Anyone who has lived through a Florida summer certainly recognizes that the cars seem to move faster on roads, the electric bill go up and the lines at restaurants have shortened. Access to golf courses, tennis courts, bowling alleys and all recreation facilities become more available to year-round residents and those who visit during the summer months.

What does all this mean to foot health during the summer? People in general tend to be more active in all phases of recreational activities. The increase in physical activities includes many outdoor hobbies and pastimes that were otherwise unavailable or too much of a nuisance to wait for in line. This does not go without some type of negative impact on the fee and ankles.

Many of the foot problems seen during the summer months are simply the result of over use syndromes. Inactivity or relative inactivity during the busy tourist season frequently leads to over-indulgence of ones penchant for things such as long walks on the beaches, 18 holes of golf, softball and baseball, to name just a few of the many things available in this part of our country in the summer.

Among these so-called over use problems often seen in our offices are heel pain, tendonitis, simple bursitis and stress fractures. A simple walk on the beach can often lead to significant arch pain, ankle pain, Achilles tendonitis and in general, a miserable time for you the rest of the summer months . Here is where the old adage when your feet hurt, you hurt all over comes into play.

Tennis and golf can often lead to pain in the big toe, either due to improper or worn out she gear, aggravation from an ingrown toe nail problem, or pressure on a thickened and deformed fungal nail problem.. Also, it is commonly seen that tennis players, even playing doubles , which is significantly less strenuous than singles, can lead to the so-called tennis toe. This is a painful condition that develops with hemorrhaging beneath the nail. Unless given appropriate attention, this can lead to loss of the nail and or infection.

As noted, stress fractures of any bone can occur from sudden over-use of our bodys skeleton, but it is most commonly seen in our 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones. These typically are genetically over stressed from every day walking, but are able to withstand these activities by adapting through a normal physiologic process that causes thickening of theses bones. However, with geometrically increased activity the tolerance to stress is often exceeded and the bone will develop a microscopic crack that can cause pain and swelling and an inability to bear weight normally. Initially, x-rays for these types of injuries are often not visualized. However, with follow up x-rays , weeks later or by performing a bone scan at the time of the onset of the problem, one can certainly recognize and thus appropriately treat these fractures. Left untreated, a small crack can often progress to a complete fracture and even displacement of the fragments.

A simple walk on the beach can also cause other problems. Very often, punctures and lacerations can occur on our sandy beaches which can hide: shells, fish barbs, broken glass, bottle caps and splintered wood, as well as other foreign objects that can wash up on shore or be the result of careless trashing of our beaches. Some of the worst infections encountered in our emergency rooms and in our offices are often a result of punctures and lacerations encountered either in the Gulf or other inland waterways and which initially appear to heal uneventfully. On many occasions 2 or 3 weeks later, one sees a massive infection develop, which requires surgical intervention to open and drain the wound and most of the time hospitalization. A truly crummy way to spend a summer.

People who live in these parts know the stingray shuffle. To the uninitiated, this is the safest way to move along the shorelines shallow waters and hopefully the thousands of stingrays who share our beaches will recognize the incoming feet and gracefully move on to deeper waters. In the event that we inadvertently step on one of these harmless sea creatures, one of our worst nightmares will have begun. In response the stingrays reflexive action is to instantaneously lash its tail upward and into you, leaving behind its spiny barb, which has a toxin as well as bacteria. Emergency room or office treatment for this most often will save a painful summer experience from becoming a prolonged nightmare.

Among some of the other commonly seen foot and ankle problems are fungal infections of the skin, commonly called Athletes Foot, a direct result of exposure, improper drying, recontamination of the skin and inadequate care. Warts are also frequently seen due to increased exposure to the viruses that are ever present. Blisters are often due to improperly fitted shoes, not wearing protective hosiery or socks and most often from friction against the skin. Common sense would dictate that good shoe gear, well aerated , fresh socks to absorb moisture and amply powdering the feet will prevent a multitude of problems.

There are many other problems that can result during the summer months, and this article was certainly not intended to discourage anyone from enjoying the good life. It was simply intended to remind people to use common sense good supportive shoe gear with adequate room and try a gradual increase in recreational activities.