Back to school means new shoes. This year, ensure you're purchasing shoes that will keep your children and their feet healthy.

Although tempting, do not use hand me down shoes as they could impact the development of your child's foot. Have your child's shoe size and sock size re-measured because children's feet grown and change rapidly. Consider comfort, support, and fit before purchasing a pair of shoes.

Properly fitting shoes are equally as important for the scholar athlete. Shoes should be specified to the sport or activity your child is involved in.

Tips For Choosing Footwear

-Have your feet measured each time you shop. Feet change size over time

-Put weight on your feet while they are being measured.

-Shop for shoes at the end of the day. Your feet swell throughout the day and this ensures a better fit.

-Fit shoes to the larger foot if your feet are different sizes.

-Have shoes fitted to your heel as well as your toes.

-Always try on shoes! Sizes vary depending on the brand.

-Walk around in the shoes to make sure they are comfortable.

-Leave a 1/2" space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe.

-Always allow for "wiggle room" for your toes.

-Avoid shoes with a heel 2 inches or higher.

Tips modified from the footwear recommendations guide of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Call us or Visit Vailfoot.com to schedule a foot exam. You can also try Deodorizing Foot Wash from out product store to keep you child's new school shoes smelling fresh.

Tips for Relieving Pain, Maintaining Metatarsals of Dancers

Follow these common sense rules for keeping on your toes throughout auditions, rehearsals, performances, and those fabulous cast parties after the show.

The Right Shoes Can Relieve Foot Pain
- Wear the right shoe for the right activity. Invest a little extra money to make sure you buy comfortable, well-made shoes that support your feet and ankles for your regular daily activities such as walking, shopping, or running errands.
- Obviously different types of dancing require different types of shoes (or in some cases, no shes at all). If your old dancing shoes are barely fit for walking, throw them away and get new ones. Don't dance in shoes that are past their prime.
- Avoid walking barefoot outside. Although it may be tempting to feel the soft grass beneath your feet, it's actually tempting fate. Underneath an apparently well-manicured lawn or a groomed sandy beach can be hidden debris that can lodge in your foot and cramp your dance style. In summer, the searing sun can heat sand and sidewalks to dangerous temperatures that can burn the soles of your feet.
- Wear comfortable, well-cushioned shoes for long walks. Save the heels and sandals for parties and dates. If you want to keep dancing, don't wear high heels with pointed toes no matter how cute the shoes are or how much you paid for them.

The Right Activity Can Relieve Foot Pain
-Make an appointment with a doctor if you have an injury or pain that won't go away. Sprains and other injuries need to be examined, x-rayedm and treated by a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon. Dancing on a sore foot or a weak ankle will only make them worse.
-Sometimes an injection, orthopedic shoe (or insert), or series of stretches can relieve your symptoms without surgery. Typically a surgical procedure is only necessary to permanently correct structural problems with the feet. Don't be too eager to have surgery unless every other option has been exhausted. If you have corns, bunions, or hammertoes that don't hurt, then focus on preventive care instead. Painless problems before surgery can become painful after surgery. Relieving pain should always be the deciding factor in surgically correcting a foot problem.

Starting today August 5th, 2010 Ashley Spencer will be performing Pedicure and Manicure treatments here at Dr. Thomas Vail's. Ashley is currently slated for these treatment dates on Thursdays. Ashley currently resides in Tiffin, OH and has been performing these treatments for a good number of years now.

Pedicures:

Deluxe Pedicure: (1 hour) - The ultimate pedicure to pamper your feet, this service begins with a hot soak. Nails are shaped and filed, cuticles are detailed then calluses are smoothed. The pleasure continues with a salt glow scrub or moisturizing mud mask. Steam towels remove the scrub or mask and prepare skin for a relaxing massage. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $40.

Spring Day Pedicure (45 Minutes) - Our Spring Day pedicure begins with a hot soak. Nails are shaped and filed cuticles are detailed then calluses are smoothed. Enjoy a full leg and foot massage. Steam towel wrap ensures your pedicure is delightful. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $35.

Express Pedicure (25 Minutes) - Short on Time? The express pedicure is the bare essentials, begins with a hot soak. Nails are shaped and filed, cuticles are detailed then calluses are smoothed. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $30.

Alpha Pedi for Men (20 minutes) - This pedicure will put every man at ease, begins with hot water soak, nails are shaped and filed, cuticles are detailed then calluses are smoothed. It ends with a relaxing foot massage. This treatment is $25.

Manicures:

Ultimate Pamper Manicure (45 minutes) - This invigorating treatment starts with a soak (optional) and hydrating hand softening. Nails are filed and shaped, cuticles are detailed then followed by a relaxing warm massage. The hands and arms are then lavished in a luxurious warm mud mask to keep skin youthful. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $35.

Spring Day Manicure (30 Minutes) - Lavish yourself with a soak and hydrating hand softening. Nails are filed and shaped, cuticles are detailed then followed by a realaxing warm massage. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $30.

Express Manicure (15 minutes) - In a hurry? Indulge yourself with a nail filing, shaping and cuticle detail. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $25.

Alpha Manicure for Men (20 minutes) - Begins soak, nails are shaped and filed, cuticles are detailed. It ends with a relaxing warm massage. This treatment is $20.

Ages 12 & Under

Little Feet Pedicure (20 Minutes) - A very gentle foot soak and scrub to make all little feet extra soft, followed by nail shaping and little foot massage. Your choice of high quality polish or clear is then applied. This treatment is $15.

Little Hands Manicure (20 Minutes) - A manicure fit for little hands complete with light hand massage and nail shaping. Nail topping of choice fit for a princess. This treatment is $10.

Please contact our office and ask for Ashley to schedule an appointment. Our Phone # is (419) 423-1888

Fungal infections on your feet are one of the most unsightly foot ailments. These infections can affect the skin of your feet as well as your nails. A fungal infection is even the cause of athlete's foot. And when it affects your nails, it can cause them to crack, break, splinter and yellow. Fungal nails are usually pretty easy to spot, especially when you're going barefoot or wearing sandals, and look anything but healthy. So how do you protect yourself from the fungi that are responsible for these unsightly infections? Follow these tips.

1. Keep your feet dry. Fungi thrive in warm, dark, moist environments. This means your shoes are a fertile location for fungi to grow. Once your feet are exposed to the fungi, your shoes will not prevent the fungi from growing. But ensuring that your feet stays dry helps prevent fungi from ever taking hold. You should always alternate shoes every other day at the minimum to allow them the proper amount of time to air out. Don't store your shoes in your gym bag or locker if they will not get enough air to dry out. You should also disinfect your shoes to kill the fungi and bacteria that can live in your shoes. If you sweat a lot, you should consider using a foot powder to absorb excess moisture. You may also want to change your socks in the middle of the day.

2. Avoid places where fungi thrive. Fungi thrive in public showers, like the ones found in locker rooms, pools, public beaches and at camp grounds. Do not think that you should limit your activity and never visit these places, and don't sacrifice your hygiene for fear of foot fungi. Simply wear a pair of flip flops or other shower sandals in public showers and locker rooms. This will limit your contact with these fungi and help prevent their further spread. If someone in your family has foot fungi, try to keep the shower they are using clean, or ask them to use a different shower than the rest of the family. Consider a spray disinfectant that you can leave in the shower and ask them to use it after every shower.

3. Keep your feet clean. Clean feet are less susceptible to fungal infections, as you are likely to knock out the fungi before it can take hold on your feet. Wash your feet every time you take a shower or bath. Be sure to dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between your toes. This is also a good time to check your feet daily for any changes in shape or color- usual indicators of a problem.

4. Keep your feet healthy. Healthy feet are less susceptible to fungal infections. Not only should you keep them clean, but you should condition your skin as well, especially if you spend time barefoot. Skin that receives regular attention will be healthier, and thus less susceptible to fungal infections. Treat your calluses by trimming them with a file or pumice stone. Moisturize your feet, except for in between your toes, where your feet are already moisture rich. These two steps will help prevent your skin from cracking. Cracking leads to open skin which is more susceptible to fungal and bacterial infection than healthy skin. you should use antibiotic cream on all cuts and abrasions on your feet to help them stay clean and heal faster.

If you think you are beginning to develop a fungal infection of the skin or nails of your feet please don't hesitate to contact your podiatrist. We have a number of treatment options and the sooner we start your treatment, the higher your chances of success and the less time it will take to return your skin or nails to normal. Also, try FungaSoap, a product from our online store. FungaSoap is specially formulated to help kill fungus. Using it before fungi have the chance to take hold will help prevent infections from even starting. Click here to learn more or order this product.