Loving Foot Care: Be Sweet to Your Feet

Is your family in need of some bonding time? What about an adventure race? The Houston 2014 Great Amazing Race is taking place February 15, 2014 at the George Bush Park. This one-mile obstacle course is designed for adults and kids in grades K-12. Hard work, communication, and having fun is all that is required. Grab your family and sign up! Also, don’t forget to take care of your feet along the way.

Photo Credit: Natara via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Let’s face it: our feet are often ignored—that is, until a problem arises. Whether it is after a run, at home after a long day of work, or after showering on a lazy Saturday morning, be sweet to your feet. Good foot care goes a long way in keeping your feet happy and healthy, and it doesn’t take much effort to get great results.

Develop a habit of following a simple foot care regimen each and every day. First, wash and dry your feet daily. Afterwards, give them a little check up. Give each foot the once-over and look for any developing blisters, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, dry skin, cuts and changes in color or texture of your skin and nails. After showering or a footbath, smooth away rough, dry skin with a pumice stone. Use a moisturizing cream if your heels are dry and cracked, but avoid putting cream between your toes as this increases the risk of a fungal infection. Don’t forget about your toenails – they should be trimmed straight across and not too short to prevent ingrown toenails. Finally, wear comfortable shoes that allow feet to breathe and be supported.

If you haven’t been treating your feet well and are now left with pain or a developing problem, don’t wait to contact Houston Foot Specialists. Dr. Jeff Bowman is the expert you need to get your feet back in shape. Call our office in Houston, TX at (713) 467-8886 to make an appointment today.

Hallux Varus

What is Hallux Varus?

There are several foot conditions that can cause deformity to your toes. One condition that specifically affects the big toe joint is called hallux varus. Hallux varus causes the big toe to push away from the other toes, unlike a bunion that forces it inward.

Hallux varus most commonly develops from complications following bunion surgery. There have been cases though where this condition occurred from a congenital deformity, trauma, tight or short tendons, the removal of a sesamoid bone from the big toe joint or a certain form of arthritis.

Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot specialist in Houston, TX, can treat any type of foot condition or deformity. His expertise and state-of-the-art treatment options can provide thorough diagnosis and appropriate treatment tailored to your needs. Hallux varus can cause quite a bit of pain. The leaning outward of the toe can cause it to press against shoes resulting in blisters, ingrown toenails and possible dislocation of the toe joint.

The treatment of hallux varus will depend on the severity of your condition. You may have a mild case where the joint is still flexible and may respond well to splinting, corrective shoes or specific exercises. If these methods do not provide relief, surgery may be required to straighten the toe. If surgery is necessary, you can trust Dr. Bowman and his caring staff to walk with you every step of the way.

If you have a deformity such as hallux varus or another type that is causing pain and interfering with your life, please contact us for help. Contact our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or schedule an appointment online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

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What Kind of Shoes to Wear While Lifting Weights

A common pitfall for many athletes is thinking that any regular shoe will suffice no matter what they are doing. There are many activities where a simple running shoe can work, but most sports require a specific shoe to not only help you play better but also to keep your feet and ankles safe.

Do I really need a specific shoe for weight lifting?

The answer is yes! You cannot overlook the value of the right kind of shoes if you want to get into weight lifting. Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot and ankle specialist in Houston, TX too often sees the results of ignoring this rule. Blisters, fractures, sprains, strains, ingrown toenails and Achilles tendon injuries are just a few things that have athletes hobbling into our podiatric office.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for shoes to wear while weight lifting:

• A good weight lifting shoe is all about providing safety and stability with weight transfer

• Avoid shoes with too much cushioning

• Look for a shoe that is heavier but still allows for freedom of movement

• An adjustable strap will help keep your feet stable in the shoe

• Look for a tough rubber sole and a heel height of about an inch to help promote balance and prevent slipping

• The shoe needs to fit relatively snug for good stability

• High-top lacing is not advised as it can compromise the movement of your ankles

Does this all seem a bit overwhelming? We can step in and help. No matter what sport you are involved in, let us be a part of your team. We can treat any foot pain and help you find the right shoes for your feet. Make an appointment today by calling our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or visit www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

Your Ingrown Toenail May be Subungual Exotosis

Toenail problems can be more than just a nuisance – they can be downright painful! A stubbed toe on the coffee table in the middle of the night can lead to clenched teeth and gasps of pain.

Toe problems are a common complaint seen at Houston Foot Specialists. Painful, ingrown toenails are one issue that brings many people into Dr. Jeff Bowman’s Houston, TX podiatric office. What seems to be a simple case of an ingrown toenail could actually be something much more serious.

Subungual Exotosis is a toe problem that is often mistaken as an ingrown toenail at first glance. An x-ray will expose the true source of pain. This is a condition where a bone spur develops under the toenail. It is often explained as a benign  growth from bone and cartilage, called an osteochondroma. In most cases, it occurs due to trauma to the toe although a hereditary abnormality or chronic infection could cause it as well.

Typically, a small hard bump that comes to a point will form under the nail and start growing upward. The pressure from the expanding exotosis on the nail can make walking very painful due to shoe pressure. Eventually the nail can become thin and brittle and the bone spur can push the nail completely off. This leaves tissues exposed and puts the toe at risk for infection. Subungual exotosis usually develops during adolescence due to growing bone and is more common in women who consistently wear ill-fitting shoes. It can develop gradually over weeks or months but can also appear quickly after an injury.

If you have any of the described symptoms, contact Dr. Bowman as soon as possible. Unfortunately, surgery is the most common way to fully treat this painful condition but it is effective and Dr. Bowman is a trusted podiatrist with years of experience treating feet. Call our office today (713) 467-8886 or visit our website for more information at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

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Do you know to prevent ingrown toenails? Read on for tips from Dr. Bowman!

An ingrown toenail happens when the sides of the toenail grow directly into the surrounding skin of the nail. This condition can be extremely painful and can cause severe inflammation, swelling and tenderness.

Below are some tips to help eliminate ingrown toenails from occurring in the first place. Please follow Dr. Bowman’s helpful tips to keep your feet healthy and reduce your risk of an ingrown toenail.

• Cut toenails properly. You need to trim your toenails on a weekly basis. It’s important to keep your nail from growing over the end of your toe. Trimming toenails straight across is the best way to cut.  You want avoid curving at the ends of the nail, which can direct your toenail to grow into your skin.

• Find your correct fit. Ill-fitting shoes can cause pressure on your feet, especially your toes. Your shoes need to allow your toes room to move and breath comfortably. Your toes should come close to the end, but not actually touch the end of your shoe. Look for shoes with wider toe boxes that provide a nice amount of room for your toes.

• Injuries. Something as simple as someone stepping on your toe can cause and ingrown nail, be aware of your surroundings.

• Avoid high heels. This uncomfortable trend continues to be a common cause of many foot ailments, including ingrown toenails. High heels often have small and pointy toe boxes, which squeeze your toes together. Heels also angle your feet so that your body pushes down upon your toes in overwhelming amounts of pressure.

• Wash your feet regularly. You should scrub your feet and toes at least once a day. Wash with soap and luke warm water.  Also, dry your feet completely, especially between your toes.

• Avoid “Bathroom Surgery”.  Many people try to cut out an ingrown nail themselves.  This will actually make the problem worse by leaving a portion of the nail in the skin that cannot be seen.  This part is called a spicule and will cause more pain and infections.

Ingrown toenails are not only painful, but if you leave them without treatment then it may result in fungal or bacterial infections. Also, the skin on your toes can begin to grow over your toenail. In severe cases, where ingrown toenails lack treatment in a timely manner, they can result in serious infections and the ingrown portion of your nail may need to be surgically removed which is a simple procedure. If you experience an ingrown toenail, please contact our office at (713) 467-8886 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Bowman. See Dr. Bowman’s website for more information at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

References:

http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/library/1878/IngrownToenails.html
http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/library/1877/IngrownNails.html

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