What Does ‘Arch Support’ Really Mean?

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You may have heard the term “arch support” bandied about. Perhaps it was advertised as an important quality in those fancy new running shoes you were considering buying, or maybe you’ve seen shoe inserts at the drug store to help hold up your arches. However, most people likely don’t know what “arch support” actually is. Austin podiatrist, Dr. Jeffery LaMour, and our team are committed to educating patients about their feet so they can take better care of their podiatric health. After all, your feet are in many ways the foundation for your well-being, since you walk, run, skip, dance, and skate through life on them. Having a healthy arch is, in fact, an important facet of your foot health. In the following blog, we explain what “arch support” really means and how you can achieve it.

What is the Foot’s Arch?

The arch is exactly what it sounds like—the curved portion. Just like the carefully designed bend in a bridge, your arch is key to the structure of your foot. Livestrong’s “5 Things You Need to Know About Arch Support” explains: “The arch usually starts just below the ball of the foot and the toes and extends to the heel. The width and length varies, but your arches should be about the same size and shape on both feet. Arches can shift and change as the body grows, so the size and curve of the arch may change from childhood to adulthood.”

This is the general definition of the foot’s arch, but if we’re going to get truly technical, Teach Me Anatomy points out that there are actually three arches in the foot: “two longitudinal [running from the toes to the heel]…and one anterior transverse arch,” which connects the two longitudinal near the ball of the foot. These three arches form a triangle. However, since they are all so interconnected and interdependent, many people simply think of this entire triangle of the foot as its arch.

Arch Analysis

Not all arches are created equal. Arches are much like fingerprints—no two are exactly alike. However, there is a normal range at which your feet can adequately hold your weight and handle the pressure put on them. There are three basic categories of arch: too high, too low, and healthy. Foot Smart explains that you can do a “simple test on yourself” to determine what kind of arch you have (and if yours could be a problem). All you have to do is:

  1. “Get your feet wet.
  2. Stand normally on a flat surface where you can see the imprint of your feet, such as a sidewalk or a newspaper.
  3. Step away from your imprints and look at the wet marks.”

Once you’ve made your footprints, you can tell that “you have a low arch if your imprint shows the entire bottom of your feet….if you have a normal arch, you will see an imprint with the inside curve of your foot missing…[and] you have a high arch if you cannot see anything but your heel and the top of your foot near your toes.”

Of course, for a truly comprehensive understanding of your arches and how they behave, you would need an examination by a podiatrist like Dr. LaMour. We can assess your arches and determine if any treatment or care is necessary.

If You Don’t Support Your Arch

What if you leave your arch unsupported? There are a few symptoms that could result. First off, you’re likely to experience discomfort in your feet. In her Livestrong article, “The Importance of Arch Support,” Lauren Hutchens describes how arches “bear 200,000 to 300,000 lbs. of stress each mile we walk. Arches absorb the brunt of the pressure our bodies thrust upon our feet with each stride.” This is no small job, and repeatedly forcing your foot to bear your weight at an improper angle could definitely take a toll.

If you never develop arches, you suffer from flat feet, which can lead to more severe swelling. Having your arches too high or too low could also cause a condition known as plantar fasciitis, which can be quite painful. Improper arch support could also raise your risk for injury and other foot conditions.

Support Solutions

Dr. LaMour and our team could help you enjoy healthy arches with proper treatment. First of all, it is important to find the right footwear. Hutchens explains that you should wear shoes that support your particular arch type: “support low or high arches with well-fitting, appropriate footwear, particularly for athletic activities. People with low arches should look for shoes classified as ‘motion control,’” while “people with high arches should consider ‘cushioning’ shoes.” Both motion control and cushioning designs gently nudge your foot into proper position. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of great shoe brands and styles for all arch types.

In addition, we can custom make orthotic inserts to help you modify your existing shoes for better arch support. If you’re suffering from flat feet, plantar fasciitis, injury, or any other podiatric condition, our team can help diagnose your condition and provide a customized treatment plan.

Find Out More About What Podiatry Really Means

Dr. LaMour and our team are here to answer your foot health related questions. Contact our Austin podiatry practice today to find out more and schedule your appointment!

Original Source: https://www.drjefflamour.com/foot-care/what-does-arch-support-really-mean/

Chronic Ingrown Toenails: Causes & Treatment

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Suffering through an ingrown toenail one time is bad enough, but dealing with ingrown toenails all the time is a whole different story. If you find yourself constantly wincing with discomfort as you walk, struggling with swelling, or battling with ingrown infections, it’s time to take charge of your foot health. Chronic ingrown toenails can interfere with your daily life, but they don’t have to. Austin podiatrist, Dr. Jeffery LaMour is here to help you, along with the rest of our experienced, dedicated team. This condition is technically referred to as “onychrocryptosis,” and we can assist you in preventing an treating it. Read on to learn more about the causes and treatments of chronic ingrown toenails. May you never have another!

Do You Have an Ingrown Toenail?

Basically, an ingrown toenail occurs when the nail begins to grow into the surrounding tissue rather than remaining next to it. You might experience the discomfort of an ingrown toenail without realizing what is actually occurring. You may be suffering from this condition if:

  • Your toenail takes on a curved appearance at the edges, or you cannot see the edge of part of the toenail
  • Your toe becomes inflamed around the nail
  • The side of your nail feels sensitive
  • Your toenail begins to look red around the edges
  • You notice a yellow color, pus, or a warm sensation in the surrounding skin (which are signs of infection)
  • The skin of your toenail begins to feel numb

If you experience any of the above, you may have an ingrown toenail. If you notice these symptoms often, this may be a chronic condition for you.

What Causes This Chronic Condition? 

Why would the nail begin to grow into the skin? Some of the most widespread sources of ingrown toenails include:

  • Improper grooming. At least once a month, you should cut your toenails across their entire width using a toenail clipper designed for this purpose. We’ve found that most of our patients who have ingrown toenails are not doing this. Using a pair of scissors or simply ripping the extending portion of the nail with your hand is not an appropriate technique. When you trim your toenails in an uneven manner, they can grow back into the flesh.
  • Toe trauma. If you’ve stubbed your toe particularly hard or suffered an injury to the foot, this might have nudged your nail in the wrong direction.
  • Constricting footwear. Foot.com notes: “tight hosiery or shoes with narrow toe boxes” could cause or worsen ingrown toenails, forcing the nail to grow into the skin because it has nowhere else to go.
  • Foot shape. Although rare, your foot structure might impede healthy toenail growth. Mayo Clinic explains: “having unusually curved toenails” could be a cause.
  •  Toenail fungus. An infection under the nail bed could push the growing nail in a different direction or even begin to split it apart.

No matter the cause of your chronic ingrown toenails, Dr. LaMour and our team can pinpoint and treat it.

Treating Ingrown Toenails

We see and assist many patients with ingrown toenails every year. If grooming or improper footwear is the cause, Dr. LaMour may suggest a simple outpatient procedure to numb the toe, remove the ingrown segment of the nail, and bandage the toe to alleviate the discomfort and put the toenail on the right track. We may utilize this outpatient surgery for ingrown toenails in combination with any other appropriate treatments to repair your foot after an injury. If toenail fungus is the source, we can utilize our state-of-the-art Pinpointe™ FootLaser™ in combination with the above treatment. For foot structural issues, Dr. LaMour can perform a surgery to extract the root of the toenail. We will customize a treatment plan according to your unique needs and preferences.

We Can Help You

You don’t have to suffer through chronic ingrown toenails again and again! Contact our Austin podiatry practice today to schedule your appointment with Dr. LaMour.

Original Source: https://www.drjefflamour.com/foot-diseases/chronic-ingrown-toenails-causes-treatment/

Why Are My Toenails Yellow?

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Have you ever noticed your toenails taking on a yellow hue? You might have assumed that this is normal, but it isn’t. This discoloration could be relatively harmless, but it could also originate under the surface of your toenails and might become more serious if you fail to treat it. Fortunately, Dr. Jeffery LaMour and the rest of our Austin podiatry practice are here to help you better understand and care for your feet. You spend a good portion of every day on them, and they can have an impact on your overall well-being, so you ought to keep them healthy! In the following blog, Dr. LaMour and our team will answer a question patients often ask us: “why are my toenails yellow?”

Symptoms

Most probably, if you have yellow toenails, you’ll know it just by looking down at them. However, there are certain symptoms that often accompany this toenail transformation. Yellowing often occurs alongside:

  • Harder, denser nail texture. Nails might begin to feel heavier, become more difficult to cut, and become visibly thicker.
  • A reduction of shine in nails. Yellow nails also tend to be dull.
  • Changes in nail shape. Your toenails may begin to deviate from their usual form.
  • Small cracks or breaks in the nails. Your nails may appear as if they’re falling apart.
  • Jagged or deteriorating edges.
  • Other health concerns. This may seem odd, but Livestrong reports: “The color and overall health of your nails can be a reflection of your overall health.” The reverse is also true; more general body conditions can cause symptoms related to your toenails.

If you experience any of the above, contact our office for an appointment with Dr. LaMour.

Common Culprits of Color Changes

There are a variety of reasons your nails may become yellow. These include:

  • Fungus. This is by far the most common cause of yellow nails. Livestrong explains: “Yellow toenails are characteristic of a common fungal nail infection called onychomycosis, which affects some 12 percent of the U.S. population, according to the AAD.” In moist conditions—such as within a sweat-filled sock, or walking across a wet, dirty locker room floor—fungi can thrive and infect the tissue beneath your nail. If you don’t treat foot fungus early on, it can eventually take over your toenail, even cracking it.
  • Yellow Nail Syndrome. Yellow nails are the characteristic symptom of a rare systemic disease believed to be genetic. Rare Diseases describes: “Yellow nail syndrome is an extremely rare disorder characterized by malformations affecting the fingernails and toenails, abnormalities affecting the lungs and the airways…and swelling or puffiness.” This is just one of many reasons to contact a podiatrist quickly if you begin to notice yellowing. Enki Village points out: “people with conditions like bronchiectasis, sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer are more likely to develop yellow nail syndrome.”
  • Polish. The most benign beginnings of yellowing nails lie in small, shiny beauty bottles. Red, blue, black, and purple nail polish may be a bold fashion statement, but it can leave behind a considerably less attractive mustard hue.

These are but a few of the most prevalent possible sources of yellowing nails. For a more customized, complete diagnosis, you should come see Dr. LaMour for an examination.

Treatment Options

The treatment Dr. LaMour recommends will depend on the specific source of your discoloration. We often utilize our advanced Pinpointe™ FootLaser™ to treat patients with toenail fungus. Unfortunately, if you suffer from Yellow Nail Syndrome, the color of your nails may be irreversible, but we can recommend options to better care for them and refer you to an appropriate doctor to help you with your other symptoms. If nail polish is the root of your yellowing, Enki Village describes how you can return them to their original color by “buffing your nails lightly,” scrubbing your feet with a little hydrogen peroxide, putting baking soda on your toenails, or even “[applying] toothpaste” with a “nailbrush to scrub your nails gently.” To prevent this yellow after-effect from recurring, you should use one or two base coats of clear polish, which creates a buffer between the dark color and your natural nail. After Dr. LaMour assesses your feet, he will determine which treatment (or combination of treatments) is appropriate for you.

Are Your Toenails Yellow?

Don’t hesitate to call our podiatry practice! A trip to your Austin foot doctor could help you improve your toenail color and protect your overall health. Contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Original Source: https://www.drjefflamour.com/foot-care/why-are-my-toenails-yellow/

New Years Resolution Ideas- Healthy Feet!

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Happy 2017! Chances are, earlier this week, you made some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you want to further your career, make better dietary choices, or spend more time with your family. These are all admirable goals! One important New Year’s resolution you might not have considered is improving your foot health. At our podiatry practice, Austin foot doctor, Jeffery LaMour, and our team understand just how crucial caring for your feet is. Your podiatric health can affect your lifestyle, overall well-being, and happiness. We’ve made it our mission to help our patients enhance their lives by repairing, maintaining, and enhancing their feet. In the following blog, find out about our recommendations for starting 2017 out on the right foot.

Don’t Shower Your Feet with Disease

Many people don’t realize just how sensitive and susceptible to infection their feet are. Dr. LaMour always recommends wearing waterproof shoes to protect your feet from the fungi, bacteria, dirt, and who-knows-what-else that lurks in gym showers, on locker room floors, and generally on any public, moist floor. NHS advises: “wear flip-flops to avoid catching athlete’s foot [a type of fungal infection] and verrucas [tough growths similar to warts that can develop on the bottoms of your feet] when you use public areas such as gym showers, swimming pools, or hotel bathrooms.” Of course, if you do become infected with a condition like athlete’s foot, Dr. LaMour and our team can treat you, but prevention is the best medicine.

Practice Good Podiatric Grooming

Having long, dark, hard toenails and feet covered in calluses can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. Implementing some simple techniques can help you enjoy feet that look and feel great this year. Washing your feet daily cuts down on odor and reduces your risk for infections. You should also trim and file your toenails at least once per month. In addition to making you feel more confident in open-toed shoes, giving yourself a routine pedicure can help save you the discomfort of ingrown toenails.

If you want to go above and beyond for beautiful feet, you can follow Rebekah George’s tips in her Prevention piece, “Secrets of Perpetually Pretty Feet.” She provides easy, at-home solutions for a wide variety of foot maintenance concerns, from thick toenails (“coat nails nightly with Vaseline”) to calluses (“exfoliate daily”).

Get Regular Podiatric Check-Ups

One of the best things you can do for your feet in the New Year is to stay updated with your podiatric care. Dr. LaMour and our team would be delighted to see you for your annual examination. At this appointment, we can teach you more about foot care, catch any conditions before they worsen, and provide more customized suggestions for attractive, healthy feet this year.

Enjoy Healthy Feet in 2017

Are you ready to make a resolution for your foot health? Simply applying any one (or even all) of the above tips could help make this year the best yet for your precious pads. Contact us today to find out more and schedule your next appointment with your Austin foot doctor!

Original Source: https://www.drjefflamour.com/healthy-diet/healthy-foot-challenge/new-years-resolution-ideas-healthy-feet/