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Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 423-1888
Posts for: May, 2010
If you're like me, you've probably started the process of planning your summer camping trips. Many people enjoy one or more annual trips, and if you're like me, you take advantage of any excuse to camp and enjoy the outdoors. Summer is certainly the season for 
camping trips. Make sure that you plan ahead, finding and reserving sites, acquiring equipment and provisions, and informing loved ones of your plans in the event of an emergency. You may also want to consider your feet when planning your trips. Keep these tips in mind.
1. Check your shoes/boots. Many people keep a pair of hiking boots for their periodic camping trips and outdoor excursions. This is a great idea. Boots designed for hiking have great features to help your feet function within the contexts of outdoor activity. They are durable and can withstand the assault of debris, thorns, rocks, and all the other obstacles found along the trail. They offer ankle support to prevent injuries on unstable or uneven surfaces. And they have lots of arch support to ensure that your feet won't get tired and to help prevent over-use injuries like plantar fasciitis. Since your boots may have been in the bottom of your closet or in the basement all year, you should check them. If they're worn out, they won't be able to offer you the support and protection they are intended to. You should replace old hiking boots to avoid complications.
2. Be careful around campsites. Campsites aren't always the safest place. Fires, tools, and the many ropes and stakes around the campsite mean you will need to pay attention to where you're going and take your time when transporting cooler chests, water jugs, dishwater, trash, firewood, etc. It is usually a good idea to tie bright colored flags or trail tape to your tent/dinner fly ropes to help you remember they are there. Avoiding tripping and other under-foot hazards means avoiding sprained ankles and other traumas. Make sure any knives, saws, hatchets, axes, and other tools are picked up after use and are sheathed appropriately. Teach your children about campsite safety and be consistent with enforcing the rules. This will protect them and teach them how to be safe when you aren't around and in their future.
3. Take breaks. If your feet are tired, let them rest. If your hikes are few and far between, then set reasonable goals for the distance of your hikes. And remember your experience level. If you enjoy the outdoors but aren't the most experienced hiker or navigator, it is safest and smartest to stay on well marked, maintained trails. There are many opportunities within state parks and campgrounds to find this kind of trails. Always carry a small emergency first aid/ survival kit with you on walks. Preparation is the main difference between cases of wilderness survival and tragedy.
4. Practice safe and ethical camping practices at all times. Not only will these protect your feet, but they will protect your whole body, your legal rights, and the environment. remember not to disturb wildlife and to, as the old outdoorsman mantra goes, "leave only footprints and take only photos". Be sure to be courteous to all other campers, hikers, and sportsmen- we all share
the same interests and environments. And please learn all the rules pertaining to your campground, state or federal park, lake, river, wildlife preserve, etc. Knowing the rules where you intend to enjoy nature protects the wildlife, plant life and environment as well as allows everyone to enjoy the area.Looking for a way to spice up your camping trip? Maybe you only have a weekend or two days. Maybe you don't want to travel long distances. Ohio has a bounty of state parks. Visit their website for more information, to locate parks near you, and to reserve campsites. You can also try ideas like primitive camping, building your own shelter (please bring and leave with your own materials), biking cross country to a camping destination (which challenges you to pack light and live simply), trying new outdoor activities as well as camping (like hiking, fishing, canoe/kayaking, white water rafting, horseback riding, disc golf- there are countless opportunities), and sleeping under the stars without a tent or shelter. We hope you enjoy your summer outdoors and protect your feet so you enjoy many more years of excursions.
We all remember comedian Tim Allen's antics on his television show "Home Improvement". The clumsy handy-man is a very relatable character to many of us, because most people have had their own adventures (and mishaps) with home improvement. As spring an summer come fully upon us, many of us will undertake tasks both large and small around our house. Some are outdoor tasks, like gardening, building patios/decks, or painting the house. Others will undertake indoor painting, small repairs, and even full renovations of rooms or possibly their whole house. What better time to undertake such tasks then when the weather is nice and you can take time off from work? We wish you the best of luck in your do-it-yourself undertakings and want to remind you of how your feet factor in.
Since your feet are the foundation of your body, you won't be able to get much work done when they are in pain or injured. Be mindful of your feet and careful while performing tasks and you should be able to avoid injuries during home improvement tasks. If at any time you experience pain or an injury, don't hesitate to contact our office. We can get you back to pain free health faster when you don't ignore problems and schedule an appointment.
1. First of all, protect your feet while doing home improvement. Your feet need plenty of support, and you should choose tennis shoes or work boots that have adequate support to avoid over-use injuries like plantar fasciitis. This is especially true when you're increasing the load on your feet, say carrying multiple loads of mulch, shingles, patio pavers, etc. If your usual "work" shoes or boots are old or in poor condition, please replace them. This small purchase will save you from unnecessary pain and suffering. Also, be sure that your feet are protected. Home improvement often comes with heavy objects or tools, and dropping such an item on an unprotected foot can have serious consequences. Be sure your feet are covered, and wear steel toe boots if you are working with very heavy equipment or items. You also want to make sure the soles of your shoes are in good condition, since job sites are riddled with sharp objects under foot. Remember, you need the right tool for the job, and in the same way, the correct shoes are a must.
2. Take your time. We all know the adage "measure twice, cut once". This attitude is true in home improvement. You need to plan carefully, be precise, and work smart. Taking your time will help you avoid accidents. This is especially true when your eye-sight is obstructed. Take your time when carrying loads of objects that obstruct your view, as well as when walking on stairs with objects. This will help protect your feet from dropped objects, stubbed toes, injuries from stepping on objects, and trauma like sprained ankles. By focusing on your task, being aware of your surroundings, staying alert, and taking your time you can avoid many complications, both in your project and in your foot health.
3. Your feet are often not the right tool for the job. We all have to improvise sometimes in home improvement tasks. As amateurs, we don't have all the tools and skills that the professionals have. This doesn't mean that we can't complete the job, but we should keep in mind that your feet aren't a multi-use tool. They are for supporting your body and getting you from place to place. They should not be used to replace a sledge hammer or other tool in demolition projects, be used to kick any unruly objects, or to prove the stability of an object you are standing (or jumping on). Remember Tim Allen- showing off often leads to mishap. Don't ask your feet to do jobs intended for pry bars, hammers, wrenches or other tools.
4. Take a break when you need it. Lots of physical labor can be draining on your body, especially when it isn't used to it. Be sure to rest and recover when necessary. This will help you avoid over-use injuries like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, or stress fractures. Break up large tasks, and try to mix activities with high physical demand with those that have less demand. Take time to rest your feet, like during a lunch or coffee break. Bear in mind your age and physical condition when undertaking tasks, and make reasonable deadlines for completing tasks. Be honest with yourself about how much work is involved in a task and your ability to complete it. You may need to enlist help, even from a professional contractor, for a project or a portion of a project. Be sure to rest after a hard day, and refuel with a good diet and plenty of fluids. Also, be aware of sunlight during outdoor tasks. Wear sunscreen and drink lots of clear fluids (preferably water and possibly some supplemental sports drinks) to rehydrate your body.
5. Treat your feet well. Demanding a lot of your feet may mean repaying their hard work with some attention. Address any job-related injuries (scratches, blisters, bruises) with the appropriate care, including cleaning and disinfection of open injuries, icing of bruising and swelling, and topical and oral medications for pain. You may also find soaking in warm water is an excellent way to rejuvenate tired feet. You can also treat your feet well while they're in your shoes. Custom orthotics are a great way to avoid complications from your feet, prevent pain, and offer adequate support. You may also choose some extra padding, like the Spenco flat insoles available on our online store. Visit our store at http://www.ourdoctorstore.com/vail/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=306 for information on Spenco padded insoles and other products to improve your foot health. These will be delivered straight to your door, to be added to your shoes for the protection, comfort, and support of your feet.
If at any time you experience a problem, big or little, with your feet do not hesitate to call our office. We look forward to helping you find relief from all the home improvement disasters that may befall your feet. Call us for nail punctures, stubbed toes, feet that items were dropped on, plantar fasciitis pain, turned ankles... we look forward to treating the Tim Allen in your life.
Spring is a time many people join recreational softball leagues. You can join a church team, a team of people from your work, or even just a team of friends who play. Some leagues are more advanced than others, and some are more competitive as well. You should also search out information on whether a league is co-ed and what requirements go along with that classification. No matter what type of league you are looking to join, you should keep a few things in mind.
First, softball is usually a pretty safe sport to play. There is no contact, and most recreational leagues are designed with fun and sportsmanship in mind. But as with all physical activity, injuries are always possible. Common in softball are turned ankles (due to sharp turns while running and possibly from contact the base in an awkward manner, whether running or sliding into the base). This is an injury we see often and are able to treat. Turning your ankle can result in a sprain or tearing of the ligaments along the sides of your ankles. Sprains can be painful, and limit your mobility and physical activity. Seeing your podiatrist immediately means he will be able to immediately begin treating your injury and return you to your softball team. Also, beware of over-use injuries, especially if softball has been added to your normal exercise routine. These include plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the tissues that connect your heel to your toes) and stress fractures. Both conditions can be painful and limit your physical activity. We also offer many treatments for these two conditions. Making an appointment at the first signs of injury and/or pain can greatly speed your recovery.
Also, keep your cleats in mind when you participate in softball. Be sure to check if your league has any specific requirements on cleats (some ban metal spikes for example). You should remember that even though you aren't in your cleats for long periods of time, you need to pay attention to them. Any shoes, especially ones that your wear while running and possibly jumping, need to have adequate support for your arches and should protect your feet. If your cleats cause you pain, or are worn out, you should replace them. Check your cleats every season to ensure that they are in good condition. Also, make sure your cleats have adequate time to dry between games and practices. This means you need to take your cleats out of your car trunk or bat bag to dry out. This helps prevent the growth of fungi, which can cause athlete's foot or yellow, cracked nails. Fungi thrive in warm, dark, wet environments, like in your cleats. Be sure to air them out and periodically (once a week) disinfect them with Lysol spray or a similar product.
Sure, Super Saver may have won the Kentucky Derby over the weekend but we're talking about running for fun and charity! This is the time of year to really begin kicking your preparation for 5k and other charity runs into high gear. Many people like the opportunity to compete with other runners or themselves, and charity runs are a great way to do this. Not only do you get to enjoy the race and give your workouts some greater incentive, you also get to help others. We want to encourage people to take advantage of the summer weather and the opportunities to race. Are you looking for races in Ohio? Click here to see Runner's World's list of races in our state for the 2010 season. The list is long, so you should be able to find races based on both location and date. We encourage you to find races and make the effort to train hard and beat your time this year!
Not at a high fitness level? That's ok! A "5k" race means it is 5 kilometers long: that's only 3.1 miles. Also, many races offer you the opportunity to join a run and a walk heat (group of people who start a race at the same time). This means that no matter your fitness level, you can help others by joining in to raise money for a good cause. And most races offer prizes (some door prizes and others based on place and category) and t-shirts or other memorabilia. We encourage you to find your race this summer.
Remember to keep your feet in mind when racing this season. Nothing will derail your training progress or your ability to excel in the big race faster than foot and ankle problems. When any problems arise, including pain or injury, don't hesitate to call our office. The sooner we can begin treating your injury, the sooner we can have you at performance levels and out training again. Also, make sure that your shoes are in shape for this season too. Old shoes will land you in our office and off your feet quickly. Check to be sure your shoes are in good condition and replace them if they are not. They should offer adequate support to your arches, and plenty of padding as your feet continually contact the road. Remember to always lace your shoes fully. And don't forget: we're the experts on your feet and foot health. As such, you should feel comfortable reaching our office if problems arise. Happy running!