 Newsletter
– Summer 2004
Kids Going Barefoot…a Really Bad
Idea!
Love Those Flip Flops?
Joggers:
Does it Feel Like You’ve Got a Pebble in Your Shoe?
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Kids
Going Barefoot…a Really Bad Idea!
It’s a picture of the perfect summer day…children
happily eating ice cream cones, wearing shorts and sleeveless
t-shirts…and going barefoot. But this scene could be the
start of something that may ruin the rest of the summer for one
of these kids. When not protected by shoes, feet can suffer a
wide variety of injuries while children are enjoying summer activities.
What
Can Happen
Puncture wounds are a very common summer injury. Nails, shards
of glass, slivers of wood, bits of shell at the seashore, thorns
from trees and plants…even carelessly discarded toothpicks
or needles can puncture the skin of the foot. And even if you
think you’ve “gotten it all out,” when the object
is pulled out of the foot, the dirt and bacteria that were pushed
into the wound can result in a serious infection. Any puncture
wound that has penetrated the skin should be treated in our office
within 24 hours. Without proper treatment, this injury can result
not only in infection, but painful scarring or development of
a cyst.
Traumatic
injuries are caused by many types of accidents in the summer.
Feet can get caught in the spokes of a bike. They may be hit by
a rock or other object that flies out of the lawnmower. A child
using a power mower without wearing sturdy shoes is a recipe for
disaster. Any traumatic injury should be evaluated in our office
to determine the extent of the injury and proper treatment.
Growth
Plate injuries are a source of pain for many children. In children,
the heel bone is not yet fully developed. Until then, new bone
is forming at the growth plate, a weak area located at the back
of the heel. Painful injuries can occur to this area when shoes
are not cushioning the bottom of the heel and supporting the arch.
Any persistent pain in a child’s foot should be evaluated
in our office.
Sunburn
on the feet should not be taken lightly. Shoes will protect the
feet from sunburn, but when shoes aren’t being worn sunscreen
should be applied…to the bottoms of the feet as well as
the tops! Not only is sunburn of the feet very painful, it can
also cause skin cancers that often go unnoticed until it’s
too late.
Wear
Your Shoes!
Shoes should be the first line of defense against the many types
of foot problems children can encounter this summer. Don’t
let an injury sideline your youngster and ruin his warm weather
fun!
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Love
Those Flip Flops?
Flip flop sandals in every color, design, and material are popular
this summer. Women and kids have been joined in this fashion craze
by the men in their lives. These sandals are fun…but shouldn’t
become the mainstay of your footwear wardrobe.
Too
much time spent in flip flops can result in a big pain in your
feet. With no arch support, and offering no stability, they cause
abnormal stress on the plantar fascia…the band of tissue
that extends from the heel to the base of the toes. The resulting
condition, known as “plantar fasciitis,” or heel pain,
usually causes pain in the heel immediately upon arising in the
morning, or after periods of inactivity during the day.
Plantar
fasciitis can be a persistent problem that takes a long time to
effectively treat. The best way to deal with plantar fasciitis
is to avoid it in the first place by wearing supportive footwear
that provides sufficient shock absorption.
It’s
not necessary to completely avoid this popular footwear style.
But to save yourself from a lot of unnecessary pain, think of
your flip flops as your dessert…not the main dish…in
your banquet of summer fashion!
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Joggers:
Does it Feel Like You’ve Got a Pebble in Your Shoe?
Summer is a great time to abandon the gym and get outdoors for
exercise. Jogging is a favorite activity of many fitness enthusiasts.
But when joggers feel like something is in their shoe, or that
their sock is bunched up under the ball of the foot, they may
be experiencing the pain of a Morton’s neuroma.
Also
referred to as an “intermetatarsal neuroma,” this
thickening and enlargement of the tissue surrounding the nerve
in the ball of the foot is the result of irritation and compression
caused by repeated pressure. Female runners are especially vulnerable
to this condition, as wearing high heeled, tapered-toed shoes
at work and then running on hard, paved surfaces during leisure
time is a very stressful combination for their feet.
Early
Treatment Advised
Symptoms of a Morton’s neuroma usually begin gradually,
and may go away temporarily by massaging the foot or avoiding
aggravating shoes or activities. Symptoms will get progressively
worse over time as the neuroma enlarges and the temporary changes
in the nerve become permanent.
If
you suspect you have a Morton’s neuroma, it’s best
to come into our office for evaluation early in the development
of symptoms. If managed early with treatments such as padding,
icing, orthotic devices or medications, you may be able to avoid
the need for more invasive therapies..
This information was developed by the American College of
Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
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