American Podiatric Medical Association Podiatrists Perform Life-Saving Amputations in Haiti

Above: A team of doctors works to perform foot surgery on a victim of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.


Bethesda, MD – When a devastating earthquake rocked a vulnerable Haiti on January 12, lives of numerous American podiatrists with ties to the country and its people were rocked, too. For years, American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) doctors have traveled to the diabetes-plagued nation on a mission to save lower limbs from amputation as a result of the disease. In fact, nearly seven percent of the estimated nine million Haitians have diabetes, and far too many don’t even know they have it. Ironically, APMA doctors, such as Patrick DeHeer, DPM, of Carmel, IN, who set up a diabetes wound care center in Port-au-Prince with the intent of preventing people’s legs, feet, and toes from being amputated, this month found himself back in the devastated city to perform the surgery he tried so hard to avoid—amputations. He did it not because of diabetes, but in order to save lives.

"It is chaos here—terrible injuries, people crushed, compartment syndromes—many of which are ending up in amputations," reported Dr. DeHeer, who served as a wound care director for a field hospital at a United Nations (UN) compound overseen by Project Medishare in Haiti’s capital city. "I just assisted on a below-the-knee amputation with an orthopedic surgeon on a 12-year-old girl. It is overwhelming."

This type of limb removal surgery, such as the one Dr. DeHeer described, has become all too common since the disaster hit. Infections such as gangrene have made amputations imminent without enough antibiotics and proper sterilization. The Pan American Health Organization reports there will be thousands of amputations in Haiti—and nearly half of the people impacted may lose more than one limb. Haiti’s high prevalence of diabetes and lack medicine to properly regulate the disease may only compound the amputation demand, as well as the need for expert podiatric care.

“It’s a tragedy that such an already fragile nation has to deal with such devastation and loss,” said APMA President Ronald D. Jensen, DPM. “As a podiatrist, I know firsthand how tragic it can be for a patient to lose a limb. There is a tremendous amount of help and support that the patient and their family require that is a challenge to provide in the best of circumstances. The people in Haiti will need help for a very long time.”

APMA podiatrists across the country continue to deploy to the shaken country to offer medical assistance. Only time will tell what toll the surge in amputations will have on the plight of the Haitian people.

To read more about APMA podiatrists’ missions to Haiti, visit www.apma.org.

Helping Hatian Feet

It is about three weeks after the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti. Sadly, the news of this devastating event is fading out of the spot light of our media and out of the minds of those in our country though the effects of this earthquake have hardly vanished from the eyes of the Haitians. Some of us have not forgotten, others of us just need a little reminder to bring us out of our own routine. Perhaps you have been keeping up with the news in your own way; checking blogs, talking to friends, watching videos, doing what you can to not let the Haitians vanish into the rubble that is now their country. Perhaps you have given your time, informed others, or given monetarily to show the Haitians your support. Every little bit helps and giving can be fun especially when you can find ways to give that resonate with things you are passionate about.

Since we are all about feet, we wanted to share some ways with you that will help the feet of the people in Haiti. Through these websites there are several ways that you can find to help protect the Haitians from the debris left by the earthquake.

http://www.soles4souls.org/

http://www.shoes2share.com/

Check them out today!

The Strength of Feet: A Remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we remember a man who called on the feet of our country to bring about the changes that we needed. We remember those who marched for freedom and stood strong on their beliefs. We look back into history and take into account the miles traveled towards a more equal future for all Americans in our country.

From the beginning to the end of Martin Luther King Jr’s days as one of the most influential people in the civil rights movement, walking was an extremely important part of the campaign to bring about change. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the march supporting sanitary waste workers in Memphis, activists used there feet to get their voices heard and heard they were.

One momentous march, the ‘March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom’ has inspired people everywhere to get off the couch and get moving towards the things they believe in. It inspired local marches throughout cities all over the U.S. during the civil rights movements and beyond. Even today we see different groups of people taking to the streets to stand for what they are passionate about and to bring light to inequalities that unfortunately are still present in our world.

Today, take a few steps and remember those who rallied together and used their feet to peacefully make a difference in our world. Take a few steps for those in our history who have fallen fighting for the freedom we enjoy. Today, take a few steps for Martin Luther King Jr. and everything he stood for.

Common Symptoms for Foot Ailments Part 2

Do any of your toenails curl into the fleshy part of your toe causing pain?

You could have an ingrown toenail. This can occur from cutting your toenails rounded at the corners instead of straight across, tight shoes, injuries, toenail fungus, or infections. Do not attempt to cut the toenail out yourself. If you notice your toenail curling even before it is painful call a podiatrist to get this nail removed.

Do you have stinky feet? Do your feet sweat profusely?

You might have Hyperhidrosis or trench foot. This is caused by sweat glands on the bottom of your foot creating more sweat than necessary. What may start off as just an annoyance or unpleasant smell can cause skin to become thick, macerated or painful.

Do you experience a feeling of sharp pain, cramping, or burning in your feet?

You might have a neuroma. A neuroma is when the nerves are pinched by your toe bones. This pinching commonly occurs between the third and forth toes. Tight shoes irritate the symptoms.

Do you have wounds on your feet that do not seem to be healing in a normal amount of time?

You might have chronic wounds or ulcers due to poor circulation or increased pressure on the wound site. These can be very dangerous if they are continuously left untreated. They can become seriously infected or even gangrenous and in severe cases can lead to amputation. Treatment plans can be offered by podiatrists to help the healing process and in most cases can heal in a few months.

Do you have painful growths on the underside of your heel bone? Do the arches of your feet hurt when you get up in the morning?

You might have heel spurs also known as Plantar Fasciitis. This is caused by a strain on the ligaments and muscles attached to your heel bone that lead to the membrane covering the bone to tear. This leaves the ligaments becoming inflamed and the heel bone lacking its natural protective barrier.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please call our office and make an appointment today. Don’t live with foot pain any longer! The sooner you get into an office and get your foot pain diagnosed the sooner something can be done about it.

New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are exciting and can be a great way to motivate us to achieve life goals that we have. Resolutions can range anywhere from breaking old habits to creating new lifestyles. One resolution that many Americans hold is to lose weight. After the holidays we are not pleased with how the scale reads, so we decided to exercise more and eat right. This is a great change that more Americans should try but there is only one problem. Excessive exercise after you have not been active can be very dangerous for your… FEET!! Feet take quite a beating with new strenuous workout routines. Plantar Fasciitis, Neuromas, and Achilles Tendonitis are a few ailments that can occur due to over exercise and shoes that are too tight. Not only do these ailments lead to sever foot pain, they also make these great resolutions extremely hard to reach. To decrease your chances of foot pain or injury and increase your chances for success, take things slow. Set up a routine that will ease you into the healthy lifestyle you want to achieve. This will help your body adjust and provide a strong foundation to keep building on. If you are investing in new shoes, shop at night when your feet are swollen from the day and make sure to get your feet measured first. This will help you get the correct size shoe. Make sure to stretch your feet before your routine. This sounds silly to most people but it is so important! Lots of injuries could be avoided if you stretch before and after your work out. It’s wise to speak with a podiatrist or physician to make sure your work out plan will not cause more harm to your body than good. Finally, if you want to make New Year’s resolutions but can’t because foot pain is keeping you bound to your chair, don’t worry, there is hope and there are people waiting to help you. Call your podiatrist today and start a new year pain free!!

Barefoot Running... The Official Stance

The official stance taken by the American Podiatric Medical Association on barefoot running is as follows:

Barefoot running has become an increasing trend, and a possible alternative or training adjunct to running with shoes. While anecdotal evidence and testimonials proliferate on the Internet and in the media about the possible health benefits of barefoot running, research has not yet adequately shed light on the immediate and long term effects of this practice.

Barefoot running has been touted as improving strength and balance, while promoting a more natural running style. However, risks of barefoot running include a lack of protection--which may lead to injuries such as puncture wounds--and increased stress on the lower extremities. Currently, inconclusive scientific research has been conducted regarding the benefits and/or risks of barefoot running.

The American Podiatric Medical Association, along with the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, encourages the public to consult a podiatrist with a strong background in sports medicine to make an informed decision on all aspects of their running and training programs.

Barefoot Running

A new trend in running has taken off in recent years though it is not a new concept. People have been kicking off their running shoes to go au nautrale and enjoy the intense connection with the earth that they feel when running this way. Though there has not been a lot of conclusive research done to prove whether or not running shoes are beneficial.

Even with out the concrete evidence showing that barefoot running is better for you, barefoot runners swear by this lifestyle. Barefoot runners believe that with out the obstruction of a running shoe, the brain knows where to place the body and foot in order to run in a way that is most efficient and beneficial to the particular runner. The world was wowed in 1960 when Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila won his first of many gold medals running barefoot. Of course this was nothing new to him, but it caught everyone else off guard. Barefoot running was also brought to the world’s attention by European runner Bruce Tulloh and American runner’s Charlie Robbinson and Zola Budd.

Research done by Michael Warburton and published in Sportsscience journal entitled ‘Barefoot Running’ which can be found at www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm has shown that running shoes increase ankle sprains, Plantar Fasciitis, and other shock related injuries. He also found that less expensive running shoes cause fewer injuries and fewer stressing points on your body than more expensive and advanced running shoes do. According to the article Amby Burfoot wrote in Runnersworld which you can read at http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--6728-0,00.html, the brain is much more aware of your body and its surrounds when no shoes are worn.

Despite these findings, running shoes do have their advantages. Most importantly they provide protection. We live in a world filled with dirt, debris, and sharp objects no matter where you are running. Whether that is on a trial, a grassy field, on a side walk, or in a gym, puncture wounds are nothing to take lightly. These wounds can be very dangerous especially if they are not taken care of right away. Running shoes provide support for those with flat feet or high arches. Shoes also protect diabetics from foot injuries. Diabetics are strongly recommended not to try this style of running.

Barefoot running is a very controversial subject. Many people believe that humans should run exactly how they where made and not let anything get in the way of that. Others believe that shoe where invented for a purpose and are extremely important to wear. A third party believes that there is a happy medium between these views and has designed shoes that resemble barefoot running without the risk of puncture wounds. If you are going to start barefoot running make sure to take things very slow and consult your podiatrist before you start. If you don’t have a podiatrist, get one!! And make sure to go to regular check ups. If you are not sure if barefoot running is right for you, do a little research of your own and talk to your podiatrist to decide what is going to be the best running style for you.