Archive for October, 2007

Diabetics-Taking Care of Your Feet.

Published by steve on October 30, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

If you are diabetic, taking care of your feet is critical. By taking just a minute or two every day to check your feet can make the difference in saving a foot from amputation. For diabetics the loss of sensation in the foot which occurs in about 7 of every 10 diabetics often means that the body cannot detect if there is, for example, a stone or a pebble in the shoe that can lead to a wound which if left untreated can lead to an ulceration and ultimately an amputation. Another common cause of trauma is poorly fitted or non friendly diabetic footwear that may have internal seams that can cause rubbing or an abrasion. Full contact molded diabetic insoles minimize sheer and abrasion on the plantar surface of the foot and can also help minimize the risk of trauma.

Daily self exams are the best way to minimize the incidence of damage and take only a couple of minutes.

“Of all diabetes-related complications, a serious foot ulcer and subsequent amputation might be the most preventable with proper care and vigilance in checking the feet at least once a day for small cuts and other abrasions,” said Troy J. Boffeli, DPM, FACFAS, a Minneapolis-based foot and ankle surgeon speaking for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “Even those with good control of their blood sugar can experience foot ulcers, especially if neuropathy, a frequent diabetes complication, has caused decreased feeling on the bottom of their feet.”Foot problems are not an inevitable consequence of diabetes. The risk can be lessened significantly by following a few simple precautions:

  • Keep your blood sugar under control to help minimize cardiovascular and blood circulation problems
  • Lose weight, don’t smoke and adhere to prescribed dietary, medication and exercise regimens
  • At least once a day, examine your feet for cuts and other small wounds you may not feel
  • Never walk barefoot, outdoors and indoors
  • Cut nails carefully - straight across and not too short; never trim corns and calluses yourself
  • Wash your feet every day in lukewarm water; dry carefully
  • Choose comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes
  • Wear clean, dry, non-bulky socks; change daily
  • Shake pebbles or bits of gravel out of your shoes before wearing
  • Seek treatment from a foot and ankle surgeon if minor cuts and sore spots don’t seem to be healing

  

My First Blog

Published by steve on October 26, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I’m a novice at this I have to admit. I’m all set up and ready to go. My focus will be on all things orthopedic. Mainly relating to the foot and footwear- shoes, inserts, socks, what is good and what is not and how to best look after your feet in general.

                    

The foot has in my opinion always got a bit of a bad rap. “Stinky feet”  “sweaty feet”  “ smelly feet” ““cold feet”   “barking dogs” as well as all the other numerous and even racist derogatory terms associated with feet.

 Well, I’m blogging from this day forward to say stop the madness!!  The foot is one of man-kinds wonders of design and evolution. The foot is the most under-appreciated parts of the body and one of the most important to your overall well being.

 Feet are, you see, fantastic.  An engineering marvel with 26 bones and 33 joints - a biomechanical work of art. Multi-faceted, the foot can perform in many guises in any environment. Demands on the foot to get you where you need to be, are daily.

 Walking and mobility is a critical component of a healthy life-plan. Once you stop moving it’s pretty much a matter of time before your quality of life decreases dramatically.

 So I’m here to say how important it is to look after your precious feet. Look after them and they in turn will look after you.

 

So to end my first blog I want to recommend as series of simple exercises I found in an article I read recently in the LA Times by Janet Cromley. They can be done at home and without any fancy equipment.

 • The towel curl: This is one of the safest exercises, says podiatrist Dr. Douglas Richie. While sitting with feet flat on the floor, try to grip a small towel by curling the toes over the towel. Even if you are not able to actually grip the towel, the attempt is still good exercise. To exercise the individual toes, try this with marbles or tissues. This exercise strengthens toes and arches.

• The calf raise: In a standing position, raise and lower the heels off the floor while rolling up onto the balls of the feet. Do this while bending the toes into the floor as if standing on tiptoe. A more ambitious variation of the drill is to do it one foot at a time. This exercise strengthens the arch, toes and Achilles tendon. Do not do this if you have a strained arch, as you could strain the arch further.

• The tennis-ball roll: While seated or standing, roll the foot gently over a small ball, such as a tennis ball. This is good for maintaining the arch.

• The toe massage: While sitting with one foot on the opposite knee, massage the ball of the foot, in between each metatarsal. Repeat with the other foot. 

Welcome the Pedors.com Blog!

Published by admin on October 24, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

This is the first post for the new Pedors.com blog! Check back often for information on orthopedic products, news, and hapenings. The blog will be written and updated by executives and employees of the Pedors Orthopedic Shoes company in an effort to provide the community with relavent information realted to orthopedics and the shoe industry.