Muscle spasms might seem like just a minor irritation, but they could be an indication of a larger issue going on in your feet or your body. Have you ever experienced a muscle spasm? A tight, painful contraction in your feet or toes that causes a great deal of pain, followed by muscle twitching and then pins and needles or a tingling feeling? Sometimes they can be just mildly annoying but sometimes they can be quite painful. Spasms clear out pretty quickly, and you can carry on with whatever you were doing, but if they occur often, they definitely need to be checked by a podiatrist.

What causes muscle spasms in your feet?

The name for muscle spasms in your feet and toes is carpopedal spasms and there are several things that could cause them. These include:

• Neuromuscular diseases
• Nerve damage
• Dehydration
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Electrolyte deficiencies

How can the cause be determined?

If you are experiencing carpopedal spasms repeatedly, your podiatrist will need to assess why. Dr. Adam Mucinskas will start by evaluating your medical background and lifestyle, and then conduct a comprehensive examination. He’ll look at your feet, ankles, and toes to find any underlying issues that might be causing the spasms. Once he determines the issue, he will move on to treatment.

How are spasms treated?

Muscle spasm treatment all depends on what is causing them. Some common treatments include:

• Prescription medication
• Electrical stimulation therapy
• Laser therapy
• Decompression surgery using nerve wraps
• Vitamin injections
• Calcium supplements

As always, these issues should only be evaluated and treated by a medical professional. Attempting to treat carpopedal spasms on your own can do more harm than good.

The causes and treatments for muscle spasms vary greatly. If you’re suffering from muscle spasms in your feet or toes, call your podiatrist. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you decode what is causing the spasms and get you on the road to relief. 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.

It starts as a mild irritation and escalates to an annoying sensation, but by the end of the day, itchy feet can drive you absolutely insane! Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know that itchy feet can actually be a symptom of a number of podiatric disorders. It could simply be dry skin (which in the medical community we call Xerosis) and could easily be remedied with a regular application of moisturizer throughout the day. If that’s not it though, it’s definitely time to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist to get to the bottom of that itch!

What’s causing itchy feet?

• Athlete’s foot – this fungal infection usually begins between the toes but can creep to cover your whole foot. It’s characterized by an itching and burning sensation but can also lead to blisters. To prevent contracting it, avoid being barefoot in public places such as pools or gym locker rooms. Your foot doctor might prescribe a fungal cream or – for aggressive cases – an oral medication.
• Allergic dermatitis – allergic reactions can cause your whole body to itch! Cosmetics, perfumes, personal hygiene products, adhesive materials, metals, fabrics, latex, foods, rubber, plants – practically anything can cause an itchy allergic reaction! Your skin might also experience a burning sensation and could form a rash or become flaky. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotic ointments or topical steroids and can recommend hypoallergenic skin products to avoid future breakouts.
• Irritant dermatitis – this comes with similar presentation and treatments as allergic dermatitis, only this is not caused by an allergen. Prolonged contact with an alkaline or acidic substance is the culprit in irritant dermatitis. Isolating the source and avoiding further exposure is necessary for both types of dermatitis.
• Psoriasis – psoriasis presents as skin irregularities but is actually an immune system disorder. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that causes new skin cells to emerge to the surface too quickly. It causes thick, flaky skin patches that become itchy and inflamed. These patches are often red, white, or grey. Topical creams and anti-inflammatory medications are often prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of psoriasis.

You’ll see that the same itchy symptoms can indicate a number of medical conditions, each coming with specific diagnosis and treatment. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you determine what is causing your itchy feet and assist with relief. 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.

In grade school, kids would always gather around the double-jointed child in class, who would twist and bend their joints to the bemusement and applause of their classmates. In the medical field, double-jointedness is called hypermobility and, while it might seem cool as a kid, as you grow and your body changes, hypermobility can greatly affect your feet and ankles.

What is hypermobility?

Hypermobility means that your joints over-flex beyond the normal range of motion. Aside from double-jointed, it’s often called loose or floppy joints.

What are the symptoms of hypermobility?

Often hypermobility in children goes unnoticed and is eventually grown out of as your joints naturally stiffen with age. In severe cases of hypermobility, children might complain of pain or difficulty walking for long periods. It is also one leading cause of flatfoot in children. If hypermobility continues into adulthood, it’s best to get it assessed, especially if you’re experiencing the following:

• Muscle fatigue
• Joint pain
• Poor coordination or balance
• Pain in the morning and at night
• Pain when participating in sports or long walks

What can it lead to?

When one of your joints is over-flexing, it causes the rest of your body to expend extra energy to keep you stable and strong. If you have hypermobility and are not maintaining strength in the rest of your body, you could end up dislocating a joint, causing a stress fracture or injuries to your tissues.

Can you treat hypermobility?

To avoid injury associated with hypermobility, you can work to strengthen the muscles that surround your double-jointed joints, straighten your posture, and try to correct the any “off” movements in your joints. Your podiatrist can help develop a treatment plan that works for your unique body and lifestyle.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can answer any questions you might have about hypermobility or any other foot or ankle issue you might be dealing with. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell Connecticut office, request one online or call us today at 860-632-5499.

Excess weight on a child means the excess weight that their feet have to support. Every time they walk, run, or jump, there is extra weight bearing down on their feet and ankles. Because of that, children who are obese are more likely to experience foot and ankle issues. As obesity rates rise in kids, so does the importance of the parents’ job of keeping their children healthy.

Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas wants you to know the specific foot issues that can come with childhood obesity:

• Joint pain: The joints in the ankles are strained by excess weight. There’s a heavier impact during running, jumping, or walking, which can cause joints to become painfully misaligned or even affect their growth patterns.
• Flatfoot: Excessive weight in the body will push downwards on the feet, occasionally causing the arches to flatten. This can pull the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon, which can lead to even more pain in the feet.
• Sever’s Disease: An inflammation of the heel’s growth plate is called Sever’s Disease. It can be quite painful and can eventually cause developmental foot issues if the growth plate becomes damaged or fractured.
• Overpronation: This can also be a side-effect of fallen arches from excess weight. Fallen arches can cause the child’s ankles to roll inwards to help stabilize the feet, which the body perceives as off-balance. This can put a strain on the ligaments surrounding the ankles.
• Blount’s Disease: Obesity can sometimes cause a child’s legs to bow out if their ankles develop incorrectly.

Many of the above issues can be treated but must be caught early for best results. Obesity is on the rise in our children. Not only can it lead to the above foot and ankle issues, but it can also lead to heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. Healthy foods and exercise can put your kid on a path towards a healthy lifestyle and a healthy body.

If you’re concerned about your child’s foot health, the professionals at Feet First Foot Care Specialists can answer any questions you might have. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell, Connecticut office, request one online, or call us today at 860-632-5499.