Looking Forward To Meeting You!

Wow, it is hard to believe that it is almost May 1st. We have been working hard painting, cleaning, organizing and we are now ready to see you! If you need to see a podiatrist in Blacksburg, call us at 808-4343. We look forward to meeting you :)

Dedicated To Your Healthy Feet,
Dr. Jennifer Feeny


p.s. To schedule an appointment via Internet, visit our website http://www.shenandoahpodiatry.com/

Foot Fractures May Signal Osteoporosis

A small foot fracture may be the first sign of osteoporosis, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University researchers. The study also demonstrated that several men studied as part of the research showed signs of osteoporosis, previously considered a woman’s condition. Researchers studied 21 patients who had suffered a metatarsal insufficiency (non-traumatic) fracture. Nine patients were found to have osteoporosis despite having shown no other sign of the degenerative, progressive bone-thinning condition.

Another 10 patients displayed significant bone loss. Because many patients do not discover they are osteoporotic until they break a hip, the study offers hope or earlier diagnosis and treatment. It also reinforces the importance of caring for feet and not neglecting foot pain.

People sometimes don’t realize that their feet mirror the state of their body’s health. Some of the first signs of osteoporosis, for example, are seen in foot and ankle fractures.

 

Dedicated To Your Healthy Feet,

Dr. Jennifer Feeny

P.S. Experts estimate that more than 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures occur each year.

To learn more visit http://www.shenandoahpodiatry.com/

Mow the lawn, not your foot

The thousands of lawnmower-related foot injuries every year can be prevented

Springtime is here and weekend gardeners should note that their yards could become "toe-away" zones if they’re not careful when operating rotary-blade lawn mowers.

Each year, some 25,000 Americans sustain injuries from power mowers, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Although the number of accidents has steadily declined since the 1982 adoption of federal safety standards, we still see too many foot injuries from power lawnmowers. The blades whirl at 3,000 revolutions per minute and produce three times the kinetic energy of a .357 handgun. Yet we see patients who have been hurt while operating a mower barefoot! Foot injuries range from dirty, infection-prone lacerations to severed tendons to amputated toes.

If a mower accident occurs – with just a minor injury – immediate treatment is necessary to flush the wound thoroughly and apply antibiotics to prevent infection. Superficial wounds can be treated on an outpatient basis, but more serious injuries usually require surgical intervention to repair tendon damage, deep clean the wound and suture it. Tendons severed in lawnmower accidents generally can be re-attached surgically unless toes have been amputated.

Children under the age of 14 and adults over age 44 are more likely to be injured from mowers than others. Anyone who operates a power mower should follow a few simple precautions:
Don’t mow a wet lawn. Losing control from slipping on rain-soaked grass is the leading cause of foot injuries caused by power mowers.

• Wear heavy shoes or work boots when mowing – no sneakers or sandals.
• Mow slowly across slopes, never go up and down.
• Never pull a running mower backward.
• Keep the clip bag attached when operating a power mower to prevent projectile injuries.
• Use a mower with a release mechanism on the handle that automatically shuts it off when the hands let go.
• Always keep children away from the lawn when mowing it.

Dedicated To Your Healthy Feet,

Dr. Jennifer Feeny
For further information about foot and ankle problems, visit our website wwww.ShenandoahPodiatry.com

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit…Make the Foot Fit the Shoe??

As the fashion trends for shoes continuously change, these changes are very persuasive in convincing women they need to change their appearance in order to wear them. As this is may be difficult for many to fathom, many women are considering the option of elective cosmetic foot surgery. If surgical intervention is the only reason for foot surgery, in order to fit into a shoe, then maybe the shoe is not for you. But you have to have the latest spring collection of Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik sandals, but that little pinky toe is just not fitting into the shoe. So what do you do? Well, some women are resorting to cosmetic foot surgery, which is becoming more popular since you can nip and tuck just about everything else, some figure well why not the feet?

A growing number of women are considering shortening their toes, narrowing their feet, or enduring collagen or silicone injections in an effort to have the “perfect” foot to fit the “perfect” shoe. One has to consider that there are complications that can occur with any surgical procedure, not to mention the pain, swelling and discomfort that may be experienced post operatively. Surgically changing the dynamics of your foot when there is no underlying injury or pathology to a shape that is not natural may cause potential difficulty down the road. What will you do if the shoe trends change again? Will you remove another toe? There has to be some reasonable options that don’t involve removing appendages. If surgical intervention is necessary, be sure it is for medical reasons. If you have a condition that cannot be treated conservatively, experiencing pain, or if overall quality of life is affected, then surgery may be necessary.

Remember trends go in and out of style, your toes never do. Be an advocate for your foot health.

For more information visit http://www.shenandoahpodiatry.com/

Women's Traveling Feet Feel The Pain

Researchers recently found a strong link between packing uncomfortable shoes and suffering foot pain while traveling. Young women are the most common victims of foot pain on the road. Not surprisingly, they are also the most likely to pack and wear uncomfortable, even dangerous shoes— high heels, flip flops, etc. —when traveling.

Eighty percent of the surveyed women under age 25 and 60% of surveyed women under 35 acknowledge that they sacrificed comfort for fashion on their last pleasure trip. While 60% of women, compared to 32 % of men, spent time planning their shoe selections for their trip, women were more likely than men to suffer foot discomfort related to poor shoe choices on their trips.

Switching shoes may not always be the best solution for correcting foot problems, but wearing appropriate footwear can prevent some problems from ever happening or alleviate others from continuing. As your foot care specialists, we can diagnose and recommend a course of treatment that may include a change in footwear, regular general care, medications, physical therapy, or orthotics. If your feet are tired of ill-fitting shoes, or if you are just tired of feet that hurt, we welcome your call at ShenandoahPodiatry.

P.S. Close to one-third of travelers admitted to packing either brand-new shoes, uncomfortable shoes, or both.

Weekend Warriors….Take It Easy!

Spring is here and so you want to relive those glory days of playing football or basketball. But hold on weekend warrior, you might want to think about a few things before you do. Many times injuries are caused from the lack of preparation before engaging in strenuous activities that involve a lot of running and sprinting. Many patients have complaints of ankle pain, ankle sprains, jammed toes, and/or black toenails from injuries. If you haven’t been active or exercising during the winter months, the sudden increase in activity and demand on the joints and muscles can cause pain, soreness, and inflammation

An ankle sprain is the stretching and/or tearing of ligaments that can occur from twisting motions, sports, or walking and/or running on uneven surfaces. Individuals that have had previous ankle injuries it is important to have some additional support to prevent re-injury, by using ankle bracing or other athletic support, as those previously injured areas may be weak. It is also wise to get a thorough exam before participating in strenuous activities. Also, make sure you “warm up” before you begin your activity by stretching your muscles to prevent strains and sprains. Make sure you that you wear the proper shoes for your activity because wearing improper shoes can mean the difference between you scoring a goal or a sprained or broken ankle.

A black toenail is caused by repeated injury to the nail bed. This is usually caused by the toe being jammed against the sides, front or top of shoes when running or walking. The toenail may or may not be painful, but it is not a pretty sight. The black color is due to blood accumulating underneath the toenail. If the toenail becomes too painful, it will be necessary to seek professional treatment. The toenail may take 4-5 months to fully grow out and be replaced by a normal toenail. Make sure that your shoes fit properly to prevent this type of injury during rigorous activities. So throw out those old athletic shoes that have been sitting in your garage all winter. One point to remember, don’t “break in” a new pair of shoes during a strenuous activity. This can cause some areas of blisters or calluses from friction and additional pain from the “break in” period.

If you do have an ankle or foot injury or just need advice before engaging in an activity, get some guidance from your podiatrist. Remember, be an advocate for your foot health.