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

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Posts for category: bone health

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists
May 10, 2021
Category: bone health

Did you know estimates are one in two women and one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis? At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we want to let our Middlesex County patients know that May is National Osteoporosis Month and an excellent time to focus on the importance of bone strength for your feet (and the rest of your body). Approximately 25% of all the bones in your body are in your feet. And those bones are responsible for carrying the entire weight of the body as you walk, run and accomplish all your daily tasks.

Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can help you develop a plan to improve and maintain strong bones. The first step is knowing your risk for osteoporosis. Many people mistakenly assume weak bones and fractures occur naturally over time, but this is untrue. Certain factors can predispose you to this disease. These risk factors fall into two categories:

Risk Factors You Can’t Control:

 

  • Age: being over 50
  • Gender: females have a higher risk than males
  • Menopause
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  • Body type: low body weight, small thin build at greater risk
  • Height loss
  • Previous bone fractures

Risk Factors You Can Control:

  • Inadequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your diet
  • Too much protein, sodium, and caffeine consumption
  • Diet lacks fruits and vegetables
  • Smoking
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Losing too much weight
  • Excessive alcohol use

The doctor will go over all your risk factors and may recommend a bone density test if appropriate. This painless test can help assess the current health of your bones.

Building Stronger Bones

Fortunately, there are many ways you can improve bone strength at any age. These include: eating more calcium-rich foods or taking supplements to get the amounts you need, regularly engaging in weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, improving balance, and not smoking.

If you have questions about bone health and your feet, don’t hesitate to Contact our Cromwell office by calling 860-632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 18, 2020
Category: bone health

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know most of our Middlesex County patients have been fixated on the COVID-19 pandemic and with good reason. However, there are other health concerns as well that should not be neglected. One of these is developing and maintaining strong bones. This is especially critical when it comes to your feet and ankles. After all, they’re the ones that are responsible for holding up your entire body! May is National Osteoporosis Month, and we’d like to share 5 ways you can avoid osteoporosis.

  1. Know your risk—there are several factors that increase your risk for developing osteoporosis including:
  • Family history of the disease
  • Sex—women are more likely than men to suffer bone density loss
  • Body type—small-boned, thin people are at higher risk
  • Having other medical conditions or treatments including certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, some autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and nervous system disorders
  • Certain medications

If you have concerns, particularly if you have broken a foot or ankle bone in the past and are over the age of 50, discuss your questions with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas. You can contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499.

  1. Get sufficient amounts of calcium, and vitamin D. Dairy products are the natural first choice, but if you don’t do dairy, leafy greens are also rich in the mineral. There are also supplements you can take if you don’t get enough of these nutrients through your food.
  2. Exercise regularly. You can increase bone strength with both weight-bearing activities (walking, dancing, tennis, etc.) and muscle-strengthening exercises.
  3. Improve your balance. Taking a tai chi or other exercise classes that focus on balance and decluttering your home are ways to help prevent bone breaks by preventing the falls that cause them.
  4. Live a healthy lifestyle. Not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, and increasing the number of fruits and vegetables you eat will all have a positive impact on bone health too.

If you have additional concerns about the health of your bones and your feet, contact us, (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 29, 2019
Category: bone health

Did you know that nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body are found in your feet? While many of them may be tiny, they all play a critical role in carrying your body where you want to go and performing everyday activities. In recognition of National Osteoporosis Awareness Month, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists want to offer patients information about this crippling disorder that affects bone strength.

Recognizing Bone Density Problems

About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis. Unfortunately, you can’t feel your bones getting weaker and many patients don’t get diagnosed with this condition until they break a bone. That’s one more reason why it’s important to not put off getting foot pain diagnosed. Stress fractures may only exhibit annoying pain and swelling that’s not constant. Anytime you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, it’s critical that you make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your foot and determine if a fracture has occurred.

Assessing Your Risk

The foot doctor will also get a complete medical history from you and can help identify other risk factors for osteoporosis. In addition to being over the age of 50, these include:

  • Excessive or extreme dieting in the past
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  • Certain diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, breast or prostate cancer, sickle cell or Parkinson’s disease to name a few
  • Being very thin and having a small body type
  • Post-menopausal
  • Some medications, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, steroids, lithium, thyroid hormones and a few anti-seizure medications

Making Choices for Healthy Bones

Fortunately, there are many ways you can build stronger bones:

  • Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Although milk and dairy products are the best- known sources, you can get calcium from other foods like canned fish, leafy greens and seeds. You can also try foods and beverages that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and/or take a supplement to reach the desired daily intake.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Exercise regularly. Giving your bones a regular workout keeps them strong. Choose muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing types of activities.
  • Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.

If you have concerns about bone strength or are experiencing foot pain, contact us today.

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