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Indy Podiatry is running into fall

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It’s a busy start to fall at Indy Podiatry, where the office has participated in numerous running events around Indianapolis. Indy Podiatry participated in the Indy Women’s Half Marathon and 5k Fitness Expo on September 28th, where runners and walkers could pick up free massage balls and enter for a chance to win a pair of shoes from Athletic Annex. Doctors Higgins and Chhiba were also available to chat about any foot or ankle problems bothering participants. Haley Meadows, Director of Patient and Community Relations and Marketing, also ran the 5k on September 29th, where she joined over 300 women to race the streets of downtown.

Indy Podiatry proudly sponsors Indy Women's Half Marathon

The starting line of the Indy Women’s Half Marathon and 5k at 7 AM.

 

The office participated in the Uncorked Wine 5k Run/Walk on October 6th, where Indy Podiatry staff tasted different wines along the course to the finish line. A portion of proceeds benefited local charities. It was a beautiful day for walking, laughing and drinking wine downtown!

Indy Podiatry Wine at the Line 5K

Posing for a photo after finishing the 3.1 mile walk through downtown Indianapolis

 

Lastly, Dr. Helms and his friend from New Mexico ran in the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben on October 6th. The race took place in historic Fort Harrison State Park, a gorgeous fall tour through the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

Dr Helms running in Half Marathon

 

Back-to-school shoe shopping reminders

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school shoe shoppingThe end of summer is quickly approaching, which for parents and children can only mean one thing—the beginning of a new school year. Back-to-school shopping is an annual tradition for many families, and can often be stressful for parents, and exciting for children. However, we have some tips to help keep you prepared this year when buying new shoes.

1. Shop for new shoes in the afternoon or evening. During the course of the day our feet normally swell a little. Buying shoes later in the day helps assure a better fit.

2. Don’t buy shoes with “room to grow,” as this can affect muscle development and activities. There should be a thumb’s width between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe.

3. Be sure to have both feet measured. Often one foot is a little longer than the other one. Buy the shoe size that fits the larger foot, and always stand up for foot measurements.

4. Try on both shoes and have your child walk around the store to check for comfort.

5. When trying on shoes, have your child wear the same type of sock they plan to wear with the new shoes.

6. If your child wears orthotic devices, take these with you to try in potential shoes.

7. Do not buy shoes that feel like they need to be broken in. Shoes should be comfortable immediately.

8. Measure your children’s feet every three months to monitor growth. It is not unusual for a child’s feet to grow two to three sizes in one year.

9. Avoid buying shoes online, and visit a physical store with sales staff knowledgeable in shoe fitting.

10. Avoid hand-me-downs, as worn shoes are shaped to fit the previous owner’s foot, and don’t offer the same support.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s feet or ankles, please call our office today at 317-573-4250.

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month

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The 52 bones in your feet make up one quarter of all of the bones in your body—so it’s no wonder that the health of your feet is of utmost importance. So important in fact, that April is National Foot Health Awareness Month. Almost everything you do involves your feet, so keeping them active, healthy and pain free is our number one concern.

Some general foot and ankle health care tips include:

  1. Make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for your feet. We recommend purchasing shoes for running or walking at a running specialty store. These are highly specialized shoes and you need the help of a specialist to choose the correct shoes for you.
  2. If you are diabetic, your foot health is extremely important. If you have diabetes, please follow our diabetic foot care tips. You should be seeing your podiatrist annually if you have diabetes.
  3. Gradually increase your activity levels to avoid overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, and make sure you are wearing supportive shoes. If you are experiencing plantar fasciitis pain, the good news is that 95% of the time the pain can be resolved without the need for surgery.
  4. Remember to apply sunscreen to your feet, getting in between your toes and on your ankles to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
  5. Try to keep your high heel height below 2 inches, and make sure you have enough room in your shoes without rubbing or squeezing your toes. Use custom orthotics for support.
  6. If you are experiencing nail color changes or thickening of any nail, you may have nail fungus. Toenail trauma, heredity and diabetes may lead to nail fungus. We have various options to help treat fungus and even eliminate it completely.

You can do your part in celebrating National Foot Health Awareness Month by assessing your feet for any changes or pain. It is our goal to help everyone find the best path to solving their foot and ankle problems. If you are experiencing any problems with your feet or ankles, please give us a call today.

Tips for spring foot and ankle care

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As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect opportunity to take workout regimens outside. However, after the cold winter months, our feet and ankles are more susceptible to injury. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are incorporating a variety of different things into your workout regimen. Repetitive movements can cause plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and shin splints. In order to avoid these painful ailments, it’s important to warm your body up before running or walking. Some things to remember are:

  • Gradually increase the intensity/duration of your workouts
  • Cool down after your exercise by stretching
  • Wear the correct supportive shoes (contact us to find out more about our current selection of suitable footwear and insoles)
  • Make sure you lace your shoes properly when running (watch this video on proper protocol)

In addition, our website offers various running and injury prevention videos, as well as some fast treatment options for pain relief. If you begin to experience pain after outdoor exercise, please contact one of our experienced, knowledgeable doctors today to help get you back on your feet and keep you on track for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Out With The Old Shoes

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replace old shoes

Replace Old Shoes with Aggressive Spring Cleaning

Spring is here and it’s time to replace old shoes. As I sit and type, I see bulldozers tearing parts off the old building next to our office. I get excited to know that a new building will soon take its place. Isn’t there a part of all of us that enjoys getting rid of the “old” to make room for the “new”? How can we apply this to our lives?

When contemplating spring cleaning, thoughts naturally turn toward our closets. Look at your shoes: are there any you haven’t worn in a year (with the exception of special occasion shoes)? Look at the soles of the shoes: How much tread is left? Are the heels worn down? Look at the inside of the shoes: do they smell like Godzilla? Is the insole threadbare? Our feet work best when they are in shoes that are in good shape. Old shoes increase the risk of problems, including heel pain, arch pain, bunions and hammertoes. So, out with the old! (and even more fun: In with the new!)

Lastly, look at your feet themselves. How much old, dry winter skin is still hanging around? Get out that pumice stone, hop in the shower, and voile! Spring feet! (after a good application of lotion, of course). Trim up those toenails and scrub between those toes! See? Good as new!

As always, if Indy Podiatry can help with your Spring Foot Cleanup or care, please give us a call at 317-573-4250.

 

Replace Old Shoes

The building next to our office is being torn down.