Gearing up for Triathlon Season?

Whether you're brick training for a triathlon, showering at the gym after your sweat session or taking the kids to the pool, never go barefoot! With our feet finally getting some fresh air after being bundled up during the winter, people hesitate to take precautions, because it's just so nice for the little piggies to be free!!

However, it's in your best interest if you want your feet to be fungus free for the rest of the summer! So step up (pun intended) and keep flip flops on those feet in these wet & warm environments!

Here are a few symptoms of Athlete's Foot:

• Dry skin
• Itching and burning, which may increase as the infection spreads
• Scaling
• Inflammation
• Blisters, which often lead to cracking of the skin

Take your precautions:

• Wash feet daily with soap and water; dry carefully, especially between the toes
• Avoid walking barefoot; use shower shoes
• Reduce perspiration by using talcum powder
• Wear light and airy shoes
• Change shoes and hose regularly to decrease moisture
• Wear socks that keep your feet dry, and change them frequently if you perspire heavily

When to make an appointment:

If you are taking the preventitive measures suggested and aren't seeing the fungus clearing up, call Shenandoah Podiatry in Blacksburg (540) 808-4343 or Troutville (540) 904-1458 to find out your treatment options!

source: apma.org

Got Feet? Your Guide to Sports & Running Injuries

Shenandoah Podiatry offers two free books, "Got Feet? Your Guide to Sports and Running Injuries" and "Got Feet? A User's Guide to Foot and Ankle Health." Today I'd like to take an excerpt out of our running book, as more and more people are slipping on their running shoes to hit the Huckleberry trail in this beautiful Blacksburg weather!

"Chapter 10: How Do I know if I Need Orthotics? Foot pain is not normal and should not be ignored. It can lead to complex problems that can affect the functioning of other parts of the body, including the hips, knees and back. Foot-related problems are often treated very successfully with functional orthotic shoe inserts.

Orthotics are prescribed to:

• Reduce pain
• Provide support
• Prevent or slow down the development of a foot deformity
• Provide better positioning of the foot, knee and hips
• Improve the overall biomechanical function of the body"

As you can see, Shenandoah Podiatry is here to help. We want you to be an informed patient, knowing what we can do to help and how. To receive your free book, head to our website and request either one or both!

A Common Problem: Heel Pain

Do you have heel pain? Listen up for some treatment options:

Ankle Injuries: More than just an annoyance

Though ankle injuries are painful when they first occur, the long term damage that is caused can be even more detrimental. Ankles that have suffered an injury are seven times more likely to become arthritic that ones that have seen no trauma. Injuries can very in severity and still have the same long term affects. From inconspicuous reoccurring ankle sprains to more seemingly detrimental ankle fractures or broken bones, the damage that is caused is irreversible. Ankle cartilage is quite strong and can usually withstand a life time of movement but when the cartilage gets damaged its cells are unable to be repaired. Cartilage is made to glide smoothly to create movement but when it becomes worn or frayed the movement is not fluid. This leads to swelling, inflammation, and pain in the ankle joints. If proper treatment is not attained after the injury, post-traumatic ankle arthritis could very well occur in the future.

A study taken from 1991-2004 at the University of Iowa, studying 639 patients with grade 3 or 4 arthritis concluded that ankle injury is the most common cause of ankle arthritis. Trauma was the primary cause of arthritis in 445 patients out of the 639 patients surveyed. That is about 70%. The other 30% was caused by rheumatoid disease and primary osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of ankle arthritis include: pain or tenderness, stiffness or reduced motion, swelling, difficulty walking, bone spurs, and instability. No matter what stage of arthritis is present, or if arthritis is just a possible threat in the future, professional care should be sought. Podiatrists everywhere have many surgical and non-surgical options to help cope with the pain, prevent arthritis from over running everyday life, and catch arthritis before it become a problem.