Tips to avoid foot &/or leg problems in the summer.

It seems that every summer patients will return to my office with foot and or lower leg pains. Many of these issues begin because the better weather makes one choose "summer footwear." Most of these types of footwear have less support for the feet. By choosing better supportive footwear during extended periods of activity can lessen the chances for painful problems from developing. By wearing your custom orthotics as much as you can will always help those muscles in your feet be more resilient during those times that you are in your summer footwear. During your next appointment, ask us if your feet could benefit from custom orthotics or if your old pair are still effective for your activities.

Tips to help your back when starting yard work this spring and summer season.

Looks like the weather is beginning to improve. This means we all are thinking about starting yard work and even some pressure washing for some. I think the key tip most forget to think about is that these tasks cause you to stay bent forward at the waist for way too long. For some individuals, this begins their misalignment and can cause back stiffness and even spasms. Addressing these symptoms before they cause a problem is key. Stretching the hip flexors, buttock muscles and lower leg muscles will help. Once the symptoms do not resolve, its best to come in for an evaluation and correct the misalignments and review which stretches and core exercises need to be re visited and which ones we should not do yet as it may irritate the problems still.