Paintball and Your Feet

Image via WikipediaNow you might not be thinking about going paintballing any time soon due to it being cooler outside now.  Remember though there are indoor arenas all over the nation and even the world.  So why might someone worry about their feet when going paintballing?  Well I’m glad you asked, because there is a couple things to remember when getting ready to blast your friends when little balls of paint. 

First of all, this should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, make sure to cover your feet.  Don’t go paintballing barefoot or in sandals or shoes that don’t cover your feet completely.  If your feet aren’t protected you are susceptible to more injuries like turf toe and who knows what has been left on those arena floors.  Also, your feet need protection from those little paintballs as they can do some damage at the speeds they fly around at. 

Second, make sure the shoe or boot you are wearing is durable and sturdy.  With all the running and if you are extreme, rolling and flipping, those shoes need to be able to take the beating you’ll be dishing.  They also need to support your feet in all the positions your feet will be in.   Also make sure to have ankle support, since with the squatting and kneeling you’ll do, your ankles will stay in line and you will be at less of a risk of spraining your ankles.  A sturdy and supportive combat boot isn’t a bad way to go in this sport.  If you’re going to be outside in the cooler weather (for those crazy extreme paintballers) make sure to have a boot that is insulated too so that your feet will not freeze and won’t run the risk of frostbite.

If you have any foot or ankle related questions, contact us on Upstate Footcare’s website. 

Related articles

• Paintball with Coworkers. Help! (ask.metafilter.com)
• US Army Wants a Paintball Gun That Can Detect IEDs (neatorama.com)
• Physical and Mental Benefits of Playing Paintball (johnisfit.com)

Foot Risks - Is it worth exposing your feet in the winter?

Image via WikipediaSo as we get into the cooler seasons of the year, one thing you need to think about is the risk there can be to exposing your feet.  Wearing high heels, sandals, any open toe shoes, open heel shoes, or just going barefoot runs a high risk on you feet that you will not see in spring or summer time.  Due to the colder temperatures, exposed feet have the risk of getting frostbite.  While we don’t get the extreme cold temps that northern states get, South Carolina still gets cold at night, cold enough to freeze your toes off.  But what exactly happens when your feet get frostbite?

Frostbite starts to show itself through a painful tingling or burning sensation.  Then the area with frostbite starts to turn numb and a change occurs in the color of the area’s skin.  The color is usually turns from a red or pale color to a blue or black color.  The other problem is that once an area of skin gets frostbite, it is much more prone in the future to get frostbite again.  So how does one treat frostbite once they have it?

First of all, make sure to get yourself or the other person out of the cold as fast as possible.  Then make sure that the area effected is dry and also warm.  Make sure that you don’t expose the skin to extreme warm like a fire or by putting it too close to a heater.  You’ll end up burning the area instead of helping it.  Make sure to seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible to prevent any long term injury.  If you live in an area that facing extreme cold often and you are out in that weather a lot, make sure to take precautionary measures to prevent frostbite.  Measures like making sure all areas of skin are covered at all times and wear many layers to keep you warm.  If you get cold, make sure to warm up as soon as possible.  For us who live in South Carolina, make sure to cover up, even your feet, in the colder temps we’ll be facing these next couple of months. 

If you have any questions regarding your foot health, contact us by giving Upstate Footcare a call at 877-941-FEET (3338) or visit our website.

Related articles

• Paw care (newenglandpetguide.wordpress.com)
• Can You "Train" Your Digits to Handle Cold Better? (trainingdaily.runnersworld.com)
• How to Stay Safe When Exercising Outdoors in Cold Weather [Exercise] (lifehacker.com)

Surgery - When is the Best Time to Have it Done?

Image by Army Medicine via FlickrImage by heymrlady via FlickrAs the year comes to a close, one thing you might be thinking about is surgery.  Actually the end of the year can be the absolute best time of the year to get surgery.  Why you might ask?  Well there are a couple of reasons.

First of all, the end of the year brings the holiday season.  Unless you are in retail, this means that you will probably have some extended time off from work, without having to take time off from your vacation or personal time.  It does mean that it could put a damper on your holiday plans, though.  You might not be able to travel, or you might miss time with your family and friends because you are in the hospital or resting up home.  So you need to take that all into account as you decide if this is a good time or not to get that surgery you’ve been needing. 

Another reason is that the end of the year usually means the end of your insurance deductibles are coming due.  This means that you might have already met your deductibles for the year and before they reset so that you’ll have to pay those pesky deductibles all over again.  Now if you haven’t paid on your deductibles early in the year, it doesn’t really matter and you might want to save the surgery for the first of the year so that you pay them early next year, rather then pay them and have them reset in a month.

These two factors are good reasons why it would be good to get that surgery done that you’ve been putting off for some time.  If you are in need of foot or ankle surgery, you should contact Upstate Footcare and talk to Dr. Hans Blaakman.  Dr. Blaakman is an excellent foot and ankle surgeon and would love to help you get back on your feet, pain free!