The balance, support and propulsion of a jogger's body all depend on the feet.  Before starting a jogging/running regimen, make certain your body's connection with the ground is in good working order.

     It is a good idea for a beginning jogger/runner to visit a podiatrist before starting an aerobic program. Your podiatrist will performa  physical exam, do a gait analysis, discuss orthotics if appropriate for you and recommend proper conditioning and footwear.

     During a 10-mile run, your feet make 15,000 strikes with the ground at a force 3-4 times your body weight.  Minor aches and pains are inevitable. These should go away with rest and ice.  If this gets worse, stop running and call your podiatrist.

                                                                                                   TIPS

- Start slow and increase distances slowly.
- Stretch regularly
- Wear proper shoes
- Fit your shoes with socks that you plan to wear during running.

Foot Care Facts

• 3 out of 4 Americans experience serious foot problems in their lifetime.
• The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
• 1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet. When thesebones are out of alignment, so is the rest of the body.
• Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems.
• It's neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care - including ill fitting shoes - that bring on problems.
• Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
• Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control, and promoting all-around well being.
• Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet - so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
• Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in America. It limits everyday dressing, climbing stairs, getting in and out of bed or walking - for about 7 million Americans.
• About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage, which in severe forms can lead to lower limb amputations. Approximately 56,000 people a year lose their foot or leg to diabetes.
• There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. Sweat glands in the feet excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day.
• Walking barefoot can cause plantar warts. The virus enters through a cut.
• The two feet may be different sizes. Buy shoes for the larger one.
• About 5% of Americans have toenail problems in a given year.
• The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which adds up to about 115,000 miles over a lifetime. That's enough to go around the circumference of the earth four times.

Love hitting the pool during the summer?  So do the fungi that can cause athlete's foot and nail infections.  Fungi, yeasts, and molds that cause foot fungus and nail infections all desire warm, moist environments such as your swimming pools, showers, and sweaty gym shoes.  These organisms do not need sunlight to grow and can enter your body through small cuts and/or the space between your nail and nail bed.  Athlete's foot is particularly more common in the warmer summer months due to excessive perspiration and prolonged moist conditions of the feet.  While these pesky infections are bothersome and a trouble to get rid of, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. 

• At the beach or pool, try to keep your flip flops on while walking around
• Wear simple plastic flip flops when using a community shower (Not only does this create a barrier between your feet and the fungus, the plastic also helps prevent fungal growth that canvas and suede would harbor.) 
• While at the gym, remember to always change your socks!
• Try to rotate your shoes that you wear so that they have time to dry out. 
• The overall best way to prevent and even treat foot or nail fungus is to always keep your feet clean and dry!

Fun fact:  Older individuals, especially men, are more prone to nail infections in general.  Why do you think women are more prone to get foot and nail infections during the summer months?  Post your ideas.

-Women tend to get more manicures/pedicures during the summer

-Women wear nail polish and can share with others (can spread if infected)
 

If you have a fungal infection that needs treatment or any other foot ailment please visit our website at www.sudburypodiatry.com or www.westfordpodiatry.com for information on obtaining an appointment with Dr. Tarr

Many patients come to me questioning why their toenails are yellow, brown, black, thick, painful or just "gross".  Very often the answer is toenail fungus. 
Toenail fungus is indeed an infectious process.  It very often comes from trauma. This could be as benign as improper fitting shoegear or from what I call repetitive microtrauma. This occurs from exercises such as running or playing sports and having your feet shift inside your shoes with each step. Each time this happens your toes may hit the end of the shoe causing repetitive rubbing of the nails. This causes minute cracks in the nails and fungus (which grows in your shoes) gets in the cracks and causes them to look ugly.
Several things can be done to try to prevent this. Hygiene is very important. Washing your feet daily, including washing with a soapy facecloth in between the toes and then drying well goes a long way. Applying any type of powder between the toes to absorp perspiration may lessen the chance of the fungus from growing (fungus likes a moist environment to grow in). Also, always wear cotton or wool socks on your feet. Do not wear any shoes without socks. Fungus can also grow inside your shoes. Be very careful walking barefoot in public areas such as at health clubs, dance areas, karate dojos or poolside.
What can you do if you already have the toenail infection? Call your local podiatrist. Nail fungus can make the nail so thick that just cutting them properly is a challenge. Your podiatrist can help with that.
Most topical antifungals are for the most part ineffective on toenails. I have found Formula 3 application 2x/day with frequent cutting and thinning of the toenails to be very beneficial. I dispense this in my office.
For more difficult or resistant cases I may prescribe an oral antifungal medication such as Lamisil. This is not for everyone. If you have any history of liver disease this option is out. I have bloodwork performed to check your liver function before prescribing this.
If you have any further questions about toenail fungus please feel free to comment on this blog or call Dr. Tarr for an appointment. His office phone number in Sudbury is 978-443-4878 and in Westford is 978-692-5085.

Dr. Tarr's website may also be viewed by going to www.sudburypodiatry.com or www.westfordpodiatry.com