KEEP YOUR FEET HEALTHY AND HAPPY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Did you know that  Americans log an amazing 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they reach age 50. Regular foot care can make sure your feet are up to the task. With proper detection, intervention, and care, most foot and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented. 

We need our feet to last and we do not pay attention to our little feet until we are in pain or we need a pedicure. It is Holiday season is the time to be doing a lot of walking, dancing, standing and sitting in one position. 

Follow this advice to keep feet healthy and happy this holiday season:

• Moisturize – Dry winter air and cold temperatures can take a toll on skin. Moisturize feet daily to help avoid dry, cracked and irritated skin.
• Exercise your feet – Stretching is a good way to avoid muscle cramps. Stave off toe cramps by raising, pointing and curling your toes for five seconds. Repeat 10 times. Rotating your ankles can also help relax feet. Cup your heel and turn each ankle slowly five times to loosen ankle joints.
• Massage – Foot rubs not only feel good, they’re a great way to release tension, boost circulation and refresh skin after a long day on your feet. Take a few minutes to massage your feet at the end of a day of shopping and celebrating. Use lotion and take care of moisturizing at the same time!
• Raise your legs – Feet and ankles can swell from sitting too long in one position (taking a long flight to grandma’s house for the holidays, for example) or if you've been on your feet all day (shopping, baking or cooking). Elevate your legs to reduce swelling. Lay or sit and lift your legs above your heart.
• Wear smart shoes – OK, so you’ll never give up your sparkly high heels when it’s time for that special soiree. But for other holiday activities such as shopping, traveling or cooking, ditch the high heels. When you know you’ll be on your feet all day, wear comfortable shoes with good arch support and a padded sole. 
• Get help – Feet shouldn't hurt all the time. Persistent foot pain can be an indication of injury, irritation or illness. See a podiatrist if you experience pain; don’t wait until the holidays end.

Happy Holidays!!

Diabetes and Foot Care #Zimmermannpodiatry

Diabetes and Foot Care

#diabeticsneedpodiatrists
#Zimmermannpodiatry

Inspect your feet every day, and seek care early if you do get any type of foot injury is the best advice that I can give!

Podiatrist are the most qualified doctors to care for your feet, based on their education, training, and experience. You should add a podiatrist to your healthcare team, they can provide you with very important information so you are able to better manage the effects of diabetes on your feet.

Let's take a step on the right direction and visit Zimmermann Podiatry today!

Zimmermann Podiatry
923 W. Dixie Ave. Suite B
Leesburg, FL 34748
www.drzpodiatry.com
Phone: 352 435 7849

Fall Season

With the arrival of fall, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the season on foot. Whether it’s a stroll through the neighborhood to admire the beautiful weather here in Florida. 

The best part of fall in this beautiful state is not having to worry about the cold!

But foot pain can forestall fall walks. Foot pain has many causes. One cause of foot pain you might not be familiar with is plantar fascittis also commonly known as heel pain.
Heel pain is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear or being overweight.

Early treatment might involve oral or injectable anti-inflammatory medication, exercise and shoe recommendations, taping or strapping, or use of shoe inserts or orthotic devices. Taping or strapping supports the foot, placing stressed muscles and tendons in a physiologically restful state. Physical therapy may be used in conjunction with such treatments.
It is very important to seek early treatment if you feel any of this symptoms. 

Don’t let foot pain hold you back from enjoying this beautiful weather. Have that pain checked out by our office so you can resume your healthy, active lifestyle.

Super-Heroes

      Super-Heroes have arrived to Zimmermann Podiatry to help with any foot problems!

          No matter where or when you can count with Dr. Zimmermann, Jake and Luke!

Ingrown Nails

What Are Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown nails, the most common nail impairment, are nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the soft tissue of nail grooves, often leading to irritation, redness, and swelling. Usually, toenails grow straight out. Sometimes, however, one or both corners or sides curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe is the most common location for this condition, but other toes can also become affected.

Causes

Ingrown toenails may be caused by the following:

• Improperly trimmed nails
• Heredity
• Shoe pressure; crowding of toes
• Repeated trauma to the feet from normal activities

Symptoms

The following symptoms may be present with ingrown toenails:

• Pain
• Redness and swelling
• Drainage
• Odor
• Prominent skin tissue (proud flesh)

When to Visit a Podiatrist

You should see a podiatrist immediately if any drainage or excessive redness is present around the toenail. Also, if a short trial of home treatment has not resulted in improvement of the condition, see your podiatrist. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, you should seek immediate treatment at the first signs of an ingrown toenail, as it can lead to more severe complications.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A podiatrist will remove the ingrown portion of the nail and may prescribe a topical or oral medication to treat the infection. If ingrown nails are a chronic problem, your podiatrist can perform a procedure to permanently prevent ingrown nails. The corner of the nail that ingrown, along with the matrix or root of that piece of nail, are removed by use of a chemical, a laser, or other methods.

Prevention

• Trim toenails properly: cut them straight across, not longer than the tip of the toes. Do not dig into corners and only gently round off corners with a nail file. Use toenail clippers.
• Avoid shoes with pointy or narrow toe boxes.
• Never rip or tear edges of nails.