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Archive for August, 2010

Do Foot Detox Pads Really Work?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

No… they don’t. This has been a recurring question in our practice due to the late night infomercials. There are many products on the market, each claiming that they are able to remove metals, toxins and impurities from the body. These infomercials claim that:

“…using centuries old research to unleash the natural power of healing herbs and plants, we have created a safe naturopathic combination that draws from the acupuncture points at the bottom of the foot.”

Where you would take this patch, apply it to your feet, and as you wear it, it will remove these toxins. Then they say that you can tell the product is working because the pad will become a dark brown/black color and start to have a bad odor, which is supposedly toxins leaving your body.

These claims are entirely nonsensical. The human body eliminates toxins through the liver, which then gets filtered through the kidneys into the urine… not through the bottom of your feet. The marketing behind these products is clever because they provide you a “cure” for something that you don’t have in the first place. The discoloration you see in the pads is rust/corrosion, which occurs when the metals in the pad comes in contact with sweat. The bad odor smell is from bacteria and sweat that is trapped in the pad.

Some companies go as far to claim that “detox pads are FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved”. There are transdermal detoxification pads that ER doctors use on patients that to help speed drug overdoses (helps pull out the narcotic), but these are NOT the same thing as “foot detox pads”. The companies are putting a spin on the truth, intentionally misleading consumers to help line their pockets. The irony is that the company that made the statement about FDA approval (implying their product was), is actually black listed on the FDA website.

If one should truly be concerned about having toxins in their body, I recommend you see your primary care physician. However, if one should have foot pain, bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, plantar warts or any other pedal complaint, you should schedule an appointment at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP, conveniently located in Howell, NJ.

By David Hunnicutt

Tags: david hunnicutt, feet pain, foot, foot injuries, foot pain, howell
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Back To School For Kids, And Their Feet….

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Back to school shopping is exciting for both kids and parents for different reasons. Kids enjoy the shopping for a new wardrobe including new sneakers. Proper fitting of sneakers and style selection is important to prevent foot problems and injuries to the feet. There are several tips for making the right selection of shoes for your child to start the school year. Shopping with the child is important so they maybe measured for proper size. Children’s shoes change sizes and they should be measured at the shoe store to ensure proper sizing. Selecting a good sturdy shoe that has a stiff heel counter and a semi rigid toe box will help support the foot and prevent improper wearing or injuries. By taking your child with you and teaching them what to look for also teaches them good habits for the future. Certain trendy shoes may be the style for that year, but may not always be the most functional or supportive for your child. When looking at shoes you should also look for something that has a rigid middle. If the shoe is able to bend or twist, it does not provide enough support. Sizing is also important, that if one foot is larger than another you should always go with the larger size so it does not cramp the toes or create hammertoes. If the store does not measure, always use the rule of thumb. Make sure that there is a thumbs width from the tip of the great toe to the end of the shoe. This also goes for adults to ensure that there is no friction and reduces nail fungus and hammertoes. Shoes should not be passed down as they do break down and wear based on foot type and loose function after there is excessive wear. Sharing shoes may also spread warts or fungus from one to another. Shoes should also be comfortable when they are first put on and they should not have to be broken in. After the child wears the shoes for a while, look for any increased wearing as this maybe a sign of foot problems. If the shoes are being worn out unusually, you should bring them into one of podiatry offices that are located in Howell, Edison, Carteret or Monroe.

By Dr. Alison DeWaters

Tags: Dr. Dewaters, feet pain, foot, foot pain, fungus, hammertoes, kids, pediatrics, proper footwear, shoes, warts
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Beating the Odds on Amputations

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Amputations are a serious concern whether it is related to traumatic or diabetes. Traumatic amputations are usually from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents and lawn mower injuries. These injuries can make the foot and ankle unsalvageable as well as non-functional. Sometimes the debris and remnants of the injury can lead the patient to severe infections. Diabetic amputations are subjected to patients who have high sugar levels and neuropathy, which are patients who have a loss of sensation in the foot and ankle.

Podiatrists are your first line of defense if it relates to the lower extremity. Diabetic amputations are the number one cause of losses of limb. Diabetics are subjected to these surgical procedures if different parts of the foot and ankle are infected. Infections can be prevented with regular check-ups of the foot and ankle.

As many diabetic patients know, there is much fear when a diabetic has markings on their feet and ankles. Whether it is redness, bruising or an abscess, these are painful conditions that can become out of control. Some may need to be hospitalized for further work-ups such as vascular, infectious and medical.

Once the patient has been evaluated, they may have an infection or vascular condition that can limit blood flow to the foot and ankle. This can lead to a gangrenous, painful and non-functional foot. Usually this rotted part of the foot and ankle must be amputated to prevent other medical problems.

According to a recent announcement from Bloomberg Newsweek, Dr. James Wrobel states that most diabetics who visits the podiatrist once prior to a diabetic foot ulcer, reduces their risk of amputation and hospitalization by 15-17 percent! This may be due to the patients becomes educated on how to self examine their foot and also, most diabetic patients will become aware of the warning signs of pre-ulcers and infection. By the same token, patients will acquire and learn about shoes that they should be wearing to prevent ulcers and pressure spots on the foot and ankle.

All diabetics should be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist whether there are complications are not. Education is the best prevention. Please inquire to your family doctor, endocrinologist and vascular specialist regarding having a foot exam. CDFE (Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Exam) is very important exam and as Dr. Dewaters of Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP discusses in a prior blog, this exam can be a matter of life and loss of limb.

By Dr. Jasen Langley

Tags: Diabetes, Diabetic, Dr. Jasen Langley, feet pain, foot, foot injuries, foot injury, foot pain, howell, neuropathy, red hot foot, redness, wound
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Yao Ming Asks, “How Did I Get a Stress Fracture?”

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Playing sports or exercising can expose your feet and ankles to additional uncommon forces and cause a stress fracture. Treating stress fractures are common at our office in Howell, Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP. Some typical causes for stress fractures can be: bad body mechanics, underlying medical conditions, poor weight distribution, weak or over used muscles, and/or the wrong foot wear. It is not an injury that only athletes suffer from; anyone can experience a stress fracture for no apparent reason.

A famous athlete by the name of Yao Ming has suffered from a stress fracture and could be a career ending injury. Yao Ming’s foot injury could threaten the seven-foot-six-inch player’s career. Ming fractured his left foot last month during a semifinal match against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Conference semifinals and has been visiting foot and ankle specialists since then. This injury is career threatening and currently sidelining the Chinese Center. The Houston Rockets team physician, Tom Clanton, was shocked when the results of the CT scan revealed a fracture. Ming has no symptoms of pain or tenderness, no swelling or edema, no redness or bruising. There is a high risk of putting Ming on the court could make the fracture worse and then taking him out of the game all together. Yao Ming has gained 20 kilos in his upper body the past seven years from weight lifting and training, but his lower body did not gain as much strength as his upper body to hold his large frame.

While rehabilitating from a stress fracture, it is critical to strengthen the ankle/foot muscles to prevent from further injury and take the stress off the bones. If a patient continues to put pressure on a stress fracture and it is left untreated, it will delay the healing process and also can cause further damage in the fracture.

At our office, we have a digital x-ray machine on site making it convenient for our patients instead of referring them off-site to another diagnostic testing center. We also can provide bone stimulators to promote the healing of a fracture. If you experience any type of foot or ankle pain, you should always seek medical assistance as soon as possible to prevent further damage from occurring.

By Valerie Gregory, MSPT, CKTP

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Archive for August, 2010

Do Foot Detox Pads Really Work?

Back To School For Kids, And Their Feet….

Beating the Odds on Amputations

Yao Ming Asks, “How Did I Get a Stress Fracture?”

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