Boot camps have become very popular as a way to jump start a fitness program, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind prior to starting such an aggressive workout regimen.  Many foot and ankle problems can arise as a result of the high impact weight bearing component.  Some of the more common are achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, heel pain, sprained ankles, stress fractures and bruised toenails.  

What to do BEFORE your start your boot camp……start exercising on your own and build up slowly so it’s not such a shock to your body, make sure you have proper shoe gear with good arch support and lateral stability, check into arch supports if you have very flat feet, if you have any concerns about prior injuries that may recur, see a podiatrist to see what you can do to prevent the same injury from happening again.

What to do if you think you may be developing a foot problem once you  have started the program….if the problem doesn’t go away after a day of rest, then see your local podiatrist, do not continue to exercise once you have an injury.  If you catch it early enough you may be able to correct it and continue with your program, but if you let it go you may cause a long term injury that can take months of recuperation and ruin all that hard work!

It’s not only foot disorders that may be a sign that your feet need help.  Pain in your knees, hips or back my be caused by poor foot alignment and is often easily corrected using an arch support or orthotic.   Dr. Szpiro, a podiatrist in the Back Bay offers an alternative to custom made orthotics which can be very expensive and are often not covered by insurance (but you should always check with your plan!).  Superfeet are as close to a custom made orthotic as you can get and they are only a fraction of the cost.  There are several models available and once you find the correct fit, they help with flat feet, high arches, neuromas and plantar fasciitis, and they can even help slow down the development of bunions and hammertoes in some cases.  Call Boston Common Podiatry to find out more about this amazing product!

Flip-flops are everyone’s favorite summer shoe, they allow your feet to breath and give the feel of complete freedom, but with this seemingly comfortable style come a unique set of problems….arch pain, toe cramping, foreign bodies in the feet and tendinitis are just a few. Boston especially lends itself to these problems since it is nothing if not a walking town. If you have any of these issues, it is best to see your local podiatrist sooner rather than later, Dr. Jordana L. Szpiro, a podiatrist in Back Bay is well acquainted with these problems and can help you figure out how to still enjoy your beloved flip-flops in moderation while avoiding any permanent foot damage.

When getting a pedicure, you should be looking for more than what nail colors are in style, how long is the foot rub going to last, and do they serve champagne with that….. Things that you should be looking for are:

1) Have the instruments been sterilized since they were last used?…..

2)Do not soak your feet unless you are able to use a fresh liner in the basin.  Improper cleaning of the basins can result in the spread of infection including bacterial, fungal and plantar warts

3)Ask the nail technician to cut toenails straight across and to slightly file any sharp edges.  Straight edges will decrease the chances for an ingrown toenail

4)Cuticles around the toenails should only be gently pushed back, never cut. Any type of cutting, either with clippers or scissors can result in infection.

5) Choose lighter colors or polish without formaldehyde. Darker polishes and formulas containing formaldehyde can result in yellowing of the nails and can cause nails to become weakened and brittle over time.