OMG...Has my shoe size changed or did my feet grow...?

Ladies, can pregnancy change your shoe size? Can pregnancy cause your feet to grow?

These are two common questions that patients always ask me during their pregnancy. The answers are, pregnancy can change your shoe size and your feet can change, becoming longer.

The reason is, a hormone called Relaxin, which is released into your blood stream during your pregnancy. The ovaries produce the hormone Relaxin during pregnancy. Its function is to cause pelvic and cervical expansion by loosening the ligament attachments in the joint between the pubic bones in the front of the pelvis and the joints between the sacrum and the pelvis in the back, allowing the fetus to travel through the birth canal. It also inhibits muscular contractions of the uterus and prevents the otherwise natural abortion of the fetus, stimulates the growth of the glands in the breasts which are responsible for milk production and increases the amount of water in the uterus. The hormone Relaxin is only found in pregnant women and remains in their body for only 24 hours after the child is born.

So the big question is what does the hormone Relaxin has to do with feet and will it affect every pregnant woman? The bones and joints in the feet are connected together by ligaments. Therefore, when Relaxin is released during pregnancy it can also target the ligaments in the feet causing them to relax and elongate. Relaxin affects the weight-bearing joints in the feet (joints in the mid-foot or arch area) and some women’s feet will change in width as well as length. When these joints are affected the ligament attachments weaken and the arch can flatten causing the foot to get longer. Not all women’s feet change size during their pregnancy but for the ones whose feet do it can become pretty frustrating. The change is permanent and your feet will not revert back to its original size, therefore, causing havoc in pregnant women’s shoe wardrobes.

During your pregnancy if you feel that additional arch support is needed because your feet get tired from standing and carrying a little extra weight, look into over the counter arch supports such as Instant Archesâ or custom made orthotics. These types of foot products can help support your feet and make you more comfortable when walking and standing. The arch supports will not prevent any of the changes in your feet due to the hormone Relaxin. For those women who have experienced a change in their shoe size after their pregnancy try taking your shoes to a shoe repair shop to have them stretched.

If all else falls, then it’s off to the shoe store!

WOW...Roll away your foot pain and body fatigue!

Many people suffer from heel, ball of the foot, ankle and other lower extremity muscle aches and pains. These problems over time can add up to a decrease in physical activity and excessive weight gain because it hurts too much to exercise or you’re a little stiff to put your best foot forward. Luckily for the exerciser, science has created a new type of shoe technology which is now available to help eliminate those annoying and nagging roadblocks that cause us to postpone exercise.

Shoes not only cover and protect your feet from the outside environment they also reduce the impact shock your entire body encounters with each step. We cannot always predict the type of surfaces we walk, stand or exercise on such as concrete, grass, dirt or asphalt. However, controlling your shoe wear is a very easy thing to do. New shoe technology has made exercising more fun. There are now shoes designed for both men and women with a rocker bottom outersole. The benefits of these types of shoes are many; they reduce the impact shock in the joints of your feet, ankles and knees as well as improving posture when walking. For those of you who have pain in the balls of your feet when you stand or walk this type of shoe should help relieve your symptoms. The rocker bottom outersole also reduces heel pain because it transfers your weight away from your heel. They also strengthen the muscles in your legs and buttocks, decreases body fatigue when standing for long periods of time and improves blood flow in your legs because your lower leg muscles are constantly firing causing increased circulation.

The two shoes that currently have this special rocker bottom technology are Shape-ups who are manufactured by Skechers and MBT shoes. These types of shoes are compatible with custom made orthotics or any over the counter arch support such as Instant Archesâ. So when you roll away during day, your foot pain and body fatigue may go away!

Do your feet need relief?

Perhaps you would like to apply heat to your feet, or something cool to your feet? Well, a podiatrist that I know and has treated me for years, has developed a new product called Cool Soles. Actually, these soles can be cool or heated. You put them in the freezer or in your microwave, and then using straps that come with the soles, you apply them to your feet. They cost about $25 and can be ordered directly from the Dr. Rosenberg Cool Soles website at www.coolsoles.com and each package includes a sole for the right foot and the left foot and the straps for application. www.youtube.com\alanbestbuys

"OMG"...My heels hurt and I have ugly toenails!

Summer feet..., Cracked heels, Nail fungus or plain old dirt!
It is summer time and flip – flops, sandals or open toed shoes are the footwear of choice. That means our feet are vulnerable to toe nail fungus or is it dirt disease and cracked calloused heels.... Let’s see.Nail fungus known as Onychomycosis can turn your toenails into a thick, yellow, flaky and painful mess. Fungus nails sometimes start out with just the corner of your toenail involved. The nail plate usually appears yellow or discolored in the tip of one your toenails first and then can later spread to other toenails. Fungus nails can detach from the nail plate making it possible for the nail to rip off if it gets caught in a sock or jammed into the leg of a table or bedpost. Once the nail plate is slightly detached from the nail bed dirt can get underneath the nail and cause the nail to have a dark appearance and turn black.

The question is, what is this mysterious material underneath the toenail, a fungus or dirt. Dirt can get underneath the clear nail plate and cause a dark spot to appear, confusing you to think “OMG” I have fungus! So check out your nails carefully and you can decide for yourself what those dreaded dark spots are underneath your toenails. If the nail doses not appear either yellow, thick (having a dry chalky flaky substance present underneath the nail plate) or disfigured it probably is not a fungal nail. Visiting your podiatrist or Dermatologist is the first step in identifying and getting rid of your problem. There are over the counter topical solutions available as well as prescription oral medications that can be helpful in treating the nail fungus problem.Another problem that can occur during the summer months are cracked thick painful callous around the heels of your feet. This can also be a problem that will drive you too a podiatrist or dermatologist. They can fissure and open up making walking difficult. Walking barefoot or wearing flip- flops and backless sandals causes them because of friction (continual rubbing of the skin on a hard surface) around the rim of the heel. Another reason for having fissured or cracked heels is dry skin. If this skin problem is not treated properly the skin could get infected. A few easy ways to treat this problem is by purchasing a foot cream with 40 % Urea. Urea will soften and moisturize the skin breaking down the thick callous formation. Another way to treat the problem is to use an abrasive file to smooth the tissue. Using abrasive files such as diamond files or even nail files are easy ways to smooth that thick tuff callous on your feet.So, take care of your feet during these hot summer days and your feet will take care of you!

SHOES..."How to choose what to use"

“If the shoe fits wear it and when the foot hits the ground, everything changes”! These are two important facts you need to know when you are buying athletic shoes to stay fit. There are many types of athletic surfaces available to workout on, depending on your activity. Tennis players play on hard, clay and grass courts. Runners run on asphalt streets, concrete sidewalks, dirt, grass, on a track and hard or soft sand at the beach. Basketball player’s play on hardwood and concrete courts. However, whatever sports activity you participate in, if your foot is not properly supported on these different types of surfaces and in the right type of shoe, your foot biomechanics will be thrown off. Ouch! Our feet begin to compensate during a run, a game of tennis or up and down the basketball court. This could cause poor foot placement during your stride. A shoe that provides stability and proper foot support, when running, will help eliminate potential lower leg and foot injuries. Remember some feet are very unstable and no matter what shoe you are wearing your feet will need additional support to control that problem. Running in the right athletic shoes will make exercising easier. The shoe should have enough room in the toe box so your toes will not get crowded when running which could lead to blisters and other foot irritations. There should be at least a thumbs width between the longest toe on your foot and the end of the toe box. Again if the shoe is comfortable, cushioned and feels supportive it should help avoid any type of potential foot injury. The right shoe will be more comfortable and more stable for your foot. It will allow your foot to function better because your foot is stable. Stable feet in stable shoes do not brake down as fast as unstable feet in any shoe.

Overuse injuries are the most common type of foot injuries that walk into a doctor’s office. They occur more often in people who have unstable feet because the arch collapses during their activities. This will result in foot fatigue, cramping arches, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. They are less likely to happen with people who have stable feet and a better foot structure. Wearing the right shoe reduces the susceptibility of foot injuries. The shoe should have a ridged heel counter to prevent the heel from sliding, a solid midsole and outersole to reduce the impact load on the feet and shock to the body. Initially, stable, supportive and durable shoes will most likely keep a person who has foot problems or unstable feet injury free until the shoes begins to brake down. Professionally made orthotics, as well as over the counter prefabricated orthotics, or instant arches are other options available to help keep your feet supported in your athletic shoes.

Doing the research and finding the best shoe for your foot will prevent potential foot injuries from occurring during exercise and keep your feet happy and out of the doctors offices!

Summer feet...cracked dry heels OUCH!, Nail fungus or dirt disease?

It is summer time and flip flops and sandals are the shoes of choice. That means our feet are vulnerable to toe nail fungus or is it dirt disease and cracked calloused heels....Let's see.
Nail fungus known as Onychomycosis can turn your toe nails into a thick yellow flaky and painful mess. Fungus nails sometimes start out with just the corner of your toe nail involved. It usually appears yellow or discolored in the corner of the great toe nail first and then can later spread to other toenails. Fungus nails can detach from the nail plate making it possible for the nail to rip off if it gets caught on a sock or jammed into the leg of a table ect. Dirt can also get underneath the nail and cause the nail to have a dark black appearance. But wait the dark appearance in your nail could also be from Dirt Disease.......Dirt disease is when you may have accidentally banged your nail and it became detached from the nail plate. Dirt can get underneath the clear nail plate and cause a dark spot. So check out your nails carefully and you can decide for your self what those dreaded dark spots are underneath your toenails. Visiting your podiatrist is the first step in getting rid of your problem. There are topical and oral medications that can be helpful in treating the nail fungus problem.

Cracked thick painful callouses around the heels of your feet can also be a problem that will drive you to a podiatrist. They can fissure and open up making walking difficult. They are caused by walking barefoot or wearing flip- flops and backless sandals. If not treated the skin could get infected. A few easy ways to treat this problem is by purchasing a foot cream with 40 % Urea in it that will break down the thick callouse formation and moisturise the skin. Another way to treat the problem is to use an abrasive file to smooth the tissue. There are diamond files available that are terrific and is an easy way to treat your feet.

Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you!

SHOE AND FOOT TIPS FOR TRAVEL

Summer has come upon us and it is time to take those long awaited vacations you dreamed about all winter long. Here are some shoe and foot tips to keep you walking and comfortable during travels. First DO NOT buy a pair of new shoes and take them with you on your trip unless they are fully broken in! That means they should be at least a few months old and have had enough wear that they are like an old friend.

A new pair of shoes can be stiff , uncomfortable and can cause blisters on your toes or on the back of your heel. Soft leather is always a better bet when buying a pair of leather shoes. Shoes can also irate an already existing foot problem like bunions, heel spurs, plantar fasciatis or hammer toes.

Make sure your shoes have a good support system and are well cushioned. This can either be by the support mechanism that came with the shoe, wearing custom made orthotics or over the counter arch supports such as Instant Arches. Buying a soft inner sole that you can place in your shoe can also make your shoes more comfortable. If you are using custom made orthotics always remove the arch system that is currently in the shoe and then place the orthotic in your shoe. If you want to make the orthotic more comfortable place a soft insole on top. This will give you cushion and support. The bottom line is you want to be comfortable and supported for those long days of site seeing.

Wearing sandals or flip flops is not recommended if you are walking for long periods of time because of the lack of support they provide. It is an easy way to develop blisters and arch cramps.

So, travel in comfortable shoes and you will not have to run to the foot doctor when you come back from your trip....!

Can I blame it on mom, dad, aunts, uncles or my grandparents?

Many of us have flat feet or bunions and have no clue how it developed. Well if you look at your parents, aunts, uncles or your grandparents feet you may find that they are similar to yours. Yes, flat feet, high arches and bunion deformities can be hereditary or a genetic predisposition that eventually may surface as you get older.

So if your kids have flat feet, high arches or bunions it probably came from you or another family member. Flat feet (the arch of the foot collapses) can lead to bunion deformities, plantar fasciatis, heel spurs, low back pain and foot fatigue. High arches can lead to ball of the foot pain, heel spurs and plantar fasciatis. So, you do not have to look far to figure out why your feet may hurt or you have developed a mysterious lump or bump.

The good news is that even if you have developed foot problems through out your life, the solution to make them feel better is simply to support your feet using orthotics. Products such as Instant Arches, over the counter foot supports and professionally made orthotics are some ways to keep your genetics in check.

If you have foot pain, ice products such as cool soles, or other ice packs can be very helpful to take the heat off.

How to keep my feet looking great...!

Pedicurist or Podiatrist?

For many women going to a pedicurist is a way of life but for some it can cause a little discomfort in ones life. I have had a number of patients over the years who have come in with ingrown toe toes, nail fungus and skin infections which probably at the the pedicurists salon. The things that you should be aware of when you get your nails done is to make sure you bring your own instruments and basin to soak your feet in. That way you can control the environment your foot is being exposed to and prevent some of the common nail and skin problems that can happen to your feet. When getting your nails cut make sure the pedicurist cuts your nails straight across and then uses a nail file to round the edges of the nails. One of the most common causes of ingrown toe nails (which is like having a tooth ache) is when the corners of the nail are cut crooked it can grow out crooked and therefore cut into the skin causing lots of pain. Another cause is if your shoes are to pointed and tight the sides of the nails can grow in crooked. Nail fungus or in medical lingo onychomycosis is another common problem one sees coming out of a pedicurists salon. In order to prevent that from happening to your toe nails, bring in your own basin and instruments. That will eliminate the chances of contacting a fungus left behind by the last client.

If you develop an ingrown toe nail or nail fungus, contact your podiatrist and have those problems evaluated. Treatment is available to resolve those problems. If you have hard to cut thick yellow flaky nails or red swollen painful skin surrounding the tip and sides of the nails seek professional help and do not perform bathroom toe surgery. Having great looking pedicured nails can make you feel good all day long and knowing that you can prevent some of the more common toe nail problems from occurring will make you feel even better. For more information regarding your feet go to www.rosenbergstevendpm.com or www.footproductsenterprises.com

"When your feet hurt everything hurts"... OUCH !

Standing on hard floor surfaces such as concrete in work environments such as studios, sound stages, salons, sales positions at department stores, bank tellers, cocktail waitress , models, dancers and walking trade shows can take a terrible toll on you physically. The shoes that you wear performing these activities do not usually provide the proper support for your feet. They are not cushioned or supportive enough to absorb the force that the ground creates. Floor surfaces usually do not have a lot of padding and can cause your body to experience fatigue, low back pain, tired & sore muscles, tendonitis and foot pain.

Often times these problems can be easily resolved by supporting the arches of your feet. With a supportive arch support in your shoes many of those symptoms will disappear. Dr. Rosenberg's Instant Arches is one of the supportive arch support products available to help solve those problems www.instantarches.com and to cool off those hot tired feet after a long day of standing at work, Dr. Rosenberg's Cool Soles is another helpful product www.coolsoles.com Placing a soft insole in your shoes is another way to help cushion your feet.
"So be kind to your feet and your feet will be kind to you"!

Orthotics... to get or not to get....that is the question !

Orthotics are hand casted molded devices made of high-impact plastics or graphite materials. They are designed to gently correct the position of the bones of your feet and hold them in proper alignment. They will fit in most flat shoes and can also be made for fashion shoes. They can slow down the development of Bunion deformities, relieve plantar fasciitis and heel spur pain as well as reduce knee, hip and back pain. Many foot injuries are the result of poor foot mechanics where you have exceeded your own physical limitations. This can cause muscle fatigue or break down causing tired and painful feet. Orthotics reinforce the proper alignment of bones and muscles so that those painful problems will not occur.

Orthotics will improve postural and spinal alignment. They will also allow your foot to adapt to different types of walking, running and hiking surfaces by providing better shock absorption for the bones and joints of your feet.

The answer to the question is to get them, if you want to feel more balanced reduce the risk of foot injuries and improve your over all walking and exercising comfort.

If the shoe fits......wear it !

Some foot problems can occur because you love the shoe but it is not your size, your really are a size 8 and you want to wear a size 7 or it is just a "Hot Looking Shoe, you have to have it and you are only wearing to the restaurant and kicking it off once you get there". By trying to stuff your foot in a shoe that dose not fit properly can cause all sorts of foot problems. It can aggravate an already existing foot problem that usually dose not bother you, such as a bunion or hammer toe. It can also cause a soft tissue injury such as a tendonitis, bursitis or myositis. This is an inflammation of a tendon , bursa or muscle in the foot.

If the shoe is too narrow you can develop a neuroma which occurs by irritating and pinching the nerves in the front part of your foot or aggravate one that you already have but does not hurt. If you have bunion deformities a narrow shoe can trigger pain in that specific area. If your shoe is to big for your foot it can cause toe problems in the tip of the shoe and your foot will slide forward causing friction problems on the ball of your foot, top of your toes and the back of your heels. If you have one foot bigger than the other, fit the larger of the two feet and place an insole pad, arch pad or tongue pad in the shoe that fits the smaller foot This will take up some of the extra room and make the shoe fit better.

"So be kind to your feet and they will be kind to you"!

Pain after exercise, Can I wish it to get better?

Anyone who is active and exercises is susceptible to after exercise pain "OUCH"! This could be as simply as taking a very long walk, jogging, running, playing golf, tennis, hiking or an aerobic class. The pain is sometimes sharp and localized or it also can be all over. There could be swelling, redness and heat found in the injured area. What you do not want to do is "WISH", "HOPE" or "PRAY" for the pain to go away. Wishing only lasts the first 24 - 36 hours, if the pain dose not begin to subside then it is time to seek medical attention. Tips for pain relief,,,To reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation in an injured area; your foot ( plantar fasciatiis, tendinitis, arch pain heel pain)...REST it, then apply ICE which is the first line of defense. When an injury occurs, it causes an inflammatory response in the body which creates heat, swelling and pain. Ice will vasoconstrict the superficial blood vessels in your body, causing blood vessels to narrow at the injury site. This helps calm those acute and chronic foot and leg injuries down and speeds up the recovery of the injured tissue. Apply ice in 20 minute intervals 20 on 20 off. COMPRESSION is another part of the recovery program, by wrapping the injured area using a compression bandage it will help reduce the pain and swelling component of the injury. Finally, ELEVATE the injured area . Elevation can also help eliminate swelling. So, kick your feet up and relax and help your wishing come true!

Can shoes cause numbness and tingling in your feet?

Numbness and tingling in your feet can be caused from tightly fitting shoes that cause what is known as a compression neuropathy (pressing on a nerve). If you are wearing a pair of running or exercise shoes, and all of a sudden you get a tingling sensation or numbness feeling on the top of your foot.....you are probably tying your shoes to tightly. It can also occur if you are wearing a tightly fitted dress shoe and stand for a long period of time like a trade show. A reason that this type of problem can occur in your feet is because there are superficial nerves that travel on the top of your feet that can get injured or irritated when micro - traumatised. It can send sharp pains into your toes or just cause your toes to tingle or get numb.

To prevent this problem from happening make sure you loosen you laced shoes when you feel the the slightest sensation of pressure on the top of your foot. Also make sure you wear comfortable shoes with an arch support in them when you are at trade shows. If you are wearing high heels there are arch products available that can fit in your shoe to give your feet support. Icing can also help if you begin to experience the tingling sensations. If the problem continues to persist consult with your foot specialst.

Why do I feel wobbly in high heel shoes?

Dr. Steve says:

Women that wear high heels and feel wobbly when they walk may think they have weak ankles. This is not true. The problem is in the joints of there feet. When the joints in the foot collapse the arch becomes unstable and you can feel wobbly while walking in your shoes. The higher the heel the more unstable you may feel. Placing an arch support in your shoes will reduce that unstable or wobbly feeling. So , do not worry about not being able to wear your favorite high fashion shoes because a little support will allow you to walk a long way, in comfort.

Foot News Deli

Foot News Deli
www.instantarches.com

Dr. Steve asks.....Arch cramps when walking? There are a few reasons....Shoes can be the culprit so make sure the fit comfortable and wear the coorect size, not the one that you look the best in. If your arches start cramping make sure you have good arch support in your shoes. The arches in your feet can fatigue quickly when stnding on them for long periods of time or dancing/ partying. If you do not want to keep taking you shoes off during the day or evening while out enjoying yourself, put an arch support or orthotic in your shoes. These can be customed made or try instant arhes. They will take the pressure off the ball of your feet and prevent abnormal pronation. Abnormal pronation is when your arch flattens out or collapses in your shoes. Over the coarse of the day or evening the muscles the the foot will get tired and then you will get arch cramping, fatgue and or spams. OUCH! Of coarse a good foot message dosen't hurt either....!

High fashion shoes do not have to be uncomfortable for your feet when you are out dancing, dinning or at a special event. There is a product available called Dr. Rosenberg's Instant Arches that will make all women's shoe styles more comfortable and supportive. One size fits all and they come in 3 colors tan, black and gray. When you come home from an evening out and your feet are screaming try another product called Dr. Rosenberg's Cool Soles. They can be heated ( microwave) or placed in the freezer depending on your comfort zone. For those of you who have cold feet all the time you may find these cool soles an amazing solution. If you have foot pain such as plantar fasciitis, heel pain or general foot pain, instant relief is on its way.