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

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
September 05, 2019
Category: fall prevention
Tags: shoes   senior   fall   vision  

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we serve patients of all ages. For our senior patients, falls are a big concern. In fact, studies show that falls are the number one cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older Americans. The good news is that there is much that can be done to reduce fall risk.

Pain-Free Feet Reduce Risk

If you or an older person you love is suffering from foot or ankle pain, fall risk is increased. It’s natural to walk in a way that is least painful but that can change your center of gravity and create an awkward gait that can lead to trips and falls. Don’t delay in getting podiatric pain evaluated. Contact our Cromwell office for an appointment and let our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas examine your feet and find the cause and treatment for your foot discomfort.

Home Safety Makeovers

An honest inspection of your home can reveal areas where improvements can be made to help you avoid falls. These include:

  • Adding lighting in dark places in rooms, halls, stairways. Make sure your outdoor lighting is also adequate around the entrance of your home.
  • Install grab bars and handrails in the bathroom around the toilet and shower. Make sure stairways have a railing on both sides.
  • Remove clutter on the floors. This includes stacks of magazines and papers, footstools, plants, etc.
  • Inspect the floors. Get rid of throw rugs. Nail down carpet corners that are sticking up. Make sure computer and electrical cords don’t go across a pathway.

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Getting regular exercise helps strengthen your lower body and maintain flexibility in your feet. Look for exercise activities and classes that are designed to increase balance. Other ways that taking care of your health can help prevent falls include:

  • Get your eyes checked regularly. A decrease in vision may require a change in your eyeglass prescription to ensure you can see and accurately judge depth of field and see objects in your path.
  • Review your medications at least annually with your physician or pharmacist. Some medications or combination of drugs can cause you to feel dizzy, which increases the risk of falling.

If you are a senior patient and want help assessing your fall risk, contact us today.

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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
March 27, 2019
Category: community outreach
Tags: shoes   information  

Did you ever hear of National Celebrate Exchange Day? This March holiday started on the anniversary of the first ever exchange club opened in Detroit, Michigan back in the early 1900s. These clubs were formed by local townsmen involved in business who wanted to ‘exchange’ great ideas, information, and resources to help improve their local communities. Today, there are over 600 exchange clubs throughout the United States.

When it comes to helping others, members of the exchange club really excel at their abilities. Who wouldn’t want to do what they can, be it small or large contributions, to help make their communities better for the benefit of their neighbors, family, and friends alike?

In that same respect, all of us here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists seek to benefit our local communities by providing excellent podiatric care that improves the quality of life for everyone. Every day is National Celebrate Exchange Day with Dr. Adam Mucinskas! By providing high-quality foot care to those in and around Cromwell, Connecticut, we hope to contribute to making the world a better place. What can you do today, or every day, to help celebrate National Celebrate Exchange Day?

  • Recycle more often - whether at home or on the go, every recyclable item can help make a difference. If you can’t find a recycling bin out and about, hold onto it until you find one!
  • Pick up trash - while some folks go the extra mile and organize large group outings to do trash pick-up in public places, you can start by simply picking up trash wherever you notice it.
  • Help a neighbor - offer to help an elderly neighbor or someone who recently injured themselves! Even just bringing their groceries inside or sweeping their steps can make a world of difference.

These three simple ways you can participate in National Celebrate Exchange Day will be a lot easier if you wear comfortable, supportive shoes along the way. Call us today at (860) 632-5499 to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Mucinskas!

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
February 13, 2019
Category: circulation

Do you ever look at your feet after a long day at work and wonder if your feet are swollen -- or have they always looked like that? Ask any adult around you if they have ever experienced swollen feet or ankles and the answer may surprise you; swelling is common! This is especially true for people who regularly exhaust their feet on a daily basis from physical activity. You could have sworn they used to be a bit thinner. Unless it’s due to some weight gain holding on from the holidays, swollen feet and ankles can be a sign of issues to come. Puffy feet or ankles can indicate that you may be experiencing poor blood circulation which can be caused by various underlying conditions and diseases. When should you be concerned and see a foot doctor? Keep an eye out for the following risk factors, especially when two or more apply to you:

  • Standing in one place for long periods of time
  • Having a sedentary job or spending most of the day sitting
  • Holding on to extra weight or being out of shape
  • You have or are at risk for developing diabetes
  • Wearing unsupportive shoes more often than not
  • Regularly consuming unhealthy food, especially those high in sodium
  • Currently pregnant and experiencing related stress on the body

If you find yourself relating to even one or more of these risk factors for developing poor circulation, it’s time to talk to Dr. Adam Mucinskas, DPM. There are several ways to address poor circulation and your podiatrist is a vital part of that conversation.

One of the many ways to address poor circulation, even before you get in to see us at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, is by investing in compression socks. When you wear the appropriate size, compression socks work hard to increase the circulation of blood in your legs, feet, and ankles. As a result, you’re delivering higher levels of therapeutic oxygen and nutrients to the areas that need it most! Compression socks can:

  • Speed up healing
  • Reduce swelling
  • Soothe aching sensations
  • Relieve fatigued feet

Interested in learning more? Call us today at (860) 632-5499 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mucinskas at our great new location in Cromwell, Connecticut. Our team looks forward to helping you! 

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 21, 2018
Category: Diabetic Foot Care
Tags: diabetes   shoes  

Your choices in footwear are important no matter what your lifestyle is like. For our patients with diabetes, choosing the right shoes is especially important. Diabetes can lead to numerous foot complications that can send a patient to the hospital, or even make amputation a necessity. One of the most common conditions that those with diabetes deal with is peripheral neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage that can cause tingling, burning, and numbness in the toes and feet. It can also dampen feeling for wetness, cold, and injuries, which creates a high-risk situation for diabetic patients whose feet already have the potential to heal slowly. It is imperative that patients with diabetes – and especially those dealing with peripheral neuropathy – choose the right shoes to prevent any further complications or discomfort.

For people who have good foot health, including all sensation in their feet and control over their blood glucose, it might not seem necessary to purchase special shoes. However, for our patients who have significant nerve damage or are prone to dangerous ulcers, it is important to shop for shoes made custom to your condition. These shoes made specifically for diabetic patients dealing with peripheral neuropathy:

  • Provide extra cushioning and support
  • Include a wider toe box to avoid aggravating any present issues like bunions or hammertoes
  • Are made with flexible materials
  • Can be used in tandem with custom orthotics
  • Have more shock absorption than regular shoes

A solid pair of supportive shoes can really make the difference between walking around comfortably and ending up needing an amputation from a complication. Shoes that rub or slip could cause a blister that could eventually turn into a dangerous ulcer. For someone with diabetes, an ulcer on the foot spells trouble with a capital T. For patients with peripheral neuropathy, it is necessary to be on top of foot care and regular podiatric checkups to maintain foot health.

Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help you make decisions on what shoes you should wear. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you maintain a good relationship with your podiatrist. 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.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416