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

Patients with diabetes are often at a higher risk for foot complications due to loss of feeling from nerve damage. When someone with diabetes gets a cut or blister on their foot, an ulcer can form which can often lead to infection. If that foot infection is left untreated, amputation might be the next step. Amputation is actually the number one reason for hospitalization for people with diabetes – even more common than high blood glucose episodes and circulatory ailments.

Proper foot care is key to avoiding amputation for patients with diabetes. Here are some great ways to reduce your risk:

Inspect your feet daily. Incorporate a daily foot check into your routine. Check for cuts, punctures, or bruises – especially on the soles of your feet. Don’t forget between your toes!

Wear the right stuff. Make sure your shoes fit right. Prescription shoes and orthotics are often made for patients with diabetes. Always keep your socks clean and dry. If you’re able to, switch to a fresh pair in the middle of the day. Never walk around barefoot.

Trim your nails right. Cut your toenails straight across to avoid painful, troublesome ingrown toenails.

Eat right. Follow your doctor’s prescribed regimen to keep your blood glucose low.

Quit smoking. Smoking reduces your blood circulation. This can make any nerve issues you already have even worse. Your doctor can give you great tips for quitting.

Regular podiatry appointments are a great proactive way to reduce diabetic foot complications. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help treat wounds or ulcers, recommend proper footwear, assess nerve damage, or discuss more tips to reduce the risk of amputation. If you’re a patient with diabetes looking for a professional friendly foot doctor, give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Bunions are a very common bone deformity of the joint on the outside of your big toe. It is estimated that 33 percent of the Western population suffers from bunions. When your toe moves out of place, the joint enlarges, causing the toe to protrude inward. This protrusion often interferes with your other toes, causing issues such as hammertoe or Hallux Valgus. Not only can bunions lead to these other issues, but they themselves can be very painful if left untreated. Here are some common causes of bunions:

1. Ill-fitting shoes. Shoes that are too tight are the number one cause of bunions. High heels are also a culprit in causing bunions, as they often change the natural shape of the feet and squish together the toes.
2. Your family line. Bunions are not hereditary themselves, but the build of your feet is. If you know that your parents suffer from bunions, you should take precautions to avoid getting them yourself.
3. Foot injuries. Jamming your toe out of place, acutely or repeatedly over time, can contribute to the formation of a bunion.
4. Arthritis. Arthritis can set in in your toe joints, which can accelerate the potential to form a bunion. If you have arthritis, watch out for early signs of bunions.

Bunions are deformities in the bone which cannot resolve themselves and need medical treatment. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we work to treat bunions twofold: relieve the pressure and pain, and stop the growth. If you’re looking for relief from your painful bunion, or if you are noticing the first signs of one, schedule an appointment today. Dr. Adam Mucinskas is board certified and keeps up with all the latest trends in podiatry and foot health. 

Does your wife make a face every time you slip your shoes off after exercising? Can you smell your teenager’s shoes from across the hall even from behind a closet door? Foot odor is a common issue that has many causes and, thankfully, many solid solutions. Here are some common causes and fixes for foot odor:

Sweaty feet. Your feet have an astounding 250,000 sweat glands. Sweat causes odor by mixing with naturally occurring bacteria on your skin and in your shoes.

Suffocated feet. Hard nylon or plastic shoes can contain the sweat and bacteria inside, causing a nasty aroma blast when you remove them at the end of the day. Try some air-circulating materials like canvas or mesh.

The perpetual sock-wearer. Never wear your socks more than one day without washing them. Mix up the shoes you wear too, changing every few days at least. If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks once or twice during the day.

Wicking socks. Speaking of socks, make sure yours are the right material. Wicking socks, typically made from synthetic blends or from acrylic fibers, can get rid of the sweat from your 250,000 sweat glands. Thick cotton or wool socks are great for the winter but can trap in moisture and cause your feet to stink.

Not wearing socks. If you’re wearing a closed-toe shoe, socks are a must. They help absorb the sweat that would just be swimming around in a shoe.

Wash your feet. Rinse your feet well, ensuring you clean the soles and between the toes. After bathing, make sure you dry all areas well.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we’re not afraid of a little foot odor! If you feel like you’ve tried everything and you can’t get rid of the smell, it might be time to give us a call. Dr. Adam Mucinskas can see you at our conveniently located office in Cromwell, Connecticut area.

How’s your bracket doing this March Madness? Have your winning teams inspired you to hit the court and shoot some hoops? Basketball is a great way to keep your body active and healthy, but without taking the proper precautionary steps, it can also be a dangerous sport! Repeated running and jumping on a court can put a lot of stress on your feet and ankles, causing great injury and putting you on the sideline for weeks.

Here are some common sports injuries associated with basketball and how to avoid them:

• Ankle Sprains

Ankle Sprains are quite common in basketball. A sprain happens when your foot rolls or bends unnaturally and stretches or even tears one or more ligament. You’ll know your ankle is sprained if it’s very painful to walk on and if there’s swelling or bruising.

Treatment: Ankle sprains need a lot of rest, plus ice to reduce the swelling. Bandages may also be used to hold the ankle in place while it heals. A serious injury might require surgery.

Prevention: Stretching is a must before the big game. Making sure your body is limber and ready to go is necessary. Well-fitting shoes made for basketball are also good for prevention.

• Plantar Fasciitis

The repeated stress from landing on your feet can cause stress on your heels, often leading to injuries like plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs, occurs when the plantar fascia, the ligament connecting your heel to the front of the foot, becomes inflamed. This inflammation is accompanied by pain when you walk.

Treatment: Plantar fasciitis is often treated conservatively with rest, ice, stretching, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication (please talk to your physician before taking medication). In recurring, persistent cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) is used for treatment.

Prevention: Calf stretches before hitting the court can be helpful for preventing plantar fasciitis. Orthotic inserts can also cushion the blow of hard jumps.

• Achilles tendonitis

Your Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body and can withstand forces of over 1,000 pounds. It is also one of the most vulnerable to rupturing. Achilles tendonitis occurs in professional and casual athletes from overuse and inflammation of the tendon. Achilles tendonitis comes with pain after exercise, mild swelling, tenderness about an inch above the Achilles, or sluggishness in your leg.

Treatment: Constrictive bandages are used to limit motion of the tendon. Rest and low impact exercises, such as swimming, are encouraged. Orthotics can also help ease the pain quite a bit.

Prevention: You might be noticing a trend here, but stretching is a necessity to prevent Achilles tendonitis. Also, knowing your limits and knowing when to take a rest are both important.