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Last month I discussed foot and ankle health live on the Radio. I never miss an opportunity to spread the word on the importance of foot health. After all, our feet are our foundations. Foot health is a vital aspect of our overall health and wellness. If you would like more information or to see me as a patient in my office in Jupiter, Florida please call (561) 619-3557 to schedule a consultation or go to our LuxePodiatry website.
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Foot and ankle pain and other problems can be extremely debilitating. Undergoing foot and ankle surgery usually requires a lot of downtime and a long recovery. Many people think that most foot problems require surgery, however, there are several non-surgical treatments before choosing to go under the knife.
Before deciding on foot or ankle surgery, our doctors will try several non-surgical treatments to relieve the pain or inflammation in your foot or ankle. At LuxePodiatry™, my private practice in Palm Beach County, we provide many non-surgical treatment options for our patients. Here are three non-surgical treatments that are easily performed in our office with little to no downtime. Hyaluronic Acid Injections Hyaluronan is a natural substance found in your joints and joint fluid. In the foot and ankle, hyaluronan acts like a lubricant and a cushion in the joint. When you lose this lubricant and cushion, you will get decreased motion, pain and swelling in your joints. The goal of this type of injection is to supplement poor-quality hyaluronan in your painful joint with additional highly purified hyaluronan. We use an injectable solution made from highly purified sodium hyaluronate (also known as hyaluronic acid) that is extracted from chicken combs. These are harvested from chickens that have been certified as suitable for human consumption via pre- and post-mortem veterinary inspection. The treatment will be injected directly into your joint right in the office by one of our trained physicians. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes:
The injections are usually done in a series. Your doctor will inform you as to how many injections you will need. We are currently using Supartz FX™ Traumeel® Injections Traumeel is a homeopathic prescription drug that is indicated for the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative conditions. Traumeel is a botanical extract and agent found in nature that not only reduces swelling, but balances it to promote its benefits. Traumeel is primarily composed of arnica montana root, a plant extract that is commonly found in tablets and creams to relieve pain and inflammation. Since the solution is mostly plant based, there are little to no side effects or allergic reactions. Traumeel is an anti-inflammatory treatment that can be used as often as necessary. Compared to corticosteroids, though safe when regulated by a physician, may have adverse effects if used too often. Traumeel injections treat several inflammation based conditions. Soft tissue injuries respond very well to Traumeel treatment, including muscles ligaments, and tendons. It is very helpful to those who experience chronic inflammation, such as athletes who may have an area or body part that they overuse during performance. Some of the common conditions Traumeel is used for:
Human Amniotic Cell Membrane Get back to the activities and sports that you love! Amniotic cell therapy is an all natural injection therapy designed for soft tissue injuries in the foot and ankle. Amniotic therapy is used for patients who have found no relief through conservative treatments such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, insoles and bracing or are looking for non-surgical and non-steroidal options. Amniotic fluid is highly concentrated in stem cells, proteins, cytokines and other important compounds, which are one some of the most fundamental cells in our bodies. Studies have shown this fluid to be naturally regenerative and can reduce inflammation and scars. Amniotic fluid is the fluid surrounding a fetus in pregnancy. During most pregnancies, this fluid is thrown away after birth. Consenting mothers of cesarian section babies can donate this fluid because of it’s amazing regenerative process. It is important to note, these cells come from the amniotic sac and are not part of the embryo. You will be back on your feet immediately with little to no downtime. For Questions or To Schedule a Consultation with One of The Foot & Ankle Specialists at LuxePodiatry™ Please Call Us at (561) 619-3557 LuxePodiatry.com Rates of childhood obesity have increased more than threefold in the last 30 years according to the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA also states, obesity can have both immediate and long-term effects on children’s health, ranging from poor self-esteem, sleep apnea, and asthma, to increased risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. Childhood obesity is also associated with Type II diabetes and an increase in the stress on weight-bearing joints.
The good news is that the most recent study from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) related that the prevalence of obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years decreased significantly from 13.9% in 2003-2004 to 8.4% in 2011-2012. However, in 2011-2012, 8.4% of 2- to 5-year-olds had obesity compared with 17.7% of 6- to 11-year-olds and 20.5% of 12- to 19-year-olds. This shows that as children have been aging into their teenage and young adult years, they have a higher tendency of being overweight. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, today approximately 32% of American children and adolescents, ages 2 to 19, are considered overweight or obese. Excess weight can cause vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and increased stress and tension that can affect bone growth and overall musculoskeletal health, causing deformity, pain, and potentially a lifetime of limited mobility and diminished quality of life. There were two studies performed that evaluated the prevalence of flatfoot in overweight children using body mass index. They were looking to see if these children had different function of their feet or just fatter arches that made them appear lower. The controlled studies showed that the children who were overweight had lower arches, not just fatter feet, as well as much higher forefoot pressures during walking. A more recent study performed in 2013 in Israel found there was a greater prevalence of flexible flatfoot among males compared with females in a general, healthy adolescent age group. Flexible flat foot was associated with increased body mass index and shorter body height for all grades of flexible flatfoot severity. Another study, from the European Journal of Pediatrics published in January of 2013, concluded that excess weight affects the foot structure of children. The differences they found between age groups appear to indicate that the feet of children with overweight and obesity follow a different growth pattern that that of normal-weight children. In this study by Jimenez et al, they provided actual and normative date of the foot of schoolchildren by age and BMI. They studied 1,032 school children, 6-12 years old from different locations in Toledo, Spain. Their BMI was calculated using height and weight from a standing scale and used their sex to determine their BMI as well according to the classification system proposed by cole et al. In addition to these findings, the researchers also used 3D measures with a feet digitizer that included four laser projectors and four CCD cameras. When comparing the measures between overweight and obese children, significant differences were found in the widths, ball height, and arch height for both feet. Obese children showed larger dimensions of the foot. Overweight and obese children were shown to have larger feet than their normal-weight counterparts throughout growth. Obese children and overweight children were shown to differ only in the width if their feet. Another interesting feature of this study was that they found among the age groups there were more significant differences in measures between children with normal-weight, followed by overweight and obese children. This shows that children with more weight tend to show less change in their feet or the changes are more gradual as they age. Could excess weight than be a factor in foot development in school-age children? Several studies, including this one, showed that the most significant change in foot type occurs between ages 7-8 as well as the highest incidence of obesity. The significance in foot measures between ages 10-12 was much less, showing the developmental structure of the foot stabilizes and there are less changes. Some researchers have found that the foot of school children from 12 to 13 years is structurally formed at this point and does not change throughout the length of primary school. Children who are overweight or obese often have painful, flat feet that tire easily and prevent them from walking long distances. Many children with flat feet are treated with orthotics and stretching exercises focused on the Achilles tendon (heel cord). Because weight loss is effective enough to ease the pain of flat feet, low impact weight reduction exercises, such as swimming or cycling may be recommended. Children who are overweight or obese must find ways to lose weight. With help from their parents, pediatricians and teachers school aged children can learn how to eat right and exercise regularly. Children must have good role models at home. Parents have to set an example by eating right and exercising. I have always believed actions speak louder than words. Just telling your kids to eat better and go exercise, just will not work. Cook at home with your kids. Take your kids food shopping and focus on the perimeters of the grocery store. This is where all the fruits, vegetables, fish and other fresh foods are. Avoid the aisles in the middle. If children participate in all aspects of their diet they are likely to continue to eat healthy and even find it fun! Family days out should include something outdoors or a physical activity such as a 30 minute walk around where you live, or taking a class at your local YMCA. |
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Dr. Suzanne Fuchs has a passion for nutrition, health and fitness. She aims to connect the dots between our overall health and the substances that go into our bodies on a daily basis by using only evidence based medicine, science and expert advice. Dr. Suzanne Fuchs currently practices concierge foot and ankle medicine and surgery in Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at LuxePodiatry™ Disclaimer:
If you have health concerns you should contact your physician for professional advice. Dr. Suz Heals.com has provided sources for information that is not directly provided by our own sources. Dr. Suz Heals.com is intended to be used for educational and information purposes only. Dr. Suz Heals.com and its Editors do not advocate nutritional supplementation over proper medical advice or treatment and this sentiment will never be expressed through pages hosted under Dr. Suz Heals .com. If using any pharmaceuticals or drugs given to you by a doctor or received with a prescription, you must consult with the doctor in question or an equally qualified Health Care Professional prior to using any nutritional supplementation. If undergoing medical therapies, then consult with your respective Therapist or Health Care Professional about possible interactions between your Treatment, any Pharmaceuticals or Drugs being given, and possible nutritional supplements or practices hosted on Dr. Suz Heals.com. Dr. Suz Heals.com does not assume liability for any actions undertaken after visiting these pages, and does not assume liability if one misuses supplements. Dr. Suz Heals.com and its Editors do not ensure that unforeseen side effects will not occur even at the proper dosages, and thereby does not assume liability for any side effects from supplements or practices hosted under the domain of Dr. Suz Heals.com. Archives
February 2020
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