AF&A Blog

What in the world are we talking about? Are you asking yourself, ‘how in the world can stretching alleviate my heel pain?’ Well, that’s why you are going to read today’s blog.

You may be tired of hearing how stretching has many health benefits, but when it comes to pain in your feet the results can be easily seen. Often the heel pain your experience in the morning is due to tightness of the tissue the spans the arch of your foot, the plantar fascia. Simple stretches including rolling a tennis ball under your foot, pulling your foot towards you (by looping a town around it) while seated with your legs out, or standing with the ball of your feet on a book with your heel on the ground all can do a lot to limit pain in your feet. The classic ‘runner’s stretch’ against a wall or any other stretch that targets your calves can also help. There are also some products that allow you ice & stretch simultaneously. Perform these stretches before you start your day and before you go to sleep for best results.

While the causes of heel pain can involve many factors, stretching is something you can try before seeking podiatric care. Other things you can do include making sure your shoes have proper arch support or losing weight, both which help to avoid putting undue stress on your plantar fascia. These helpful hints should not be a substitute for a good medical evaluation. If this pain persists more than a few weeks, we here at AFAS want to encourage you to seek the help of Dr. Thomajan. Don’t let foot pain interfere with your daily life, make an appointment today. Until next time keep healthy Austin!

With summer vacation just a few weeks away, we at AFAS wanted to give you a few thoughts to keep in mind when outfitting your little ones’ feet.

First off, kids grow fast, so making sure that they have the right sized footwear is most important. Many times, in adults as well as children, putting on the right sized shoe can solve a lot of problems. Checking that there is extra room in front of the shoe will stop the toes from becoming compressed while walking and it is an easy way to make sure they haven’t out grown that pair. Just be sure the shoe fits….before you wear it.

Secondly, the type of shoe is important. We know it gets hot out there and it is easy enough to slip on a pair of flip flops before heading outside. Depending on the day’s activity, this could be a bad choice, especially for your little ones. Children rarely sit still for long and tennis shoes or sandals that Velcro on would be a better choice than the thin soles and loose fit of flip flops. Additionally, a full day on their feet definitely calls the proper support, offered by tennis shoes, to avoid fatigue and possibility of injury.

It is important to remember that children are not ‘little adults’, especially when it comes to growth and development. Many of the ‘bones’ in your child’s feet will not become hardened, or fully ossified, until many years after they have been walking. In those critical years of growth and development, it is important that your child have the right kind of shoes. Keep in mind that pain in your child’s feet is never normal and should be addressed by a Podiatric physician. If there is ever concern over your child’s feet, foot wear, or the way they walk, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at AFAS. Until next time, keep those kids happy and healthy Austin!

We all know the importance of using sun screen. Applying sunscreen to your face and arms may almost be second nature with the warm Texas sun beaming down every day. But, do you also remember to offer the same concession to your lower extremity? As you may have noticed before, the health of your legs and feet are our focus here at Austin Foot & Ankle and we wanted to talk a little about protecting your skin.

Our skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is the only organ that can be readily seen or examined without any special instruments. The skin on your feet and legs is prone to the same damage you are sure to guard against by applying sun block to the skin on your face or arms. Most of us could agree that nothing hurts worse than trying to slip a sunburned foot into a shoe; but it is the sun’s rays can cause much unseen damage that may lead to cancers.

All of us at AFAS want to remind you to protect the skin on your legs and feet as well as watching for any changes. Keep an eye on any markings to your skin. Changes in size and color are red flags for you to seek medical attention. Most problems that manifest in the skin can be treated with excellent results if caught early. Monitor any changes and be sure to note when it started, how long it has been present, and the specific changes that occurred. Make an appointment with Dr. Thomajan if you have any concerns about those skin changes to your foot and ankle. Until next time, stay healthy and happy Austin!

With the beautiful weather out there, we here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialist want to make sure you are taking full advantage. The warm weather is a great time to break out your sandals, flip flops or open toed shoes. Don’t let any unsightly corns, warts or cracks stop you from showing off your feet! There are a number of ‘over the counter’ products you can use to get rid of warts or moisturize your feet, but often these treatments are slow and time consuming. As a healthcare provider, Dr. Thomajan has a number of different treatments at his disposal that can often resolve these issues at a much faster rate.

Fungal toe nails are another problem that may be keeping you out of your summer shoes. The thickened, discolored nail is caused by a fungal infection to the area. While initially not painful, this condition can become more problematic with time. Fungal nails can often be associated with athlete’s foot and this infection can easily spread to other toe nails. After an initial assessment to eliminate any more serious problems, Dr. Thomajan will discuss a number of treatment options with you. There are a number of prescriptions that are quite effective especially when used in combination with other podiatric care such as laser treatment or debridement.

Don’t be embarrassed by the maladies that may be affecting your feet. After a proper evaluation by Dr. Thomajan and an appropriate treatment, you can get full use out of your summer footwear. Make an appointment today and until next time stay healthy Austin!