Here’s what you should DO when consider a pedicure:

• If you have diabetes or poor circulation in your feet, consult a podiatrist so he or she can recommend a customized pedicure that both you and your salon can follow for optimal foot health.

• Schedule your pedicure first thing in the morning. Salon foot baths are typically cleanest earlier in the day. If you’re not a morning person, make sure that the salon filters and cleans the foot bath between clients.

• Bring your own pedicure utensils to the salon. Bacteria and fungus can move easily from one person to the next if the salon doesn’t use proper sterilization techniques.

• When eliminating thick, dead skin build-up, also known as calluses, on the heel, ball and sides of the feet, use a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub. Soak feet in warm water for at least five minutes, then use the stone, scrub, or foot file to gently smooth calluses and other rough patches.

• When trimming nails, use a toenail clipper with a straight edge to ensure your toenail is cut straight across. Other tools like manicure scissors or fingernail clippers increase the risk of ingrown toenails because of their small, curved shape. See a podiatrist if you have a tendency to develop ingrown toenails.

And here’s what you DON’T DO when consider a pedicure:

• Resist the urge to shave your legs before receiving a pedicure. Freshly shaven legs or small cuts on your legs may allow bacteria to enter.

• If you are receiving a pedicure and manicure, don’t use the same tools for both services as bacteria and fungus can transfer between fingers and toes.

• Although certain salons offer this technique, don’t allow technicians to use a foot razor to remove dead skin. Using a razor can result in permanent damage if used incorrectly and caneasily cause infection if too much skin is removed.

• Don’t round the edges of your toenails. This type of shape increases the chances that painful ingrown toenails will develop.

• Emery boards are extremely porous and can trap germs that spread. Since they can’t be sterilized, don’t share nail files with friends and be sure to bring your own to the salon, unless you are sure that the salon replaces them with each customer.

• Don’t use any sharp tools to clean under nails. Using anything sharp makes it easy to puncture the skin, leaving it vulnerable to infection.

• Be sure that you don’t leave any moisture between toes. Anything left behind can promote the development of athlete’s foot or a fungal infection.

Source:
APMA

The post Dos and Don’ts for Pedicures! appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

All reasons why it is imperative for parents to keep a close eye on their childrens’ foot development – namely by having them visit a podiatrist at any sign of discomfort.

“Parents never want their child to undergo a surgical procedure,” says Mary Crawford, DPM, FACFAS, an Everett, Washington foot and ankle surgeon, “but uncorrected symptomatic flatfoot can lead to chronic pain and instability as the child ages into adulthood. Children will be on their feet for a long time to come. It’s vital to keep those feet healthy. A foot and ankle surgeon can help parents understand the options – surgical and non-surgical – for treating pediatric flatfoot.”

Not every child with pediatric flatfoot will display symptoms but many will complain of discomfort, tenderness or cramping in the foot, ankle or knee area.  It also makes participating in physical activities difficult, so parents should take note if the child is not participating in these activities with their friends.

So how do doctors diagnose pediatric flatfoot?  The DPM will evaluate the child’s foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, both in and out of shoes and will also note how the child walks and evaluates the foot’s range of motion.  For further detailed analysis, the physician may order imaging tests such as x-ray, a CT scan, MRI or bone scan.

So moral of the story – don’t mess around if your child appears to have symptoms of pediatric flatfoot as it could have direct, deleterious effects on their future health.

Source:
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

The post Flatfeet in Children – Cause for Concern? appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

Click the image above to order a FREE poster for your office.

Here’s the good news! Today’s podiatrist is the true expert when it comes to diagnosing and treating bunions. Podiatrists perform tens of thousands of bunion procedures every year, more than any other medical professional in the United States.

Fortunately, today’s podiatrist is only a click away! Podiatrists are uniquely qualified among medical professionals to treat bunions, based on their education, training, and experience. If you suspect a bunion, visit a podiatrist and beat bunion blues!

Bunion Basics
What exactly is a bunion? Find out in our Bunion Basics tip sheet.

Bunion Blues and Shoes
Are your shoe selections worsening your bunion? Check out our Bunion Blues and Shoes tip sheet to learn more.

Order a FREE Poster for Your Office
Check out this download of a bunions poster – APMA members can get one directly from the APMA e-store

Have More Bunion Questions?
Contact We Treat Feet’s Expert (and Friendly) Staff, they’d be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Source:APMA

The post Ladies! Don’t Let Bunions Give You the Blues! appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!
Comfort needs to be the number one thing you consider with these shoes.  Period.  You’re going to be spending a really long time standing, dancing, running, etc throughout the night and the last thing you need to worry about is discomfort on your feet.

Heels or No Heels?
Heels are obviously a very popular choice for prom but they should bring some consideration before you choose the wear them – do you wear them often?  Have you had issues with them before?  Have you spent long periods of time in them?  There’s no crime in not wearing heels because if you think you may have an issue, you probably will.  Wedges can be a good compromise between giant heels and the more comfortable flats – but just make sure you give it some honest thought!

Go Your Own Way!
Don’t worry about fitting in with what all the other girls are doing – go with your own style!  It’s very likely that you’ll be able to pick out what shoes most girls are going to wear so it wouldn’t be a crime to choose something completely different.  Sure you may get some weird looks from other (jealous) girls but at least you’ll be comfortable and doing your own thing!

Have any questions or comments about choosing the right Prom shoes?  Drop us a line at info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com or 410-363-4343.

The post Prom Season is Almost Upon Us! How to Choose the Right Shoes (for Your Foot Style & Health!) appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

The biggest growth area were in ambulatory healthcare settings and at hospitals specifically in home healthcare services, which added 6,800 jobs. Physician offices added 1,000 jobs, while outpatient care centers boosted employment by 3,200 jobs and overall, hospitals job positions rose by 7,900.

Nursing and residential care facilities also increased hiring in March, although at a much slower pace, adding 200 jobs.

Source:
Healthcare Finance News

The post Healthcare Hiring Continues to Increase appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

Drawn to the nursing field due to her strong desire to nurture others, she has joined our team as Surgical Coordinator and looks forward to getting to know both the staff and patients!

Have a question or comment?  Drop us a line!  You can email at info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com or call 410-363-4343.

The post We Treat Feet Welcomes Karen Pearlstone RN to the Team! appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

“We found that patients who received care from a podiatric physician had significantly lower costs than did patients in the comparison group who did not receive care from a podiatrist during the year before their foot ulcer.”

You can check out a copy of the study by clicking here.

The difference between those who visited/did not visit a podiatrist at the onset of an injury and who had commercial medical plans was actually “$13,474 lower” and even “$3,624 lower…in Medicare”.  Talk about a solid investment in your health!

So I think the lesson we can all take away from this is – if you think you have a foot problem, see your podiatrist ASAP!!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our awesome staff at We Treat Feet Podiatry via email (info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com) or 410-363-4343.

The post Can Seeing Your Podiatrist Save You $10,000+? A Big Complicated Study Translated appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

Sequestration is a legal term used to describe the act of a higher authority taking control of an asset — usually property or money — until a legal dispute is rectified, thus preventing destruction or loss of the asset until appropriate decisions regarding the asset have been made.

In this case, “the sequestration” refers to the Budget Control Act of 2011 which guaranteed that if the congress and president didn’t come to a consensus regarding measures for reducing the budget deficit, there would be across-the-board cuts meaning the treasury would freeze monies from almost every government program including the military and Medicare.

No consensus was met, so the sequestration went into effect on March 1.

So what type of impact will the Sequestration have on Podiatry?

Podiatry is often considered a specialty and as a result, even though a person’s feet are the foundation of their ability to remain independently mobile, people with foot ailments rarely make their feet their highest priority if they don’t have unlimited funds.  This will come into play when medical coverage is thinned and is part of the key in determining the impact the sequestration will have on podiatrists.

While the impact the sequestration will have on podiatry can in part be formulated by evaluation of the language in the Budget Control Act, the effect is still largely a product of human behavior and decisions.

Predicting the impact is speculation, but the following is known:

1) March 1st the act went into effect and all Medicare payouts must be in compliance by April 1st.  Fewer patients may seek specialty care.

2) There will be a 2% (max) cut in reimbursements for DPMs from Medicare payouts.

3) As of yet, there is no set date for a congressional review of the sequestration. In other words, this could be permanent.

The simple (though speculative) answer:

The impact the sequestration will have on podiatrists is a reduction in reimbursement from Medicare patient as well as potentially fewer patients as public concerns about their own medical coverage loom.

If you have any other questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact We Treat Feet Podiatry by clicking here to view our various locations and phone numbers!

We Treat Feet! That’s what we do. From the simplest nail problems, to the most complex foot deformities, we provide exceptional care in a kind and compassionate manner. We offer board certified physicians that have spent years learning the intricate structures and functions of the human foot and ankle. No knees or elbows here, only the best foot and ankle care available in Maryland.

From heel pain, bunions, Sports medicine injuries, broken bones, neuromas, hammertoes, and flatfeet to Achilles tendon problems, we have the most modern technology available to help you, including digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and vascular testing equipment.

Our physician team offers treatments for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. No foot is too big, no problem is too big, because remember, We Treat Feet!

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

The post Sequestration’s Impact on Podiatry? appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

Education and Experience: Dr. Daniels is a board certified foot surgeon, a distinction he received from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, and a graduate of both Muhlenberg College and the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He is also a member of several specialty organizations, including:

•      The American Podiatric Medical Association

•      The Maryland Podiatric Medical Association

•      The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Dr. Daniels has also served as a consultant for multiple biomedical companies and instrument/equipment manufactures and is on the speakers panel for companies such as Pfizer for Lyrica, New Deal/Integra for the MBA Subtalar implant, and Merete Medical for the Metafix locking plate system.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Home Life: Dr. Daniels is happily married to his wife Melissa and the couple has 2 sons, Elliot and Ethan.

—

If you have any other questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact We Treat Feet Podiatry by clicking here to view our various locations and phone numbers!

We Treat Feet! That’s what we do. From the simplest nail problems, to the most complex foot deformities, we provide exceptional care in a kind and compassionate manner. We offer board certified physicians that have spent years learning the intricate structures and functions of the human foot and ankle. No knees or elbows here, only the best foot and ankle care available in Maryland.

From heel pain, bunions, Sports medicine injuries, broken bones, neuromas, hammertoes, and flatfeet to Achilles tendon problems, we have the most modern technology available to help you, including digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and vascular testing equipment.

Our physician team offers treatments for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. No foot is too big, no problem is too big, because remember, We Treat Feet!

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

The post Dr. Mikel Daniels appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.

The post Dr. Patrick Felton appeared first on We Treat Feet Podiatry.