Are You Ready For Pedicure Season?

By: Williette Nyanue

I think that we’ve been tricked here in Chicago. We started off with a beautiful early spring, and the weather was consistently in the upper 70s and 80s. Now it seems we can’t get a day above 70! Nevertheless, we all know that warmer weather is around the corner. As Dr. Weil Jr., noted in his previous blog post, for medical professionals at the Weil Foot and Ankle Institute, spring means the beginning of plantar fasciitis season. However, for most of us ladies, the beginning of warmer weather means that it’s time for us to start getting our feet primed and prepped regularly for open-toe shoe season.

As compared to many of our male counterparts, the amount of time and effort a lot of us women put into getting our feet as close to perfect as possible can seem downright unfair! There’s soaking and scrubbing, washing and massaging, clipping and filing, painting and moisturizing… There are also so many tools needed to get the job done! We use nail files and buffers, pumice stones and brushes, toenail clippers, cuticle clippers, foot scrubs, ointments, oils, lotions, corn pads and nail polish. I’ve even seen what I’m sure was a cheese grater and a machine that I swore you only used to sand uneven surfaces. 

But can we help it? During the warmer months, all of the women’s magazines have articles and slide shows with catchy titles such as,“Fix Ugly Feet at Home,” and, “9 Easy Ways to Get Super Soft Feet Just in Time for Summer.” In these magazines we can find all of the great summer nail polish trends for our next pedicure, as well DIY options to make sure that when you’re caught in your open-toe sandals, you have nothing to worry about. The articles all basically remind us of one thing: Having “pretty” feet for the summer should not be an option, it should be a necessity.

Although many women would cite pedicures as relaxing midday or weekend treats, trips to the nail salon can be a hassle with long wait times, expensive prices and did I mention how much that pumice stone tickles?

It may seem that we go through unnecessary lengths just to get ourfeet “pretty” for the warmer months, but all of this effort is not in vain. I’m not just talking about the compliments that you get either. Getting proper, professional pedicures is actually good for the overall health of your feet.  While a podiatrist should look at more serious foot problems such as bunions, hammertoes and infected, ingrown toenails, pedicures can actually play a part in the prevention and aid of some minor and aesthetic foot problems. According to Dr. Weil, Jr., “Pedicurists are trained to manage nails properly. They know how to cut them and the right shape to create because not all nails should be cut the same. Additionally, pedicurists have the proper instrumentation to handle more difficult nails, which are quite common.” Dr.Weil Jr. also notes that getting proper pedicures may be increasingly important for older men and women and those with medical conditions like diabetes. He states, “As we get older, it is more difficult for us to get our hands, and more importantly our eyes, to the level to properly cut a nail. By not being in the right place with our hands or eyes, we could cut the nail incorrectly. This could lead to ingrown toenails, infections, lacerations or wounds.” Pedicurists can also aid in the prevention of painful calluses and corns by sloughing off dead skin that accumulates on your feet over time.

So, as temperatures increase and you think about skipping out on the occasional pedicure because of the inconvenience or hassle that it may cause, remember that not only will pedicures make your feet look pleasing; they can also increase the overall health of your feet. We are constantly abusing our feet. Why not give them a bit of TLC once in a while?

For all of you men out there, you heard it from a doctor himself. Pedicures are good for everyone! Invest in one…just skip the nail polish if you want.

I know we’re ready for the open-toe shoe season here at the Weil Foot and Ankle Institute. Are you?

Are you looking for somewhere to get a professional pedicure? What better place to have one done than a podiatry clinic? The Weil Foot and Ankle Institute offers professional pedicure services throughout the week at our Des Plaines office. If you are in the area, stop by the clinic or call 847-390-7666 to set up your pedicure appointment today! 

Podiatry Today's Current Concepts in Plantar Plate Repair

Current Concepts In Plantar Plate Repair

• Volume 25 - Issue 4 - April 2012
 
• 2867 reads
 
• 1 comments

Author(s): 

 Lowell Weil Jr., DPM, FACFAS, and Erin E. Klein, DPM, MS

Do you find yourself in certain cases choosing between metatarsal realignment and plantar plate repair? Given this dilemma, these authors suggest that combining the Weil osteotomy with a dorsal approach to the anatomic plantar plate may be beneficial in addressing both plantar plate tears and metatarsalgia.

With any surgical procedure, there are problems and complications. The most commonly discussed problem associated with the Weil osteotomy is the “floating toe.” Studies had identified the floating toe to occur 15 to 50 percent of the time following a Weil osteotomy.^1-3 The floating toe does not touch the floor with neutral weightbearing after undergoing a metatarsal osteotomy.

   Additionally, there is weakness and decreased ability to plantarflex the toe actively. Many have theorized as to the cause of floating toe and have suggested modifications to the procedure in order to prevent its occurrence.^4-7 However, most of these changes have not altered the outcome and increased other complications (transfer metatarsalgia, stiffness, edema, etc.) and disability postoperatively.

   For years, we have been trying to find a solution to the problem, whether it is making sure to perform the procedure in the articular surface to prevent plantar translation, performing appropriate dorsal soft tissue release, encouraging early physical therapy (seven days postoperative), and emphasizing plantarflexion strength and night splinting of the toe. Nonetheless, floating toe still occurred, although at rates much lower than cited in the literature. In our most unstable metatarsophalangeal joints (MPJs), we started trying to repair the plantar plate in conjunction with the osteotomy but with limited success due to the difficulty of exposure from the dorsal approach.

   In the fall of 2007, the lead author had given a lecture on the Weil osteotomy at a Podiatry Institute conference in Florida. Immediately following the lecture, Craig Camasta, DPM, gave a lecture on plantar plate pathology and repair. Dr. Camasta was one of the real leaders in discussing the plantar plate and he made a very compelling argument as to the role of the plantar plate in lesser metatarsophalangeal joint problems. Listening to Dr. Camasta’s rationale made the lead author strongly consider the possibility that plantar plate insufficiency may have more to do with the painful metatarsalgia entity and postoperative floating toe problems than previously appreciated. It also made him think that combining the Weil osteotomy with a plantar plate repair would be the best of both worlds...

Read the rest of the article here!  

Hello Spring, Hello Heel Pain??

By: Lowell Weil, Jr., DPM

The baseball season, which marks the unofficial start of spring, is finally here.  Actually, this year in Chicago, spring has started very early with unprecedented great weather in March.  Usually we are still hunkered down with frigid temperatures, hoping and wishing for just a glimpse of spring to arrive.  Spring means many things to different people, but to those who take care of feet at the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute, it means the beginning of PLANTAR FASCIITIS SEASON.

Plantar Fasciitis is that annoying pain to the bottom of our feet, particularly in the heels, that grabs us when we get out of bed in the morning or get up from a rested or seated position.  Oh, it starts out slowly and we think we just have a heel bruise that will go away, but a month or two later we realize not only has it not gone away, your heel pain has actually gotten slightly worse.  Now we are limping a bit in the morning and have cut back on exercise, which is annoying because we know how important exercise is for our overall health.

Why is the onset of plantar fasciitis so prominent in the spring, you ask? The primary reason is that as the weather gets nicer, people want to get out and enjoy it.  Gardeners will take to their gardens for priming, pruning, and planting. Runners and walkers will begin more intense workouts embarking on faster times and longer distances. Golfers will hit the links with more vigor, and many of us will simply get out those sandals that we love, which, by the way, don’t offer much support for our feet.

But why do those things cause heel pain?  Well, heel pain/plantar fasciitis is most frequently caused from tight calf muscles and heel cords.  We get tight calf muscles for several reasons.  One reason is that as we get older, we inevitably get less flexible.  Another reason is that we rarely stretch regularly, even those of us who do yoga. The tight pull of the calf muscles and heel cords causes stress to the plantar fascia, a tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects to the heel bone.  This irritation to the plantar fascia may cause very small tears that result in pain and swelling. When our calf muscles are too tight and we increase our activities, this all results.  Soft surfaces such as grass or sand make heel pain/plantar fasciitis worse by causing our heels to sink downward and putting more stress on the tissues.  To some degree sandals, flip-flops and bare feet do the same thing and do not provide much support.

So now the question you've been waiting for: What do you do if you start getting heel pain?  There are some easy steps you can take to alleviate your heel pain and prevent it from worsening. 

1. Wear shoes that give more support.  A running shoe (I said running shoe, NOT just gym shoe) will provide excellent support and slightly raise the heel to relax the calf muscle.  Wearing shoes with a slight heel can really help.  Look for something that has 1-1.5 inches of heel.
2. Avoid bare feet, slippers, sandals and flats…until your condition gets better.  There are some good sandals, here, that have support that you may want to try out. There are also arch supports (Orthoheel and Powerstep) that can be purchased on line that are better than what is offered in the pharmacy.
3. Increase your stretching. Start stretching your calf muscle 3-4 times a day. See this site for useful stretches.
4. Use conservative treatment to alleviate symptoms. Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines (Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc.) as directed on the bottle consistently for a week or so.  Putting ice on the area for ten minutes at a time, once or twice a day will also help.

So what happens if your heel pain persists?  If your pain does not subside within a week or two, you face the possibility of having a chronic problem.  That is where physicians from the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute come in.  Physicians at the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute are renown for their treatment of heel pain.  The doctors here have done many studies, published papers and books and lectured around the world on heel pain and plantar fasciitis.  They have treated professional athletes from the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears and other professional organizations, and Olympic and collegiate athletes from around the country for plantar fasciitis.Weil Foot & Ankle Institute Physicians have pioneered non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. (See treatment options here and here).  They can create a specialized treatment regimen to meet your daily needs and successfully rid you of heel pain.

So as spring creates optimism for our typically disappointing baseball teams, don’t let your heel pain get you down. Protect your heels with the steps we’ve mentioned, and if that heel pain persists, come see one of our doctors at the Weil Foot & Ankle Institute. They’ll have you out and enjoying the weather, free of heel pain, before you know it!

Lowell Weil, Jr., DPM, MBA, FACFAS Fellowship Director, Weil Foot & Ankle Institute

Team Podiatrist, Chicago White Sox 
Dr. Weil Jr. has been on the staff of Weil Foot & Ankle Institute since 1996. His special areas of interest are reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, tendon and ligament reconstruction, radiofrequency techniques, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and sports medicine.

Welcome and New Announcements!

Hello and welcome to all of our old and new readers! We have some new developments that we are excited to share with you.

In an effort to connect more frequently and keep you up-to-date on what is going on here at the Weil Foot and Ankle Institute and in the world of foot and ankle news, we are currently undergoing the process of constructing a new website that is more informative and more interactive. While the process is underway, we hope to establish a more direct line of communication through the use of this blog. That is where I come in!

My name is Williette Nyanue and I have been working with the Weil Foot and Ankle Institute for over five years. Through this blog, I will be keeping you afloat on Weil Foot and Ankle Institute news as well as general foot and ankle news and developments. These updates will include blog posts on various topics written by our doctors, interesting facts and news, patient testimonials, Q&As, polls and much, much more.

We hope to use this blog not only as a way to communicate with you, but also as a way for you to connect with us. We would love to find out what questions and concerns you have and what topics you would be interested in reading about here on the blog. Please email all questions or suggestions to wnyanue@weil4feet.com.

We look forward to engaging with you int the future and hope that you are as excited as we are about the changes to come! 

For more information and updates, visit our website at www.weil4feet.com and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook