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.