In May we celebrate Older Americans Month. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, one of our goals is to educate our patients about the best ways to be proactive about their podiatric health. For senior patients, falls are a problem that can cause debilitating injuries like fractures and ankle sprains to the feet (or the rest of your body). You may be shocked to learn that every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall. Below are some fall risks you may have never thought about.

Foot Pain that’s Untreated—when your feet or ankles hurt, it can cause you to alter the way you walk to avoid the pain. This can throw you off balance and cause a trip or fall. This is why it’s essential that you don’t put off seeking treatment for foot pain or other symptoms like stiffness or numbness. If you are experiencing any discomfort in your lower extremities, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can diagnose your problem and prescribe the correct treatment.

Medication Changes—certain drugs or combinations of drugs can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. It’s a good idea to periodically review the complete list of medications you are taking with the pharmacist or doctor to find out if there are any negative interactions or side effects that could lead to a fall.

Neglecting Eye and Ear Checkups—poor vision or hearing loss will definitely contribute to your ability to navigate your environment safely. Follow your doctor’s recommended schedule of checkups and update prescriptions for glasses and/or hearing aids promptly.

Lack of Exercise—the less active you become, the more likely that joints will stiffen and range of motion in your knees and feet will decrease. This can cause you to stumble. In addition to your regular exercise regimen, consider a class that specifically focuses on building balance to further reduce your risk of falls.

Inadequate Lighting—stairways that are dim or hallways you need to use at night to get to the bathroom should all be properly lit so that you can see clearly – even at night.

Worn Out Shoes—shoes that are stretched out or have holes or worn treads can be a tripping hazard. Toss shoes when they no longer fit properly.

Preventing falls is just one way to protect your foot health. If you have questions about other foot care issues, contact us today.

There are tons of fun and exciting sports to try your hand at during the winter, but unfortunately, lots of those sports can also come with serious injuries! Every year millions of people grab their poles and hit the slopes, lace up their skates and hit the ice, or try out some other new winter sporting activity. As fun as these activities can be year after year, they also come with the risk of foot and ankle injuries like ankle sprains, strains, and fractures.

If you’re making plans to participate in any winter sports this year, follow these safety tips to prevent injuries:

• Use the buddy system – even if you are an expert, it’s safer to have someone nearby to provide assistance or to get help immediately if needed. It’s also more fun to have a friend!
• Get the appropriate safety gear – helmets, goggles, boots, and any other needed equipment are essential to keeping your body protected and avoiding injuries.
• Learn the rules – if it’s your first time participating in this activity, read up on any rules and sign up for lessons to know how to avoid getting yourself hurt.
• Do your warmups – in freezing temperatures, your muscles are more susceptible to injury. Stretching and warming them up helps in prevention.
• Dress in layers – insulate your body against the cold to prevent conditions like chilblains or frostbite.
• Take breaks – in the cold, your body exerts even more energy. Take breaks and allow yourself to recover and warm up.
• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids during and after sports to prevent cramping and other issues.

You can prevent a lot of winter injuries by staying healthy, limber, warm, hydrated, and nourished during any sports you take part in. That said, accidents do occur! If you hurt your foot or ankle out on the slopes or the ice, call a podiatrist immediately.

If you sustained a sports injury, we’re here for you here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC. Dr. Adam Mucinskas 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 we are finally starting to see some more sunshine here in Cromwell, CT, more people are taking advantage of the weather and getting some outdoor exercise. If you’re considering picking up running as your heart-healthy activity, Dr. Adam Mucinskas has some tips to ensure that your feet and your whole body stay in good form.

Follow these tips for excellent foot health as you begin running:

1. Set goals early.  Setting a specific challenging but attainable goal can help keep you motivated. An upcoming 5k or family fun run might be a good goal to consider. If you have a smartphone, there are numerous apps that can help you track your progress and meet your goals.
2. Stay humble.  Knowing your limits is key. If you overdo it and sustain an injury, it will set your exercise plans way back. Plan a way to ease into a solid running regimen and follow it closely. There are great resources online to get you started on a path to running. Running magazines also often have sections for beginners that can get you started.
3. Get the right gear.  Find a reputable running store in your area and ask for their professional advice. They can assess your gait and help you find the right shoe for how you run. Some runners roll their foot inward or outward as they run, which can require a specific kind of shoe to accommodate. Improper footwear can cause injuries.
4. Don’t run through pain.  If any part of your foot or ankle hurts, don’t ignore it. Stop running and rest your body. If you sustained a foot injury during running, come see our expert doctor. Stress fractures, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis are all common running injuries that need to be assessed by a podiatrist.

If you’ want to get your feet examined before adding running to your exercise routine, the professionals at Feet First Foot Care Specialists can get you started. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Cromwell, Connecticut office, request one online or call us today at 860-632-5499.

How’s your bracket doing this March Madness? Have your winning teams inspired you to hit the court and shoot some hoops? Basketball is a great way to keep your body active and healthy, but without taking the proper precautionary steps, it can also be a dangerous sport! Repeated running and jumping on a court can put a lot of stress on your feet and ankles, causing great injury and putting you on the sideline for weeks.

Here are some common sports injuries associated with basketball and how to avoid them:

• Ankle Sprains

Ankle Sprains are quite common in basketball. A sprain happens when your foot rolls or bends unnaturally and stretches or even tears one or more ligament. You’ll know your ankle is sprained if it’s very painful to walk on and if there’s swelling or bruising.

Treatment: Ankle sprains need a lot of rest, plus ice to reduce the swelling. Bandages may also be used to hold the ankle in place while it heals. A serious injury might require surgery.

Prevention: Stretching is a must before the big game. Making sure your body is limber and ready to go is necessary. Well-fitting shoes made for basketball are also good for prevention.

• Plantar Fasciitis

The repeated stress from landing on your feet can cause stress on your heels, often leading to injuries like plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs, occurs when the plantar fascia, the ligament connecting your heel to the front of the foot, becomes inflamed. This inflammation is accompanied by pain when you walk.

Treatment: Plantar fasciitis is often treated conservatively with rest, ice, stretching, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication (please talk to your physician before taking medication). In recurring, persistent cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) is used for treatment.

Prevention: Calf stretches before hitting the court can be helpful for preventing plantar fasciitis. Orthotic inserts can also cushion the blow of hard jumps.

• Achilles tendonitis

Your Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body and can withstand forces of over 1,000 pounds. It is also one of the most vulnerable to rupturing. Achilles tendonitis occurs in professional and casual athletes from overuse and inflammation of the tendon. Achilles tendonitis comes with pain after exercise, mild swelling, tenderness about an inch above the Achilles, or sluggishness in your leg.

Treatment: Constrictive bandages are used to limit motion of the tendon. Rest and low impact exercises, such as swimming, are encouraged. Orthotics can also help ease the pain quite a bit.

Prevention: You might be noticing a trend here, but stretching is a necessity to prevent Achilles tendonitis. Also, knowing your limits and knowing when to take a rest are both important.

Ankle Sprains occur when ligaments extend beyond their natural limitations. This condition is common because there are multiple ligaments that hold bones in the feet together. In particular, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are predisposed to sprains. The ligaments on the inside of the ankle are sturdier and do not sprain as easily.

The rough part about spraining the ankle is the sudden nature of its occurrence. The ankle generally twists from a quick movement whereby the ligament surrounding it is injured or sprained. Those who participate in high-intensity activities that involve frequent jumping can often incur ankle sprains. With a minor sprain, you can return to routine activities within several days. For more severe sprains, it may take a lengthier period to recover. Moreover, ankle sprains happening higher up on the ankle can take even longer to cure.

Treatment for this condition involves:

• Raising the foot to keep it elevated to decrease swelling associated with the sprain.
• Wrapping the ankle to reduce pressure from swelling. Bandaging is especially beneficial in keeping the ankle in the right position during recovery and is also needed when returning to sports.
• Ice pack therapy to reduce inflammation.
• Resting to allow the ankle to quickly heal.
• Physical therapy to assist the ligament with a speedy recovery.
• Exercising such as proper physical therapy after sustaining this injury is imperative since a lack of appropriate care can result in chronic pain to the ankle.

This condition can lead to significant complications if not treated timely. An improperly healed ankle may become prone to becoming sprained easily. Appropriate treatment can help to avoid this situation. Please contact us to start proper treatment after you sustain this injury. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC located in Cromwell, CT, podiatrist Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M. can help alleviate your ankle sprain discomfort and give you the best chance of making the injured ankle strong again. So, please make an appointment today by calling our office at (860) 632-5499. Our Patient Education library may also be a helpful resource for your research into maintaining the best possible foot and ankle health.