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

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Posts for tag: fungal infections

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
October 21, 2019
Category: Foot conditions

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, the health of your feet is our number one priority. One way we encourage our patients to keep their feet healthy is by contacting our Cromwell office as soon as they experience pain or other unusual foot symptoms. This way, our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your feet and determine if there is a foot disorder present. However, there are many ways you can be good to your feet when they’re not hurting so that they can continue to enable you to live the active life you love.

  • Get your feet professionally measured. Did you know that some studies show that 90% of people are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet? Cramped toe boxes can increase the risk and severity of bunions and hammertoes.
  • Don’t wear flat shoes. For proper alignment and biomechanical functioning, your arches need support. When feet are flat, it causes heel pain and can lead to plantar fasciitis.
  • Wash your feet every day. This simple act can help prevent many foot infections.
  • Keep an extra pair of socks in your bag. Fungi love moist, warm, dark places. When your feet sit in damp socks, you are creating the perfect environment for fungal infections to thrive.
  • Don’t go barefoot. Keeping your feet covered will lower your risk for athlete’s foot, fungal toenails and warts—all of which are spread by direct contact.
  • Don’t file your toenails with rounded edges. This encourages the nail to grow downward and can lead to painful ingrown toenails.
  • Exercise regularly. This has several benefits for your feet. First, it keeps them flexible and helps maintain range of motion. Regular exercise also reduces the risk and the severity of arthritic conditions. In addition, it helps prevent heart disease and high blood pressure which can cause harm to your feet.
  • Skip the second helpings. A lower weight means less strain on your feet and ankles.

If you have health concerns about your feet or questions about being proactive about their health, contact us at (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
September 25, 2019
Category: foot safety

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know many of our young patients are enjoying fall sports. There are many benefits to sports including learning how to be part of a team and getting regular physical activity. It can also be a cause of several foot and ankle problems, however. Below are six tips for ensuring that your child enjoys a safe sports season.

  1. Start the season with new shoes. Each sport requires specific movements of the feet. Today’s shoes are designed to protect feet and maximize performance. Get sports shoes that are made for the sport your child is doing and get them professionally fitted.
  2. Sock choice matters. Choose socks that provide some degree of cushioning and that also wick moisture away from the skin. Sweaty, damp feet are more likely to develop fungal infections. Be sure to bring the socks you plan to use to the shoe store and try on with the sports shoes you are buying.
  3. Insist on safe surfaces. Fields with divots and holes and tracks or courts with cracks in the asphalt are all risks to the health and safety of your child. If playing areas need attention, bring it up with the school or town to prevent ankle sprains and other injuries.
  4. Avoid athlete’s foot in the locker room. Make sure your child has a pair of flip flops or shower shoes to wear in the gym shower. Remind them not to share towels or soap either.
  5. Give it a rest. When children play a sport in every season and do not allow developing bones, muscles and ligaments a break, overuse injuries such as Sever’s disease are more likely to occur.
  6. Get pain checked out promptly. If your child sustains an injury on the field or complains of ongoing pain after practices, be sure to make an appointment at our Cromwell office. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your child’s feet and ankles and determine the best course of treatment.
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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 24, 2019
Category: foot health

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we hope that you are planning to get away at some point this summer. Wherever your summer vacation destination is, there are some items you should take with you to ensure the health and safety of your feet. Below are our suggestions for what to pack:

  1. Comfortable walking shoes—even if your plan is to lie out on the beach all day, you’ll need to get to and from your vacation destination. Travel days tend to be tough on the feet as you rush to catch flights or haul luggage in and out of the car. Walking shoes that have good arch support and that you’ve worn many times already will also be helpful for sightseeing and shopping days.
  2. Moleskin—sweating creates friction and can increase the risk of developing blisters. A small piece of self-adhesive moleskin applied to a sore spot can stop a blister before it starts, and allow you to continue enjoying your vacation in comfort.
  3. Flip-flops—although not recommended for all-day use on your vacation, a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes are the best way to protect your feet from athlete’s foot and other fungal infections at the pool or in ocean or lakeside changing areas and restrooms.
  4. Orthotics—if our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas has prescribed a custom orthotic to correct a foot problem, don’t take a holiday from wearing it while you’re away. Leaving your orthotic at home may result in a painful vacation for your feet.
  5. Water bottle—excessive amounts of walking and warm, humid weather can lead to edema or swelling of the feet and ankles. Swelling can be very uncomfortable and also makes your shoes tighter, which means a greater likelihood of blisters. Drinking lots of water is one of the easiest ways to eliminate excess fluids from your body and it’s good for you too!

If despite all your best efforts you return from vacation with foot or ankle pain, a rash or other suspicious symptom, contact our Cromwell office for an appointment by calling (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
January 16, 2019
Category: podiatric medicine

When you’re dealing with pain or discomfort, it can be tough to sift through specialists and sort out what the initials after doctors’ names stand for. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we are experts on one form of specialist: podiatrists! We’ve put together some great facts about the wonderful profession of podiatry that will help you sort out if it’s the right doctor for what you’re dealing with.

What is a podiatrist?

Podiatrists diagnose and treat illness and injury in the foot, ankle, and lower legs. The letter DPM after a doctor’s name means he or she is a podiatrist who has gone through years of demanding, rigorous training. Podiatrists complete four years in a medical school and three years of hospital residency. They are uniquely qualified to care for your feet! There are nearly 18,000 practicing podiatrists in the United States, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.

What does a podiatrist treat?

Podiatrists like Dr. Adam Mucinskas diagnose and treat all manner of foot and ankle-health issues, including:

Heel pain

Hammertoes

Bunions

Corns and calluses

Sprains

Fractures

Fungal infections

Sports injuries

Diabetic wounds

And much more!

Can podiatrists perform surgery?

Depending on their credentials, certifications, state licenses, and hospital affiliations, podiatrists typically can operate on the bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints of the foot and ankle after proper consultation and examination.

When should I visit a podiatrist?

If you’re dealing with foot or ankle pain, or if you have noticed any changes in the appearance or feel of your feet, it’s time to make an appointment. If you have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, it’s a great idea to visit a podiatrist annually to avoid any of the commonly associated complications.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, Dr. Adam Mucinskas diagnoses and treats foot conditions daily. If you have a specific concern or are looking to simply maintain your feet and ankles’ wellbeing, it’s time to pick up the phone and give us a call at (860) 632-5499! Schedule an appointment today at our conveniently-located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
December 18, 2018
Category: Foot Care

We are all incredibly busy people – especially now around the holidays! Our busy schedules often see us shirking other routine things, or pushing them further to the bottom of our to-do list. One incredibly important item that should stay constant on that list is foot care! During the holidays, feet can often feel neglected! Considering how important and complex your feet are, however, it’s incredibly important to keep them happy and healthy! Through the holiday season and any time of the year, a great idea is to get in the habit of performing regular foot self-examinations.

What is the best method of examining my feet?

Whenever it fits in your routine, use your eyes and hands to check over and feel all the surfaces of your feet and ankles. Make sure you check between each toe and under the heel. If you need help checking a certain area of your feet, grab a hand mirror, or ask a friend or family member.

What should I be looking for?

  • Redness. Color change, especially redness, could be a sign of decreased circulation, an infection, a rash, or too much pressure in an area from your footwear.
  • Toenail issues. Your nails are prone to fungal infections, and if they’re not properly cut, you could suffer from a painful ingrown toenail.
  • Swelling. If you notice swelling out of the blue, or if swelling has increased in an area since previous checks, or if it is only one foot, those are causes for alarm.
  • Blisters. Friction or pressure from ill-fitting shoes can often cause blisters. These can lead to painful ulcers or dangerous infections, especially if you are a patient with diabetes.
  • Cuts, scratches, bleeding, or abrasions. Breaks in the skin can quickly lead to infections. If you notice a cut that is not healing, it could be a sign of a something bigger going on internally.

Everyone can benefit from foot self-exams! For people with poor circulation, neuropathy, diabetes, or compromised systems in any other way, self-examinations should be done frequently and should be coupled with annual visits to the podiatrist.

If you notice any of the aforementioned issues or anything else out of the ordinary during a self-examination, it’s time to give us a call! Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC 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.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416