EP #13: Feet Facts Uncovered: Answering Your Most Common Questions

Ever wondered how to find the perfect shoes for your foot type? Our latest episode has got you covered! Join Dr. Lauren DaBakaroff and Jeremy Wolf as they unravel the secrets to choosing the right shoes and why those online buys might not be doing your feet any favors. We'll walk you through the importance of measuring both the width and length of your foot while standing, ensuring that your feet stay comfortable and supported. Plus, Dr. Lauren sheds light on how custom orthotics can revolutionize your walking experience by addressing various foot shapes.

Flat feet got you worried? You're not alone. In a candid conversation, Jeremy shares his own struggles with flat feet, while Dr. Lauren dives into the genetic roots and the role of ligamentous laxity. Learn why neglecting proper foot support can lead to progressive worsening and pain over time. With practical advice on managing and preventing flat feet deterioration, this episode is your guide to maintaining healthy, pain-free feet as you age. Tune in and take the first step towards better foot health!

Transcript

: 0:02

Welcome to the LMD Podiatry Podcast. Trust us to get back on your feet. Here's your host, Dr Lauren DeBakeroff.

Jeremy Wolf: 0:14

Hello, hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the LMD Podiatry Podcast. I'm your co-host, Jeremy Wolf, joined by your host, Dr Lauren DeBakeroff. Dr Lauren, always a pleasure. Hello, Ooh, you went with a nice little. You're doing a little background shift there. I like that.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 0:31

Yeah, it's a mess back here.

Jeremy Wolf: 0:34

Nah, you're good, you're good, you're good. So I thought today we'd knock off a few frequently asked questions, and there's some things that have been on my mind, some topics that I wanted to get some clarity on. I'd assume that some of our listeners out there probably experienced some of these, some of these things, in the past. So let's, let's kick this off. How should I determine the right shoes to wear for my foot?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 0:58

So it you know the thing about shoes in general that most shoes today are made for foot size and not foot type. So there's all different types of foot types. People have high arches, low arches, wide feet, narrow feet, long toes. You know they're running like that, misshapen feet. So a lot of times you know the the shoe is just generic, like it's okay, size 11 men's. You know, it's just, it's just for the length. The size is just for the length.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 1:33

But the number one thing I should I always recommend is stop buying all your shoes online. Give yourself a chance. Go to a shoe store, have your foot measured width and length to make sure you're wearing the right size, and make sure, when you are checked, that you're fully weight bearing, meaning you're not sitting and putting your foot down, you're standing upright so that and then you'll see your foot kind of shifts forward and you realize your foot's actually longer or wider than you think. So that's, you know, fitting it to your foot. That's the number one thing um that you start with and that's, you know, fitting it to your foot. That's the number one thing that you start with and that's, you know, any shoe store has all the different shoe sizes and widths for you.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 2:12

Now for foot type. You know if you have your flat high arched, you know it's really hard to kind of accommodate that with shoes, because all the shoes today are again they're not custom, because all the shoes today are again they're not custom. Which is how you know what I do is I do a lot of custom orthotics and what that does is it helps, you know, realign your foot and, you know, control the biomechanics of your foot, helps you walk better with the right shoe and the orthotic you should have a great fit.

Jeremy Wolf: 2:46

You mentioned orthotics. I've had orthotics in the past. I do not wear them now, but I know that I do have flat feet. So somebody that has flat feet that's not currently wearing orthotics or doing something to make the situation better, are my feet prone to get worse, like can flat feet get worse over time? How does that work for somebody?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 3:09

So first of all, flat feet are genetic. So if you have flat feet, your mom, your grandma, your dad, someone in your family had it, your grandma, your dad, someone in your family had it. And most of the time flat feet is sourced out of, you know, partially genetics, mostly ligamentous laxity. It means, like all your ligaments in your foot and your body are just a little bit more stretchy. So without enough control and support in your foot, the flat foot will progressively get worse as you age. So right now you're fine. But if you keep walking the way you're walking with flat foot will progressively get worse as you age. So right now you're fine. But if you keep walking the way you're walking, with flat foot, without any support or structural support or strengthening of the foot, it will progressively get worse and then some patients have very symptomatic, painful flat feet over the years.

Jeremy Wolf: 3:58

Okay, so is there any anything that I should look for? So I'm speaking for myself personally, because I have flat feet over the years. Okay, so is there any anything that I should look for? So I'm speaking for myself personally, cause I have flat feet. I don't. I guess I haven't had any major issues other than what we discussed when I came in. Is there anything that I should look for, though? Any specific pain in any area of my foot that that that might tell me it's time to go get some solution?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 4:22

done for this. So arch pain. So if you have any arch pain or any pain on the inside of your ankle, then that's a sign that you're definitely wearing the wrong shoes, or you know, and your orthotics or insert inserts are not for you anymore. So arch pain and, like medial ankle, meaning the inside of your ankle, that's usually the two triggers for knowing you're wearing the wrong shoes and you're not, or you're not wearing orthotics, especially if you have flat feet.

Jeremy Wolf: 4:53

Got it. Next question, dr Lauren what is a bunion? Everybody's heard bunion before, but I guess if I was pressed to explain exactly what it is, I'd probably be clueless. So tell us what exactly is a bunion?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 5:07

All right. So a bunion is a deformity of your joint. Basically it's more visual. This is a podcast, so we're just going to listen. Basically it's more visual. I don't, you know, this is a podcast, so we're just going to listen. Basically, it's when your big toe starts facing the outside of your body and then the joint behind it starts facing the inside of your body. So basically, you start getting a bump on the inside of your foot and then it gets bigger and bigger and bigger over the years if you don't do anything about it, and then the bump can get red. You need to wear wider shoes, things like that.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 5:46

It's a deformity, essentially Also genetic. Best way to prevent it is bunion splints at night, you could easily purchase those on Amazon or you know online splints at night. You could easily purchase those on Amazon or you know online. Basically, it trains the joint to stay in place when you go to sleep. And then the other thing that's the kicker is obviously the custom orthotics or non-custom because it aligns your foot with your ankle and your leg and that actually controls the motion of your foot, prevents the bunion from getting worse.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 6:17

So that's what it is, but it is just, it's a strictly, it's an ugly deformity. It's basically when your foot and your toes are not aligned and then you get this whole bone sticking out on the inside of your foot. Interesting, it's hard, it's hard to you need to visualize it. It's great, you can see it Like. If I had an x-ray you'd be like oh yeah, that is not a straight foot.

Jeremy Wolf: 6:42

So I get these all the time. Next question Ingrown toenails. Right, and I find that normally the way I fix it for me is I'll end up getting a pedicure and they'll put my feet and soak them in water and they'll get in there and do their thing and fix it up, but I know that a lot of people don't go get pedicures. What are some good ways or some things they can do to prevent pedicures, ingrown toenails, from occurring in the first place?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 7:10

So, first of all, don't go to the nail salon to fix your ingrown toenail. They actually make it worse.

: 7:17

And I'll tell you why?

Lauren Dabakaroff: 7:19

So what they're cleaning in the nail salon is the dead skin that's forming around the ingrown toenail. So they're not fixing the ingrown toenail, they're just relieving some pressure from the side. Why are they making it worse? Because when you clean it and clean it and clean it over and over and over again, it actually trains the root of your nail to grow more into that direction, creating a more ingrown toenail over time. It's just like when you I don't know when you shave your hair grows into the direction that you cut it in. So the root of the nail but I'm going to show you I don't know if anyone can see, but if this is my thumb right so the root of the nail is back here, okay, and then that's where the nail grows out of when they cut from the sides. Basically it's just relieving a little bit of pressure. The root is still there and it's gonna just keep growing into the corner and it's not fun and it's painful.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 8:22

And nail salons they can get it infected. If you don't have someone who's using sterile equipment, you're not being careful, but it's only going to give you temporary relief and it's actually making your ingrown toenail worse. So the best way to prevent them is to just let your nail grow out and cut them straight across, and then that, over time, will help train your nail to grow straight and if it doesn't get better, there are both invasive and non-invasive ways that I have available in my office to fix your ingrown toenail. That basically, you know, basically helps the nail grow out straight and flat as a board.

Jeremy Wolf: 8:56

It's interesting See that you learn something new every day. Here I am thinking that I'm going to get my ingrown toenails fixed when I get pedicures and I'm actually making it worse in many cases. So look at that, the more you know.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 9:11

Yes, I'm a plethora of information today. Yes.

Jeremy Wolf: 9:15

Q and a. Indeed, so awesome, that was good. Let's go ahead and wrap this one up, unless there's anything else that you wanted to share before we bring this to a close.

Lauren Dabakaroff: 9:28

If you have any foot issues, you know where to find me.

Jeremy Wolf: 9:33

Yeah, go, go, go check out Dr Dr Lauren she's. She's doing great work over there. Like I said you, you've helped me personally with some issues I've had as I run a lot. I started experiencing some pain in my feet and I went in and you fixed me up real quick. My stepmother came in. You helped her tremendously. So keep up all the good work you're doing over there and we'll catch everyone next time on the next episode. Everyone take care. Have a great day, you too. Bye.

: 10:04

Thank you for listening to the LMD Podiatry Podcast. For more information, visit lmdpodiatrycom. That's lmdpodiatrycom, or call 954-680-7133.