Your choices in footwear are important no matter what your lifestyle is like. For our patients with diabetes, choosing the right shoes is especially important. Diabetes can lead to numerous foot complications that can send a patient to the hospital, or even make amputation a necessity. One of the most common conditions that those with diabetes deal with is peripheral neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage that can cause tingling, burning, and numbness in the toes and feet. It can also dampen feeling for wetness, cold, and injuries, which creates a high-risk situation for diabetic patients whose feet already have the potential to heal slowly. It is imperative that patients with diabetes – and especially those dealing with peripheral neuropathy – choose the right shoes to prevent any further complications or discomfort.

For people who have good foot health, including all sensation in their feet and control over their blood glucose, it might not seem necessary to purchase special shoes. However, for our patients who have significant nerve damage or are prone to dangerous ulcers, it is important to shop for shoes made custom to your condition. These shoes made specifically for diabetic patients dealing with peripheral neuropathy:

• Provide extra cushioning and support
• Include a wider toe box to avoid aggravating any present issues like bunions or hammertoes
• Are made with flexible materials
• Can be used in tandem with custom orthotics
• Have more shock absorption than regular shoes

A solid pair of supportive shoes can really make the difference between walking around comfortably and ending up needing an amputation from a complication. Shoes that rub or slip could cause a blister that could eventually turn into a dangerous ulcer. For someone with diabetes, an ulcer on the foot spells trouble with a capital T. For patients with peripheral neuropathy, it is necessary to be on top of foot care and regular podiatric checkups to maintain foot health.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you make decisions on what shoes you should wear. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you maintain a good relationship with your podiatrist. We feature innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.

We’re right smack in the middle of baseball season. If you’ve been practicing your homerun swing this year, you know it can take a lot out of you! Though it might not seem as dangerous as a contact sport like tackle football, if you’ve ever twisted your ankle diving for a ball or suffered a stress fracture rounding the bases, you know how your body can take a beating. There are many common foot injuries associated with America’s pastime. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we’ve compiled some of the common ones, along with great ways to prevent them.

The most common injuries in baseball:

• Sprains and fractures: quick sprints, slides, and pivots are a huge part of baseball. After you get a solid slug, you want to round the bases as quickly as possible to avoid getting tagged out. These herky-jerky movements can often lead to overstretching a tendon or ligament or fracturing a bone.
• Achilles tendinitis: brief sprints followed by pauses repeatedly can shock your Achilles tendon and cause it to become inflamed.
• Plantar fasciitis: catchers are in a squatting position for long stretches of a baseball game, often causing their arches to hurt. Heel spurs can also occur from prolonged plantar fasciitis.
• Ingrown toenails: tight cleats that squeeze your toes together can cause ingrown toenails.

Prevention is key for all sports injuries. To keep yourself in the game, follow these tips:

• Practice good warmup and cooldown techniques before and after playing
• Get the right gear and ensure your baseball cleats are a proper fit
• Learn good running and sliding techniques and always keep them in practice
• Rest when you need to and let your body recover between playing
• Stay hydrated
• Keep up with podiatry appointments, especially if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort

A sprain or slight injury might not seem like a big deal when you’re in the heat of the game, but without proper treatment, it can worsen and potentially lead to a chronic foot issue. If your safety practices have waned throughout the baseball season, now might be a great time to reassess them to ensure your feet and ankles stay safe and healthy.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help assess your foot and ankle health and ensure your season continues well. If you have sustained an injury this year, Dr. Mucinskas can assess and administer any needed pain relief. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 48% of Americans over age 18 suffer from some pain in the musculoskeletal system. That’s nearly half of the adults in this country walking around with pain in bones or muscles!

Pain management is something we talk to patients about here often at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC. It’s no surprise when you look at the foot too! In each of your feet, there are 28 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles. It’s might seem like a tall order to keep all those moving parts healthy, but it just takes a few steps.

We’ve put together the following simple tips to keep your bones and joints healthy and pain-free:

• Try weight-bearing exercises like lifting weights, jogging, kickboxing, or power walking. Low-impact exercises like swimming can also keep your muscles and joints active.
• Wear the right gear. Getting the right shoes and protective gear for whatever activity you’re taking on is necessary to keep your body safe.
• Don’t overdo it. Pain is your body’s way of telling you: “Cut it out!” Pushing past pain, or trying to “walk it off” could result in further injury.
• Get the proper minerals. Vitamin D and calcium work in tandem to keep your bones healthy. Calcium can be easily attained from dark leafy greens, dairy, and some nuts. Vitamin D helps your bones absorb that necessary calcium, and can be obtained by soaking up the sun or through a vitamin supplement.

Not taking care of your body can have painful recourses. Here are some of the medical conditions that can arise in your foot’s musculoskeletal system.

• Arthritis – chronic pain in the joints is usually because of arthritis. Common forms of this are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Maintaining healthy joints can help slow the onset of arthritis in some cases.
• Osteoporosis – osteoporosis makes your bones brittle and weak, which can easily cause fractures. Calcium and vitamin D in the right amounts can help prevent this disease.
• Gout – if you have high levels of uric acid in your body, it could cause a sudden painful inflammation of the joints in your big toe. This condition is often caused by eating too many foods high in a substance called purines.

If you are suffering from pain in your joints, muscles, or any other part of your feet or ankles, it’s time to make an appointment with us. Dr. Adam Mucinskas offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment at his office here in Cromwell, CT. Request an appointment online or call us at (860) 632-5499.

Your toes are pretty amazing. Check them out! They cooperate together to help your body balance – if you were missing just one toe, you’d have to relearn how to do most activities. Can you imagine trying to dance without your big toe? It would be tough! That’s not to say that people don’t master those skills if they are missing a toe for whatever reason. Occasionally toes must be amputated because of injuries, infections, or diabetic complications. In those cases, a podiatrist can often build a custom orthotic to assist in “replacing” the lost toes.

Your toes are important and it’s important to take care of them. Check out some of the things that could happen if you don’t take proper care:

• Bunions and Bunionettes – Painful bony protrusions can form on the outside of your feet. If they form on your big toe, they’re called a bunion. If they form on the base of your pinky toe, they are a bunionette. Either way, they hurt! They are often caused by shoes that are too tight, although genetics plays a role in their forming as well.
• Hammertoe – Poorly fitting shoes can also lead to hammertoes. This deformity occurs on the second, third, or fourth toe. The middle joint of the toe is bent up, resembling a hammer.
• Corns – Thickened patches of skin caused by rubbing or pressure from a shoe are called corns. Because of the unnatural positioning of the toe, hammertoe can often lead to corns.
• Claw Toe – A claw toe is a similar deformity to hammertoe, but your toes bend in a different direction and the causes can be different. Claw toe is often caused by nerve issues associated with diabetes or alcoholism.
• Athlete’s foot – If you’ve ever had that itchy, scaly, red skin between your toes, you know how uncomfortable athlete’s foot can be! Easily prevent this by keeping your feet clean and dry. Always wear shoes in public places like pools, gyms, or locker rooms.
• Toenail fungus – Nails infected with fungus are discolored, brittle, and easily broken. The fungus can rise up and crack the nail bed. Toenail fungus can be very tough to treat and requires a podiatry visit immediately.
• Ingrown toenails – Trimming your toenails correctly and wearing properly-fitting shoes are some of the best ways to prevent ingrown toenails. A proper trim is straight across and not too close to the nail bed.

Most of these toe issues can be prevented with a little extra vigilance and care for your toes. If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort, or have noticed any changes in the skin or nail quality on your toes, we can help. Dr. Adam Mucinskas stays abreast of the latest technologies and treatments in podiatric medicine and can help get you on the path to healthy toes, feet, and ankles. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell, CT office, request one online or call us today at 860-632-5499.

As our bodies head into our golden years, things sometimes don’t operate the way they used to: padding in our joints wear down causing arthritis, wounds don’t heal as quickly, and sometimes our balance begins to wane. As we age, keeping your balance is incredibly important. Every year, one out of three people over 65 are injured in a fall. At that age, a fall can lead to debilitating injuries or hospitalization. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we have some great tips and exercises you can do that can improve your balance.

You can do these exercises anywhere and anytime, so it’s easy to incorporate them into your daily routine:

1. Swing your legs: Stand on one foot, picking the other leg up about 5 inches off the ground and swinging it forward and backward. Start slowly and place your foot down for balance if necessary.
2. Stretch your toes: Standing on your tip-toes engages your core. Lift your heels up and stretch your arms to the side. Turn your palms up and pulse your arms about an inch forward and backward. Do this about 25 times, repeating with your palms facing forward and backward as well.
3. Stand on one foot: Make sure you’re on a stable surface and try standing on one foot for 30 seconds. Repeat this exercise four times with each foot. Make sure that you have something to hold onto nearby just in case you wobble!
4. Be a clock: Stand on one leg and place one hand down. Direct your other arm straight up like a clock pointing to 12 o’clock. Rotate it clockwise to 3, 6, 9, and back to 12 o’clock. Switch legs and arms and repeat. If you’ve got a workout buddy, have them call out random times and move your arm to that time!
5. Walk in a straight line: Put your arms out to the side and take 20 heel-to-toe steps forward. Try to go backward for an extra challenge!

Try some squats: Plant your feet hip-width apart and stretch your arms forward. Slowly lower your hips as if there’s an invisible chair behind you. Squat as far down as you can go and hold for 30 seconds. You can try this against a wall for a little extra security too.

Completing these exercises regularly will increase your balance, which can also help up your strength, stability, and confidence. If you’ve had a fall already, or if you’re noticing your balance beginning to waver, it’s important to consult with your podiatrist. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help assess your foot and ankle health and suggest ways to improve ankle stability. We offer a full line of custom orthotics that can help provide stability to keep you on your feet. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.