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Foot and Ankle Injuries Common in Obese Kids

obesity and feetA study conducted in Denmark found that children who are overweight or obese are more susceptible to develop foot, ankle, and leg injuries during engagement in physical activity as opposed to children at lower weights.

Researchers studied 632 overweight children who went to physical education classes for an hour and a half each week for two and a half years.

The group of children experienced 673 lower-limb injuries during this time. The children who were heavier had an average of 5.3 injuries for every 1000 “athletic exposures,” as compared to only 4.4 per 1000 for lighter children. "In the bigger picture the need to get all kids more active, and particularly overweight children, is imperative," sports medicine researcher Malachy McHugh said. McHugh was not involved in the study.

As an epidemic, obesity negatively affects all life stages. Seek the help of  Dr. Paula F. Raugellis and Dr. C. Michael Irvin of Greene Podiatry. Our doctor will examine your child’s feet and provide the right care and treatment for them.

How Obesity Affects Your Feet

Extra weight can sneak up on anyone unprepared. It’s not until your feet begin to hurt at the end of the day when you realize they have been carrying your entire body weight. There are many side effects that occur in the feet as a result of having a few extra pounds.

  • Leaning forward (uneven posture)

  • Extra weight placed in the wrong parts of your feet

  • Development of Type-2 diabetes

  • Loss of sensation in the legs and feet

  • Small sores

  • Plantar Fasciitis


Treating your feet can be helped by paying special attention to your footwear and your own body. Investing in yourself can help to lead you on a better road to health as well as serve to relieve some of the issues related to your feet.

  • Invest in shoes that allow for good circulation and support

  • Losing weight can help prevent and treat diabetes in addition to other diseases

  • Activities such as yoga and water aerobics can help keep you active and mobile without placing stress on  your feet

  • Foot stretches can help alleviate some pain associated with foot conditions.


If you have any questions, please contact our offices in Waynesburg and Fredericktown, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Proper Fitting Shoes are Optimal for Exercising and Avoiding Diabetes

proper fitting shoesIn 2002, Roger Gallup was one of the 1 in 3 Americans with pre-diabetes, a condition where you have diabetes-like symptoms, but you do not have all of the ailments that go with condition. Pre-diabetes is reversible with exercise and a proper diet, but Gallup was overweight and found that most shoes were hurting his feet; the pain was keeping him from changing his lifestyle. Gallup decided to have his feet measured by a professional and then used a machine to find where his feet place most of their pressure in order to find the perfect fitting shoe. Since his diagnosis and proper shoe fitting, Gallup has lost 125 pounds and reversed his pre-diabetes. “I think the proper footwear is very important in the exercises you do,” stated Gallup.

Proper fitting shoes are essential to one’s overall health. Speak to podiatrists Dr. Paula F. Raugellis and Dr. Michael C. Irvin of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc to learn more about the detrimental effects of shoes that fit incorrectly. Our doctors can assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

Proper Shoe Fitting

A common concern when it comes to foot health, having properly fitted shoes can help prevent injuries to the foot. Out feet affect our posture and gait, which in turn affects the biomechanics and overall bodily structure. With 33 joints, 26 bones, and over 100 ligaments, the potential for serious injury is much greater than one realizes. Although the feet cease growth in adulthood, they still change shape as they mature. Here are some factors to consider when it comes to investing in properly fitting shoes:


    • Be sure the shoes fit correctly right away





    • Ensure the ball of your foot fits comfortably in the widest portion of the shoes





    • Even though they may look fashionable, improperly fitting shoes can either create adverse conditions or exacerbate existing ones you may already have





    • Walk along a carpeted surface to ensure the shoes comfortably fit during normal activity



For more information about Proper Shoe Fitting, follow the link below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Waynesburg and Frederickstown, PA. We offer all the latest in diagnostic and treatment technologies to meet your needs.

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NFL Player Acknowledges Foot Injury After Trying to Push Through It

Playing sports with Foot injuriesUnfortunately for Colin Kaepernick, a foot injury has landed him a place on the 49ers’ injury report. Although he has been injured since last year, Kaepernick would continue to play. Kaepernick said his injury was just a hangnail and nothing serious. Now Kaepernick says and knows otherwise—a chipped bone on his forefoot and a ruptured capsule in the ball of his foot confirmed.

The injuries, sustained during a Week Two game against the Seahawks, slowed him down for most of the rest of the season. “It was something that was always there,” Kaepernick said. “Never spoke about it, never said anything about it because you’re a football player; you play through pain … If it’s something you can play through, that’s what you do.”

Playing sports with foot or ankle injuries can sometimes be safe, but it shouldn’t be done without a doctor’s approval. If you are injured, see one of our podiatrists of Greene Podiatry Associates, Inc. Our doctors can treat your foot and ankle needs.

Playing Sports With Foot Injuries

Many types of foot injuries affect athletes over the course of their athletic career. Despite their setbacks, many of these athletes will continue to play with mild foot injuries and attempt to ‘push’ through the pain. In order to be able to prevent injuries, it’s important to stretch before any activity, wear proper footwear and replace shoes as needed. Some of the foot injuries athletes are at risk for include:

  • Turf toe- upward bending of the big toe outside normal range of motion

  • Stress Fractures

  • Overpronation- excessive foot movement during gait

  • Plantar Fasciitis- swollen ligament in the foot’s base

  • Strains


There are many types of treatments that are necessary to keep the injury from becoming more serious. Ice is often used to reduce swelling and inflammation while applying a compression bandage can help reduce pain and stress on the foot. For more serious injuries it is recommended to consult with a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist as fractures and other serious conditions may require surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Waynesburg and Fredericktown, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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