It’s common to strain a muscle while working out. But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t know how to properly treat this type of injury. Fortunately, East Ocean Podiatry is here to teach you how to treat muscle strains.

One key thing to remember: never apply heat to the area immediately after a strain or “pulled muscle”. Heat will only increase the amount of inflammation and can actually slow healing. Ice is best after an injury.

If pain and/or swelling continue, make an appointment with East Ocean. We can perform an in-office evaluation to determine the severity of the injury and discuss the treatment options that can speed up your recovery.

Call East Ocean Podiatry in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 or in Deerfield Beach at (954) 481-3525 to schedule an appointment today!

There’s nothing wrong with a little foot pampering from time to time. In fact, a proper pedicure can even help keep your feet healthy by removing dead skin and cleaning your toenails. East Ocean is here to give you a few tips to keep in mind whether you get a pedicure at home or in the salon:

* Don’t shave your legs before getting a pedicure. Small cuts on your legs may allow bacteria to enter your body.

* Do gently run a wooden or rubber manicure stick under your nails. This helps keep your nails clean by removing build up you may not be able to see.

* Do bring your own pedicure utensils to the salon. Fungus and bacteria are easy to pass from person to person if the salon doesn’t use proper sterilization techniques.

* Don’t use nail polish to cover discolored nails. Thick discolored nails are a sign of fungal infection.

* Don’t let the salon use a foot razor to remove dead skin. A razor can cause permanent damage if used incorrectly and can easily cause infection if too much skin is removed.

* Do use a pumice stone, foot file, and/or exfoliating scrub. These are all great ways to eliminate build-up, also known as calluses. Be sure to soak your feet in warm water for at least five minutes before using the stone, scrub, or foot file.

For more foot care tips, visit East Ocean Podiatry online. If your feet hurt or something doesn’t look right, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. We have offices in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.

Achilles tendon injuries can keep just about anyone out of the game.

Star NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant recently suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury and underwent surgery. The injury may damage his Laker’s career, with Bryant spending much of next season (the final year of his contract) rehabilitating.

Even after surgical repair, recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture can be a long process. It is important to have minor problems and pain in the Achilles area evaluated early, because lack of addressing mild pain can lead to serious injuries.

Achilles Tendon Injuries at East Ocean Podiatry

Although the Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the lower extremity, it is vulnerable to injury. A wide variety of conditions can affect the tendon and surrounding.

Mild cases usually involve inflammation and can be treated through immobilization and the use of non-steroid inflammatory drugs like Aspirin. Orthotics can also provide early relief to tendon injuries.

More severe cases involve a rupture, which is either a partial or complete tear of the tendon. This catastrophic injury usually occurs in sports requiring sudden bursts of speed, such as sprinting and jumping. Football, basketball, and soccer players are especially vulnerable. Given that, it’s not unusual that Bryant sustained such an injury this season. Yet anyone can ruptured a tendon.

Treatment for a ruptured tendon, as in Bryant’s case, requires an extensive healing and rehabilitation process that may take over a year to fully recover. At East Ocean Podiatry, we utilize the most up-to-date and cutting-edge treatments that can dramatically expedite the healing process including cold laser therapy and rich plasma injections.

Call East Ocean Podiatry in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 or in Deerfield Beach at (954) 481-3525 to make your appointment today.

Diabetes affects nearly 26 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the scariest statistic: Every 20 seconds, an amputation takes place in the world because of diabetic complications.

As you know, diabetes has a dramatic effect on your feet. Something as simple as a small wound or blister that results from wearing tight shoes can cause serious damage because diabetes limits blood flow, slowing the healing process. This slowed healing puts you at risk for infection, which spreads more quickly when you have diabetes.

Nerve damage (neuropathy) is another common condition that people with diabetes face. It causes you to lose feeling in your hands or feet, and makes it more difficult to detect minor cuts or wounds –that’s why it’s extremely important to carefully monitor your feet.

Diabetic Foot Care at East Ocean Podiatry

At East Ocean Podiatry, we perform the comprehensive diabetic foot evaluations that will help you keep your feet healthy and reduce your risk of amputation. Our exams consist of: vascular (blood flow), neurological, and musculoskeletal components.

We treat diabetic foot ulcers, the early stages of charcotfoot, and many other diabetic wounds and injuries. If you have diabetes, we recommend that you inspect your feet everyday to catch any injury in the early stages. Bruising, puncture wounds, tender areas, redness, warmth, ulcers, blisters, scratches, cuts, and nail discoloration are all signs that should not be ignored.

Contact our office immediately if you experience any injury to your foot. Even a minor injury is an emergency when you have diabetes. Call East Ocean Podiatry in Deerfield Beach at (954) 481-3525 or in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 to make your appointment today.

Ever wonder why high heels and foot pain go hand in hand? It’s just as you suspected, high heels make for terrible foot wear. Despite being one of the few items always in fashion, they are some of the worst things you can have in your wardrobe.

Even Style icon Sarah Jessica Parker had to put her Jimmy Choos back into the closet.  The 47-year old recently told the online magazine Net-a-Porter that a visit to the podiatrist promoted her to put away the sky-high heels that mangled her feet after years of use.

Yet celebrities aren’t the only ones struggling to balance fashion and comfort. According to a survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association, 73% of U.S. women have shoe-related foot problems.

And high heels aren’t just bad for your feet. They  increases pressure on the bottom of your foot, changes the center of gravity, and affects most of your joints including your hips, back, and knees. They even put you at risk for ankle instability and sprains.

Many women lose fat pad on the bottom of their feet, increasing their discomfort.  Over time, heels can also increase the risk of arthritis or hammertoes, which make wearing heels even more painful.

Tips from the Podiatrist

At East Ocean Podiatry, we recommend that patients forgo the high heels altogether. Yet we do understand that styles often wins out over comfort. If you simply can’t throw out those heels, limit their use. For example, you can wear more sensible shoes during your commute, and then change when you reach your office. If it’s extra height you’re after, try wearing platforms or wedges which give you a boost without the spike of a stiletto.

Experiencing foot or ankle pain? Call us in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 or in Deerfield Beach at (954) 481-3525 today.

If you’re a seasoned runner, you’re already familiar with the plague called Achilles tendonitis. Achilles tendonitis is a common overuse injury that causes the tendon to become inflamed and painful. However, it can be prevented. Simply follow these tips to help prevent achilles tendonitis:

Stretch. This should be a no-brainer. You stretch before you run, right? The Achilles often becomes inflamed because it has tightened from lack of proper use. Stretch your calves before and after your workout to prevent the tendon from getting tight.

Evaluate your technique. No one has a perfect running technique, and we often run the way that is most comfortable for us. But just because you don’t have perfect technique doesn’t mean you can’t have correct technique. If you’re experiencing muscle pain after your run, evaluate how you’re running. If you naturally pronate when you’re walking or at rest, it’s likely you’re going to overpronate when you’re running- and overpronation is a leading cause of Achilles tendonitis. An orthotic in your shoe will help correct this deformity.

Get good running shoes. Don’t be cheap about your running shoes, especially if you run frequently. You’re doing yourself the biggest harm by being frugal. The sharp pain along your Achilles tendon can also be a sign that you need new running shoes. When shopping, find ones that fit your feet the best (check out our blog post, below, about it!), and especially make sure they are flexible, since rigid shoes allow the Achilles tendon to twist.

Warm up. When a muscle has been jolted into sharp, rapid movement, the likelihood of it tearing it will increased. Make sure you always warm-up before your run by stretching, jogging in place, or doing cardio.

Remain aware. Be aware of when you are in pain, and take care of it immediately. If you’re starting a new running regime, be aware of when something doesn’t feel right. By being aware, you can track your body and its aches and pains.

If you do experience a running injury, don’t wait to seek out treatment. Running on an injury will only cause further damage and prolong your recovery time. Contact East Ocean Podiatry in Boca Raton or in Deerfield Beach to make an appointment today.

If you recently underwent a foot or ankle procedure, you are probably experiencing a great deal of swelling. And you are probably wondering, “What causes swelling after foot surgery?” Fortunately, East Ocean Podiatry is here to explain.

Foot and ankle surgery differs in recovery from other surgical procedures in several ways. After surgery, the pain may dissipate, but the swelling can linger when you walk around due to pressure of your body weight bearing down on the recovery site. Swelling may also occur due to the fact that gravity is pulling fluid down to your foot throughout the day. And remember, your foot and ankle are furthest from your heart, so it takes a lot of work for your veins to prevent blood from pooling in your foot.

At East Ocean, our podiatrists Dr. Dean B. Dorfman and Dr. Dominick Sansone are both highly trained foot surgeons who know how to get you back on your feet. Although we most often recommend conservative treatments, sometimes surgery is necessary. 

If you’re suffering from foot or ankle pain, we can help. Call East Ocean Podiatry in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 or in Deerfield Beach at (954) 481-3525 today.

It’s a common complaint: People’s feet ache more after gaining weight. Weight gain often leads to foot pain due to the extra force and strain being placed on the joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Despite the adverse health affects, obesity remains and increasingly difficult problem to tackle. Just as a quick reminder, the spectrum of obesity is defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) or mass in kg/height in m2. (You can check your own BMI using WebMD’s BMI Calculator).

For adults, the scale is as follows:
Underweight: < 18.5
Healthy weight: 18.5 – 24.9
Overweight: 25-29.9
Obese: ≥ 30

How big is this problem that potentially affects all of us? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 35% of adults and 17% of children were obese in 2009-2010. This translates to over 78 million adults in the United States.

The South has the highest rates of obesity, with Mississippi coming in at number one with 34.9% and Louisiana running a close second with 33.4%. Yet even regions with the lowest rates are no lower than 20%. We’re an overweight country. Just imagine the havoc this wreaks not only on our feet, but our overall health as a nation.

Losing weight can significantly improve the condition of your feet as well as lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease and many other conditions. A few of exercise a week can make all the difference in your health.

Visit East Ocean Podiatry to learn more about how you can get your feet in tip top shape. We have offices in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.