Items filtered by date: August 2013

With back to school fast approaching, kids are making the most of their summer playtime on outdoor trampolines and at trendy indoor trampolining venues, including Buckeye Bounce and Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Parks around Columbus. However, with the increased use of trampolines comes an associated risk for serious injury. Foot and ankle injuries are the most common injuries associated with trampoline use and can lead to lifelong consequences for gait and activity.

While somersaults and flips are the most common cause of severe spine injuries when using a trampoline, simply landing wrong while jumping can result in devastating foot injuries. Last spring, the New York Yankees relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain suffered an open subtalar joint dislocation while trampolining with his son. At the time he related that he was about to push off and immediately felt something wrong with his foot. An open dislocation refers to the fact that the skin covering the disarticulated joint has broken and bone is exposed. Any open dislocation or fracture is associated with a higher risk for infection.

Closed ankle sprains represent a much more common trampoline injury. The lateral ligaments of the ankle are stretched past their normal ability to stretch, or may be torn. These ligaments are critical in maintaining stability of the ankle and preventing abnormal motion of the bones that comprise the ankle joint. Acute injuries can often be treated with bracing and physical therapy, but in cases of chronic ankle sprains, surgery may be required. Ligaments may be tightened and re-approximated, or supplemental graft material may be needed for reinforcement. Underlying ankle fractures and defects in the ankle joint cartilage also need to be considered when ruling out causes of chronic ankle pain and instability. While the best way to avoid unnecessary injury is to avoid using a trampoline, if injury does occur, contact your podiatrist right away.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more tips for healthier and happier feet or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery has opened a new location in Gahanna, near Easton. Please call 614-476-3338 (FEET) for an appointment with a podiatrist in Gahanna, OH today.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery proudly supports our Veterans by participating in “Supporting Veterans – The Mark Allen Cravens (MAC) Food Drive”.

The goal is to collect non-perishable goods for Ohio Veterans that are suffering from financial difficulties.
The drive has been established by Caroline Cravens in memory of her late brother, Mark Allen Cravens. Caroline said, “It’s time to take a stand and support our fellow veterans who fought for our country and show them support as they sacrificed their lives for us.”

Mark served in the Air Force and was a Desert Storm Veteran. He was an outstanding, loving, caring, soldier, brother, son, and friend. Mark was honorably discharged in June of 1993, and died in a motorcyle accident two weeks later. In addition to his sister Caroline, Mark has a surviving identical twin brother that also served in the Air Force for 20 years and is an Iraq Veteran.

100% of the donations will be distributed to Veterans who bravely served our country. To receive the non-perishable goods, you must present a Veterans Identification Card or Honorable Discharge Certificate.

Donations will be distributed at
Mifflin Township Police Department
2455 Agler Road
Columbus, OH 43224
on
September 7, 2013
10am-2pm

Donations will be accepted through
September 6, 2013 between the hours of 10am-5pm at the following locations:

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery – Gahanna
4605 Morse Road, Suite 100
Gahanna, Ohio 43230

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery – Worthington
117 Lazelle Road East, Suite B
Columbus, Ohio 43235

VFW Post 9857
2330 Steltzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43230

Inquiries about The M.A.C. Food Drive may be sent to:
Caroline Cravens
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
614-580-3391

With August being “Psoriasis Awareness Month” around Columbus and the United States, a new study released linking the severity of psoriasis to the development of diabetes, heart, lung , gastrointestinal and vascular disease is aptly timed. Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in America and its most salient features are its effects on the skin, including the skin of the feet.

Psoriasis is characterized by an inflammatory rash of circular red areas with scaling. The scaling is a result of a shortened lifespan of the top layer of skin cells, which the body responds to by producing an increased number of cells. Excess skin results in the characteristic silvery scales typically seen on elbows and knees. Removal of these scales often results in pinpoint bleeding. There are many variants of psoriasis that affect different parts of the body. In several variants, the feet and hands are the only sites affected by psoriatic skin changes. Nail changes are also noted in about 25% of individuals. Skin thickens under the nail causing a lifting of the toenail. Changes in toenail color and shape may also occur and are referred to oil spots and pitting, respectively. When affected by psoriasis, fungal toenail infections are also more likely to develop.

In addition to the severe system-wide diseases recently linked to severe psoriasis, debilitating arthritis also occurs in about 15% of cases of psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis, like the conditions in the study, typically develops once skin changes are severe. Small joints, such as those in the toes are most commonly affected with both erosion of bone at the joint and tips of toe bones, and proliferation of bone adjacent to these erosions. When joints are affected, swelling will occur throughout the entire toe causing a “sausage toe” appearance. Treatment of psoriasis goes beyond cosmetic appearance, it is becoming evident that controlling skin changes early on can diminish or slow the progression of associated medical problems. By visiting your podiatrist at the first sign of foot skin changes, early diagnosis of psoriasis may be made and allow for appropriate management of the condition.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more tips for healthier and happier feet or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery has opened a new location in Gahanna, near Easton. Please call 614-476-3338 (FEET) for an appointment with a podiatrist in Gahanna, OH today.

A vaccine for those with Type I diabetes has made news this week after its success in stimulating insulin production in patients involved in an initial 12 week clinical trial. While more individuals around the world are affected by Type II diabetes, this new diabetes vaccine could represent a huge leap in how diabetes is managed and possibly even lead to new treatment options in Type II. In both Type I & Type II diabetes, foot problems are a common complication secondary to impaired sensation and blood flow.

This new vaccine addresses the underlying cause of diabetes Type I, which is different from the cause of Type II. While the exact trigger of Type I is unknown, beta cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas, are destroyed by the body’s own immune system. The vaccine blocks the specific immune cells that are responsible for this destruction, thus increasing production of insulin. In Type II diabetes, there are a variety of genes that cause a defect in the beta cells so that they produce less insulin, as well defects in cells throughout the body that normally respond to insulin. In both types of diabetes, excess glucose in the blood attaches to proteins, causing stiffening & “aging” of blood vessels, vital organs and skin. Excess glucose also enters nerve cells and causes dysfunction and loss of blood supply.

All of these underlying factors contribute to the peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease seen in individuals with diabetes. The feet are typically affected first and diminished sensation may be accompanied by painful burning or “pins and needles” sensations. These pains are most commonly worst at night or when resting. While the pain may be extremely irritating, the loss of protective sensation is far more dangerous. Foot ulcerations may develop and go unnoticed without the normal pain signals that an individual with intact sensation would feel. These wounds are dangerous because bacteria can enter the blood stream and cause body-wide infection known as sepsis, or enough tissue loss can occur that bone is exposed. Studies have shown that the ability to probe bone in a wound is highly suggestive that the bone is infected. Wounds require regular debridement of dead tissue and in some cases may even lead to amputation if healing cannot occur or the wound condition worsens. Wounds that are able to heal by working with your podiatrist will forever be at risk for re-ulceration. The area of the previous ulceration will need to have pressure off-loaded with diabetic shoe gear, custom orthotics, or taping and padding. Foot deformities may require surgical correction to alleviate pressure that can lead to skin breakdown. While there is not yet an approved vaccine to treat either Type I or Type II diabetes, other preventative measures can lessen the negative effects of the disease. Healthy diet and exercise can prevent or delay the development of Type II diabetes. Daily foot exams and keeping blood sugar well-controlled are two mainstays of keeping feet healthy in individuals with diabetes.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more tips for healthier and happier feet or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Columbus Podiatry & Surgery has opened a new location in Gahanna, near Easton. Please call 614-476-3338 (FEET) for an appointment with a podiatrist in Gahanna, OH today.