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No Surprise: High Heels Culprit of Most Women’s Foot Issues

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthcare News, Healthy Feet Blog

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) today announced the results of its Today’s Podiatrist survey, which measures the public’s attitudes toward foot health. The study, which surveyed 1,000 US adults ages 18 and older, revealed that nearly half of all women (49 percent) wear high heels, even though the majority of heel wearers (71 percent) complain these shoes hurt their feet.

These findings seem to fit the old adage that “beauty is pain.” Even chronic discomfort doesn’t appear to deter women from purchasing the strappy stilettos they love: The average woman who owns high heels has nine pairs! Asked what they do when shoes hurt their feet, 38 percent of women said they’d “wear them anyway if I like them.”

However, in spite of their extensive shoe collections, only two percent of women say they wear high heels every day, and just five percent say they wear high heels five days per week. Almost half say they wear heels rarely or never (46 percent)—which may give them a leg up when it comes to preventing permanent damage to their feet.

“With high heels, moderation is key. It’s best not to wear them every day,” said Matthew G. Garoufalis, DPM, past president of APMA. “Daily heel-wearing can cause the Achilles tendon, the strong tendon at the back of your ankle, to shrink. This increases your risk of an injury while doing activities in flat shoes, including exercise.”

Heel height also plays an important role in preventing foot pain. Almost half of women say they can withstand wearing heels that are three inches or higher, though podiatrists recommend staying more grounded.

“Heel wearers should avoid heels higher than two inches,” said Dr. Garoufalis. “Wearing heels three inches or higher shifts body weight forward, and puts great pressure on the ball of the foot and the toes.”

While high heels were far and away the biggest culprits of foot pain, affecting 71 percent of wearers, women said other types of footwear including barefoot running shoes (27 percent), boots (26 percent), flats (23 percent), and flip flops (23 percent) also caused discomfort.

“Foot pain is never normal, and it’s critical that anyone experiencing chronic pain—from footwear or otherwise—seeks care from an expert,” said Dr. Garoufalis. “We hope these findings encourage Americans to fight foot pain with the help of today’s podiatrist.”

For detailed survey findings and an infographic on high heel pain, visit the APMA website.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation’s leading professional organization for today’s podiatrists. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are qualified by their education, training, and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and structures of the leg. APMA has 53 state component locations across the United States and its territories, with a membership of more than 12,000 podiatrists. All practicing APMA members are licensed by the state in which they practice podiatric medicine. For more information, visit www.apma.org.

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Fashionable Footwear – Good for Style, Bad for Foot Health

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , , , , , ,

More than half of Americans suffer from foot problems, and often those problems are directly related to shoes.

But no matter how cute a shoe looks, Orly Avitzur, medical adviser at Consumer Reports, said that having fashionable footwear isn’t worth the health risks.

“Wearing the wrong shoes can lead to lifelong deformities that require surgery to fix,” she said.

According to a new study from the Institute for Preventive Foot Health, uncomfortable and ill-fitting shoes are a serious problem. Shoes that force feet into narrow or pointy toes can cause bunions or hammertoes, where the toes curl unnaturally downward.

But that doesn’t stop women like Trisha Calvo and Jennifer Frost from wearing name brand heels.

“I feel fabulous in them,” Frost said. “You feel fabulous in your shoes…not physically
fabulous in them.”

Studies show that high heels can shorten your Achilles tendon and can trigger planter fasciitis, an inflammation in the soles of the feet. Avitzur recommends foregoing high heels for something more comfortable.

“Opt for a lower heel to take some of the pressure off the ball of your foot,” she said. “Make sure that there is enough room in the toe, and avoid thin-soled shoes that have little or no support.”

But even flat shoes can hurt feet if they lack proper support and cushioning, especially if they’re the wrong size.

One recent study revealed that up to a third of people wear the wrong shoe size, sometimes by up to one-and-a-half sizes. To combat that problem, Consumer Reports recommends measuring your feet each time you buy, especially for people over 40. After that, feet can grow up to half a shoe size every 10 years.

Source:
WRAL

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Ladies! Don’t Let Bunions Give You the Blues!

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , , , , ,

APMA put out the following notes on bunions – check it out:  Bunions are among the most common type of foot ailment today’s podiatrist treats, especially in women. Studies show that women are anywhere from two to nine times more likely to develop a bunion than men! While your high heels and peep toes are partially to blame, your foot type (passed down through your family) is the true culprit.
Style Squeeze

Click the image above to order a FREE poster for your office.

Here’s the good news! Today’s podiatrist is the true expert when it comes to diagnosing and treating bunions. Podiatrists perform tens of thousands of bunion procedures every year, more than any other medical professional in the United States.

Fortunately, today’s podiatrist is only a click away! Podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat bunions, based on their education, training, and experience. If you suspect a bunion, visit a podiatrist and beat bunion blues!

Bunion Basics
What exactly is a bunion? Find out in our Bunion Basics tip sheet.

Bunion Blues and Shoes
Are your shoe selections worsening your bunion? Check out our Bunion Blues and Shoes tip sheet to learn more.

Order a FREE Poster for Your Office
Check out this download of a bunions poster – APMA members can get one directly from the APMA e-store

Have More Bunion Questions?
Contact We Treat Feet’s Expert (and Friendly) Staff, they’d be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Source:APMA

Regular Post

Beware the Flip Flops This Summer!

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , , ,

Summer is upon us – cookouts, laying by the pool, strolling around in your favorite flip flops.  It’s a wonderful time of year!

But recent studies are providing a warning concerning our favorite summertime footwear; “While fashionable and fun, flip-flops can actually lead to weakened and fallen foot arches — and that’s just the beginning,” says Dr. Dawn Sears, a New York City doctor of podiatric medicine and surgery. “The danger with flip-flops is that they cause both short-term and long-term harm to your feet.”

Oh no!  Does this mean summer is ruined forever because our dreaded flip flops are going to revolt and destroy all of our feet?!?

No.  Take it easy now.  Even though a press release from Dr. Sears revealed that other serious injuries from flip-flops may include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon injury and stress fractures of the long bones in the foot, these injuries normally occur in patients who wear their flip flops all the time.  So here are some tips on how to avoid the flip flop blues:

  • Avoid wearing flip flops 24/7: There is just not enough support for the foot to keep from causing discomfort and possibly long-term damage. Stick to short trips where you won’t be walking all that much, like to the beach and the pool.
  • Avoid wearing flip flops in challenging conditions: All that foot exposure can result in broken toes and toe nails. Never, ever wear them when operating any type of lawn equipment.
  • Don’t forget sunscreen: Feet can get sunburned too!  Don’t forget to put sunscreen down there.
  • Consider your age: If you’re older, you’re more prone to some of the above issues
  • Consider your weight: As you can imagine, bigger people are more prone to foot damage, especially in flip flops

Enjoy your summer but be sure to keep conscious of your footwear!  As always, contact the We Treat Feet Staff with any questions on the above article (or anything else!).

Source:
Livingston County News

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Flatfeet in Children – Cause for Concern?

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , ,

An article by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons warns that Pediatric Flatfoot, a childhood condition can, if left untreated, result in permanent deformity in adulthood. Flatfoot deformity makes mobility and exercise painful, increasing the risk of reduced cardiovascular health and obesity.

All reasons why it is imperative for parents to keep a close eye on their childrens’ foot development – namely by having them visit a podiatrist at any sign of discomfort.

“Parents never want their child to undergo a surgical procedure,” says Mary Crawford, DPM, FACFAS, an Everett, Washington foot and ankle surgeon, “but uncorrected symptomatic flatfoot can lead to chronic pain and instability as the child ages into adulthood. Children will be on their feet for a long time to come. It’s vital to keep those feet healthy. A foot and ankle surgeon can help parents understand the options – surgical and non-surgical – for treating pediatric flatfoot.”

Not every child with pediatric flatfoot will display symptoms but many will complain of discomfort, tenderness or cramping in the foot, ankle or knee area.  It also makes participating in physical activities difficult, so parents should take note if the child is not participating in these activities with their friends.

So how do doctors diagnose pediatric flatfoot?  The DPM will evaluate the child’s foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, both in and out of shoes and will also note how the child walks and evaluates the foot’s range of motion.  For further detailed analysis, the physician may order imaging tests such as x-ray, a CT scan, MRI or bone scan.

So moral of the story – don’t mess around if your child appears to have symptoms of pediatric flatfoot as it could have direct, deleterious effects on their future health.

Source:
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

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Prom Season is Almost Upon Us! How to Choose the Right Shoes (for Your Foot Style & Health!)

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , , ,

Get Your Feet Ready For Prom!
Choosing prom shoes for girls isn’t always easy and oftentimes critical factors such as comfort and fit are overlooked because you fall in love with a certain style or color, a decision that is frequently regretted about 30 minutes into the big night.  Our goal is to encourage you and your friends/family to make smart decisions from a health perspective while still keeping it stylish on Prom Night!

Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!
Comfort needs to be the number one thing you consider with these shoes.  Period.  You’re going to be spending a really long time standing, dancing, running, etc throughout the night and the last thing you need to worry about is discomfort on your feet.

Heels or No Heels?
Heels are obviously a very popular choice for prom but they should bring some consideration before you choose the wear them – do you wear them often?  Have you had issues with them before?  Have you spent long periods of time in them?  There’s no crime in not wearing heels because if you think you may have an issue, you probably will.  Wedges can be a good compromise between giant heels and the more comfortable flats – but just make sure you give it some honest thought!

Go Your Own Way!
Don’t worry about fitting in with what all the other girls are doing – go with your own style!  It’s very likely that you’ll be able to pick out what shoes most girls are going to wear so it wouldn’t be a crime to choose something completely different.  Sure you may get some weird looks from other (jealous) girls but at least you’ll be comfortable and doing your own thing!

Have any questions or comments about choosing the right Prom shoes?  Drop us a line at info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com or 410-363-4343.