Items filtered by date: July 2022

Suffering from a fall as a senior citizen is no joke. As an individual ages, they become more prone to tumbling and tripping both inside and outside of their home. These falls can be life-threatening and may occur on staircases or hard, dangerous surfaces. Although falls may happen for any number of reasons, the health of a senior’s feet can be an influential factor. Therefore, one way to prevent falls from occurring in senior citizens is to strengthen the feet by practicing several simple exercises. These exercises can improve the strength in the senior’s feet muscles and increase balance. One such exercise is known as leg extensions and can be performed by repeatedly extending and raising one leg at a time while sitting in a chair. You can alternate the legs after each extension. The purpose of this exercise is to increase strength and agility in the leg muscles. If stretching seems boring or unappealing, a senior might also try to improve the strength of their feet by walking, practicing tai chi, or performing simple movements in the pool. If you are a senior who is concerned about their likelihood of suffering from a fall, you can contact a podiatrist for more information about strength-building exercises.

Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with Gabe Rodriguez, DPM from Sioux Falls Foot Specialist. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.

How to Prevent Falls

Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:

• Enrolling in strength and balance exercise program to increase balance and strength
• Periodically having your sight and hearing checked
• Discuss any medications you have with a doctor to see if it increases the risk of falling
• Clearing the house of falling hazards and installing devices like grab bars and railings
• Utilizing a walker or cane
• Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning
• Talking to family members about falling and increasing awareness

Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Sioux Falls, SD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A congenital condition that affects the peripheral nervous system is called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It occurs as a baby’s DNA begins to develop in the womb, and for that reason is also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. Charcot-Marie-Tooth is often detected during puberty, causing muscle weakness and difficulty walking. Later on it can also affect the arms and hands. Hammertoes and high arches are further signs of the disease. A child will notice a difficulty in running, a tendency to trip or fall, and a problem lifting the foot at the ankle. Falling may cause injuries to other body parts, making normal daily activities more problematic. If a child begins to drag their feet, has trouble going up and down steps, or marches instead of walking, it is a good idea to consult a podiatrist for an exam and diagnosis. Treatment may include braces to support the foot and certain medications. In some cases, surgery may become an option.

Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact Gabe Rodriguez, DPM of Sioux Falls Foot Specialist. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.

What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?

A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.

What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?

Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:

• Clubfoot, where tendons are shortened, bones are shaped differently, and the Achilles tendon is tight, causing the foot to point in and down. It is also possible for the soles of the feet to face each other.
• Polydactyly, which usually consists of a nubbin or small lump of tissue without a bone, a toe that is partially formed but has no joints, or an extra toe.
• Vertical talus, where the talus bone forms in the wrong position causing other bones in the foot to line up improperly, the front of the foot to point up, and the bottom of the foot to stiffen, with no arch, and to curve out.
• Tarsal coalition, when there is an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot leading to severe, rigid flatfoot.
• Cleft foot, where there are missing toes, a V-shaped cleft, and other anatomical differences.
• Macrodactyly, when the toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone or soft tissue.

Treatment and Prevention

While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Sioux Falls, SD . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Taking small but deliberate steps everyday to care for your feet can help to keep them functioning well and feeling great. Although each individual’s daily foot care routine is a highly individualized process, there are a number of steps you might consider incorporating into your routine. First, try washing your feet every day with soap and warm water to ensure that they are clean. This can be done either in the shower or in a small tub of water. After washing your feet, dry them thoroughly with a towel and apply your favorite moisturizer, focusing especially on the heels to prevent cracks and dryness. You might also consider taking time each day to briefly inspect your feet, checking for any signs of infection. During these inspections, you should be on the lookout for cuts, redness, and inflammation. To cap off your daily foot care routine, you might also check to make sure that your toenails do not need to be trimmed. Leaving your toenails untrimmed for too long might put you at a greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail. To learn more about these daily health tips and others, reach out to a podiatrist. 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Gabe Rodriguez, DPM from Sioux Falls Foot Specialist. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Sioux Falls, SD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Approximately 20% of all adults in the United States will experience heel fissures, or “cracked heels,” at least once during their lifetime. Cracked heels typically occur when the skin surrounding one’s heel becomes noticeably tough, dry, and thick. The dried skin around the heel can eventually crack, creating fissures. The risk of developing cracked heels is markedly higher during the winter season when the colder weather typically makes the skin drier. If you are experiencing cracked heels, you may be able to make use of several at-home remedies. For example, you may soak your feet in water for approximately 20 minutes and use a pumice stone to gently remove the hardened skin cells. Afterwards, you may apply a heavy-duty moisturizer to the back of your heel. Typically, moisturizers containing ingredients such as petroleum jelly or glycerin can effectively nourish the skin. To address cracked heels, you might also use alpha-hydroxy acids or urea to target hardened skin cells and effectively remove them from your heels. If at-home remedies like these fail to mitigate cracked heels, this could be a sign to consult a podiatrist. Ultimately, cracked heels can be an unsightly annoyance, but you and your podiatrist can take steps to address the affliction. 

If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact Gabe Rodriguez, DPM from Sioux Falls Foot Specialist. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.

Ways to Help Heal Them

• Invest in a good foot cream
• Try Using Petroleum Jelly
• Ease up on Soaps
• Drink Plenty of Water

Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels

• Moisturize After Showering
• Skip a Shower
• Keep Shower Water Lukewarm
• Don’t Scrub Your Feet

If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Sioux Falls, SD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.