Health Tips Category

COVID-19 Protocol for SLC Podiatrist, Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM

March 20, 2020

Given the infectious nature and global outbreak of the Coronavirus-19 Disease, there are many businesses temporarily shutting down but essential services have been directed to remain open. As a medical provider, SLC Podiatry is such a service and our doors are open to the community. You can rest assured that all new and existing patients are welcome to be seen at our branches in Sandy, Salt Lake City, and West Jordan.

“It is important to us that our residents and visitors experiencing foot and ankle pain — whether from injury or a chronic condition — can be diagnosed and relieved by the care we offer. For an overview of the virus protocols we have initiated, and the cooperation we ask of our patients, please review the following points.” __ Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM

Protocols in Place for SLC Podiatry, Utah

We ask that you do not schedule an appointment if you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid -19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other cold-like symptoms). Once you have been tested and are free of symptoms, you may schedule your visit.
It is recommended that each patient come to their appointment by themselves, unless they are a minor, in which case they may be accompanied by 1 adult.
In accordance with social distancing, you will be visiting with Dr. Auger only (there will not be a medical assistant available).
You may be interacting with a receptionist, depending on the location you have chosen for an appointment.
We have provided hand sanitizer throughout our offices, including the receptionist front desk.
Our counters, clipboards, bathrooms and all other hard surfaces are cleaned daily and after each use by patients.

In these troubled times, it is vital to stay informed about the Coronavirus-19 Disease. It is also important to continue to receive medical treatments for your pain and injuries. Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM for a scheduled visit!

Call us 24/7 at 801-396-9743 Contact Form Email Twitter

Healthy Feet from Heel to Toe: 7 Things You Didn’t Know

June 21, 2018

If you’ve never injured an ankle, broken a toe, or found yourself unable to put your weight on your feet in the morning, well then, you’re lucky. At some point in our lives (be it while joining in group sports or dealing with multiple health issues as a senior) not having healthy feet will prevent us from doing what we’ve always assumed was going to be possible.

You may think that feet aren’t that big a deal – they’re handy and all – but, in relation to other body parts like the heart, do our feet really need that much attention?

Neglect Really isn’t Intentional

Somehow our feet are the most taken-for-granted parts of our bodies. We just assume that any old shoe will do, that a pedicure’s always a good thing; that our feet are always going to get us there.

Hold on a moment. It turns out that there’s more to a foot than meets the eye. Ever give any thought to why healing therapists and acupuncturists rely on a foot’s pressure points and nerve endings to cure just about everything we suffer from?

Anatomy: The Beauty and Science

Even Leonardo da Vinci endorsed the foot’s proper status as a “masterpiece of engineering.” He came to recognize his anatomical paintings as scientific activity, while creating hundreds of intricate drawings of human anatomy; developing the skills that would bring his portraits ‘to life.’

Amazing the way you instantly recognize the strength of the human body when you stand before da Vinci’s mesmerizing masters. How beautiful and astounding the mechanics of standing, walking, bending, and reaching really are. Did you ever consider what makes all of that possible?

7 Healthy Feet Facts for YOU

You don’t need shoes while strength training; doing these barefoot will strengthen your joints, muscles and even correct imbalances.
Your foot has 26 bones with 33 joints – and makes up a whopping twenty-five percent of all the bones in your body.
Your foot has more than 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons AND over 200,000 nerve endings.
Your body’s largest and thickest tendon, the Achilles, actually joins your heel to your calf, puts a spring in your step and allows you to raise up on your tiptoes.
Your foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands; producing up to 16 ounces per day!
Your foot contains a network of blood vessels for three critical muscles; the sole, the lower calf and the large calf!
Your foot is ‘designed’ to be flat on the ground; its primary functions are to give you propulsion and shock absorption!

An Ounce of Prevention…

As an example, let’s take driving a car down the street. When you suddenly veer around potholes or car parts that appear ‘out of nowhere’ you save yourself from damaging your vehicle. On the other hand, you may end up in a ditch because instead of ‘acting’ with caution you’ve ‘reacted.’

When your tire tread is low, you replace the tire; because it’s more apt to blow or skid through a puddle of water. Same goes for your everyday athletic shoes; if they’re wearing thin they aren’t supporting you. Out for a jog, you try missing a low branch by ducking; you stumble and sprain an ankle. Simply think through it, take the time and make a smarter move.

Another Smart Step

Again, we assume so much when it comes to our feet ‘being there’ for us through thick and thin. If we could just focus more on keeping our feet in the best shape possible, we would avoid so many potential injuries.

Have you ever been seen by a podiatrist? Why not take the time to go in for a preventative checkup? Maybe you have flat feet or high arches and you never realized it. Perhaps you’re walking with your foot turned inward and don’t know the effects of pronation. Are you wearing the proper footwear for your foot type? Scheduling an appointment with your local podiatrist may just change your life.

Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger has provided holistic and dedicated podiatry services in the Salt Lake City area for over two decades. As an athlete herself, Dr. Auger loves the Utah outdoor environment and is highly experienced with sports injuries as well. Same-day appointments are available in all three locations!

Healthy Hiking for Salt Lake City Summers

June 14, 2018

One great reason for living in the Salt Lake area is the wide variety of healthy hiking to be enjoyed – whether you’re a novice or expert trekker. For your convenience, here is a great list of Salt Lake City Trails from which you may narrow your choices by: easy to strenuous, whether or not fees apply, pet policies, trip distances, access restrictions (if any) while categorizing these by hiking, biking, or both.

Obviously, one of the worst things you can do is injure an ankle or foot, leaving you immobile in a potentially stark, hot and unsheltered environment. Cell phones may not get service; reviews show AT&T is the most robust, then Verizon, while Sprint coverage is scant. Talk to locals as you start out, and get their recommendations for particular cautionary measures they personally take in a given area.

The Right Footwear for Healthy Hiking

Water shoes are the thing if you’re planning to raft, kayak or canoe down a river. Flip flops aren’t stable enough, with the hot red dirt and muddy banks.
Choose hiking socks appropriate for your foot type; wide = thin socks, narrow = thick socks, warm = synthetic socks, cool = insulated socks.
Look for firm support in the arch area of a healthy hiking shoe or hiking boot; it shouldn’t bend at its middle though it can be flexible in the front (where your own foot has movement).
The upper portion of the footwear should be chosen for the material which is important to you. If you’re looking for breathable and waterproof (Gore-Tex), for durability and support (leather), breathable and lightweight and flexible (fabric and leather or synthetic leather).
You want an ‘outsole’ that gives you traction and proper support. Ask an experienced sports store employee to show you the difference between these and heavy duty trekker boots; so you don’t end up with too much weight for no good reason.
See our post on sneaker lacing techniques for extra comfort and safety.

Safety Tips for Healthy Hiking in Utah

Be prepared: realize that the weather change could go from 92 degrees in the valley to 52 degrees in the mountains after sundown when the clouds roll over. You can check the weather at MyUtahParks.
Always let someone know your destination and when you expect to get back.
Remember you’re venturing into the home of wild animals, see WildAwareUtah for everything you need to know, and more.
If you come across a rattlesnake, just back away and move on; it will only strike if it feels threatened or cornered.
It’s best to always travel with a companion; if that is your dog, for healthy hiking make sure it stays on a leash.
Be on the lookout for flashflood signs: changes in level or speed of water, water color changes from clear to murky, debris appears in the water, you hear rushing water or loud noise, it begins raining close by or there’s a build-up of storm clouds. Seek HIGHER ground immediately.

What to Bring in Your Backpack or Car

Black light flashlight for night time spotting of scorpions.
A wide-brimmed sun hat rather than a cap; there’s not much shade from the Utah sun.
Sunscreen for all exposed skin, and don’t forget the back of your neck.
Sunglasses – polarized are preferred to really enjoy the views! To keep from losing them on a river trip, buy straps!
Bring a rain jacket (there will be short bursts of rain) to keep you dry and warm.
First aid kit, maps, a pocket knife, food, matches, extra clothing.
A very LARGE jug of water; there may be water stations, but then you may not be in their proximity. And, salty snacks will balance the sodium flushed out of your body by drinking water.

If you sustain an ankle or foot injury while hiking in the Salt Lake City area, same day appointments are always available in Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger’s three convenient podiatry locations! As an athlete herself, Dr. Auger is highly experienced with sports injuries and has treated all diseases and afflictions of the feet and ankles for over two decades.

Flips Flops and Foot Health: A Good Match?

June 6, 2018

While these open comfy sandals may be your favorite footwear, who knew that (without proper support) flip flops and foot health could be a contradiction in terms? If you’ve worn flip flops for years, this post may contain a few surprises.

Flip Flops: There’s a History

The narrative of flip flops goes back quite a ways, originally they were made B.C. from rawhide and papyrus. The Japanese created a woven version of these open sandals in the 1920s, and their new trend spread easily through the South Pacific. Zoris were comfortable for beach walks, and inexpensive, and also solved the problem of getting sand out of your shoes! New Zealand reconstructed the zoris with plastic and rubber and was responsible for making them so universally popular.

The rubber sandal and local Hawaiian tradition became inextricable once they arrived there along with the Japanese settlers in the 1940s. The ‘rubbah slippah’ became ingrained in the local Hawaiian culture – to the point where it symbolizes the laid-back character and humility of its people; so much so that other footwear is rarely worn. Typically you’ll see ‘slippers’ grouped around front doors, showing the respect of entering homes without tracking dirt or mud inside.

What’s so great about Flip Flops?

We love flip flops because they’re easy to slip into and out of; they fit in your purse or backpack for quick changes at the pool or beach; you can just kick them off to go inside without messing up a clean floor. And more, our feet feel great with the warmth of the sun on them – free from the confines of leather enclosures with laces, buckles or snaps to keep them in place.

As to flip flops and foot health, there are even a few medical reasons for owning them. When used in communal areas (pools, showers, etc.) they protect you from bacteria and fungus exposure. The same goes for outdoor use, as they allow your feet to air out; minimizing vulnerability to such risks. They are also perfect for summer days to shield your feet from hot pavement, asphalt and such.

So, what’s bad about Flip Flops?

The other take on flip flops and foot health, as one WebMD post explains, “Unlike sturdy shoes, flip-flops aren’t good for extensive walking because they offer no arch support, heel cushioning, or shock absorption, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Wearers can suffer tendinitis or foot pain due to lack of arch support, and even sprained ankles if they trip.”

Doctors and surgeons alike will tell you that running or jumping in flip flops can elicit sprains, fractures or ligament injuries. Flips flops can be the precursor to injuries such as stubbing your toes, dropping something accidentally on your foot (like a can of soup you reached for in the kitchen cupboard). For diabetics, any foot injury can even mean amputation!

Flip flops are meant for walking on flat surfaces, although wearing them while doing yard work can be dangerous. Whether you’re mowing, using a shovel, brandishing a weed eater, or power washing – exposed feet are ripe for cuts, scrapes and puncture wounds. And let’s not forget insects and snake bites! Work boots or closed shoes are strongly recommended.

Is there a way to wear them well?

Whether you’re planning a hike or climb, or a nice slow walk from one end of town to the other – athletic shoes, not flip flops, are the right choice.
Purchase flip flops with built-in orthotic support (Dr. Auger recommends Vionics brand), because eventually your feet are in for uncomfortable afflictions or severely painful debilities if you wear flip flops consistently.
Another alternative is clogs, preferably waterproof with lightweight tops.

It’s nice to have options in our life, and when it comes to our feet – not having daily pain to endure is one of the most wonderful gifts you can receive. Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger has dedicated her life to a holistic and compassionate podiatry practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. And, as an athlete herself, she chose this environment for the amazing outdoor lifestyle and is highly experienced with sports injuries (as well as all diseases and afflictions of the feet and ankles). Same day appointments are always available in three convenient locations.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain Hacks

January 20, 2018

People with rheumatoid arthritis frequently experience pain and stiffness in the balls of their feet or toes. Swelling in the ankles is another common issue. The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society says that 90 percent of people dealing with RA complain of these foot pain symptoms.

While RA sufferers should align themselves with a podiatrist, wearing the right footwear and losing weight can also help with your foot pain. There are also things you can do at home to alleviate your discomfort.

Here are five hacks for those who want to treat their RA-related foot pain at home.

1. Orange Juice Can Roll

Sure, you drink it for breakfast, but did you know it can also help relieve foot pain? Instead of mixing your frozen juice in a pitcher, wrap a small towel around the can and put in on the floor in front of your chair. Run your foot back and forth over the frozen can for soothing comfort.

2. Dried Beans Massage

How many times have you tried to rub your own feet, with no result? It just doesn’t feel the same as having someone else do it. To give yourself a pretty good foot massage, pour a package of dried beans into a shallow tray and rub your feet on them; or put some in the bottom of your tennis shoes and take a walk.

3. Reduce Moisture with Antiperspirant

Blisters on the bottoms of your feet can cause even more pain that you would rather not deal with. To prevent blisters from forming on your feet, apply antiperspirant to the soles of your feet. This will keep them dry, depriving them of the moisture required for blisters to form.

4. Compression Socks “Shoehorn”

Putting on compression socks can be a hassle for people with rheumatoid arthritis, as they have to contort their feet in uncomfortable ways to be able to wear them. Here’s an easy trick to help you pull those socks on with ease. Cut the corner of a plastic grocery bag and slip it over your foot, from toes to heel. Slide the stockings on and then simply pull the plastic out.

5. Chamomile Tea Soak

This hack has no scientific basis, but some people claim that they have experienced RA foot pain relief by soaking their feet in a strong chamomile tea. Add tea bags to hot water, let the water cool slightly and then soak your feet for 10 minutes or so. It may not work for you, but then again it might.

Foot pain can affect your whole life. You don’t want to walk, and you certainly don’t want to run. Try these 5 hacks and see if they work for you. You may find relief sooner than you think.

If rheumatoid arthritis is new to you, or something you suspect you may have, reach out to Dr. Elizabeth E. Auger in Salt Lake City. Call (801) 396-9743 today to schedule a same-day appointment!