Regular visits to your podiatrist can help you keep your feet in great condition. But you also have to know how to care for your feet at home to keep them looking and feeling great. This includes learning how to take care of your toenails. Here are some of the basics:

Cut Your Toenails Properly

Trimming your toenails is essential for keeping them healthy and in good shape. It is important to learn how to properly cut your toenails, as cutting them too short can result in ingrown toenails. Use a clean nail trimmer to cut nails straight across. You should use a file to soften the trimmed nail and slightly round out the corners.

Wash Your Feet Daily

Taking good care of your toenails means taking good care of your feet. Maintain clean skin and nails by washing your feet daily during your shower. Use a loofah or scrubbing brush to gently exfoliate your toenails as well as any drier skin on your feet, such as on your heels or bottoms of your toes. Rinse away soap residue and use a soft towel to pat your feet dry.

Apply Moisturizing Lotion

Your skin and nails need a little help to stay properly moisturized. That is why it is important to find a quality lotion that soothes and hydrates your skin. Incorporate your new lotion into your daily routine, moisturizing your feet and toenails after washing and drying them. This will keep your skin and nails moisturized and healthy.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Do you ever sacrifice comfort to wear a stylish pair of shoes? Uncomfortable and ill-fitting shoes do not just make it hard to walk; they can also damage your toenails or lead to a bigger risk of getting ingrown toenails. Avoid these shoes and look for comfortable options that offer support.

Do you want more tips for taking care of your toes? Family Foot Center can help! Contact us at (718) 767-5555 to learn about the services and treatments available at our Whitestone podiatry center. Our foot doctor can help you learn about proper foot health.

Ankle sprains can occur during daily activities, and can be severe enough to keep you off of your feet for a while. A foot doctor can help you find the right treatment path. Once your ankle heals, doing certain exercises can help you regain full motion and get your ankle back to its original condition.

Watch this video to see a few exercises that can help rehabilitate a sprained ankle. Simple, repetitive movements work the ligaments and ankle joint, helping it regain its full range of motion and helping you get back on your feet.

Family Foot Center can help you if you think you have a sprained ankle. Give us a call at (718) 767-5555 to learn how our Whitestone foot doctor can help you recover from your injury.

In medicine, there are many fields of specialty, as you are probably very aware. Keeping up with who is the right specialist for your specific needs can be a challenge, no doubt. You may have heard the term podiatrist, but are you aware of what a podiatrist really is and what he or she can do for your health?

Podiatry Made Simple

A podiatrist, in simplest terms, is a foot doctor. This professional is one who has specialized training in the care of feet, ankles, and related leg structures, and the diagnosis of problems that affect them. Whether you sprain an ankle, break a toe, or simply have an ingrown toenail or athlete’s foot, this is the doctor you want to see.

Qualifications for a Podiatrist

A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatry—a medical field. Like all medical doctors, podiatrists must complete medical school and a hospital residency. The biggest difference between podiatrists and general physicians is that their medical school is actually a specialized podiatric medical school. This means that while podiatrists do learn basic anatomy and other medical topics, the bulk of their education actually centers on their specialty.

This unique training is what makes a foot doctor the best doctor to care for your feet. No other physician holds the rigorous and exhaustive training in this highly complex part of the body that a podiatrist does. Podiatrists are fully versed in all medical conditions that can affect the feet, such as diabetes, as well as in sports medicine, wound care, and surgery. A podiatrist can choose to become Board Certified, but is not required to in every state.

From ill-fitting shoes that cause pain to structural deformities in the anatomy, a podiatrist can quickly diagnose and treat virtually any condition that may affect the feet. They are a valuable ally in your healthcare team.

For foot care in the Queens, Whitestone, and surrounding areas, contact us at Family Foot Center. Call (718) 767-5555 today to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified foot doctors, or visit us online to learn more about our practice and services.

Nearly a quarter of the body’s bones are located in the feet, making it a wonder that there aren’t more fractures here than there already are. Toe fractures are relatively common, but many people are often unaware that they have broken a toe.

A foot doctor can tell you for sure whether a fracture has occurred, but common signs include pain and swelling in the area. Bruising may or may not be present, and walking on the affected foot may intensify the pain. Of course, if you suspect you may have broken a toe, it’s best to see a podiatrist right away, but definitely do so if the symptoms have not abated after two or three days.

At Family Foot Center, we diagnose and treat all types of foot related injuries and conditions, including broken toes. In the Whitestone, Queens, and surrounding areas, call (718) 767-5555 to schedule your appointment with our foot doctor today.

As the foundation of your body, your feet take quite a beating day after day. Most people don’t even notice their feet until something about them becomes uncomfortable. Indeed, visiting a foot doctor is usually a result of some acute pain rather than a normal part of healthcare for many people.

Taking Your Feet for Granted

Have you ever injured your foot to the extent that you were unable to walk properly for a few days? Wasn’t that a miserable, challenging few days? Like most parts of our body, we have a tendency to take feet for granted as long as nothing’s wrong with them. We run, jump, walk, stand, kick, and even shuffle things around with our feet constantly. Why, then, would we not do everything we can, including visiting a podiatrist regularly, to ensure we can continue to do those things?

Why Your Podiatrist is Your Friend

While acute injuries do happen, they are certainly not the only cause of foot problems. Many diseases and illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes, can lead to internal changes that restrict the blood flow to the feet. Since feet are anatomically farthest from the heart, they are the most likely to be affected negatively by this restricted blood flow, even though the disease itself seems to have nothing to do with the feet.

Outside of diseases like these, a number of other problems can challenge the integrity of our feet. Bunions, problems with tendons and ligaments, bone irregularities and injuries, muscle injuries, and even fungus all have the potential to limit your ability to use your feet normally. Many of the complications that occur with these types of situations can be circumvented, or at least minimized, simply by seeing a foot doctor on a regular basis.

If you’re ready to take charge of your foot health, contact us as Family Foot Center. Our podiatrists serve patients in the Whitestone, Queens, and surrounding areas, and are qualified to offer you the very best in foot care. Call (718) 767-5555 to schedule an appointment or visit our website for more information.