Items filtered by date: March 2018

If the toenails grow into the skin surrounding the nail, you may have a condition referred to as ingrown toenails. This typically occurs when the nails are cut improperly or if the shoes are not fitting correctly. Additionally, if you have poor circulation or diabetes, healing may take significantly longer, and may cause other complications. Symptoms of this ailment generally consist of moderate to severe pain and reddened, swollen skin. There may be pus draining out of it, which can indicate an infection. Treatment remedies include soaking the area in warm water several time per day or applying a cushioning material, such as gauze, in the corner of the nail. There are many ways to prevent this condition from occurring, including wearing shoes that fit properly and making sure there’s enough room for the toes to move. If you suffer from this condition, it’s advised to consult with a podiatrist to determine the best treatment options for you.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Paul Drucker of NYC Foot Care, PC. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in 70th Street Manhattan, 60th Street Manhattan, Jamaica, Queens, Plainview, NY and Fair Lawn, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

If you have a job where standing is done most of the day, it’s beneficial to stretch the tendons and muscles of the feet. Stretching the feet will not only feel good but help reduce any potential swelling the feet may incur, in addition to alleviating any pain that can develop. By wearing shoes and socks that fit comfortably, the chances are favorable that your feet will not feel any discomfort at the end of the day. The following is a stretching exercise the feet may benefit from when practiced regularly. One such exercise is called “split squats,” and this is demonstrated by placing the right leg forward and pulling the left leg backward. This will provide a large distance between the feet. Slowly bend down, and a gentle stretch in the feet can be felt when the back knee touches the floor. It’s suggested to rise slowly, and repeat on the other side. Recent research has suggested that stretching the feet is crucial in maintaining strong arches, muscles, and tendons. Please consider a consultation with a podiatrist for additional information about working on your feet.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Dr. Paul Drucker from NYC Foot Care, PC. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in 70th Street Manhattan, 60th Street Manhattan, Jamaica, Queens, Plainview, NY and Fair Lawn, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Typically, the feet grow during pregnancy and in many instances, will remain bigger. There are numerous bones, ligaments, and tendons that the feet are comprised of, and it’s common that they tend to loosen and relax during pregnancy. The additional weight gain that pregnant women endure will cause the feet to become wider, in addition to stretching the joints. A distinguishing difference between foot growth and swollen feet is to notice differences in how your feet feel and look all day. Your feet will tend to be bigger at night if they’re swollen and will remain bigger all day and night if they’re growing. There are several ways to reduce the chances of incurring larger feet, and these may include keeping as much excess weight off as possible, performing proper foot exercises and stretches that will strengthen the feet, and possibly wearing supportive insoles.

Pregnant women with swollen feet can be treated with a variety of different methods that are readily available. For more information about other cures for swollen feet during pregnancy, consult with Dr. Paul Drucker from NYC Foot Care, PC. Our doctor will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs.

What Foot Problems Can Arise During Pregnancy?

One problem that can occur is overpronation, which occurs when the arch of the foot flattens and tends to roll inward.  This can cause pain and discomfort in your heels while you’re walking or even just standing up, trying to support your baby.  

Another problem is edema, or swelling in the extremities. This often affects the feet during pregnancy but tends to occur in the later stages. 

How Can I Keep My Feet Healthy During Pregnancy?

• Wearing orthotics can provide extra support for the feet and help distribute weight evenly
• Minimize the amount of time spent walking barefoot
• Wear shoes with good arch support
• Wear shoes that allow for good circulation to the feet
• Elevate feet if you experience swelling
• Massage your feet
• Get regular, light exercise, such as walking, to promote blood circulation to the feet

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in 70th Street Manhattan, 60th Street Manhattan, Jamaica, Queens, Plainview, NY and Fair Lawn, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Runners may be prone to experiencing injuries frequently if they neglect to perform proper training techniques. The feet endure an enormous amount of stress because of the pounding that occurs while running. If you choose to run as a part of your daily or weekly workout, it’s advised to slowly increase the distance and speed of your run. A runner’s worst nightmare can come from an injury that forces the running to cease. An injury to the Achilles tendon is common if proper stretching exercises are not performed prior to running. To prevent injury from occurring, stretching this tendon is crucial and needs to be implemented daily. This may help you avoid any irritation that can causes tendinitis. Additionally, if pain and tenderness in the heel is present, you may have a condition referred to as plantar fasciitis. This is caused by small tears in the tendons that connect the heel to the toes. It is suggested to schedule a consultation with a podiatrist to discuss treatment options if your feet are affected by a running injury.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Paul Drucker of NYC Foot Care, PC. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in 70th Street Manhattan, 60th Street Manhattan, Jamaica, Queens, Plainview, NY and Fair Lawn, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

If you experience a bony knot on your toes or feet, you may have what is referred to as a hard corn. This is generally the result of the friction the feet endure, commonly due to poorly fitting shoes. Corns that appear between the toes often have a soft texture and occur when shoes are worn with a narrow toe area. Both types of corns can be painful and uncomfortable and may need to be treated, depending upon the severity. Choosing to wear shoes that fit correctly will not only feel more comfortable, but will aid in the treatment and prevention of corns. If there are additional foot problems present, such as diabetes, or any type of surgery performed that may have affected the bone structure, it’s important to relay that information to your podiatrist.

If you have any concerns regarding your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Paul Drucker of NYC Foot Care, PC. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? and How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns can be described as areas of the skin that have thickened to the point of becoming painful or irritating. They are often layers and layers of the skin that have become dry and rough, and are normally smaller than calluses.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as wearing:

• Well-fitting socks
• Comfortable shoes that are not tight around your foot
• Shoes that offer support

Treating Corns
Treatment of corns involves removing the dead skin that has built up in the specific area of the foot. Consult with Our doctor to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in 70th Street Manhattan, 60th Street Manhattan, Jamaica, Queens, Plainview, NY and Fair Lawn, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.