Category: Foot Health

Posted on

Your Guide to Healthy Feet

At Step By Step Family Foot Care, we enthusiastically encourage our patients to be proactive about the health of their feet. Your feet are the foundation of your body. We take them for granted most days, but healthy feet enable you to stand, walk, run, work, shop, and do almost every other activity you love. There is much you can do to keep your feet fully functioning and prevent podiatric disorders. Let’s take a closer look.

Choose Your Shoes Wisely

Shoes that are well-made and fit properly are essential to maintaining your feet’ health. Get your feet professionally measured. Don’t be surprised if one foot is larger than the other – this can happen! Always buy shoes to accommodate the larger foot. Choose footwear styles with these features:

  • Roomy toe box (you should be able to wiggle all your toes freely)
  • Heel heights of two inches or less, but not completely flat
  • Good arch support
  • Cushioned insole and heel cup

Your shoe choice can minimize your risk of bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and other foot problems, so choose carefully!

Don’t Neglect Daily Foot Care

Washing your feet daily with warm, soapy water and drying feet completely can go a long way toward preventing bacterial and viral infections like athlete’s foot. Apply talcum or anti-fungal powder in the morning and a thick moisturizer at night. Keep nails trimmed, and be sure that the nails are not growing into the skin of the nail bed and becoming ingrown.

Never Ignore Your Pain

Pain, numbness, burning, swelling, bruising, and tenderness in your feet are all your body’s way of telling you there’s a problem. Putting off seeking treatment can often lead to worsening the condition and even developing secondary disorders. Contact us if you are concerned about an issue with your toes, feet, or ankles.

Step By Step Family Foot Care is here to assist you with your podiatry needs! To make an appointment with Dr. Debra Manheim, call us at (973) 917-3785 or visit our site to schedule an appointment. The staff at our Parsippany office is ready and eager to help.

Posted on

Say Goodbye to Fungal Infections

Summer means sweat, and sometimes sweat can lead to bacteria and infection. How can you avoid a fungal foot infection this season? The best solution is prevention and protecting your feet from the microbes that cause the infection in the first place. Fungus loves warm, moist environments, such as those of your shoes. Keeping your feet and shoes dry and bacteria-free is most important for avoiding Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus, but there are plenty of other solutions.

How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus Today:

1. Avoid direct contact with microbes by protecting your feet

Public showers, bathrooms, locker rooms, and such are teaming with microbes. Wear shower shoes or sandals to protect your feet from microbes.

2. Trim your toenails properly

Trimming them straight across or on a slight curve and keeping them a little long will help prevent ingrown toenails that can be the precursor to a frustrating fungal toenail infection.

3. Wear breathable, lightweight socks and shoes

Choose those made of breathable materials to allow moisture to evaporate instead of building up.

4. Keep your feet clean and dry

Wash your feet daily with mild soap. Take the time to dry them before putting on your socks and shoes. It will help keep microbes from growing.

5. Use medicinal lotions, sprays, and powders in your shoes and on your feet

Antifungal products can be applied to your feet and inside your shoes to kill the fungi directly.

Do you think you have a fungal infection? Call us as soon as possible! Don’t delay treatment.

Step By Step Family Foot Care is here to assist you with any of your podiatry needs! To make an appointment with Dr. Debra Manheim, call us at (973) 917-3785 or visit our site to schedule an appointment. The staff at our Parsippany office is ready and eager to help.

Posted on

3 Hiking Tips to Avoid Injuries

The great summer weather is here, and it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy nature. There’s plenty to explore with nature’s endless beauty, but you also have to be careful.

Slippery stones, uneven paths, and roots that grab at your feet can send you sprawling, and you don’t want to end up on crutches this summer! Let’s go over some tips to avoid foot injuries when hiking.

Hiking too much or carrying too much weight can lead to foot fractures, broken or sprained ankles, or generalized pain. With some thoughtful preparation, however, you can enjoy the outdoors while staying safe from foot and ankle injury. Here are three tips:

  1. Wear hiking boots. Sneakers don’t do the best job when hiking. Running shoes don’t provide enough support. Luckily, there are well-made boots explicitly designed for hiking. These provide proper foot and ankle support and protection. Just make sure they fit correctly.
  2. Keep your feet dry. Try to wear clean socks and change them when they get wet with sweat. Socks damp with perspiration set you up for annoying blisters and fungal infections. You can also apply foot powder before you set out to help keep your feet dry.
  3. Don’t overdo it. For people that are fit and used to exercise, a long hike is probably safe. However, many of us were quarantined due to COVID and have-not had much exercise for the past several months. Too much activity too soon, too long a hike, or carrying a heavy backpack can stress your lower limbs and cause an overuse injury. Try to go easy until your muscles can adjust to the new activity.

If you sustain an injury or have foot or ankle pain while hiking, make an appointment with one of our expert podiatrists.

If you have any issues with foot health, contact Step by Step Family Foot Care in Parsippany, New Jersey. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, offers treatment for foot and ankle disorders, biomechanical analysis, and functional orthotic fabrication. For more information and answers to your questions and schedule an appointment, contact us at (973) 917-3785. 

Posted on

Everyday Tips for Healthy Feet

Your feet are an essential aspect of your overall health, and with spring here people are increasing their activities. Now is the perfect time to take a moment and look at some simple tips to help keep your feet healthy and happy.

A lot of us take the health of our feet for granted until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, by the time a foot condition is detected, it can require extensive treatment. That’s why it’s important to avoid foot problems in the first place through preventive care instead of waiting to treat them after they develop. Here are some general foot care tips:

  • WASH YOUR FEET REGULARLY – wash your feet every day in warm soapy water. You may not want to soak them for long periods as this might take away your skin’s natural oils.
  • KEEP YOUR FEET DRY – dry your feet carefully after washing them. Make sure you get between the toes. Dampness is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and this may cause a fungal infection like athlete’s foot to occur.
  • MOISTURIZE – if you have dry skin you need to apply moisturizing cream all over the foot but remember to leave the area between your toes dry.
  • CUT YOUR TOENAILS – trim your toenails frequently using appropriate nail clippers. Always cut straight across and never down the corners or at an angle. This can result in ingrown toenails which can be painful and may lead to an infection.
  • CHANGE SOCKS DAILY – this will help prevent foot odor. Sweaty feet can attract bacteria that produce odor. Try to wear socks made of wool or cotton. These enable your feet to breathe and help them in temperature regulation.
  • AVOID FLIP-FLOPS – flip-flops don’t support your feet. They may cause arch and heel pain to develop if you wear them for too long.

If you have any issues with foot health and mobility, contact Step by Step Family Foot Care in Parsippany, New Jersey. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, offers treatment for foot and ankle disorders, biomechanical analysis, and functional orthotic fabrication. For more information and answers to your questions, and to schedule an appointment, contact us at (973) 917-3785.

Posted on

Has Covid Ruined Your Feet?

foot health

Covid has certainly turned our lives upside-down. Everyone has had to make radical changes in their lives. Unfortunately, many of these changes have negatively affected our health, including the health of our feet! Let’s look at how the changes in our habits have impacted our feet.

Why Has Covid Ruined Our Feet?

First, foot pain has been on the rise during the pandemic. The main reason is that people are working from home. While staying home, many have kicked off their supportive shoes and instead decided to wear slippers or flip-flops. The problem is that these provide little support or cushioning for your feet and increase the likelihood of injuries.

Another reason foot pain is more prevalent is that Covid has put many out of work, allowing people to use this extra free time to be more active. Attempting new sports and utilizing new exercise equipment have become more common, but it has led to more stress on the feet, injuries, and worsening chronic conditions. Podiatrists have reported they are specifically seeing more cases of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

This is commonly known as heel pain. The pain is caused by an inflammation of the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toes. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or a cyst. It’s important to see an experienced specialist who can diagnose the exact problem.

What is Achilles Tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Usually, this inflammation is short-lived. Over time the condition often progresses to a degeneration of the tendon, which is a case of Achilles tendinosis, in which the tendon loses its organized structure and is likely to develop small tears.

If you have any issues with foot health and mobility, contact Step by Step Family Foot Care in Parsippany, New Jersey. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Debra B. Manheim, offers treatment for foot and ankle disorders, biomechanical analysis, and functional orthotic fabrication. For more information and answers to your questions, and to schedule an appointment, contact us at (973) 917-3785.