What Are the Advantages of a Waterless Pedicure?

Posted on by Evan Wade

How often do you treat your feet to a pedicure? For many people, trips to the salon are a common occurrence, not to mention a way to get a little bit of comfort during a hectic daily routine. And while a standard pedicure can be a great way to indulge yourself, a waterless pedicure has all the same benefits—plus some perks a standard treatment can’t offer. Here are five reasons to consider waterless treatment the next time you go for a pedicure.

More Sanitary

According to Nails Magazine, waterless pedicure techniques came about as a response to “widespread problems surrounding unsanitary foot services in the early 2000s.” While the publication is quick to point out that better regulation has curbed many of the sanitation complaints, waterless treatment still reduces risk of several sanitary and foot-health related issues “wet” treatment can cause: Athlete’s foot, for instance, can be a concern in even the cleanest of salons, given its resiliency and need for moisture.

Greater Efficiency

Nails Magazine also points out that polish lasts longer when it’s applied to drier nails. If you’re more concerned with good-looking feet than the comforting, pampered feeling a pedicure can bring, this means fewer trips to the salon—saving you money, time and effort in the process. Moreover, since a waterless pedicure requires less in the way of specialized (and often expensive) treatment, its price could very well be lower than a standard treatment, depending on the salon you visit and their pricing structure. Finally, waterless treatment is generally faster than the alternative.

A Sign of Quality

While it’s safe to assume most pedicure providers care about what they do, waterless treatment generally means your provider wants to provide the best possible service to their clientele. Though you should always do your research when choosing a waterless pedi provider, the fact that the provider offers one is at least one good sign.

Environmentally Friendly

Ever wondered how much water your pedicure requires? According to one Spafinder story, the answer is somewhere between 12 and 15 gallons per treatment. Though water is still a part of the waterless process—it’s still needed to steam and wash towels before and after use, for instance—a waterless pedicure will naturally use far less H20 than the alternative. The same Spafinder piece notes that waterless providers require fewer harmful cleaning chemicals, since they don’t need to clean and disinfect the basins standard pedi providers use.

More Accessible

Numerous health conditions make soaking your feet in water unadvisable. Diabetics and people suffering lymphedema, for instance, may need to avoid a dip just to keep their prednisone conditions in check. Though you should check with your usual healthcare provider before undergoing any sort of pedicure treatment if you suffer from these conditions or others, there’s little question a waterless pedicure is more accessible for people who must avoid the soak: Once your doc gives you the all-clear, you can enjoy a little pampering!

Picking the Right Shoes for Your Feet

Posted on by Evan Wade

We all have some idea of how important shoes are. But as any expert will tell you, any old shoe won’t do. Finding the right shoe for your foot can keep you comfortable and prevent several foot health-related problems, ranging from minor irritations to serious problems.

In other words, finding the right shoe may be even more important than you think. Here are a few common shoe problems, along with tips on finding a pair that works for your specific needs.

Podiatry Problems from Bad Shoes

There are a number of serious foot conditions that can result from wearing the wrong shoes. And these poor shoe choices are so common, that an American study found 90 percent of female participants wore shoes that were too small for their feet, and roughly 80 percent of the population suffer some sort of foot health issue.

Of course, wearing the wrong type of shoe isn’t the cause of all foot issues, but it does play a role in several podiatry problems people encounter. People who wear shoes that are too small for their feet can develop athlete’s foot, for instance. Meanwhile, shoes that are too narrow in the front can cause the wearer to develop painful bunions—a problem that can cause a need for surgery.

The age of your shoes can also cause serious issues. Old or inappropriate footwear is linked to plantar fasciitis, especially in athletes like runners and other people who spend a lot of time on their feet: retail workers and medical professionals, for instance.

Picking the Right Shoe

Obviously, the risk of these problems (Along with all the other issues the wrong shoe can cause!) make finding the right shoe very important. And though it’s ostensibly written for runners, one Runner’s World piece has great advice for anyone concerned about foot health to follow: By dumping a “thin layer of water into a shallow pan” and pressing your foot into it, the piece says, you can learn a lot about your foot, its arch and the type of shoe you need to support both.

However you decide to go about your shoe search, though, make sure you’re doing your due diligence. Foot health is an important topic for everyone to consider—and it’s easier to prevent many shoe-related problems than it is to deal with them after the fact!

Clean Those Dirty Feet!

Posted on by Charles R. Hooper, MSW

Good hygiene goes a long way toward preventing common foot problems.

Dirty Feet

When you think about where they travel on any given day, it’s no surprise they get dirty. Going barefoot, wearing soggy shoes and socks, and washing them as an afterthought invites problems. Limited and painful mobility is only one price you pay. Poor foot hygiene contributes to fungal and bacterial infections that spread to other parts of the body. People with diabetes or circulatory best generic levitra overnight diseases lose toes, legs and even lives to these infections.

Inspection Time

Do your feet a favor and take a little extra time to get to know them. Daily inspections help you notice when something is wrong. The sooner you recognize and address them, the easier it is to control foot and toe issues. Keep your feet clean but look beyond obvious grime and:

  • Be alert to sensory changes. Numbness, pain or the absence of any sensation at all might indicate a nerve problem.
  • Examine all parts of each foot for cracked skin, sores, blisters or bumps.
  • Check carefully between your toes for redness and itchy spots.
  • Look at each nail for discoloration, spots, cracks or any other deformities.
  • Note temperature differences and hair loss—these might indicate circulatory problems.

If you find anything that concerns you, see your healthcare provider or doctor of podiatry medicine.

Foot and Toe Hygiene Tips

Make basic foot hygiene a part of your daily bath ritual. Using a mild soap, wash them every day in lukewarm water. Be sure and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes. Apply a mild lotion specifically designed to keep your feet moisturized. In addition:

  • Don’t go barefoot, especially in public places.
  • Change into clean socks at least once daily, more frequently if they get wet. Synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from the skin are best.
  • To promote drying, rotate your shoes so that you wear a different pair from day-to-day.
  • Keep shoes clean—inside and out.
  • Trim toenails right after bath time.
  • Sanitize all pedicure tools with alcohol.
  • Trim straight across the nail and don’t cut the corners. Use an emery board to file sharp edges.
  • Don’t apply polish to discolored toenails.

Clean your feet better than just giving them a quick scrub. Give them a good daily look, wash them properly and get regular pedicures. And always make sure to see a doctor for early treatment of foot problems.

Five Professional Athletes’ Foot Injuries

Posted on by Charles R. Hooper, MSW

Foot injuries among athletes are common, but sometimes the consequences can be devastating.

Albert Pujols

One of the most common foot problems, plantar fasciitis, accounts for up to 15% of professional foot care interventions. Caused by excessive stretching and inflammation of the tendons along the bottom of the foot, symptoms include sometimes debilitating heel pain.

Albert Pujols, first baseman for the California Angels, lives with recurring plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Treatments include anti-inflammatories, stretching, and surgery. Pujols relies on yet another effective treatment, the use of orthotics, a specially designed shoe insert that reduces the risk of excessive stretching.

Kobe Bryant

In 2013, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant suffered a serious injury to his Achilles tendon. Connecting the calf muscles to the heel, the tendon’s function is vital to everything a basketball player needs to do.

After surgery and eight months of rehabilitation, Kobe returned only to suffer a knee injury to the same leg. According to his doctor, atrophied muscles from the tendon injury may have contributed. Kobe ultimately ended his career in 2015.

Shaquille O’Neal

Another sports great, Shaquille O’Neal, developed a deformity of the big toe called hallux limitus. This develops after arthritic changes to the joint cause stiffening and severe restriction in range of motion.

The problem began during the 2001-2002 season and got so bad he had surgery to correct the problem. His foot has never been the same, however. While he benefits from acupuncture, anti-inflammatories, and massage, he admits his pre-injury performance remains unmatched.

Daniel Fells

The microscopic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, better known as MRSA, ended the career of NFL tight end, Daniel Fells. The germ thrives in locker rooms, and Fells likely contracted the disease in this way.

Fells’ problems began in October 2015 after a foot injury. After a week of treatment, he presented to the emergency room with a 104o fever. Doctors diagnosed MRSA and began intensive efforts to save his foot that included surgeries and powerful antibiotics. The destruction to Fells’ foot became severe enough to force his retirement in 2016.

Jake Locker

A condition called Lisfranc injury forced Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker into retirement in 2015. First coined by a Napoleonic surgeon who diagnosed the condition among dismounting cavalry soldiers, Lisfranc injury results from a strain to the midfoot ligament. Prone to a host of other injuries, Locker only made 30 NFL career appearances.

The stresses on feet and the dangers it poses to careers forces athletes to take special precautions. Nevertheless, crippling injuries happen nearly every day.

If foot or ankle pain is putting an end to your game, contact us today.