218 Ridgedale Ave
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
973-285-1700
 
 You are in Foot Care > Self-exam.
Self-exam

  • Balance. A good test for balance involves standing on one foot, with your arms out to the side and your eyes closed. If you are less than 30 years old, you should be able to balance for 15 seconds, 30-40 years old for 12 seconds, 40-50 years old for 10 seconds and over 50 years old for seven seconds. This can be improved with exercises.

  • Circulation. Look at the color of your toes. Are they red, pink, purple or blue? Press down on the nail of your big toe until the color blanches. Now let go and allow the blood flow to return to your toe. The return of normal color should take 2-5 seconds in a person with average circulation.

  • Flexibility. How flexible are your toes? Try to pick up a marble or a small dish towel. To test your ankle flexibility, hang your heel off of a stair. Now let the heel go below the level of the stair. If this causes pain, stop the test. If your heel goes below the level of the stair without causing strain in your calf, that is a goof sign. If there is some strain, this can be improved with flexibility exercises.

  • Pain. There should be no pain in the average foot.

  • Sensation. Take a pencil eraser and lightly run it on the top, bottom and both sides of your feet. The sensation should feel equal in all quadrants. It may tickle on the bottom of the feet. That is normal.

  • Skin. Check your skin for calluses, blisters or areas of irritation. Stand next to your shoes. Are they shaped like your feet or are they causing areas of constriction that may result in calluses, blisters or irritation? Put your hand inside your shoe. Are there seams, tacks or rough places in the shoe that correspond to the areas of irritation, calluses or blisters on your feet?
Records indicate that amputations and other forms of surgery due to infections of the feet, many brought about by diabetes, have been significantly reduced in recent years because of early diagnosis and treatment. Further reduction in this area is a goal of Healthy People 2010, a US Department of Health and Human Services campaign endorsed by podiatric physicians, to encourage understanding and application of preventive medical practices.


   
Copyright © 2008 Officite | Disclaimer | Patient Privacy
Advanced Foot & Ankle Home Page | Our Podiatrist | About Our Foot Care Centers | Diabetic Foot Pain | Foot Doctor Locations | Foot Pain | Neuropathy | Sport Foot Doctors | Diabetic Foot Ulcer | Wound Care Center | Contact Us | Helpful Resources | Site Map

Call Us at 973-285-1700 - Serving northern New Jerseyfrom offices in Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927 and Bernardsville, NJ 07924

We serve patients from the following towns: Basking Ridge, Bedminster, Berkeley Heights, Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Caldwell, Chatham, Chester, Cedar Knolls, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Far Hills, Florham park, Gillette, Gladstone, Green Village, Hibernia, Ironia, Kenvil, Lake Hiawatha, Liberty Corner, Livingston, Lyons, Madison, Martinsville, Mendham, Millington, Mine Hill, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mount Freedom, Mount Tabor, Mountain Lakes, New Providence, New Vernon, Oldwick, Parsippany, Peapack, Pine Brook, Pluckemin, Randolph, Rockaway, Roseland, Short Hills, Stirling, Summit, Towaco, Warren, Watchung, Wharton, Whippany