Health Tips Category

We rely on our feet more than we ever give them credit for. They carry us from place to place and if we don’t keep them healthy, we can experience discomfort all the way to the tops of our bodies.

Keeping your feet strong can have a tremendous impact on your health. If you are looking for foot strengthening exercises, read on.

1. Toe Stretch

Take your left hand and place it under your right foot with your fingers pointing in the same direction as your toes. Weave your fingers in between your toes, grasp your foot and then tug gently. Roll your ankle in semi-circles. Repeat on the opposite side. You may be surprised at just how relaxing this exercise is.

2. Arch Massage

Take a tennis ball, a street hockey ball or even a baseball and roll it under the ball of your foot. Sit in a comfortable chair, place the ball on the floor and put your foot on top of it. Roll the ball back and forth under your foot for as long as you like. Switch to the other foot when you are ready.

3. Tiptoes

Stand up and place your hands on a wall for stability. Raise yourself up onto your tiptoes and hold the position for about 10 seconds. Slowly lower yourself back down to the floor. Repeat the exercise 10 times.

4. Toe Curls

This exercise is done from a seated position. Place both feet on the floor and then scrunch your toes tightly. Release your toes slowly and repeat 10 times. It can help to place a rolled towel under your toes when you are first starting this exercise to give yourself something to grip.

5. Ankle Relaxation

If you are looking for an exercise that makes your feet feel amazing, this is the one. It is especially good for people who work on their feet all day. Stand up straight and brace yourself against a wall or counter. Lift your weak foot slightly, pointing the toe, and rotate your ankle in a circle. Return your foot to the floor and do the same with the opposite foot. Perform 10 circles with each foot.

6. Toe Lifts

You can do this exercise while seated or while standing and holding onto a counter. Put your feet flat on the ground and lift all your toes up. Try to lift your toes without lifting the ball of your foot or your heel. This exercise stretches out your arch as well as the muscles in the front and side of your calf.

When you have strong feet, you experience fewer aches and pains. Additionally, you will find that your posture improves, further lessening discomfort in your back, shoulders and neck. Try these exercises for yourself and see how much better you feel.

If you are experiencing foot pain that home remedies isn’t getting rid of, reach out to Dr. Elizabeth Auger’s Salt Lake City office. We will help you schedule an appointment and put you on the road to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

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Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Harvard Medical School got together and found something pretty interesting. When it comes to lower extremity pain, there is a strong link to the knees or hips. When your feet hurt, taking a closer look at your knees and hips may be in order.

What the study showed was that doctors may want to start taking a new approach in evaluating foot pain in their patients. It is suggested by the researchers that doctors don’t neglect asking about knee or hip pain when discussing discomfort in the feet. They say the reverse is true as well…when the knees or hips hurt, doctors should ask about the feet.

The kinetic chain, or the joints and segments that effect each other when the body moves, is strong between the hip and foot. The foot, say doctors, can be looked at like a shock absorber. It’s the first part of the body to strike the ground and when the foot’s ability to absorb shock is reduced, other body parts can be affected. Doctors also point out that the feet are the body’s foundation. When they aren’t sound, the rest of the joints above the foot can be negatively impacted.

To complete their study, researchers looked at information from 2,181 people who had participated in a different study between the years 2002 and 2008.  Of those peple, 16 percent had complained of pain in both feet, 6 percent of pain in only the right foot and 5 percent described left-foot pain.

When asked about other discomfort, many patients described pain in the knee or hip on the same side of the body as their foot pain. That pain, however, may have ultimately switched sides as patients altered their gaits or other movements to compensate for the discomfort they were feeling.

So what does this mean for you? For many people, it simply means speaking up when they visit the doctor. If you have foot pain and are noticing that your knees or hips are starting to be uncomfortable as well, tell your doctor. If you see a doctor for knee pain and are also experiencing foot and hip pain, be sure to detail that pain during your appointment.

Treatment for one area of your body may not alleviate the pain you are feeling in another. Your doctor can only treat you adequately if they are armed with all of the information. Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor where it hurts. It’s the only way that can help you in a comprehensive way.

If you have been experiencing pain or general discomfort in your feet, please call our office. Dr. Elizabeth Auger is happy to welcome new patients to her Salt Lake City office. Dr. Auger will examine your feet, discuss your medical history and current issues and work to diagnose and treat your condition. Call today to schedule your appointment.

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The art of ballet has been enjoyed by people around the world for centuries. There may be nothing more beautiful than watching a dancer seemingly float across the stage. Unfortunately, dancers’ foot health is risked for the privilege of being able to entertain audiences. Years of practice can take its toll on the feet and ankles.

Several of the injuries that dancers sustain are not severe in nature.  The good news is that they don’t often pose a serious threat. Some, though, should cause concern. A podiatrist can examine a dancer’s feet and discuss treatment options for the specific issue.

Some common injuries that can be caused by ballet include:

Dancer’s Fracture: This is one of the most common acute fractures suffered by dancers. This fracture occurs in the bone that is on the outer edge of the foot, the fifth metatarsal. It tends to happen when a dancer jumps and lands poorly.

Sesamoiditis: This condition causes pain when a person flexes their big toe. It is most often caused by regularly being on demi-pointe, or resting the weight on the bone behind the bit toe. The onset of sesamoiditis is gradual rather than acute.

Plantar Fasciitis: This condition is seen in people of all occupations. It occurs when the tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot is overused. It is often very painful in the morning and after a period of rest.

Achilles Tendonitis: The achilles tendon runs along the back of the ankle. Tendonitis can occur when a dancer repeatedly jumps and lands, or even dances, on a floor that is too hard.

Metatarsalgia: This condition occurs after years of working the feet too hard and forcing them into positions that are unnatural. It is an instability in the joints of the toes and can cause pain in the ball of the foot.

Long-Term Complications

While many injuries that ballet dancers sustain are treatable and cause no serious injury, some do have long-term complications. If injuries remain untreated, the dancer may suffer with chronic pain or an alteration of the normal walking gait.

Dancers who experience pain in their feet or ankles are strongly advised to stop dancing until they can be diagnosed. Injuries that are left untreated can lead to complications that last a lifetime and can cause further, more serious injury. No dancer should be forced to move through the pain.

If you are experiencing pain in the toes, foot, heel or ankles and live in Salt Lake City or the surrounding area, Dr. Elizabeth Auger would like to welcome you to her practice. Dr. Auger will perform a comprehensive examination, diagnose your injury or condition and offer you treatment options. You don’t have to take another step on painful feet. Reach out to our office today to schedule your first appointment and put yourself on the path to comfort.

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It’s a popular misconception that only athletes get athletes foot. The condition is known medically as tinea pedis. It’s a fungal infection between and around the toes. Those dealing with the condition find that their toes itch and burn, there are peeling patches of skin, there is excessive dryness along the sides or bottoms of feet, and/or changes in the color and thickness of toenails.

The good news is that there are a variety of home remedies that can help to alleviate the symptoms of athletes foot, if not get rid of it completely. Of course, if a home remedy doesn’t help, a trip to a podiatrist is in order. Here are some of the best ways to treat your athletes foot at home.

1. Cornstarch

Brown a bit of cornstarch in the oven to make sure it is completely free of moisture. Once you’ve removed it from the oven and given it a chance to cool, rub the cornstarch on your toes and feet. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and then brush it off with a towel. Wash you hands well after you have applied the cornstarch and once you have removed it.

2. Catch Some Air

Dry air is an enemy of athletes foot. When possible, and when you walking on dry surfaces, go barefoot. If you would rather not touch surfaces with your feet, wear flip flops or sandals. The air will dry out your feet and dryness makes it nearly impossible for fungus and bacteria to grow.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide Soak

Give your feet a good soak in hydrogen peroxide. Before you dunk your feet, remember that hydrogen peroxide can sting when skin is chapped or cracked. Mix a pint of hydrogen peroxide in 1 gallon of warm water. Soak your feet for about 30 minutes.

4. Soap and Water

You don’t have to go all out to get rid of athletes foot at home. A good old soap and dry will work wonders. Wash your feet with plain soap twice a day. After you wash, make sure that you dry them well. You can dry your feet with a hair dryer if the moisture doesn’t seem to be completely absorbed by the towel. If you do this, keep the dryer on a cool or warm setting – never hot.

5. Baking Soda 

This one isn’t directly for your feet, but rather for your shoes. Baking soda is an old fashioned remedy for fungus and bacteria. After you wear your shoes, sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the insides. This is an especially good idea if you have athletes foot and wear the same shoes frequently.

You don’t have to suffer with athletes foot that just won’t go away. If you live in Salt Lake City of the surrounding area, call the office of Dr. Elizabeth Auger. Dr. Auger will diagnose your condition, offer you treatment options and help you put your best foot forward.

 

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