Month: March 2020

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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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March Your Way to Nutritious Foods

grilled salmon

March is National Nutrition Month and we at Step by Step Family Foot Care would like to urge our patients to monitor what they eat, as that has a direct impact on the health of your feet.

Your feet carry your body weight and allow you to move around. What you eat will not only provide nutrition for your feet but will also maintain your weight, so that your feet are not overly burdened.

Dr. Debra B. Manheim has some useful tips to ensure that your feet are safe and healthy:

  • Keep moving; however, go slow and steady. It is important to exercise, make sure that your feet and ankles are flexed and stress-free before you begin. Moreover, if you are springing into action after a period of idleness, be sure to start slowly and proceed to more intense workouts gradually.
  • Use orthotic inserts to support your heels and arches. Customized orthotic inserts are more effective than over-the-counter orthotics, as they are made to fit the shape of your feet alone. Not only do they support your feet by redistributing pressure, but they also correct your posture and fix your gait.
  • Your bones need to be strong and healthy if you want your feet to be pain-free. Ensuring that your diet plan includes multi-vitamins, especially vitamin D and calcium, is integral for stronger bones.
  • Examine your feet regularly to check for any warning signs such as numbness, swelling, redness, discoloration of toenails, thickening of the skin and more. Poor circulation causes numbness and may be a sign of diabetic neuropathy. Swelling may indicate water retention or high blood pressure. Changing colors or texture of the skin and toenails is a sign of an infection that should not be ignored.

A healthy diet and a regular workout routine are ideal measures for healthy living. If you would like some more information in this regard or have any questions for any of your foot conditions, visit our office in Parsippany, NJ or contact us at (973) 917-3785 to schedule your appointment today.