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Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
September 14, 2020
Category: community outreach

When it comes to falling, what you don’t know can seriously hurt you. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we are recognizing Falls Prevention Awareness Week by helping our senior Middlesex County patients by debunking some common myths surrounding falls.

“It won’t happen to me.” One in four patients age 65 and older falls each year. Falls are the number one cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. For those who recover, a fall may be the trigger for a move to a nursing home. It can also lead to debilitating fears that prevent people from living their best life and keeps them isolated.

“I will just stay home, and that will reduce my chances of falling.” Not so. Studies show that 50% of falls happen at home. But you can help change that by making some simple modifications. In the bathroom: add grab bars to the shower and around the toilet; non-slip strips in the tub. On the stairs: install a second handrail and increase lighting. Throughout the house: remove clutter on the floor, get rid of scatter rugs and cords that run across walking paths.

“My lifestyle is not connected to my fall risk.” There are several factors you control that can improve your chances of staying upright. Regular exercise, for example, improves flexibility and range of motion. Staying current with your eye exams to detect vision loss before it causes a fall and asking your pharmacist to monitor your medications to spot interactions that may cause dizziness are other ways to protect you from falling.

“I’ll wait a week or two and see if my foot pain goes away on its own.” Rarely does the foot (or other pain in your body) go away without treatment. Delaying getting discomfort in your feet or ankles evaluated increases your risk of falling. Don’t wait— make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will find the source of your foot pain and alleviate it before it results in a fall with potentially serious consequences.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
September 09, 2020

‘Quarantine 15’ is a real thing, and it is impacting children as well as adults. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want to recognize National Childhood Obesity Month and offer our Middlesex County families some tools to fight this dangerous weight gain trend.

Be Mindful—sitting on the couch with a bag of chips while your child watches their favorite television show is a classic non-mindful approach to eating. Eating while doing something else leads to consuming way more than a single serving. Be aware of when your child is eating and why. Help them avoid boredom eating. If you know they’ve had an appropriate amount of food and snacks for the day, redirect them to a more active pursuit like playing outside or taking a bike ride.

Pay Attention to Portions—know what your child’s daily calorie intake should be (if you’re unsure, check with the pediatrician). Help children use visual cues like the size of their fist, for example, to determine appropriate portion sizes. Check packages to find out what constitutes a serving and then take out that amount to eat and put the rest away.

Build a Better Plate—many children and parents are unaware of what a healthy dinner plate should look like. Start by filling half the plate with vegetables or salad. Then fill one remaining quarter with lean protein and the other with carbohydrates.

Encourage Physical Activity Daily—children should get at least one hour of exercise daily. It can take the form of a sport, an activity like hiking or rollerblading, or free play in the yard. Asking your child to help with more strenuous chores like raking leaves or turning over a garden is another way to burn more calories.

Children who are overweight are more likely to experience foot pain and problems. If your child is complaining of any podiatric discomfort, make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, will examine your child’s feet and ask questions about his or her lifestyle and habits. The foot doctor will diagnose the source of your child’s pain and suggest ways to improve podiatric and overall health.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
August 24, 2020
Category: fitness tips

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know the updates on the youth fall sports season are coming fast and furious and changing daily for our Middlesex County patients and their families. Most scenarios are looking at a shortened fall sports season. Whether your child’s team has made a plan or is still on hold, now is the time to start helping your child increase physical activity and begin conditioning at home.

Take it Slow—if your child has spent a large part of the summer playing video games with friends, or on their phone or tablet, the first step is just getting them up and moving more. For younger children, set limits on the amount of screen time available. If engaging in more physically active pursuits doesn’t come naturally for them, you can still subtly increase activity by parking further away from your destinations, asking them to run errands for you, and giving them some chores that require a little heavy breathing.

Check Your Gear—if your child is returning to a sport they’ve already been participating in, now’s a good time to check their equipment to see if they’ve outgrown any of it, or if it’s time to replace items due to wear and tear. The same goes for their shoes. The right shoes for the sport your child plays in can help increase comfort and performance and decrease the chances of a foot or ankle injury.

Call in the Coach—most coaches will be all too happy to advise you and your child on stretching and exercise routines that can be done at home and will help prepare them for the sports season ahead. Help your child make a training schedule and stick to it. Don’t allow them to skimp on the warmup or cool down to protect muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

It’s possible to avoid many sports injuries by being in good physical condition and gradually working your way up to elevated levels of fitness activities. If your child encounters any foot or ankle pain during the pre-season, or you have other concerns about their podiatric health, don’t hesitate to contact our Cromwell office for an appointment by calling: (860) 632-5499 to schedule an appointment with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas for an evaluation.   

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
August 18, 2020
Category: community outreach
Tags: back to school   foot health  

At Feet First Foot Specialists, we know that our Middlesex County families are anxious about what the new school year will bring with the COVID pandemic. Whether your children are going back to the classroom full-time, distance-learning, or some hybrid combination, there are steps you can take to reduce fears and help your children learn as much as possible in the current climate.

  • Do: try to maintain the back to school rituals your child is familiar with. It may include shopping for new clothes and shoes, which is valuable even if distance learning will be the order of the day. Just like adults who work from home, having a routine that involves getting out of your pajamas and dressed for the workday helps set a productive tone. If your child has developed any foot or ankle pain over the summer, make sure you contact our Cromwell office for an appointment with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, to have it evaluated. The foot doctor may have recommendations about shoes that will best address any podiatric issues your child is having.
  • Don’t: gloss over the changes children will be facing. It’s best to address concerns head-on. Will I have to wear a mask? Am I allowed to talk to my friends? Will there still be gym class? Will I get sick? These are just a few of the worries your child may have. Encourage them to ask questions and do your best to give truthful, reassuring answers.
  • Do: find opportunities for peer socialization. Sitting behind a screen can’t provide the necessary social interaction that is part of the education experience. If going into the classroom isn’t an option, try to arrange safe, in-person study opportunities, perhaps outdoors with masks and 6-foot distancing.
  • Do: make sure where ever learning is to take place your child is well-equipped with the supplies they need. For at-home learning, that may mean rearranging space to create a dedicated area for learning and upgrading internet and router capabilities.
  • Don’t: forget physical activity and fun. If traditional gym classes are not happening for your child, remember the recommended is still that they get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Schedule time for walks, bike rides, or sports as possible. Not only will this help keep your child in shape, but it will also give him or her a healthy outlet to blow off steam and help cope with the stress this new school year may bring.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s foot health, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here for you and your family.
860-632-5499, 162 West St Ste K, Cromwell, CT 06416.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
August 12, 2020
Category: Bunion
Tags: bunionette   toe condition  

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we find many patients are not familiar with tailor’s bunions, also called bunionettes. This type of bunion develops at the base of the little toe at the end of the fifth metatarsal head. It gets its name from what was once an occupational hazard for tailors. Long ago, tailors would sit cross-legged all day while doing their work. The constant rubbing of the outside of the little toe on the ground would result in a painful bump forming at the base of the toe. Although less common than traditional bunions, which manifest on the outside of the big toe, tailor’s bunions have similar symptoms, including pain, redness, and swelling at the site of the protrusion.

Getting Relief from Pain

Similar to regular bunions, tailor’s bunions cause considerable pain when they rub up against your shoes. While faulty foot structure may be the root cause of a tailor’s bunion, your shoes can play a big role in the progression of this condition. Choosing styles with a roomy, wide toe box, and avoiding high heels with pointy toe area is highly recommended. You may also want to use padding to help protect and cushion the bunionette. Over time, the constant friction from footwear may lead to secondary problems like corns.

If you believe you have a tailor’s bunion forming, it’s important you make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 and have it evaluated by our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. The foot doctor may also suggest other treatment options, such as:

  • Icing
  • Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Custom orthotics

If none of these treatments are successful in relieving the discomfort of a tailor’s bunion, the podiatrist may recommend surgery to correct the deformity. As with all progressive conditions, it’s best to examine your feet regularly and report significant changes to your foot doctor promptly.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416