Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we hear a lot of misinformation about the field of podiatry. We put together a few myths that we commonly hear from patients that we wanted to clear up.

Set the record straight:

Myth: My podiatrist would not want to hear about the pain in my knees, calves, or ankles.

Fact: Your podiatrist needs to hear about the pain you’re having anywhere in your lower extremities. This will help them assess exactly what might be going on. Foot pain is often caused by a dysfunction anywhere from the knees to other parts of your lower leg. If you have pain in your calves, for instance, this can be a sign of an issue with your Achilles tendon such as Achilles tendonitis.

Myth: For “minor” issues like warts or ingrown toenails, I should just take care of them at home. My podiatrist only treats “major” issues.

Fact: Home remedies can make problems worse! We’ve seen many issues like ingrown toenails exacerbated by someone trying a “folk remedy” at home. This can often lead to a nasty infection which can be a huge problem, especially if the patient has diabetes. It’s always better to call our office if you’re suffering from any ailments in your feet.

Myth: It’s not important for the podiatrist to see my shoes.

Fact: Your podiatrist can deduce a lot about your feet from your shoes! Your shoes can shed light onto your gait, which can point to certain biomechanical issues such as overpronation. Your shoes also play a huge role in how healthy your feet are. If you wear unsupportive shoes like flip-flops all day, or spend a lot of time with your toes shoved together in high-heels, you can end up with painful issues like bunions. Your podiatrist can help to recommend the best style of footwear that will fit your feet and your lifestyle.

Do you have questions about your feet? You can bet that Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists has the answers! He keeps up-to-date on all the latest podiatric health issues and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment techniques. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

As our bodies grow older, everything changes significantly including our feet! We use our feet a ton throughout our lives. Before turning 80, the average American will have walked over 100,000 miles! That mileage takes a toll on your feet. Here are a few things that happen as your feet age:

Increased discomfort:

Babies’ feet are pudgy and soft with a natural padding of collagen, elastin, and adipose. As we age, though, all of those agents diminish. The loss of cushioning can make long periods of standing or walking pretty painful.

Custom orthotics can help provide some comfort if you’re dealing with foot pain.

Arthritis:

This painful, chronic disease causes joint inflammation. Your feet and ankles have more than 30 joints in them, which means that arthritis has a lot of places to strike. It usually comes with morning stiffness and a limited range of motion.

There’s no cure for arthritis, but custom orthotics and medication can ease the discomfort

Bunions and hammertoes:

These foot deformities are caused partially by genetics, but can also be caused when something forces your toes into unnatural positions. Pressure from incorrectly fitting shoes or other sources can shift the bones in your foot and cause painful bunions or hammertoes.

Comfortable shoes will reduce the risk. If the issue is advanced, then surgery might be your best option.

Diabetes:

Diabetes can strike at any age, but the risk increases as we grow older. It often comes with diminished blood flow to your extremities, which can make your feet uncomfortably cold and cause cuts to not heal quickly. There are many other issues that come with diabetes, such as Peripheral Arterial Disease which is a restriction of blood vessels.

If you have diabetes, it is imperative that you check in with your podiatrist and regularly check your feet. Any changes in look or feel should be noted and reported to your foot doctor!

The best thing you can for your feet as they age is to keep a great relationship with your podiatrist. Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists works with feet of all ages! He utilizes the most up-to-date technology for diagnostics and treatments of any foot or ankle issue you might be experiencing. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

Feet are so cool! Obviously, we believe that here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists. We talk about feet nonstop! Mostly though, we talk to our patients about how to prevent and treat the foot woes that they are currently dealing with. Today, we thought we’d share some lesser-discussed foot facts with you. Here are four fun things about feet that you might not have known:

1. Each of your feet has over 250,000 sweat glands that produce sweat! Collectively, that means our feet can produce up to a half of a pint of sweat each day. That might seem gross to you, but it’s fascinating to us! It’s also a great reason to bring a pair of socks to change into in the middle of the day. Just think of that next time you’re thinking about walking barefoot on a gym locker-room floor!
2. Standing for an hour can actually make your feet feel more tired than if you were walking for the same amount of time! This is because standing uses just a few muscles, which means that the muscles being used are being used in an extra concentrated manner. They are working hard to compensate and balance your weight. This can be exacerbated by improper footwear or any pre-existing foot condition.
3. Everyone suffers from foot issues! Up to 5% of Americans have developed corns, calluses, fungal infections, or ingrown toenails. These are all issues that your podiatrist is trained and equipped to help you handle if you’re dealing with any of them.
4. Some people are born with flat feet. We know that our feet sometimes lose arches over time as we age or if we put on too many pounds, but some people are naturally born without that arch. If you notice this issue in your child, it can often be corrected using custom orthotics.

Like I said, we love feet! If you have any foot issues you need to talk about, Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists is here to help. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we treat podiatric disorders that are caused or exacerbated by obesity. These issues include complications of diabetes, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, and others. If you’ve got children, you know how important it is to keep them healthy and fit. We have put together three tips to keep your child on the path to a healthy weight for life.

Three tips to fight childhood obesity:

1. Educate: Teach your children about nutrition and fitness and all the great things that come with a healthy, active lifestyle. Utilize everyday opportunities to point out foods that are healthy, and foods that have damaging levels of sugar and fat. Show your kids news items or documentaries that discuss health conditions caused or affected by weight. Media often covers food and health trends. These could be great jumping-off points to teach your children about how to evaluate what is healthy and what is not.
2. Slowly swap foods: Gradually make food swaps with your family’s diet. Switch processed, prepackaged foods for whole foods like fruits and veggies. Pick up a healthy cookbook at the library to really spark some ideas. Use smaller plates when serving to exercise portion control. Experiment with cuisines and recipes from other cultures. Instead of frying foods, try cooking them in healthier ways such as broiling, oven roasting, or grilling. You can replace sugar-filled sodas with soda water or seltzer and squeeze in some fresh citrus or other fruit for a refreshing beverage.
3. Get moving: Set and strictly enforce limits on the amount of time your kids experience “screen time.” Encourage healthy physical activity every single day. Research a sport or activity with your child to get them involved in. If your kid is not participating in sports, you might have to get creative. Have them help with yard work or walk the dog, ride their bike, or set up a basketball hoop in the driveway to get them outdoors and active. It’s great to find activities that you enjoy doing as a family and it sets a great example for your kids. Swimming, hiking, and kayaking are all great activities to try out as a family!

If your kids develop healthy habits and a healthy weight now, they will be more likely to carry that into adulthood. If you have concerns or questions about your kids’ feet, Feet First Foot Care Specialists are here to help! Dr. Adam Mucinskas utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques and cutting-edge treatments at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at (860) 632-5499.