Children and their feet

Does it seem like nine months of pregnancy takes a long time? For many parents expecting their first child, the wait must seem endless. Most parents would agree that  their children are perfect from the first day they are born. With the arrival of a new child, there are many new emotions. All parents have hopes and dreams for their kids. One interesting fact that not many people know is development of the child is still happening once the child has been born. I’m not just talking about the child getting bigger, but the fact that some of the bones in the infant body are still made out of cartilage and are still very flexible.

Take for example the foot. Many times on x-ray your doctor can tell the age of the child just by looking at a simple x-ray. How is this? On x-ray, only bone is seen. There are certain developmental stages that a child will go through at certain ages.  Why is this important to the parent, and what can a parent do to make sure all development is on track? It’s very important due to the fact that the child can have foot pain and not understand why that is happening. If your child has foot pain, and constantly complains of sore, tired, achy feet, it is best to take them to see a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a doctor specialized in the foot. Dr. Pandya, a local podiatrist in the area, will be able to assess an x-ray and make sure your child is reaching all the hallmarks associated with each age of development.

As a parent, you may want your child to become involved in sports. This is a great idea! Many kids love to be active, and it’s a great idea to get them out of the house. You must remember, however, that all good things must be kept in moderation.  If a child is pushed to practice or participate more than they can handle, it may prove to be too much for their developing bones. There are many syndromes that affect the developing leg which include Osgood Schlatters, or pain in the knee cap, Sever’s disease, or pain in the heel, and different types of tendonitis and bursitis which can present in many different places. Children can develop these syndromes due to overuse. Many parents don’t want to hear that their child needs to rest and take it easy during the sporting season, but that is how the developing bones will stop causing the child pain. When the kid is active, the tendons pull on the bone at the point of insertion. If the bones aren’t fully developed, this can prove to be too much force and will cause pain. If your child is having pain in their feet or legs, a visit to Dr. Pandya might eliminate the problem. As much fun as it is to watch our kids compete in athletics, we also need to keep in mind their well-being. Dr. Pandya can be reached at (518)-273-0053, or you can reach his webpage at www. capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.  

Do you Dogs hurt!!!

Custom Foot Orthotics to protect from injuries

Last week in one of my many trips to the local Costco I noticed a booth setup inside that was selling custom orthotics. While this wasn’t the first time I had seen such a booth, or a company making a similar claim, I was surprised with their claim of fixing foot problems in a matter of minutes and for a fraction of the price. So what makes a “custom” made orthotic from Costco different from one from a podiatrist’s office? To the untrained eye the differences may be undetectable.

For the reader who has been to the podiatrist’s office and has custom-made orthotic,s the answer may be simple. However, for the rest of us there might be a few differences that we aren’t aware of. When your podiatrist makes you a custom pair of orthotics they will begin with a biomechanical exam of the foot and the way you walk. Next, the podiatrist will hold your ankle in a neutral position and apply plaster to get an imprint of your foot. The plaster is one of the most important parts of the whole orthotic process. It’s at this stage that the podiatrist can make subtle adjustments to the orthotic that make it truly custom. Once the plaster has setup, the podiatrist will send the imprint to a lab where the orthotic will be made of a number of different materials depending on what the orthotic is intended for.

You will notice a big difference between the custom made orthotic and the Costco orthotic. Many people take their orthotics out of one pair of shoes and put them in different pairs. This becomes extremely important when a patient puts their orthotics in a pair of running shoes. There are many injuries that can happen to a person by having an ill fitting orthotic or pair of shoes. Most runners complain of getting a deep dark bruise or collection of blood under the toenail. This can occur due to and orthotic that isn’t firm enough to hold the foot in place thus allowing jamming of the toes into the end of the shoe. Blisters also can be a  problem that plagues runners. If you put a Costco insert in a pair of running shoes and the fit isn’t perfect, it can rub on your foot in a funny position and cause blisters.  The next couple problems are a bit more serious. Our tendons are protected by small, thin coverings that are filled with a very fine fluid. The purpose of the covering is to reduce friction. If the orthotic doesn’t do its job properly and the foot is not held in the correct position the covering can become inflamed and painful. Finally some runners have experienced fractures of certain bones in the feet due to abnormal forces on the foot.

So why is it so important to be custom fit? When your podiatrist makes you a custom pair of orthotics they not only custom make them for your feet, but also for the types of shoes that you will be wearing them in.  If the orthotics need a few more adjustments after you get them, your podiatrist can accommodate that. There are many new materials that work well for active people. The materials now days are light, strong, and can handle an active lifestyle. If you are training for a race or starting a new workout routine, listen to your feet.  If you take care of them, they will take care of you!

If you have questions or need to see a physician call our office: 518-273-0053 or visit our website @ : http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/

Pesky Ingrown Toenails!!!

How to deal with pesky ingrown toenails…

            Liam Neeson  keeps a  very busy schedule. Most of the time we see him on his feet running after a bad guy, or jumping in and out of cars during a suspenseful chase scene in one of his action packed thriller movies. As we sit in a full movie theater, enjoying his work, do  we ever think to ourselves what is one thing that could put a stop to his suspenseful chase quicker than anything? Let me answer that question with another. Who has ever had an ingrown toenail? Anyone who answered yes to that question will know the excruciating pain that can put a stop to almost any situation, even if you are a big time movie star.

            Our toenails provide protection and stability to our toes. How many people think about their nails and the care of their nails during a busy day? Most people never think of them unless they are getting a pedicure. In fact, our nails go unnoticed until the toenail starts to grow into our toes. This is known as an ingrown toenail. Many people are susceptible to ingrown toenails and may not even know it. With all the new fashions in shoes going to the narrow toe and high heel, more and more women are at risk of developing an ingrown toe nail. With the narrowed space in the end of the shoe there is an increased amount of pressure on their toes which can cause the toenails to grow into the skin and cause a lot of pain during the day.

            Women are not the only ones at risk.  More and more men are starting to work out on their lunch breaks or before work. With the increase in activity comes an increased risk of an ingrown toenail. Men need to check their feet regularly. A good time to do so is after the shower. Check the borders and length of the nails to make sure they are not growing into the skin. A long toenail can run into the end of athletic shoes and cause trauma to the nail which can result in an ingrown toenail.

Liam Neeson had such a hard time with  ingrown toenail pain that he started to get pedicures. While getting a pedicure to check for ingrown toenails seems a bit extreme, it is important to check your feet daily. If you are concerned about ingrown toenails, Dr. Pandya, a New York Podiatrist can be of great help.  A podiatrist is a doctor that is specially trained on problems of the feet and how to best correct them. It would be in the best interest of the patient having foot or toenail pain to consult this kind of specialist.  If you are having ingrown toenail pain now or would like to review options about preventing an ingrown toenail call Dr Pandya at (518)-273-0053.  You can visit his webpage at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com

MY heel hurts!!! Owie!!!

Benching an NBA Superstar Faster Than Foul Trouble

Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, and even Shaq have all fallen victim to a condition that is receiving some national spotlight right now. This condition also plagues over 100 million Americans each year. Can you guess what it is? If you were going to say Plantar Fasciitis you would be correct.

    So what is Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar Fasciitis involves the long thick tissue that runs the length of the bottom of the foot. The tissue starts at the heel bone and extends toward the toes. Patients with Plantar Fasciitis will commonly complain of heel pain. Patients generally notice the greatest amount of pain first thing in the morning when they get out of bed. During the night, as we sleep, the thick band of tissue will tighten up and loose its elasticity. We could compare this to an old rubber band that has lost the ability to stretch. As the rubber band is pulled, it requires more and more force. Much like the rubber band, patients will also lose some range of motion when moving their toes toward their shin. This motion pulls on the tissue and is quite painful.  Athletes are highly susceptible to Plantar Fasciitis due to the nature of their activities. People who increase their physical activities too quickly or run, are at an increased risk in developing Plantar Fasciitis. Also, those athletes who carry out the same physical activities day in and day out have an increased risk of stretching and pulling the tissue in the bottom of the foot and acquiring Plantar Fasciitis.

What can be done to help both the athletes and non-athletes alike? A Podiatrist, such as Dr. Pandya, has extensive training and experience when it comes to dealing with the feet. He can help alleviate the symptoms associated with heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis. Dr. Pandya has treated many cases of Plantar Fasciitis, and will be able to assess your individual situation and find a solution that both fits your lifestyle and relieves your heel pain. Don’t continue living with the discomfort of Plantar Fasciitis, Dr. Pandya can be reached at (518)273-0053 or on the web at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com .    

Diabetic foot care

The months of August and September hold much anticipation for avid tennis fans. Many fans will venture to the US Open in New York City. Upon arrival, they will file into the Arthur Ashe stadium, find their seat, and wait for great matches to take center stage. Fans will be engulfed in pure tennis enjoyment  with all the excitement of watching the tennis greats such as Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic battle it out in this historic stadium. As a tennis fan, have you ever stopped and thought why the stadium carries the name of Arthur Ashe? Who was he? Besides being a great Tennis player, and the first African-American male to win a grand slam event. Ashe was also heavily involved in the activities of the apartheid in South Africa. Something you probably didn’t know about Arthur Ashe is that he was diabetic.     

Our bodies have the responsibility of breaking down the food that we eat into much smaller units of energy that our cells can use. Insulin is produced in the Pancreas, which aids in the uptake of the energy into our cells so they can use it for their everyday functions. People who have Diabetes can have one of two problems with their insulin. The first problem is a lack of insulin in the Pancreas. People who have Type 1 diabetes don’t make enough insulin for their cells to uptake the units of energy and carry out daily activities. The second type of diabetes deals with the receptors on the cells. The Pancreas makes insulin, but the cells don’t know that the insulin is there due to the lack of receptor. In both types of diabetes the cells can’t get the energy they need and start to break down other tissues in the body for energy.

What risks are associated with diabetes? One major concern that all diabetic people need to keep in mind is foot care. As the cells are starved, diabetic people will start to develop neuropathy. Neuropathy is a term that means loss of sensation in the extremities. Imagine walking all day long with a rock or piece of glass in your shoe and not knowing it was there.  In addition, people with diabetes can have decreased blood circulation to the feet.  This can lead to deep ulcerations that will require treatment from a podiatrist.  Dr.Tejas Pandya, a podiatrist in the New York area is well educated on diabetes and has a great amount of experience in treating diabetic patients.

 Many people don’t realize that they are at risk for ulcers or other foot related problems due to diabetes until it is too late. People need to check their feet frequently for things that look abnormal. Corns, calluses or even blisters can be early warning signs of future foot related problems. If you notice these things on your feet or other abnormalities, give Dr. Pandya a call at (518)-273-0053. Dr. Pandya can also be reached on the web at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com . Early detection of diabetic related foot problems is the key to a successful recovery.