According to the World Health Organization, there are over 312 million people in the United States, of which 25.8 million are diabetic, which accounts for approximately 8.3% of the children and adult population. Celebrities like Halle Berry, Jay Cutler, Aretha Franklin, and Nick Jonas have all been diagnosed with Diabetes, furthermore proving that people of any demographics are at risk.

Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact sheet indicates that there are 18.8 million people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, 7 million who remain undiagnosed and another 79 million who fall under the pre-diabetic category.

In 2010, there were 1.9 million new cases of diabetes in people ages 20 years and older. These statistics are staggering and the reality is that diabetes has become a disease that we can no longer ignore due to its epidemic nature.

• Diabetes has become the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. In fact more than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
• In 2006, about 65,700 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.

At Midtown Podiatry, our board certified podiatric physicians are highly trained in advanced wound care techniques and surgical procedures and offer all of our patients a comprehensive lower extremity physical examination. Our podiatric evaluation includes both vascular and sensory testing, involving the traditional and more advanced techniques for those patients who require more detailed assessments. We can offer our patients a diagnosis and their risk assessment.

Our goal is to concisely evaluate patients and determine those who are at low, moderate to high risk for developing ulceration. Our podiatrists will be able to initiate the proper treatment plan customized to our individual patient. There is strong evidence in the literature that states that proper podiatric evaluation and education for diabetic patients prevents amputation, lower limb infection and saves lives. Our role in a diabetic patient’s life is to help identify potential lower extremity preexisting conditions, structural deformity and other issues which if left untreated will lead an individual at risk for lower extremity infection, amputation, permanent disability and even death.

If you are suffering from Diabetes, make an appointment to come into Midtown Podiatry with locations in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Street and Glen Cove. Our skilled podiatrists would love to work closely with you to figure out a treatment plan that will keep your feet healthy!

By: Sharon Barlizo, DPM

          Zumba has quickly become the new craze not only in NYC but throughout Hollywood as well; celebrities such as Kirstie Alley, Madonna, and Jennifer Lopez have all expressed their love for the new workout routine. Zumba is an intense fitness program that gets you into shape while you dance away to sensational Latin and International inspired beats.  It combines upbeat, irresistible music, created by Grammy-Award winning producers, with dynamic movements and cardio training to get visible results.  But can this contagious, body-firming, calorie-burning phenomenon take a toll on your feet??  Not if you allow the podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry to help keep you prepared and take the right precautions!!

            I’ve had several Zumba-fanatic patients present in the office with severe foot pain.  Some of the common complaints have been toe cramps, numbness, burning sensation during class, pain on bottom of feet (plantar fasciitis), ankle sprains, blisters, and knee pain.  Of all of these, the most common complaint in my experience has been a burning, numbness feeling in the toes.  The reason this pain occurs is because of to too much pressure on the toes, since most of the movements in Zumba require staying on the balls of your feet.  Several criteria can cause excess pressure, among these are:

• Ill-fitted shoes
• Internal tendon imbalances and joint mal-alignments
• Too much or too little room in the toe box of your sneaker. 

These can all be avoided if you just follow some simple rules and take some precautions:

            The type of sneaker that you choose is crucial.  Many beginners will think that any good quality sneaker is sufficient.  However, due to the types of movements required in Zumba coupled with the aerobic type of activity, improper shoe gear can put you at risk for various foot and ankle injuries.  You need a sneaker with a low tread, something that is light weight, has good shock absorption, and enough support for medial/lateral (side to side) movements.  The low tread will allow you to do the dance-like moves without causing excessive torque to your ankles and knees. 

            A running shoe is a definite no.  This has too much tread and is made particularly to control front to back motion (not side to side).  Contrary to popular belief, a dance shoe is also not the best choice (although better than a running shoe).  A “typical” dance shoe does have low treads and is light weight; however, its thin soles lack shock absorption and support.  Therefore the best sneaker is an aerobic sneaker made for dance.  This shoe will have a thinner sole, few treads, good shock absorption, and support for medial/ lateral movements.

            Also important is to make sure you take at least 5 minutes extra to stretch before and after your workout.  Stretching before exercises will warm up your muscles and will reduce the strain on them during your exercise routine.  Stretching after exercise will allow your heated up and tight muscles to gently cool down to prevent soreness a few hours later.  Doing both of these will drastically reduce your chance of foot injury.

            Lastly, custom molded orthotics can address any structural or functional mal-alignment of the joints, tendons, and muscles of your feet and ankles.  These custom foot inserts made specifically for your feet can easily replace the inserts that come with your sneaker.  At Midtown Podiatry, with locations in Midtown, Wall Street, Union Square, Gramercy Park and Glen Cove we have the proper equipment to make custom orthotics in all of our offices.

            So, there it is folks.  Continue with your irresistible, contagious Zumba programs! Have fun and rewarding workouts, but don’t forget to make an appointment with the podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry to keep those feet Zumba ready!

By: Lisa Shah, DPM

If you are having heel pain that seems to continue to get worse every day; you may be suffering from a common foot condition called Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the tendon that runs along the bottom of our foot. Patients that come into our office at Midtown Podiatry usually complain that the pain begins with slight heel discomfort and then becomes very painful as days go by.

Plantar fasciitis is usually associated with foot deformities such as high arches and flat feet. External factors such as walking (which can easily affect New Yorkers that spend their days walking around), running and exercising with non-supportive or worn out shoes, and slight sudden weight gain can cause sudden inflammation of the plantar fascia. Eli Manning, the quarterback of the New York Giants, has been diagnosed with this painful condition back in 2009 in his right foot due to his intense exercise regimen.

This condition can be easily corrected with proper treatment.  Initial treatment for plantar fasciitis consists of cortisone injections, padding and strapping, stretching and strengthening exercise, ice therapy, taking anti-inflammatory medication, proper orthosis (insert), shoe gear and physical therapy. For very painful and long-standing plantar fasciitis we do Radio Frequency Treatment.

If you are experiencing discomfort due to a heel pain, it is time you called Midtown Podiatry in New York City. You can meet with our physicians in one of our offices in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Street or Glen Cove.

By: Ameneh Aminian, DPM

There are women all over New York City, and all over the world, who are dying to fit in to this season’s Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos, or Christian Louboutins but are having trouble due to those darn bunions! Bunions do not only affect women however; both genders can experience extreme discomfort from them that can ultimately interfere with their daily life.

Not all bunion surgery is the same; in fact, there are over 100 different types!  At Midtown Podiatry, we have noticed that most people who come into our offices complaining of a bunion fall into one of four categories:

1. Simple Bunion -
   • This is a small bump, so the procedure for it is fairly simple. Our physicians would take just off the bump. Since this is a minor procedure the recovery period is also minor, with about 3-4 weeks in a surgical shoe(s) and one month in sneakers with weight bearing throughout.
2. Typical Bunion –
   • This is a mild to moderate deformity.  For this type of bunion, our physicians will usually take off the bump, surgically break the bone and move it into a better position, held with a screw or a pin. This type of bunion surgery is actually the most common and requires patients to recover for 3-4 weeks in a surgical shoe(s) then follow that with a month in sneakers with weight bearing throughout.
3. Severe Bunion –
   • For this type of bunion surgery our physicians will most likely fuse bones (join two separate bones together) to make a dramatic and permanent correction using plates and or screws. This type of bunion correction surgery is not as common and could require the patient to recover for up to 6 weeks in crutches and a month in a sneaker.
4. Bunion in the elderly –
   • To treat bunions in the elderly our physicians remove the bump as well as some bone. The recoveries time for this a quick one; about 3- 4weeks in surgical shoe and a month in sneakers.

It is NORMAL to have stiffness, swelling, and limited range of motion for months after a bunion procedure! The patient must always be ready for the recovery!

If you have been suffering from a bunion and have been considering getting the corrective surgery, our podiatrists at Midtown Podiatry, with New York locations in Midtown, Gramercy Park, Union Square, Wall Streetand Glen Cove, will be with you every step of the way! Our Board Certified physicians have become experts in Bunion Surgery throughout the 16 years our practice has been open. If you are ready to experience life without the pain a bunion causes or want to fit in to this next coming season’s must have high heels, don’t waste another minute! Call one of our offices today or visit us online to make an appointment!

By: John J. Doolan, DPM