When you think of the word “corn,” you might imagine long green stalks, bright yellow kernels, or even a white, fluffy snack at the movie theater. While “corn” is most certainly a favorite food, this term also refers to an irritating and sometimes painful condition that commonly affects the feet. Most people don’t know about this or the many other issues that relate to their podiatric health. Austin foot doctor, Jeffery LaMour, and our team have made it our mission to educate our patients about disorders like these so they can prevent, identify, and treat them. You probably spend a good portion of your day on your feet, so it’s a good idea to learn how to protect your foot health. In this week’s blog, we explain the basics of corns.

Clarifying Corns

Now that we’ve got your attention with this mysterious podiatric predicament, you’re probably wondering what exactly corns are. Basically, these are tiny sections of tightly packed dead skin that create bumps on the side and upper portions of your feet. Mayo Clinic explains that these “thick, hardened layers of skin…develop when your skin tries to protect itself against friction and pressure.” Despite your body’s best efforts to safeguard your skin, corns can actually cause swelling and discomfort. They can also be unsightly and embarrassing depending on their size and visibility.

Corns Versus Calluses

If you think corns sound a lot like calluses, you’re absolutely correct! These two conditions share a lot in common. Many classify corns as a specific type of callus. As Web MD notes, “corns and calluses are often confused with one another,” but they have a few key dissimilarities. Generally, corns are different from calluses in that they:

• Are smaller. They typically take up much less surface area than calluses.
• Typically appear only on the feet (although they can, in some cases, develop elsewhere). Of course, you can also get calluses on your feet, but calluses “usually develop on the soles of your feet,” where you put the most weight, according to Mayo Clinic. In contrast, corns “tend to develop on parts of your feet that don’t bear weight.”
• Hurt. Calluses might reduce the sensitivity of your skin, but they usually don’t cause any discomfort. If you press on a corn or move such that your weight is on that part of your foot, it might feel sore or sharp.
• Have a different texture. Mayo Clinic explains: “corns…have a hard center surrounded by inflamed skin.” This kernel-like shape most likely gave “corns” their plant-like name.

These distinctive characteristics should help you differentiate corns from calluses so you can tell exactly what’s bothering your feet and receive accurate assistance.

Types of Corns

Corns come in several shapes and sizes. Web MD writes: “a hard corn [has] a central core,” giving it a denser, more bulbous appearance, while a “soft corn has a much thinner surface and usually occurs between the 4^th and 5^th toes,” looking more like a mini callus. Perhaps the most problematic of all types are “seed corns,” which are “tiny, discrete [calluses]” that “tend to occur on the bottom of the feet.” Their placement makes them much more likely to get pressed and become painful.

How Your Austin Foot Doctor Can Help

In most cases, corns won’t require any treatment. They should go away on their own. In the meantime, wearing soft socks and comfortable shoes can help cushion your corns. You should see Dr. LaMour if pain from corns interrupts your daily life, becomes persistent, or is accompanied by excessive swelling in the area that doesn’t go down quickly. If you have poor circulation or suffer from diabetes, it is especially important to seek professional help. With an advanced suite of services, we can help you find the right treatment.

Do You Suffer From Corns?

Dr. LaMour and our team can help you with this condition and many others. Contact us today to learn more about our practice and schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!

Most people figure out fairly early on in their lives whether or not they’re right or left handed. They simply begin picking up their crayons with one little hand or another, and that’s that. In fact, there are many eccentricities about one’s dominant hand. According to the Mirror, “humans have been arguing about left and right for centuries.” While lefties seemed to have been more popular during the Stone Age, the vast majority of people prefer their right-hand today. However, those with dominant left hands are commonly thought to be more creative, inventive, and artistic.

You may have notions of what your dominant hand says about you, but which foot do you favor? This question can be a little more difficult to answer. At Austin foot doctor Dr. Jeffery LaMour’s podiatry practice, we can answer just about any question you have about your feet. In the following blog, we explain the science behind laterality and how you can determine which foot you favor.

The Science of Dominance

Why might someone use one side over the other? Scientific American provides a rather widely held hypothesis: “each person’s brain is divided into two sides – the left and right hemispheres. In some cases, one hemisphere may be more active than the other during a certain activity.” Due to the way our brains divvy up tasks, one side typically takes over. So, Scientific American explains: “when someone is processing language, one hemisphere is usually working harder than the other. There is also some correlation between the side(s) we use in our brain and the side we use on our body.” This is what creates “sidedness, laterality, or left/right dominance.”

In her Discover Magazine article “Picking Sides: How Genes Help Us Decide Between Left and Right,” Sharon Moalem expands on this concept: “each side of our brain has evolved for functional specialization,” which “allows us to perform multiple complex tasks.” She writes: “for our species, one of the most important tasks is communication, which is generally processed on the left side of the brain,” thus the popularity of right handedness.

Moalem also cites “Amar Klar, a senior investigator of the Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute,” who asserts that there is “a direct genetic cause for handedness, perhaps even a single gene—a discovery we’ve thus far managed to miss as we’ve combed the human genome.” Genetically determined or not, it seems that our brains have a lot to do with side dominance.

Cultural norms can also play into this. Some believe that so many people are right handed simply because we assume that right is “right.” Of course, it’s also important to note that your dominant hand may not correspond to your dominant foot. Moalem notes: “you might think that footedness and handedness are always aligned, but as it turns out that’s not always the case…Lots of people aren’t congruent.”

Which Foot Do You Favor?

Ascertaining which foot is dominant is not an exact science. There are differing perspectives on how it might be done.

• Moalem advocates for the “staircase” method: “imagine yourself at the bottom of a staircase that you’re about to ascend. Which foot moves first?” The one that takes the first step is most likely your favored one, she argues.
• Scientific American provides a different tactic: “Place a coin on the floor directly in front of [you, and] step onto the coin.” Whichever foot you used is your preferred pad.
• Science Kids offers another two tests: “1. Run forward and jump off one leg, which did you jump off? 2. Drop a ball on the ground and kick it, which foot did you use?”

After using one or more of these at-home experiments, you should be able to determine whether you’re right or left footed.

Take Care of Your Feet

No matter which foot is dominant, it’s important to make sure both are in good shape. You depend on them to walk, run, skip, dance, and generally get around. Austin foot doctor Dr. LaMour and our team offer a variety of services to help you care for every component of your feet, from your toenails to your tendons. If you have any other questions about your feet or want assistance with your podiatric health, contact us today.

Icy cold feet can be uncomfortable and annoying. Most of the time, chronic cold feet are nothing to worry about in young, healthy people. But, if you do have cold feet and aren’t sure of the cause, it’s a good idea to see your podiatrist to talk about possible causes and solutions.

Vasoconstriction

Your blood vessels are designed to carry blood throughout your body. When you get cold, these blood vessels constrict to conserve heat for your vital organs. But for some people, this process is overactive, leading to lots of constriction even if it’s only a little cold. If you tend to be more sensitive to cold than others around you, this may be one of the reasons why.

Although minor vasoconstriction is nothing to worry about, it can be bothersome. Warm yourself up on chilly days by sipping hot liquids and wearing warm — but not too tight — shoes and socks when the temperature drops.

Raynaud’s Disease

In some cases, blood vessels constrict to the point of being painful. Instead of gradually narrowing with cold, they abruptly close with even a slight amount of cold. People with Raynaud’s may have numbness, tingling, burning, and bluish color to their hands and feet when exposed to cold.

If you think you have Raynaud’s, talk with your doctor. Usually, it can be managed with home care such as wearing extra layers, warm gloves and socks when needed, and avoiding smoking and caffeine.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Older adults, particularly those over age 70, are most commonly affected by peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is characterized by a buildup of plaque inside the arteries, which restricts blood flow to the arms and legs. Symptoms of PAD include:

• Cold legs and feet
• Painful muscle cramps in the legs
• Foot or toe wounds that won’t heal

Untreated PAD can be dangerous, so be sure to see your doctor if you have any symptoms. Any wound on the foot that doesn’t heal properly warrants a call to your podiatrist.

Underactive Thyroid

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, occurs when thyroid hormone levels are too low. This can slow down many of the body’s processes, resulting in:

• Feeling cold
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Constipation

Hypothyroidism is difficult to diagnose with symptoms alone. Usually, a blood test is needed, and treatment is available to return hormone levels to normal.

Warm Up Your Feet

If you frequently have cold feet but can’t identify the cause, ask your podiatrist for advice. Sometimes, treating an underlying health condition will solve the issue. Regardless of the reason, constantly cold feet can interfere with enjoyment of the fall and winter seasons. Keep them comfortable by wearing warm but breathable socks, and using foot warmers inside your shoes on very cold days if needed.

Do you have concerns about the health of your feet? Contact Dr. Jeffery LaMour to schedule your appointment!

Muscle cramps can be a real pain — and they often strike at the most inconvenient times. The middle of the night is a prime time for painful foot cramps and charley horses, waking you from your much-needed sleep. They may also occur during exercise and activity.

Fortunately, foot cramps are usually nothing serious, and there are plenty of ways you can help prevent them from happening.

What is a Cramp?

A cramp is simply a contraction of a muscle that usually causes pain. The pain is usually sharp enough to stop you in your tracks. You may know you’re having a cramp, but determining the cause isn’t always so simple.

Check your Hydration

The muscles in your feet work hard every day. They flex and move with every step, and they’re also helping to support your entire body. If you haven’t had enough to drink, your muscles lose the necessary fluids they need to function well. Dehydrated muscles tend to cramp up more.

Aim for eight glasses of water a day, or more if you’re sweating or exercising.

Lack of Stretching

Stretching is essential for healthy muscles, and proper stretching can keep your feet feeling great too. If your muscles are stiff from lack of stretching, they may tend to cramp more frequently. Flexible muscles are healthy muscles!

Try a simple stretching routine, and don’t overdo it. Stretch slowly and gently, and stop if you feel pain. Your podiatrist can recommend specific exercises that will benefit your foot health needs.

Excessive Exercise

Exercise is great for the body, but pushing yourself to the limit can leave you in pain afterward. If you exercise much harder or longer than usual, your muscles will feel the strain. Not only can this leave you fatigued, but you experience soreness and muscle cramps.

The best way to increase your fitness level is to build up gradually, without overdoing it. Always talk with your doctor if you have any health concerns or conditions before you start a rigorous exercise program.

Electrolyte Imbalance

The electrolytes essential for healthy muscles are calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Excessive exercise without replenishing electrolytes, or taking supplements that disrupt electrolyte balance, could cause more muscle cramping. If your diet is lacking in nutrients, this could create problems for your muscles as well.

Eat a balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Talk with your doctor about any special dietary needs, and be sure to discuss any vitamins or supplements you take.

The Wrong Shoes

Shoes play a big role in how your feet feel every day, Wearing shoes without proper support, such as flip flops, can definitely cause cramping. If you’re going to be on your feet for long periods, make sure your shoes are in good condition, have adequate room for your feet, and include good arch and ankle support. Shoes with the APMA Seal of Acceptance are always safe choices.

Your Podiatrist Can Help You Stop Foot Cramps

Foot cramps are uncomfortable, but rarely serious. If you notice cramping regularly and cannot determine the cause,see your podiatrist. Correcting any foot problems early gives you the best chance for effective relief.

Do you have a foot health question or concern? Contact Dr. Jeffery LaMour to learn how you can keep your feet as healthy as possible for a lifetime.