The Howell Food Pantry, an organization focused on providing food and other resources to help the less fortunate, was running very low on food/resources and was in dire need of replenishing its stock. Knowing this, Dr. Ornstein set out not only to increase donations to the Howell Food Pantry, but to teach a group of student athletes how to get involved in their community and to learn about his overall mission to “de-feet” both childhood hunger, and hunger overall.

In April 2012, the Howell Pride Lacrosse program, comprised of boys and girls in grades 1 thru 8, received a letter from Dr. Ornstein offering them TEAM pictures in exchange for donations of food for the less fortunate to be dropped off at his podiatry office in Howell on Monday, May 7^th.  He, and his wife Anna, also offered to match each student athletes’ donation with their own donation of a $5.00 food purchase that would also go to the Howell Food Pantry.

On May 7^th, the unexpected happened when 40 to 50 student athletes showed up at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP and dropped off their food donations in response to Dr. Ornstein’s letter.  He was so proud of these student athletes; he responded by saying, “It brings so much joy to my heart to see the response by the Howell Pride Lacrosse program, their coaches, and families.  The power of volunteerism is immense when communities come together for the better good of humanity.  Hunger in the world today is a terrible tragedy and by working together we can “de-feet” childhood hunger, and ultimately strive to ‘de-feet’ hunger for all.”

This joint initiative between the Howell Pride Lacrosse program and the TEAM at the Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP has just begun to work together to support the Howell Food Pantry.  The overarching philosophy of Howell Pride Lacrosse is, in addition to teaching lacrosse fundamentals, to help children develop pride in themselves, their TEAM and their town. “This initiative is a very creative way for our players to demonstrate their pride in their community by helping the Howell Food Pantry”, states coach Bob Brown.   He went on to say that he anticipates an additional 180 boys and girls will be providing food donations to the Howell Food Pantry over the next several weeks.

The feedback from the parents of the Howell Pride Lacrosse program has been overwhelming.  Debbie Maher wrote, “The positivity that is promoted in your organization {Howell Pride} is the best I have seen in the 6 organizations we have been involved in. Your organization “teaches” the players, keeps all comments positive and goes out of your way to make “every” player feel good about the sport regardless of their ability.”

The Howell Pride Lacrosse program can now say that they have united as one, along with the TEAM at the Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP, and helped those who are less fortunate in their community.  And, along the way, they are learning what Dr. Ornstein means when he says he wants to “de-feet” childhood hunger, and eventually hunger overall.

Type 2 diabetes is always in the news, but there is still much that doctors and scientists do not know about the disease.  There are several risk factors including obesity, race, age, family history, and high blood pressure. Thankfully, type 2 diabetes does not have to be an early death sentence. With proper medications and lifestyle changes diabetics can live an active, enjoyable life. Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes you will need to see your primary care physician regularly, but do not forget about scheduling regular foot exams at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP, or with your podiatrist. With locations in Howell, Edison, and Monroe, New Jersey, we are not too far away from you.

Many people do not know, but the feet can sometimes show the first signs of a diabetic issue. Peripheral neuropathy is very common in type 2 diabetics.  Peripheral neuropathy is when diabetes affects the nerves and a person loses feeling in their feet.  For instance, if a healthy person were to step on glass, they would feel the pain and immediately pick up their foot. A diabetic with peripheral neuropathy doesn’t feel the pain and keeps walking around as if nothing happened. The only way a diabetic would know they are injured is if they see the wound or someone tells them they have a wound.  Some early signs of peripheral neuropathy are tingling, burning, itching, and sometimes pain in the feet or legs. Peripheral neuropathy can also affect the hands.

We need good feeling in our feet. Imagine what would happen if you cut your foot and didn’t know it for days or weeks!  Unfortunately, this happens to diabetics all the time and this is how a diabetic wound begins to develop.  A diabetic wound is an open sore usually under the ball of the foot. They can be difficult to treat especially if they are infected. If an infection gets really bad, amputation of a toe or part of the foot may be a possibility. In fact, diabetics are 30-40 times more like to undergo a major amputation.

The most important thing a podiatrist can do is catch a peripheral neuropathy problem before it becomes bigger. Your podiatrist can debride (shave down) calluses on the bottom of your feet. Calluses are common sites for diabetic wounds.  Constant rubbing (friction) from the inside of a shoe or rough surfaces can break the skin and lead to wounds.   Your podiatrist can prescribe custom orthotics and make pads that can be used to reduce friction on the feet. If a foot exam reveals that you have peripheral neuropathy and you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, then your podiatrist will refer you to the right physician so that you can be tested for diabetes and begin treatment, if needed.

Peripheral neuropathy may not be avoidable for a diabetic, but remember that you have some control over your health. If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes then you may have even more control of how the disease affects your life. Stay away from Paula’s bread pudding, follow your treatment plans, and make an appointment at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP. You owe it to yourself and the people who love you.

By Dr. Varun (Ben) Gujral

The event will include a 5K race/walk that promises a great course for the runners/walkers to enjoy with safety measures for the event to be taken by the Howell Township Police Department. Prior to the launch of the 5K race/walk, there will be a 1 mile “Fun Run” for people of all ages. In addition to the running/walking events, there will be an area of fun including vendors, a DJ, food and drinks, and more.

In addition to the race itself, the Howell Township Education Foundation (HTEF) has added a challenge to this year’s “Race to Educate 5K Race/Walk”.  The organizers are offering a discretionary grant worth $1,000 to the Howell Township School that provides the highest percentage of race participants, based on school enrollment.  All runners and walkers who register will be asked to indicate if they are affiliated with one of the 12 schools in the district.  Staff members, students, and/or family members of children in a particular school are recognized as having an affiliation with that school and should note it on their registration form.  At the conclusion of the registration process, the school represented with the highest number of registrants for the race will be awarded the $1,000 grant.

Pre-Registration for this event is $20.00 if postmarked before May 21 and after this date, including race day registration, will be $25.00.  The first 600 people registered will receive a free T-Shirt, but if registered on race day, T-shirt sizes cannot be guaranteed.  There are two ways to register for this event; you can visit www.TheRaceToEducate.com and register under the “registration tab” or mail a check, and make payable to, “Howell Township Education Foundation, PO Box 579, Howell, NJ  07731”.  For more information, please email RaceToEducate@yahoo.com or call (732) 905-1110.  In addition, “The Race To Educate 5K Race/Walk” can also be found on Facebook (The Race to Educate – Howell Township Education Foundation) and Twitter (Race2Educate), which will offer information up to the day of the race and much more.

DVTs are fairly common.  Each year there are 600,000 new cases, 300,000 hospital admissions, and 100,000 deaths related to DVTs. There are 3 main factors that that lead up to a DVT.  Together these factors are known as Virchow’s Triad. The 3 factors are:

(1)   Hypercoagulability – Having a high clotting state

(2)   Venous stasis – All of the blood is not going back to the heart and it is ‘pooling’ in the legs.

(3)   Endothelial damage – Damage to the veins that makes it easier for the blood to clot

Virchow’s Triad can be influenced by genetics, trauma (severe injury), having a surgery longer than 30 minutes, being on bed rest or immobile for more than 3 days, smoking, pregnancy, and varicose veins. The biggest risk is having been diagnosed with a DVT before. If you have had a DVT, there is a 30% chance that it will happen again.

The most common sign of a DVT is deep pain or tenderness in the legs.  Other symptoms are sudden swelling of a whole leg, large visible veins, and redness or discoloration of the leg.  The most important thing you can do is recognize possible symptoms and tell your podiatrist during your appointment at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center. We have locations at Howell, Edison, and Monroe, New Jersey. Once the DVT has been diagnosed, treatment can begin. Treatment usually is heparin (a blood thinner given intravenously) followed by a warfarin (an oral blood thinner). These two medications will to stop the clot from getting bigger and prevent new clots from forming. A very useful tool to preventing DVTs is compression stockings. These stockings put pressure on the legs to reduce swelling and prevent the blood from pooling and clotting. Your podiatrist at can write you a prescription for a pair of compression stockings and monitor how long you need to wear them.

DVTs are dangerous but they do not have to be deadly. The symptoms are not always noticeable, so it is important to pay attention to any changes you see in your legs and let your podiatrist know of all your past medical history. There are things you can start doing now to lower your chances of getting a DVT, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and controlling high blood pressure. Don’t stand on the sidelines when it comes to your health. Ignorance is not bliss and what you don’t know can really cause harm.

By Dr. Alison DeWaters

(Associated Press; 4/17/12)

In addition to this professional achievement, in 2009 Dr. Ornstein was inducted into the Podiatric Hall of Fame and received the Podiatry Management Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.  He is a distinguished practitioner in the national academies, has given over 250 presentations internationally and has written and been interviewed for over 300 articles on topics pertinent to practice management, patient satisfaction and efficiency in a medical practice.

Dr. Ornstein has been in private practice for over twenty years and serves as Medical Director of Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP with their main office in Howell, NJ where he lives with his wife Anna and their two boys. To contact the Howell office located at 4645 Route 9 North, they can be reached at (732) 905-1110.  To contact the Edison office located at 2163 Oak Tree Road, Suite 108 or the Monroe office located at 300 Overlook Drive, they can be reached at (732) 662-3050.  To make an appointment or learn more about Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP, please contact one of their offices or visit www.footdoctorsnj.com.

The Better Business Bureau Code of Business Practices represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. The Code is built on the “BBB Standards for Trust”; eight principles that summarize important elements of creating and maintaining trust in business.  Supporting fairness in the marketplace, the BBB’s core services include; Business Reliability Reports, Disputes Resolution, Truth-in-Advertising, Consumer and Business Education and Charity Review.

Dr. Hal Ornstein, managing partner at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLC states, “Our practice is always striving to provide exceptional information, respect, and customer service to our patients. We are proud of the A+ rating that we have achieved with the BBB.” As noted on the BBB website, “BBB accreditation is an honor and not every company is eligible. Only businesses that meet their high standards are invited to join BBB.”

Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP has locations in Howell, Monroe and Edison, NJ.  To contact the Howell office located at 4645 Route 9 North, they can be reached at (732) 905-1110.  To contact the Edison office located at 2163 Oak Tree Road, Suite 108 or the Monroe office located at 300 Overlook Drive, they can be reached at (732) 662-3050.  To make an appointment or learn more about Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP, please contact one of their offices or visit www.footdoctorsnj.com.

When a fracture of one of the 30 bones of the foot and ankle occurs, it is essential to obtain a prompt evaluation for proper diagnosis and treatment. With early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and correct rehabilitation, a painless foot and ankle which functions properly is probable.

Depending on the type of fracture, recovery times vary. A minor bone break in a child may take a few weeks to heal, while a serious break in an older person’s bone may require from months to a year to heal. In an adult, no fractures heal in fewer than 6 weeks, except for an occasional stress fracture.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants 5^th year running back broke his foot this past season and he was cleared to play against the Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers on December 4, 2011?  At that prior Friday’s practice, Bradshaw was in the backfield ready to work out for the first time since breaking a bone in his right foot on Oct. 30 against the Miami Dolphins. The press did not state what type of fracture had, but if he could play after five weeks from the initial break, most likely it was a stress fracture.

Most fractures repair themselves within six to eight weeks. Some bones, however, have a poor blood supply and repair takes longer. These include the neck of the femur and the lower portion of the tibia.

Foot or ankle fractures should always be treated as well as the patient following up with a doctor to make sure that no other problems exist such as displacement of bone or dislocations. Conservatively, fractures can be immobilized and patients can be sent to physical therapy to strengthen and regain proper mobility and function. If the injury requires surgery, the patient needs rest and no weight bearing activities for up to eight weeks.

If you have any questions or might be having foot or ankle issues, please feel free to contact one of our 3 offices which are located in Howell, Edison and Monroe, NJ. We carry the newest diagnostic and treatment technology for all your foot and ankle fractures.

By Dr. Jasen Langley

Join our Spin for a Cure on Saturday, March 31^st from 10am-12pm at The Club at Morristown, 118 Headquarters Plaza, Morristown, NJ.  There will be two 45 minute sessions for anyone up for sweating and supporting a great cause!  Following your spin session, join us in the pool area for brunch and a swim.  The Club has graciously invited all participants to use the gym facilities for the day, including their recently renovated salt generator pool. Make it a family event—bring another adult and while one of you spins the other can be at the pool with the kids!  A lifeguard will be on duty during the event.  Friends and family are welcome to join us just for brunch and use of the facilities to support the cause!

The Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation (HNF) is excited to partner with The Club for our first spin-a-thon of 2012.   We especially appreciate their willingness to provide such a great space to our cause.  “As a personal trainer, it’s my job, and the other trainers’ jobs, to improve people’s lives,” says Fitness Director, Matt Kovacs.  “After speaking to Allison and learning about the disease, it became clear that this was a great opportunity for us to do just that.”

Come out to The Club and help make this Spin for a Cure a great success!  More information at www.hnf-cure.org, see “Coming Events” or email Courtney@hnf-cure.org or call 919-824-7260.

Cost is $25 to reserve a bike for 1 session and $40 for both sessions, and all proceeds go to HNF to support those living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).  Register today at http://hnf.donorpages.com/spinnj/.

The Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation (HNF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which raises awareness, funds scientific research, and educates the medical community as well as the general public about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). HNF is committed to providing support to people living with CMT and their families. 

An emerging field in America, yoga therapy hovers between a doctor’s visit and a stretching class. Yoga therapists work in small groups or private sessions, addressing specific health problems and adapting poses accordingly. A steady stream of interest has become a flood: According to the trade group International Association of Yoga Therapists, membership has more than tripled in the last three years, and the number of schools offering training has doubled over the past two years.

Yoga therapy advocates believe that since yoga is a holistic discipline — teaching that the mind, body, and spirit are connected — yoga therapy can go beyond the results that are possible with physical therapy.

“Yoga therapy is very much about the whole person,” says Janice Gates, president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and author of “Yogini.” “It is complementary to physical therapy, but we take into account that back pain may be related to an emotional element, or it may be from lifestyle, some pattern that is not serving them, physical movement patterns or other patterns.”

Treating lower extremity injuries at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center located in Howell New Jersey, I have seen a number of gait and posture abnormalities that I have addressed with yoga techniques. There are many benefits to yoga, and anyone at any age can practice yoga. Because of the wonders yoga has benefited me, I have been expanding my knowledge and incorporating the poses and pranayama’s in my practice. Pranayama also known as breath control, are exercises that increase blood oxygenation, and can produce calming or energizing/alerting effects. Who could benefit from that?  Any individual that has lungs!

By Valerie Gregory, MSPT, CKTP

References:

www.iayt.org

www.yogaallaince.org