Common Injuries are Unavoidable

There’s a nifty hourly breakdown of how the average American spends their day provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Looking closely at the chart you’ll see that most people spend roughly thirty minutes exercising each day, which is fantastic. Some people may exercise more, while others workout less.  Others, work on their feet all day and don’t feel much like exercising when they get home, which is a normal feeling. Regardless, the common denominator for each type of person is the amount of time spent on their feet. Assuming that the average person exercises for thirty minutes, three times a week, that’s an hour and a half of exercise per week, which amounts to six hours per month, seventy-two hours per year, where your feet are put to work.

Given how often most people use their feet, whether for hours of exercise, work, or both, it is important to know how to treat an injury because let’s face it; you’re going to sustain at least a few minor injuries along the way. Fortunately, there is a simple acronym to help you remember how to treat those frustrating, sometimes painful, little pulls and strains.

Just remember RICE.

R is for “rest.” Once you have an injury, no matter how small, just stop. Don’t try to be a tough-guy and make things worse. Limping to your car and calling it a day is substantially better than needing a lift to the hospital.

I is for “ice.” This one ought to be self-explanatory. When you’re injured, grab some ice. Pull a muscle in your foot? Grab some ice. Is your ankle swollen? Grab some ice.

C is for “compression.” You may need to put some pressure on yourself depending on the nature of your injury. How much or how little can vary widely, but what’s important is that you’re paying attention to what your body is telling you.

E is for “elevation.” You may not feel like you need to lie down on the couch and raise your foot up after playing fetch with your dog, but if you pulled something, it’s wise to get off of it and get it up.

Of course, there’s no replacement for sound medical consultation to determine the best treatment for your injury. Never ignore an injury just because you feel as though the pain is tolerable. Use RICE immediately following a minor sprain, pull, or swelling. However, as soon as you’re able to visit a doctor be sure to get examined. This way you’ll be back on your feet sooner and longer.

Ankle Injury and Recovery

Physical injury is rarely planned and almost never expected. Of the most common, unexpected injuries that people can suffer are ankle injuries—there are approximately 28,000 foot injuries that occur daily. Some of these injuries result from sports and other physical activities, while others are the result of mishaps or accidents that could not be avoided. The important thing is not the source of the injury; it’s what you do to recover from said injury.

One of the most common phrases you will hear after an ankle or foot injury is: “just walk it off.” Sometimes we try to endure past the initial pain of a sprain in order to finish a set task or because putting it off for later may seem inconvenient. In all foot injuries there is the possibility that the pain starts off subtly enough that you try to endure it and finish what you’re doing. However, recent information released by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association shows that sprains or injuries to the foot of any kind should not be dismissed or taken too lightly.

With ankle injuries being so common in everyday life, we need to get rid of the “walk it off” mentality that has become so equally common in society. Rather than risking further damage to your feet following a sprain or injury, it is best to follow professional advice on how to treat and recover from foot injuries.

Courtesy WikiHow.com

Taking care of ankle sprains and foot injuries properly is also crucial for avoiding additional problems down the road. Injuries that are not cared for properly are more likely to lead to reinjury, arthritis, and chronic disability.

What Not To Do

·         Don’t try to Walk it Off: trying to struggle through the pain can actually lead to more problems and, contrary to popular belief, walking on an injured foot while the injury is “fresh” causes more problems in the long run. The first thing do is Protect the injured area.

·         Don’t turn to NSAID’s immediately: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are meant to relieve pain and prevent swelling; however, recent studies have shown that it is best to wait a few hours before taking NSAID’s because inflammation is natural to healing process that leads to recovery. Resting the injured area is the best thing you can do.

·         Don’t risk reinjury: after injury, and even after recovery, it is important not to expose your feet or ankles to the strain of hazardous shoes or unnecessary physical activity. Feeling better and jumping right back into physical activities can lead to reinjury, especially after any initial strain.   

With any type of injury, the best advice is to have the injury diagnosed by a professional to determine the extent of the damage and the type of recovery necessary for your injury. Remember, whether you are very physically active or more sedentary, ankle sprains and foot injuries can happen to anyone and it is important to take care of these injuries to protect our feet and treat them with respect.

Simple Solutions to Keep Your Nails Free of Fungus

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is irritating, painful and quite common. Our bodies normally host a number of bacteria and fungi, some are quite useful to the body, but some fungi can multiply quickly and form unwanted infections. We know it is winter and you cannot let your feet roam freely in the cold, but they cannot be forgotten as you hide them in your socks and slippers.

Luckily, toenail fungus infections are easily treated with nail restoration and you can wear your favorite flip flops with ease when spring and summer roll around. If you neglect to follow proper foot care habits regularly, you could develop another infection in the future.

Most podiatrists agree that your shoe selection may be the cause for your toenail fungal infections. To prevent further fungal infections, follow these tips to keep your feet infection-free.

Sanitize Your Shoes

While most people throw out all of their footwear, we simply recommend to sanitize your shoes. If your shoes are worn out, you can decide to toss them in the trash, but if your shoes are fairly new there are a number of affordable anti-fungal sprays and powders available at your local pharmacy. These will kill the existing bacteria and prevent re-infection.

Switch Your Footwear Regularly

We know that shoes are hard to come by, but wearing the same shoes every day can build up moisture from sweat, creating the perfect environment for fungus. If you have more than one pair of shoes, rotate your shoes every other day and allow them to completely dry before wearing them again.

Avoid Walking Barefoot

Many people suffer from recurrent infections through sharing towels, shoes and other floor surfaces. Walking barefoot is also a major cause for fungal infection, you can pick up someone elses spores, bacteria and germs from unsanitary environments. In addition, avoid walking without protective footwear in public areas such as the gym, swimming pools, rest rooms and showers. This will keep your feet germ free and prevent reinfection.

Keep Feet Dry

Most of us should know by now that fungus lives in moist environments, so keeping your feet dry is one of the best precautions you can take to eliminate nail fungus. After showering wipe your feet with a dry towel and take the time to dry between the toes. Once your toes are dry wear sweat-wicking socks. These socks are designed to soak up sweat from your feet and allow you to carry on about your day without worrying about excessive moisture.

Pamper Carefully

We all love taking time off from our day to get a pedicure, but the salon may be the cause for your recurring toenail infections. We suggest to choose a salon carefully. For example, a salon technician should not use tools that fall on the floor or reuse the same tools on other patrons without properly disinfecting them.

If you are at home managing your toenails carefully then be sure to cleanse and treat your nails properly. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, a daily routine of cleansing may suppress mild infections, followed up with antifungal agents. However, even the best over-the-counter antifungal products may not prevent a fungal infection from returning.

Feel free to take control of toenail fungus infections, but if symptoms continue to occur then get your feet examined thoroughly from one of our podiatrists. You do not have to continue hiding your feet in your boots, call our office and schedule an appointment for nail restoration for toenail fungus.