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What Are Custom Orthotics?

custom orthotics

Custom orthotics are devices provided by a specialist or a podiatrist according to the anatomy of your foot. Custom orthotics can benefit anyone as they support the natural shape of the feet, alleviate pain in the foot, redistribute weight evenly on the feet, maintain equilibrium and greatly reduce the risk of forming foot sores in people with diabetes. They are frequently prescribed to people with bunions, hammertoes, high-arched feet, flat or webbed feet, plantar fasciitis, overpronation, diabetic foot, and supination.

How Can They Benefit You?

  1. Custom orthotics manufacturers use intelligent, innovative sensory technology to gauge the anatomy of their client’s feet and analyze pressure points for any dysfunctional gait issues while bearing weight. This way, the custom insoles are made to address an individual’s podiatric requirements.
  • A podiatrist would prefer prescribing custom orthotics to people seeking orthotic support for their feet, but insurance companies usually do not cover the expense of custom orthotics. The other suitable option could be supportive insoles formed by a rigid material that would lend stability to the feet instead of the widely available soft-bendable drug-store insoles. Foot structure misalignment, supination, overpronation, and plantar fasciitis can be corrected with custom orthotics or supportive insoles.
  • When choosing supportive insoles, bear in mind the right volume of insoles for the kind of shoes they would be inserted in and the type of place you would be wearing them. For example, insoles with low volume are better suited for people with low arches or cycling shoes. Medium volume insoles work well with a range of arch types, casual footwear, and some athletic shoes. Insoles with high volume are best for runners or trekking boots, hiking footwear, ski boots, and feet with high arches.

At Step by Step Family Foot Care, in Parsippany, New Jersey, we offer custom orthotics and supportive insoles for your podiatric needs after a thorough consultation with our board-certified podiatrist Dr. Debra B. Manheim. For more information and to schedule your appointments, contact us at (973) 917-3785.

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A Traveler’s Guide to Ensuring Foot Health

Maintaining a proper foot care routine is not high on every traveler’s list while getting underway for a long-awaited vacation. With that in mind, we bring you a short guide to convince you to treat your feet with care even when you are in transit to ensure your foot health and safety.

Traveling for pleasure or work can lead to a lot of sitting in one place, narrow leg space, walking through community spaces, and standing in long lines. All these activities can take a toll on a traveler’s feet and cause pain in the feet and arches, injuries to the ankle, foot infections, and various podiatric issues. Here’s a list of few essentials to keep in mind before you pack your bags:

  • Pack the right footwear

Pick footwear according to the kind of place you will be visiting. It can save you from plantar fasciitis flare-ups, bruises, ankle sprains, and fractures. Flip-flops will be of no use on a trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Instead, pack a pair of sturdy shoes with good ankle and arch support.

  • Keep foot-care essentials with you

A travel case filled with your foot-care essentials like nail clippers, bandages, antibiotic creams, emery board, and moleskin can come in handy if you face cuts, scrapes, torn nails, blisters, or dry skin.

  • Bring along compression socks

If you anticipate long periods of sitting in a plane, bus, at a conference; then wear your compression socks to alleviate swelling in the feet. These socks also promote blood flow to the limbs. Ensure periodic breaks for stretches and walk to avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots.

  • Keep ample sunscreen

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends the use of a sunscreen of SPF 30 with a water-based formula on the sun-burn-prone areas of the feet. A painful sunburn can worsen by the constant rubbing of shoes along the burnt skin.

  • Stretch your feet and keep hydrated

Stretching the ball and arch of your feet on a bottle of water or a tennis ball can relieve sore feet. Elevate your feet to bring down the swelling. Good hydration encourages blood flow and keeps in check the muscles cramping from exertion.

If you incur a severe foot injury, sprained ankle, or fracture while traveling, seek immediate medical attention. If you are in Parsippany, New Jersey area, we at Step by Step Family Foot Care are at your service to address all your podiatric issues. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, can evaluate your symptoms and treat you promptly. To schedule an appointment at your ease, contact us at (973) 917-3785.

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Happy Feet This National Foot Health Awareness Month

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and a great month to kick start everything foot and ankle-related. Your feet are complex structures that contain nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body. Good healthy feet are vital for mobility, independence, and overall wellbeing. So, it’s no surprise that when our feet hurt, our entire body hurts! Today Dr. Debra B. Manheim of Step by Step Family Foot Care in Parsippany, New Jersey, encourages everyone to take a step (or steps!) towards happy, healthy feet!

  • Inspect your feet daily: Everyday foot exams are essential, especially if you have diabetes. Look for anything unusual such as bumps, cuts, wounds, drainage, skin changes, or discoloration of the toenail. When foot problems are found and treated early, it prevents complications.
  • Find the perfect pair: If your favorite shoe is a source of any discomfort, it is time to bid them farewell. Choose shoes that are made for the activity you want to do. Tight and ill-fitted shoes can cause severe damage or even worsen current conditions like hammertoes and bunions. Wear shoes with a wide toe box so that the toes have enough room to move to avoid issues like blisters, corns, deformed toes, neuromas, or calluses.
  • Seek professional help: If you notice a foot problem or are unsure of your diagnosis, see a podiatrist immediately. Regular visits to your foot doctor can help you get to the root of the problem and avoid any future pain or issue with your feet or ankles.

Be proactive, and care for your feet every day. Show them some TLC! We have an experienced doctor, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, a board-certified podiatrist to care for all your foot problems. Call (973) 917-3785 or visit our office in Parsippany, New Jersey, to have a thorough check-up and learn some of the best ways to improve your foot and ankle health. Feel free to browse through our patient education library and blog section on our website.

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We’re Open and Treating Patients

Step by Step Family Foot Care has been closely monitoring information and recommendations from the CDC and NJ Department of Health about the COVID-19, Coronavirus. Even before the outbreak, our medical staff already used standard infection control practices. By following current guidelines and recommendations, we have put extra protocols in place to reduce risk to our patients and medical staff members.

  • We ask that any patient or family member, that displays symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, to reschedule appointments until they are free from symptoms for at least 24 hours. We ask this of our medical staff members as well.
  • We are asking patients to cooperate in a rescheduling effort for non-emergency appointments.
  • We are asking that all patients call our office when they arrive in the parking lot for their appointment. We will then call you back when we are ready for you to come in and have you go directly to a patient room.
  • We are trying to limit the number of people in the office at any one time. You may bring one additional person with you to your appointment (i.e. caregiver or parent of a child) if necessary.
  • Dr. Manheim will be available by phone for consultations if needed.
  • We are currently not treating patients going to assisted living, senior apartments or taking any house calls during this crisis. We will notify you when this has changed.

CDC recommends taking everyday precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza, by doing the following:

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
  • Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
  • Consult the CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US.

For more information, check out the following:

Sincerely,

Debra Manheim, DPM

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New Shoes: New Year’s Gift for Your Feet

At Step by Step Family Foot Care, we encourage our patients to go through their shoe closet or storage and replace any worn-out shoes with new and comfortable ones. That’s the least you can do for your feet at the beginning of the year!

Did you know that the majority of foot problems faced by people are caused by ill-fitted or uncomfortable footwear? These can be avoided with proper care and frequent visits to your podiatrist.

If you are heading out for shoe shopping, here are a few essential things to keep in mind:

  • One of the most important features of good shoes is the proper heel and arch support. Make sure there is enough padding in the soles and behind the heel area so that your feet are not under any stress or unnecessary weight.
  • There should be enough room in the toe box area for you to wiggle your toes. Tight and small-sized shoes can result in problems like ingrown toenails, bunions, hammertoes, and more.
  • If you fancy high heels, don’t think that you will be deprived of them. Just make sure that they are not higher than two inches and do not push your toes against each other. Also, avoid wearing them for long durations.
  • With snow and chilly weather, the roads and pavements are likely to become very slippery. It is important to watch your step. Also, it would be a wise idea to wear shoes with a strong and firm grip to avoid trips and falls.

If you feel pain or discomfort in your feet or are unsure regarding the kind of footwear you should be wearing, feel free to contact our office in Parsippany, NJ by calling (973) 917-3785 to schedule a convenient appointment. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, will guide you for solutions that are best suited for your podiatric conditions. For more information on podiatry related problems, you can browse through our patient education video library.

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How To Identify Diabetic Nerve Damage In Your Feet

Did you know that millions of people are suffering from diabetes throughout the world? With November being Diabetes Awareness Month, we at Step by Step Family Foot Care want to make our patients aware of the harmful effects of diabetes, and provide guidelines on how to manage this disease.

Nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy, is caused due to high sugar levels in your blood stream, such that it hampers your ability feel any sensation in your feet.

Here are five signs of diabetic neuropathy that you should look out for:

  • Numbness and an inability to feel pain in your feet, as the nerves are damaged.
  • Tingling or piercing pain in your feet that worsens as you apply weight or pressure on your feet.
  • Instability while walking which could be due to pain caused by nerve damage.
  • Weakening of the muscles that can also make standing or maintaining your balance very difficult.
  • Due to loss of sensation in your feet, you may not be able to feel the temperature of the water in the shower, exposing you to the risk of burning your feet if the water is too hot. Get help and make sure the temperature is adequate before you walk into the shower.

If you fear that you are suffering from diabetic neuropathy or have any questions related to this condition, feel free to consult our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim.

Our team has vast experience in treating a range of foot conditions and disorders, and is equipped with advanced technologies and treatments to restore the health of your feet. We urge you to visit our office in Parsippany NJ or call us at (973) 917-3785 for information and appointment.

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Beware of Foot Blisters

Blisters are tiny bubble-like pockets that appear on the skin of your feet usually due to excessive and repetitive friction. The bubble is filled with fluid and is supposed to protect the damaged skin from further harm.

What are the likely reasons for blisters to appear? Here are a few:

  • Poorly fitted shoes that rub against the skin of your feet constantly
  • Diseases like chickenpox also lead to many blisters
  • Skin burns or cold sores cause blisters too
  • Some insect bites may also result in itchy or painful blisters

The big question that revolves around blisters is whether to pop them or let them be. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim advises patients to leave the blister alone. Meddling with it or bursting it will only expose your feet to bacterial skin infections and possibly bleeding wounds.

In case a blister bursts on its own, you should clean it using water and soap. Dry the affected area carefully. Make sure the skin lies flat on the area; do not try to peel it off or remove it.

Using an antibacterial ointment is effective in preventing infections. Avoid covering it with a bandage as moisture will make it worse. However, loosely covering it with gauze will help to protect it from dust and rubbing.

If you notice blisters on your feet that appear too frequently or do no heal properly, we at Step by Step Family Foot Care advise you to schedule an appointment with our broad-certified podiatrist right away. Knowing what is causing your blisters is important so that the right course of treatment can be administered.

We have your best interest in mind and our team is available to help you in case of any questions or concerns regarding your foot health. Our office is located in Parsippany, New Jersey, and you may contact us at (973) 917-3785 to schedule a convenient appointment. For more information on foot disorders and foot health, you can browse through our patient education library.