And the Emergency Chain that Saved Him. - St. Joseph Medical ...

orthopaedics
‰ Summer Tips to
keep your feet happy
• Limit flip-flops: They are not
supportive and can cause foot
fatigue and tendonitis.
• Don’t go barefoot: Hazards
include stepping on broken
glass and catching warts.
• New sandals with orthotics:
They resemble regular sandals
or flip-flops, and are available
through podiatrists’ offices.
Look Good, Feel Good
for
Summer
Best Feet Forward For Summer Sandals
Are corns, calluses or funky feet taking the spring out of your step
Summer is the time to wiggle your
toes and let your feet breathe.
Sandals, jellies, flip-flops and
open-toed shoes feel great. But do
your feet look great in them
Many women and men are
embarrassed by their feet, hiding them
in closed shoes in the warm weather, but
that’s not necessary. There are many ways
Orthotic sandals can provide foot support according
to Dr. Tina Woodburn.
to resolve corns, calluses, bunions and
more, so put your feet up and read on:
“Unsightly corns and calluses are areas
of thickened skin,” explains podiatrist
Dr. Tina Woodburn. “They are caused by
pressure and rubbing against bony prominences
such as hammertoes and bunions.”
Dr. Woodburn recommends sandals in
this case. “Your toes will love the open
roomy space.”
Salicylic acid pads can help reduce skin
buildup, but be careful. “The pads don’t
know the difference between good and
bad skin, and they shouldn’t be used by
people with diabetes or vascular disease.”
A pumice stone is another option.
Nail polish can trap in moisture and
encourage fungal infections. For women
prone to these stubborn infections,
Dr. Woodburn recommends a line of antifungal
polish. The active ingredient is tea
tree oil. “The polish can cover up imperfections
while preventing or controlling
fungal infections,” she says.
Some people suffer from exceptionally
sweaty feet. Try an antiperspirant spray
along with antifungal powder. “If nothing
works, Botox injections can be very effective.
They block the neurotransmitter acting on
the sweat glands,” says Dr. Woodburn.
Problems that need a doctor’s assessment
include hammertoes (one or more toes
that curl or bend abnormally), a crossover
toe (the second toe drifts and eventually
crosses over the big toe) and bunions.
These conditions can make walking
painful. When nonsurgical treatment
isn’t effective, surgery can provide a solution.
For hammertoes, the surgeon may
release the buckled joint, remove a small
FREE LECTURE:
Best Feet Forward
— Feet that Look and Feel Good
Presented by Dr. Tina Woodburn, podiatrist
Tuesday, July 20, 7 p.m.
Learn about treatments for bunions,
hammertoes, corns, fungus and more.
Register at www.StJosephTowson.com
or call 410-337-1337.
10 Summer 2010 / St. Joseph Medical Center