Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Podiatry Newsletter Coming Up!

Chicago Podiatric Surgeons Newsletter is published quarterly. It contains lots of easy to read foot health articles in a nicely designed format. You can download previous issues by going here. As we are preparing our upcoming issue, you can sign up for your copy by filling out this form. We are happy to announce that the latest issue will be 100% paper free. Chicago Podiatric Surgeons is going GREEN!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Children's healthy feet tips

Problems noticed at birth will not disappear by themselves. You should not wait until the child begins walking to take care of a problem you've noticed earlier.
  • Remember that lack of complaint by a youngster is not a reliable sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that they can be twisted and distorted without the child being aware of it.
  • Walking is the best of all foot exercises, according to podiatrists. They also recommend that walking patterns be carefully observed. Does the child toe in or out, have knock knees, or other gait abnormalities? These problems can be corrected if they are detected early.
  • Going barefoot is a healthy activity for children under the right conditions. However, walking barefoot on dirty pavements exposes children's feet to the dangers of infection through accidental cuts and to severe contusions, sprains, or fractures. Another potential problem is plantar warts, a condition caused by a virus which invades the sole of the foot through cuts and breaks in the skin. They require protracted treatment and can keep children from school and other activities.
  • Be careful about applying home remedies to children's feet.
  • Preparations strong enough to kill certain types of fungus can harm the skin.


And as always, if you have any concerns at all, please consult your local podiatrist to treat the condition early.