This week in major league baseball, Franklin Gutierrez of the Seattle Mariners found out that he has plantar fasciitis. Though upsetting for Mariner fans everywhere, this is really not that much of a surprise. Athletes are at an increased risk for developing the condition that already affects an estimated two million people in the U.S every year.

An incredibly common condition, plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick tissue in the heel, called the plantar fascia. This tissue connects the heel bone with the heel and runs along the arch of the foot. People who suffer from this condition experience a great deal of pain in their heels, especially right after getting out of bed in the morning.

Why are athletes so prone to plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can develop from overuse. While everyone uses their feet every day to get from point A to point B, athletes are on their feet an uncommon amount. Older athletes, those who are overweight and runners who are going long distances at a time are at the biggest risk for getting the condition as they are putting even more mileage on their poor feet.

While common, a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis can be pretty devastating. The condition will linger if it is not treated, and can be degenerative. Plantar fasciitis could cause an athlete to have a limited range of motion in their feet which may reduce their performance times, limit their ability to practice consistently and even require them to sit out for an undetermined period of time.

Other professional athletes that have been struck with the condition include:

• Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers
• Reid Brignac of the Tampa Bay Rays
• Carlos Peña of the Tampa Bay Rays
• Eli Manning of the New York Giants
• Carlos Quentin of the San Diego Padres
• Aaron Ross of the New York Giants

This is just a short list; there are many more well-known athletes that have had to hit the bench as a result of the heel pain this condition ensues.

Athletes aren’t alone

Anyone can get the frustrating condition, often as a result of inadequate foot wear. You can do your best to prevent the discomfort by finding shoes that have plenty of cushioning for shock absorption. Also, when purchasing a pair of shoes make sure that they are the proper width and length to accommodate your foot.

If you are experiencing any pain in your heel it is best that you bring attention to your foot pain specialist Dr. Schoenhaus right away. By detecting the problem early on you may be able to save yourself a lot of discomfort down the road.

How far would you go to fit into a pair of 7-inch heels? There is an alarming new trend hitting the streets—somewhat literally. Women are injecting dermal fillers into their toes, heels and the balls of their feet in order to manage their errands around town in a pair of absolutely unorthodox heels. The goal of course is to eliminate foot and leg pain, but Boca Raton beware: this trend is not worth it.

Wearing a high-heeled shoe changes the natural anatomy of the foot. When you take a step naturally, the pressure of your body weight is dissipated across the entire foot, but in a high-heel the pressure is localized, often causing pain.

Even if you have never worn a pair of high-heels (which for a large part of the female population is unlikely), it is not too hard to picture the way the foot is contorted to fit into the shoe. While there are smaller heels that don’t change the pressure on the foot as drastically, tall stiletto heels leave women literally walking around on their tippy toes all night.

High-heels are a societal problem, and a lot of women cannot escape them. At this point they are much more than a fashion trend. Many business women are looked down upon for not dressing appropriately if they aren’t donning a pair of pumps with their skirt suits. But what lengths are you willing to go through to manage a pair of seven inch heels for an evening out?

The dermal fillers are designed to augment the foot pad, providing more cushioning to the areas of the foot that are impacted by the heels. Fat pad restoration is actually a very helpful medical procedure for people who have lost their natural fat on the bottom of their feet, but this new trend is taking something positive to an extreme. The dermal fillers are not designed to provide extra cushioning for otherwise healthy feet.

When it comes to wearing high-heels, moderation is key. You may not be willing to give up your favorite shoes for good, but do you need to wear them all night? Carry a spare pair of flats with you in your purse and lose the heels before your feet start to scream. In situations like this it is always a good idea to use a little bit of common sense: if your feet hurt in a pair of shoes, then don’t wear them!

Running regularly with improper footwear or incorrect form can prompt a variety of health concerns. Aside from leg pain, conditions like plantar fasciitis may develop which causes severe heel pain and can put a damper on your fitness routine. Despite these risks, running is a good form of exercise. Jogging regularly has been shown to help with weight loss goals, improve heart health and even extend your life expectancy, but you don’t want to be in pain as a result of it.

There are two equally important components to remaining injury free as you run: the right running shoes and proper form.

The Perfect Form

When you are running it can be easy to begin slouching or let your body weight hang, but this can both cause you an injury and prevent you from getting the most out of your workout. When running, your eyes should be looking forward—not at the ground. Your entire body should be squared in the direction that you are running. If you find that you are slanting to one side with one shoulder pointing you along the side-walk then you are better off walking until you can compose yourself.

There is a lot of debate among runners as to how your feet should hit the ground. If you land on your heel then you will stretch your calf-muscles and put less stress on your Achilles tendon, but this also contributes to over-striding and can really slow you down. When you land with your toes you are reducing the stress on your knees and ankles, but you are also increasing your risk for injuries like shin splints and pulled muscles.

Landing mid-foot is often a recommended compromise. When you hit the ground with the middle of your foot you are dissipating the weight of your body throughout your entire foot, instead of just one end. This provides better shock absorption and leads to an overall better running form, also permitting for a quicker pace.

The Right Shoes

There are different styles of running shoes for every type of athlete. When you are purchasing a pair it is best to find a shoe that compliments your form. While some shoes will offer a lot of cushioning that will help with shock absorption, other shoes are slim and don’t add much weight to your strides.

Remember that your feet swell throughout the day, and throughout your run. It is a good idea to try on sneakers at the end of the day so that you don’t get a pair that is too small. Also, remember to bring workout socks with you to the store. Shopping for sneakers with thin peds on your feet won’t give you a correct idea of sizing.

If you plan on running in the sand in Delray Beach or Boca Raton then you need to find sturdy footwear made of material that will allow your feet to breathe. There are a lot of sneakers that are designed for beach running, and those types of shoes are not always right for the sidewalk. Different sneakers for different terrains may be your best bet.

Most importantly, your running shoes should have solid arch support and should remain stable on your foot while you are running. If your foot is sliding around in your shoe or you are running without any support then you may increase your risk of an injury.

Improving circulation in the legs is the most important step in prevention, but knowing the signs of venous ulcers will help you get to a doctor more quickly if you develop one, allowing you to avoid potential discomfort, infection and reoccurrence. Here are some of the signs to look for with venous ulcers and what you can do if one develops.

Signs

• Usually, the first sign of a developing venous ulcer is the darkening of skin to a purple or reddish color. Keep an eye out for changes in skin color near the inside anklebone, as this is the most common area for a venous ulcer to appear.
• The site of a venous ulcer may feel tender and/or heavy, and can make walking and movement difficult.
• Swelling may also be evident in the area around a forming ulcer. This can cause the skin to appear shiny and tight and may also feel warm to the touch.
• Venous ulcers may make it appear as if you have a rash or eczema, causing the skin to become dry and flaky and express fluid around the edges of the irritation.
• An open wound is a clear sign that an ulcer has developed, and such a wound may leak a clear fluid. If leakage of a wound is green or yellow, this may indicate that an ulcer has become infected, making medical attention urgent.

Treatments

Because venous ulcers have a high risk of infection and can be quite painful, it’s important to visit your leg vein specialist, Dr. Schoenhaus in Boca Raton immediately if you think you see the signs. Compression therapy is often the first treatment used to combat venous ulcers, as compression wraps help to increase blood flow and cut down the pooling of blood that causes ulcers to form. Seeking medical help is crucial with a venous ulcer, as they often worsen over time and can cause serious infection, so don’t hesitate to get checked out.

However, there are a few things you can do on your own to help alleviate the pain of venous ulcers. Because ulcers are caused by circulation problems, increasing blood flow by exercising or walking can help reduce swelling and improve the function of the venous valves. Elevating the affected leg may also help reduce some of the pain and heaviness experienced. Make sure you ask your doctor what treatments will be most effective and appropriate for your individual case.

Wearing Compression Stockings can help treat Spider Veins

For those who battle with spider veins, the discomfort is worth the hassle. Compression stockings promote proper blood flow by adding pressure to the veins. As blood travels through your veins, the compression stockings hold your veins firmly in-place, forcing blood to travel along its natural course despite any vein damage that it may encounter. Prescription grade compression stockings are available through your vein specialist. For those who are experiencing only a minor development of spider veins, there are also stockings available over the counter that can provide minimal relief.

Compression stockings help many people to experience:

• Relief from leg swelling
• Increased energy for fatigued legs
• Respite from discomfort after sitting or standing all day

Healthy Legs Doesn’t Have to Mean No Style!

The prevalence of spider veins has prompted a number of fashionable patients to develop specialty lines of compression stockings. These stockings are much more stylish, offering a number of colors, textures and designs with the same compression benefits of the flesh-colored stodgy variety that are fit to be seen at the hospital.

In addition to coming in different colors, plenty of compression stockings are available in a variety of lengths, including knee and thigh-high tights. Footless pantyhose are also available, as are stockings that are open toed, which makes wearing sandals during the summer more of a possibility.

There are a number of ways to make wearing even the standard medical compression stockings a bit more style-friendly, and more comfortable.

• Beat the Heat. It gets very hot in Boca Raton, and sweat can make your legs itchy beneath your stockings. Try putting baby powder on your skin before putting the compression stockings on. Though this won’t fight the heat, it can prevent the discomfort that comes as a result.
• Layer on the Pantyhose. Typical store-bought stockings are not very thick, so even during the summer they will not add to much constriction. Purchase a few pairs of thin, loose stockings that are fashionable and try wearing those over your medical compression stockings. This is a great way to wear your stockings with sundresses or skirts.

With summer right around the corner, many people are shedding into their shorts and skirts as they head to the beach. Talk to your vein specialist to find out how long and how often you should be wearing your compression stockings, and use these tips to make the most out of your new accessory!

Now that you’ve got some bare legs to show off this summer, you may want to add a sun-kissed glow to them before you hit the beach. Many self-tanners seem to be tricky but if you follow these tips for proper preparation and application you will be good to go!

Self-tanners are applied to the upper layers of your skin so it’s important to make sure you have a smooth and even surface for application. Exfoliate your legs with a scrub to evenly smooth out otherwise thicker areas of skin. This will even out the tanning field for your legs and help alleviate tanning solution from concentrating at certain thicker skin areas on your legs. Make sure to spend extra time exfoliating your knees and feet as these areas tend to be scalier than others.

Certain areas of skin on your legs can be dryer than others, make sure you moisturize your legs with a thin layer of lotion before applying tanner. This will dilute the tanner a little bit and prevent streaking. Don’t worry about losing intensity of your tan, the uniformity of the solution on you legs will help make things look more natural.

The most important part of your self-tan is the technique in which you apply the solution. Many products prompt users to start applying the tanner from the feet up but this is the worst thing you can do. It’s important to envision where the sun would hit you naturally when applying your self-tanner. Start from the middle of your thighs and calves and blend out. Use only what’s left over for your knees and feet. Also, it is better to stand when applying solution because when legs are bents certain areas such as the knees may cause stretched skin to become too saturated with tanning solution leading to an unnatural look.

After your self-tanning solution has dried, add an iridescent look to your tan by blending a sheer lotion with a shimmer over the front and back of your thighs and then along your shins and down to your feet. The strategic placement of the shine can serve as a soft-focus light causing a slimming effect for your legs. If you already have a naturally dark or olive complexion, just focus on this step.

If you really want to go the extra mile to spruce up your already amazing legs after varicose or spider vein treatment, try reducing other blemishes such as bruises or uneven skin due to cellulite. Cut down on your susceptibility to bruising by lowering your intake of unprescribed, over the counter medications or supplements that are prone to make you bruise easily. Some examples of such are aspirin, ibuprofen and vitamin E. If you want to deal with the unevenness of skin, try applying a topical cellulite cream to your legs before bed and when you wake up.

You may ask yourself what good blood circulation has to do with spider veins. Spider veins are caused by weakened valves inside veins that allow blood to flow in the opposite direction than it is supposed to. This venous reflux – or backward flow – allows blood to pool within the veins and the increased pressure causes the appearance of spider veins and varicose veins. This leads researchers to believe if you can improve blood circulation, you might be able to reduce the appearance of spider veins.

Ginger can help improve blood circulation in a couple ways:

• Ginger has the ability to possibly lower your blood pressure. When the amount of pressure on your veins is minimized it allows for easier blood flow.
• Ginger also exhibits blood-thinning potential and because thinner blood is easier for your heart to pump it can help improve the circulation of blood within your veins. As with any medical treatment, please consult your vein specialist before adding ginger to your diet to make sure you aren’t taking medicines that could interfere and cause complications.

Veins sometimes appear more prominent because of buildup of the blood protein fibrin. The buildup of fibrin causes veins to bulge making spider veins more visible. According to studies, ginger is one of the natural substances that can break up the protein fibrin in your veins, helping to reduce their visibility.

As mentioned before, adding small amounts of ginger to your diet is not going to make your spider veins disappear. However, there are certain varicose and spider vein treatments available to you through your vein specialist that you can try in combination with the ginger. Also try minimizing spider vein appearance by not wearing high heels for long periods of time, maintaining a healthy weight and not crossing your legs when you are seated. Remember to consult a physician before adding supplemental ginger to your diet because it may cause complications when combined with certain prescriptions such as blood pressure medicines and blood thinners.

1. Tired and heavy legs – Believe it or not, when your legs often feel tired or heavy these can be early symptoms of future vein problems. More specifically, possible symptoms can be when your legs feel tired towards the end of the day or when they feel heavy as a result of mild swelling. Mild swelling in the legs could be due to poor venous return, or blood flow back up to the heart. Don’t get worried—these symptoms can easily be treated by your vein specialist through minimally invasive therapies or even the simple solution of compression stockings.
2. Varicose veins are not just cosmetic – For years, people have been ignoring bulging vein issues because varicose veins were considered cosmetic and therefore not covered by insurance. Not anymore, in 1999 the FDA approved endovenous approaches to vein care dramatically changing how insurance covers vein issues. Today there are several procedures performed by vein specialists to treat vein problems with minimal discomfort and promising long-term success.
3. Vein issues run in the family – Just like people say pre-mature hair loss can run in the family, so can varicose and spider veins. People with at least one first-degree relative with vein problems have a 60 percent chance of experiencing vein problems themselves. If you have at least two first-degree relatives with vein problems, you then have a 90 percent chance of developing your own vein issues. In addition to vein issues, many bleeding and blood clotting disorders are hereditary as well, so it’s important to be proactive about vein disease prevention. Set up an evaluation with your vein specialist if you feel you could fall into these categories.
4. Open sores on legs – Although some people suffer from open sores such as arterial ulcers or diabetic ulcers, you’ll be surprised to know the majority of leg ulcers stem from issues concerning your veins. Thanks to effective and focused venous procedures, more leg ulcers are closed and remain closed with today’s advancements.

Above are only a few reasons to speak with your vein specialist—there are many other important vein issues that deserve medical attention. Don’t spend one more day hiding your legs under your clothes; make your vein problems—no matter how serious or minor—a priority and start learning about which treatment options could be best for you.

When you think of sun damage, you may have flashbacks to your childhood summer camp days featuring white sunblock on the nose and a stinging back that was bright red from sunburn. Sunburn is just the painful beginning of the damage that the sun is capable of. There are a number of problems caused by the sun that will develop over time and can last long term, including wrinkles and even skin cancer. One of the less recognized symptoms of sun damage affects your legs in particular—spider veins.

As you are working on your tan, you don’t need to also develop spider veins at Delray Beach. You can go out and enjoy the sun by being precautious and taking a few minutes to prepare yourself and prevent sun damage.

Here are a few tips to help you prevent sun damage, and the resulting occurrence of spider veins:

• Don’t hit the beach during lunch time. While grabbing a sandwich and heading to the beach may be your ultimate lunch break, it is not a good idea. The sun is at its highest peak during the midday hours. Stick to staying indoors between the hours of 11am and 2pm and head to the beach after work for some evening rays instead.
• Cover up. Keep the amount of direct exposure that you skin comes in to contact with the sun at a minimal by wearing a cover up to the beach. Go ahead and bask in the sun for a few minutes, but then put your hat on and the umbrella up. By bringing items that will protect you from the sun you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere without the resulting sun damage.
• Wear sunblock. In South Florida, it is a good idea to wear sunblock all the time. Instead of piling on 100spf over your makeup in the morning, find a lotion that offers at least 15spf protection. When you wake up in the morning go ahead and put the lotion on your arms, legs, face and shoulders. That way, as you are walking out of work and toss off your blazer or change into your gym clothes you will still be protected from the ever shining sun.

Many shoe companies are now designing high heels for children as young as six months old. While the youngest versions of the shoes are made of plush and are not physically damaging to the feet, they are setting an unhealthy president for young girls. High heels are made in sizes to accommodate girls as soon as they are able to begin walking, and many of these sprouting women are modeling these shoes much more often than the occasional special event. High heels on children are a trend that appears to be catching on as young girls slip on their mock stilettos starting at the age of three.

One of the leading concerns among medical professionals is that the bones of young children are very malleable. Wearing high-heels and pointy toed shoes can cause children’s feet to become structurally deformed as they grow. It is wise for parents to limit their daughter’s contact with high heels and other forms of unhealthy footwear until they at least reach the age of 14, when females reach skeletal maturity. This does not mean that once a child becomes 14 that high heels are no longer dangerous however, as heels are known to cause women foot damage throughout their lives. However, the risk for deformation from high heels will often reduce once a young girl enters her teenage years.