Page 13 - Leisure Living Magazine: June 2021

Get Your Feet Ready For Sandal Season
By Molly S. Judge, DPM, MollyJudge.com
January starts with the resolutions for ex- ercise, healthier diet and weight loss. Increased activity meant to improve your health and well being may actually bring foot and ankle pain that you hadn’t noticed before. Then the resolution becomes “I am going to take care of my foot and ankle pain so I don’t miss out on my summer ac- tivities.”
Once the body takes shape we begin looking for our summer outfits. That is when those pret- ty summer sandals expose flaws. Lumps, bumps, bunions and hammertoes can be what comes be- tween you and being comfortable in your shoes. Summer shoes make romping in the sunshine most enjoyable. But bunions, hammertoes and nail deformity can cause pain even with a short time of shoe wear.
The key to success in managing painful con- ditions of the leg, ankle or foot is identifying the specific symptoms that cause discomfort and then having them accurately diagnosed. There are a great number of conservative methods that can improve comfort regardless of desired shoe style. Whether your goal is working out in the gym or on the beach, playing pickle ball or just walking for exercise your foot and ankle health can be the difference between you and a healthy, happy and joyful summer.
So what are the most common problems that interfere with summer activities and shoe wear?
Bunion Deformity: This abnormal enlarge- ment seen at the big toe joint can cause pain and discomfort in shoes whether the deformity is subtle or grotesque. How you care for mild defor- mity versus severe deformity can be dramatically different. Often simple low profile orthotic devic- es can rebalance the forefoot enough to take pres- sure off the bunion and make your days activities far more enjoyable. Interestingly most deformi- ty can be offloaded enough to improve comfort. How can you determine what method of care is right for you? Just take the time for a consultation to see just what is at the root of your bunion pain.
Tailors Bunion Deformity: This abnormal bone prominence on the opposite side of the
forefoot as the bunion can be equally or even more uncomfortable. Often these bone protru- sions cause unsightly swelling and fluid filled masses (bursitis) that will get swollen, red and irritated even with little activities with or without shoe wear. Often the key to reducing swelling and irritation is a simple removable device that helps realign the joint and acts as a shock absorber for the deformity. If you have tried such things with- out success take the time to have a chat with me so we can identify your problem and narrow in on the most effective methods to improve your comfort as function.
Forefoot Instability: The small joints of the toes have a great impact on how the ball of the foot functions. Often underestimated, the ball of the foot controls how we grip the ground, how we roll off the foot with each step, how we manage to reach up to high surfaces by going up on our toes and how we are able to balance and navigate on uneven surfaces. The ball of the foot negotiates the uneven surfaces of grass, soil, sand and stance on the deck of your boat. If you have instability in the ball of the foot or toes even these common activities can be painful and can even cause you to limp. If you limp you are changing the way
Continued on page 14
www.LeisureLivingMagazine.com
June 2021 LeisureLiving | 13