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

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Posts for: May, 2020

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 26, 2020
Category: Foot Care

Each year, over 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States. In fact, it’s the most common form of cancer that people get. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know many of our Middlesex County patients are itching to get out on Connecticut beaches, so it’s a good time pass on some prevention tips in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

  • Avoid direct exposure when the sun is at its strongest. That means during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. make sure there’s a source of shade nearby if you’re going to be outdoors for an extended period.
  • Use a good sunscreen. By good, we mean a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects your skin from the harmful effects of both UVA and UVB rays. It should have a minimum SPF of 15. If your fun in the sun includes water or excessive perspiration, a water-resistant variety is important.
  • Apply properly. Sunscreen only works when it’s covering your skin. Sounds obvious, but that means you need to apply carefully making sure no areas are missed. It’s also important to re-apply every two hours or after you’ve been swimming. Remember too, that sun damage can occur on short walks to work or running out to get lunch. Anytime your skin will be exposed, apply sunscreen before going out.
  • Never use tanning beds. Indoor tanning beds raise your risk for all kinds of cancer, even with a single-use. Using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your risk for melanoma by 75%.
  • Examine the skin on your feet (and the rest of your body) regularly. Watch for new moles, freckles, or lesions and monitor existing ones for changes.

Anytime that you notice an unusual symptom in your feet, it’s best to contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 and arranging a consultation. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas will examine your feet and to diagnose your condition and determine the appropriate course of treatment.


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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 11, 2020
Category: Foot Care

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we’re beginning to hear a familiar sound here in Middlesex County—lawnmowers. Despite a chilly spring, the grass is greening up, and that means more of our patients will be engaging in that spring and summer maintenance task of mowing the lawn. Unfortunately, it also means emergency rooms will see a rise in mower related accidents—recent statistics show that on average, 80,000 people sustain a foot or other injury from a mower, and many of these are children.

Here are some reminders on how to mow safely.

Do: wear sturdy shoes. Never mow the lawn barefoot, and flip-flops are not acceptable! They are unstable, and your foot can easily slip out and into the blades of mower whirling at 3,000 revolutions per minute.

Don’t: let your child ride on the mower with you, no matter how much they beg. Each year countless tragic accidents and loss of toes, fingers, and limbs occur to children due to slipping off a running mower.

Do: keep children inside while you mow or if they are going to be outside, establish firm rules about not trying to talk to a parent who is mowing, or come anywhere near the area that is being mowed.

Do: pick up sticks and other debris in the yard before mowing. Many mowers will pick up small objects and shoot them out at high speed with the potential to cause harm to anyone nearby.

Don’t: attempt to add gasoline to a power mower while it is running.

Do: wait until your lawn is completely dry before attempting to mow. Slipping and losing control on wet grass is the leading cause of foot injuries by power mowers.

Do: use a mower that has an automatic release mechanism that shuts the mower off if your hands let go.

If you do sustain an injury, even a minor cut from a blade, stop and clean the wound immediately. If you have concerns about the injury, contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine your foot.


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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
May 04, 2020
Category: exercise
Tags: stretch   exercise   sport conditioning  

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know there has been some talk of possibly getting back to school and local sports here in Middlesex County. Whether that will be possible remains to be seen.  But if you’ve been spending most of the pandemic on the couch, you’ll want to start now to take steps to get back in good physical condition for whenever the “all clear” is given. 

Preventing Injuries

Attempting strenuous exercise routines after a prolonged period of inactivity is a surefire way to end up with an injury. Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, and ankle sprains all occur more frequently in athletes who are out of shape. For this reason, it’s a good idea to start up a conditioning plan again if you’ve let it slide during COVID 19. Start gradually and allow yourself a few weeks to rebuild lost muscle and increase stamina. If your usual regimen isn’t possible with the equipment you have, look up conditioning plans for your sport online.

Be Mindful of Chronic Conditions

If you have a history of plantar fasciitis, weak ankles, or torn tendons, be sure the conditioning you are doing does not put an excess strain on your problem area. If our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, has prescribed a custom orthotic, be sure you wear it during your conditioning. If a chronic problem flairs up while you’re working out, contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499.

Check Your Shoes

Now is also a good time to evaluate your sports shoes and make sure they are still in peak performance mode. Obviously, any overt signs of wear such as holes or rips in the uppers, are cause for discarding a shoe. But there are other less noticeable indicators that it’s time to replace your sports shoes. Can you fold your shoe completely in half? If yes, then your shoe has lost its essential support and structure. Check the tread and the insole as well to make sure that they have not worn down or become compacted.

We’re all hoping that we can resume our sports and the rest of our lives sooner rather than later. Taking steps now to prepare will ensure that you’re ready when the go-ahead is given.


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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416