Have you been struggling with seemingly random cramps in your feet? They happen at different times of the day during different activities, so you can’t quite figure out what’s causing them! It’s frustrating and painful: they happen right when you wake up, or when you’re working out, or just strolling down the street – what is causing these painful foot cramps!?

Unfortunately, there isn’t just one specific cause of cramps in your feet; there are numerous things that can cause your feet to cramp up. Here are a few of the things that could be causing the cramps:

• Dehydration – If you haven’t had enough water to drink for the day, you could suffer cramps. It’s especially important to stay hydrated when you know you’re going to be sweating. Hard workouts, hot days, etc., can all add to dehydration. Balance any potentially dehydrating drinks, such as coffee, with a cup of water.
• Electrolytes –  Foot cramps can be a sign of low electrolytes. Electrolyte-enhanced water, coconut water, and potassium-rich snacks like bananas all contain a good amount of electrolytes. Try munching a banana next time your foot cramps up!
• Overworking your feet – Anyone can suffer a foot cramp. If you’re reeling from a hard workout, or if you’re on your feet all day, it can only take one slight movement from an exhausted foot to push it too far and into a cramp. Stretching before a workout, or when you know you’re going to be on your feet for long periods of time, can help keep your muscles limber.
• Poor circulation – If your feet cramp when you walk, it could indicate diabetes or neuropathy issues, which can cause poor circulation. Poor circulation can cut the proper nutrients off from your extremities and make your feet cramp. Comfortable shoes for your lifestyle can help with these types of cramps. Custom orthotics are also available in these instances.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you decide what is causing any foot cramps and assist with relief moving forward. 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.

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.