Simple Steps To Healthy Summer Feet

Main Category: Preventive Medicine
Article Date: 02 May 2009 - 2:00 PST

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The first thing most women do before exchanging their winter boots for summer sandals is make an appointment with their pedicurist. It is the beginning of summer and the start of the busy season for most nail salons, but sometimes this professional grooming ritual can have an unwanted and lasting effect.

"Toenail fungus infections can last for years if not treated properly," says Dr. Tzvi Bar-David, Attending Podiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Here are Dr. Bar-David's tips for having healthy pedicure sessions this summer and happy feet all year round:

-- Bring your own instruments. Avoid infection by bringing your own tools. This includes bringing your own sandals to avoid contracting fungus like athlete's foot.

-- Avoid deep cuts. Do not let your pedicurist cut deep into the corners of your nails. Also ask your pedicurist to cut your nails straight across instead of curving the edges. This will help avoid ingrown nails.

-- Don't use sharp instruments on calluses. Do not have your calluses cut. Instead, use a pumice stone. Also helpful is a cream or lotion product with urea or a lactic acid derivative on the affected area twice a day. Wrap with saran wrap and a sock to dissolve thick or calloused skin.

-- Avoid Flip Flop Tendonitis. Adapting to flip flops or sandals from closed shoes creates stress on the shin muscles as they try to balance the shoe on the foot. When transitioning to open shoes wear them gradually and give your muscles a chance to adapt. This will help avoid painful shins or tendonitis of the leg.

-- Avoid heel and arch pain. After a long winter you may be enthusiastic to return to the outdoors and exercise. Heel and arch pain can occur when starting to exercise without proper stretching. Sneakers should have a rigid heel counter and flexible ball of the foot. Shoes should have a comfortable toe box, be well padded, and have a cushioned sole. Stretch the calf muscles for several minutes every day and before exercising. Stand two to three feet behind a counter or wall placing your hands there. Keep your heels planted on the ground firmly and bring your body forward thus stretching the back of the calf. Hold for one minute and repeat several times.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,242 beds. The Hospital has nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits in a year, including more than 230,000 visits to its emergency departments -- more than any other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/The Allen Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Source: NewYork Presbyterian Hospital