Correct Fit in Cowboy Boots - A Lesson in Leather and Fashion

So it’s time for a new pair of cowboy boots, huh?  Here are a few pointers that will keep a swagger in your step. Remember to keep these tips in mind as you shop for the perfect pair.
  
·    Inside the boot, there is a thin fiberglass sheet in the toe box area. This part of the boot does not stretch, so the toe box needs to be roomy enough for you to wriggle your toes. You should not feel any pressure in this area.

·    A boot should fit your foot like a firm handshake, snug, but not tight.

·    As you walk, your heel needs to rise off the sole of the boot slightly. If it does not, try a wider boot.

·    The boot should provide even support. The break in the boot must line up with the arch in your foot.

·    The boot should require a bit of effort to pull on. You should feel and hear a little bit of a “plop” as your foot settles into the boot. 

·    Also, remember most people have two different sized feet. Measure both feet and buy boots to fit the larger foot. Stores that sell boots should have a Brannok device available to assist, which will help with length and width measurements.  Fit the boots at the end of the day to ensure a proper fit, as your feet may swell during the day.

·    Use the pinch test. To make sure your boot fits correctly over the instep, try to pinch the leather between your thumb and forefinger. You should not be able to pinch any excess leather, but there should be a little play.  If it feels too snug, try a wider boot.

·    When fitting a boot, feeling for the big toe is meaningless. The ball of your foot needs to sit on the widest part of the sole, and the shank of the boot should fit the arch.

If you keep these tips in mind when purchasing boots, you’ll be comfortable all day long. So polish up your boots and buckles, dust off your best hat, and head for the rodeo.  If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Bowman at Houston Foot Specialists, and we can help you fit into the right pair of boots!

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University of Michigan and Podiatrists

For those of you who know Dr. Bowman, you know he is an avid Michigan Wolverines fan.  He actually went to the University of Michigan where he graduated with honors to get a Bachelor of Science degree in 1979.  So it raises the question, what is the connection with U of M and podiatry?

While the University of Michigan does not offer a program on podiatry, they do offer Bachelor of Science degrees for those looking to get into biology, which includes podiatry.  The history of the University speaks for itself, showing that those who graduate from this University have a great chance to succeed in the fields of study they wish to pursue.  Dr. Bowman knew this and this fueled his decision to go to the U of M and get his undergrad degree. 

Through the University, Dr. Bowman got the foundation he needed so that he could start building his education in podiatry.  Even though U of M didn't have a podiatry program, Dr. Bowman wouldn’t trade the education he got through UM for anything.  It’s what allowed him to become a great podiatrist. 

For people who are looking to get into the medical field, whether that be a foot doctor, a brain surgeon or a pharmacist, you should look into the University of Michigan.  The professors, the wolverine culture and not to mention the connectedness of the alumni are all great at the University of Michigan.  So if you’re looking for a University that can give you an excellent education, a great student culture and hundreds of connections to further for your graduate work, UM is the place to go. 

If you would like to know more about Dr. Bowman’s experience with the U of M, or if you are dealing with foot or ankle pain, contact Houston Foot Specialists.  Either way, Dr. Bowman would love to help you however he can.

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High Heels Equals Painful Feet

If you wear high heels, you know they are uncomfortable.  If you wear them continuously, you could very well be pushing your feet to injury in the future.  If you ask most women about high heels, their tell you that they were developed by a man, because they are not comfortable, but they are fashionable.  So the question arises, is being fashionable worth being in pain?

The answer is obvious, NO!  The pain is not worth being in fashion.  But think about it, high heels are not all that is fashionable.  There are many women’s shoes out there that are both functional and fashionable.  If you like heels, try to get shoes that only have at most a one to one and a half inch heel.

If you must wear your high heels, there are some things you can do to limit your foot pain.  First of all, the less you wear them the better.  You can maybe have a pair of comfortable and supportive tennis shoes in your desk or office at work to wear while you sit at your desk and walk around in your office.  Or you can just slip them off and be barefoot while you sit at your desk.  This will relieve the pressure off your toes.  Also make sure that you buy the right size of shoes for your feet.  Most women (9 out of 10) have shoes that are too small for them.  Again, being so called “fashionable” is not worth the pain and damage done to your feet.  If you have flat feet,  your high heel shoes will do tremendously more damage to your feet then someone who doesn’t have flat feet.  This is because the arches of you feet don’t have the strength to hold your feet up on their toes.

You have to ultimately decide what you wear, but don’t think that you have to wear high heels.  If you have any questions on how high heels effects you feet, contact Dr. Bowman at Houston Foot Specialists.

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Arthritis - The Joint Killer

If you are experiencing pain in your joints, you might have a disease called arthritis.  Arthritis effects your joints by swelling the cartilage lining the joints.  It effects many people today, and while in some cases it is hereditary, everyone can get this painful disease.  People that are at or over fifty years old are susceptible to getting arthritis. 

Treating arthritis has come a long way these days, but there still is no way to completely get rid of arthritis.  Right now, all doctors can do is slow it down.  Surgery will help it slow down and then medication will continue to keep the arthritis in its slowed down pace.  Hopefully soon, breakthroughs will be made to find a cure to completely rid a body of the damaging effects of arthritis.

If you have arthritis, you might be experience stiffness when you wake up in the joints affected.  You could have limited movement in that joint, and/or pain in the joint.  It might even be hot to the touch, and swollen.  If you have not, you should have a doctor check out the joints that are bothering you.  If your doctor finds the arthritis before it gets to be too much, they can help you decide how to attack this disease.  The earlier you find the arthritis, the better.  If your feet are bothering you, schedule an appointment with you podiatrist, especially if it is the joints in your feet. 

Dr. Bowman would love to help you out and talk to you about the short-term and long-term effects of arthritis in your feet.  He can take you through the treatment of arthritis and even preform the surgery if you need it.  Contact Houston Foot Specialists to schedule an appointment now and be on your way to enjoying life again by not having to live with the pain in your feet.

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Orthotics

Many of you are familiar with orthotics.  You can find them at the store in the pharmacy department, at least ones that are over-the-counter.  What you might not know is orthotics have a wide range of sizes and shapes.  The over-the-counter ones you can buy at the store are ones that might help you if you have mild foot problems but they can’t help with chronic pain.  The ones you don’t see at your local Walmart are ones that can correct more severe foot issues.  For severe or chronic pain - you will find orthotics in doctors’ offices and specialty shoe stores.

The main purpose of orthotics is to correct and stabilize a person’s gait when walking or standing. Orthotics also provide cushion to comfort your feet if you are walking or standing a lot by absorbing the shock and pressure on your feet.  The type of orthotic you would need depends on what type of foot issue you might be dealing with.  Rigid orthotics are meant more to control the position of the foot, aligning it with the rest of the body so there is less strain on the body while walking or for being in dress shoes.  Semi-rigid orthotics are made for balance when walking and playing sports.  The combination of the soft and rigid layers provides the right amount of support and cushion so that the foot is protected from the shock it’ll take, and the foot stays in the right position to take pressure off the rest of the body.  Soft orthotics are for absorbing shock and taking pressure off of sore spots on the feet.  They work well for people with foot deformities, diabetes or arthritic feet because they form to their feet.  Soft and rigid orthotics are customized by a doctor or specialist to mold to the person’s foot shape to provide the most comfort and support.

If you are in need of orthotics, contact us at Houston Foot Specialists.  Dr. Bowman would love to help you get the right orthotic to help you get rid of the foot pain.

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Keep Your Feet Fit and Stop the Pain!

Here’s a question for you:  How many hours a day do you spend on your feet?  If you work in an office at a desk, it will be significantly less than a construction worker.  But think about it, you still spend at least a couple hours on your feet everyday through walking around at your job, at the store, at home.  The more you get out of the chair and walk around the better, but you still need to do your job.  The point -  people spend a lot of time on their feet. Though you might not think about it, you need to keep your feet fit!

If you go to our website, you’ll find a page named “Exercise Those Toes!”  On that page, you will see a list of exercises you can do to strengthen your toes and feet in general.  These exercises are especially recommended for people who experience toe cramps, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, arch pain, and foot cramps. Follow these exercises exactly and do them regularly.  Start doing them twice a week, then work up to doing them every other day.  After you get comfortable, push yourself to do these exercises every day.  You could make it a routine to do right before you go to bed. Even better would be to do them right in the morning, getting your feet ready for the day.

It you need help figuring out how to do these exercises, contact Houston Foot Specialists.  Dr. Bowman would like to help and make sure you are doing the exercises correctly to provide the best results.  By getting your feet fit, you’ll strengthen your feet so that you will have less foot cramps and less foot pain in general.  Don’t put it off any longer!

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Heel Pain - It's Not Worth Living With

Do you have heel pain?  Heel pain is the most common foot problem that brings people to podiatrists.  The heel bone is the biggest bone in your foot, and it also takes most of the pounding when walking.  If you are experiencing pain in your heels, there are a couple things it could be.

The most common cause of heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis.  This occurs when the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot is torn.  If you have this, you’ll notice that the heel pain is the worst when you wake up in the morning.  The reason why is that the ligament were healing during the night and reattaching, but when you put weight on your foot getting out of bed, they tear again.

On some cases, the pain in your heel could be coming from a stress fracture in your heel.  This could be a result from a major strike to your heel, like falling from a high height and landing on your heels.  If this is the case, you need to consult a podiatrist right away.

One other cause for heel pain is Haglund’s Deformity.  This is enlargement on the back of the heel bone.  This is a painful bump that is irritated by the constant rubbing of shoes.  If you have a large lump on the back of your heel, this is probably the source of your pain. 

If you have any other questions or concerns about heel pain or anything relating to feet and ankles, we at Houston Foot Specialists would like to talk to you.  Give us a call at 713-467-8886 or take a stroll around our website.  Make sure to check out our “Patient Education” section to learn more about feet, ankles and the problems that can occur with them.

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Lisfranc Injury...What?

A couple weeks ago, Houston Texans Quarterback Matt Schaub went out of a game with an foot injury.  At first they didn’t think it was a bad injury, but after examining the injury further, they discovered that he actually had a Lisfranc Injury.  So what exactly is a Lisfranc Injury? 

Lisfranc Injury is actually a fracture that occurs in the Lisfranc joint, or the joint that connects the front part of the foot to the middle part of the foot.  It is the joint that holds the metatarsals to the tarsus in your foot.  The injury occurs when the metatarsals are separated from the tarsus, and the result is obviously very painful. 

This injury is common among horse riders because many have fallen off the horse and the foot has been caught in the stirrup.  It is also common in windsurfing because of pretty much the same reason, they fell with their foot is still strapped to the board, which is over the metatarsals. 

So what is the amount of recovery needed?  Well Matt Schaub is out for the season.  This is a long road to recovery, but the injury will heal.  If the fracture is small enough, you will not need surgery, but a bigger fracture requires surgery.  If you don’t need surgery, you’ll have to have a cast on for six weeks, in which you cannot place any weight on the injured foot.  If you need surgery, what will happen is that screws and/or wire will tie the bones together so that they can heal correctly.  The screws and wire will be removed after six to twelve weeks, in which time you can’t put weight on the foot. 

If you have any questions on Lisfranc Injury or any other foot or ankle type injury, contact us at Houston Foot Specialists at 713-467-8886 or at our website.

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Heel Fissures

During this time of year when the heater is on, you may be suffering from cracked heels, also known as heel fissures. Chances are you are not showing off your feet. 

Heel fissures occur when the skin on the bottom, outer edge of the heel becomes hard, dry and flaky.  The hard build up of the skin that forms is called callus.  This forms because of irritation or friction when a shoe repeatedly rubs against one part of the foot.  A callus can be thick or thin and forms in many shapes and patterns on the heel of the foot. When this happens it can cause deep fissures, which can be painful, bleed or become infected or may be fungus based.

This uncomfortable condition is caused by a variety of reasons, usually related to dry skin, but also prolonged standing (especially on hard floors), weight, open back shoes (which allow the fat under the heel to expand sideways with the pressure leading to cracked skin), and medical conditions such as fungus, diabetes, or psoriasis.  If heel fissures are not treated and become deep and infected it could be dangerous, especially for people with diabetes or compromised immune systems.

You can treat heel fissures with over the counter treatments such as an oil based moisturizing cream, using a pumice stone to reduce thickness of hard skin and also avoid open backed or thick soled shoes.  Moisturizing your feet regularly, recommended twice a day, can also help prevent heel fissures. 

If the condition doesn’t improve or if you are a diabetic, its advised to visit our office and have Dr. Bowman treat the problem.  Houston Foot Specialists carry a variety of recommended products for this condition.

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Running in the bare …

There is a growing trend occurring among runners – running without shoes.  You may think “ouch” right away; I know I did, but some studies from Harvard have proven that running barefoot enhances stride and prevents injury.  And surprisingly some runners find that it’s more enjoyable than running with shoes.

However, before you make the decision to try running barefoot, you should look at all the factors and decide if this is best for your feet.

Pros of running barefoot:

    •        You could develop a more natural gait, and strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the foot.

    •        You will land on the forefoot rather than your heel.  When you land on your heel it puts on the breaks every step.  But when you land on your forefoot it allows your arches to act as natural shock absorbers.

    •        You could improve your balance.  Without shoes you activate the smaller muscles in your feet, ankles, legs and hips that are responsible for better balance and coordination.

    •        When you run barefoot you may feel more grounded.  It helps you improve balance and becomes a more solid and connected base that supports your movements. 

Cons of running barefoot:

    •        You have no foot protection from cold weather and road debris, such as glass, nails, and rocks.

    •        Running with bare feet can increase Achilles Tendinitis, calf strain and Plantar pain. 

    •        Blisters!  Until you have acclimated to running barefoot, expect blisters until calluses have formed. 

    •        The fat pads on the bottoms of your feet will get thinner overtime, which make barefoot running a long-term risk and could result in more problems with your feet.

    •        No shoes will lead to funny looks from people.  It’s not a common practice among people to run without shoes, so get ready for looks and questions.   

Still unsure?  I would encourage you to consult with Dr. Jeffrey Bowman, DPM before you decide to venture into a world of running barefoot. 

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