 Previous Articles:
Pediatric Foot and Ankle Problems, Part
I.
By Keith Tyson, DPM, Martin Foot & Ankle,
York, PA
When addressing pediatric foot and ankle deformities,
the podiatric physician understands that managing a
child is different than an adult, not just in the
physical appearance but also due to the differences in
emotional and social development.
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Here
Juvenile Diabetes and Podiatric Concerns.
By Kevin
T. Naugle, DPM, MBA
Very often when a child is diagnosed with diabetes it
becomes an entire family affair. The initial diagnosis
can be very traumatic for everyone.
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Here
The Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program--What You
Should Know.
By Thomas Ortenzio, DPM
Medicare has recognized the importance of proper
footwear as part of a comprehensive plan of treatment
for people with diabetes.
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Here
What is PAD? By Dr. John E. Fawcett
“I see it on TV, I hear about it from friends, but
Doctor, just what is PAD?”
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Here
"Answers to Some of Your Most Common
Questions about Your Feet"
By Joseph Gershey, DPM
Get your common question answers.
Click
Here
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Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association
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Visitors Center
Just for you! |
Public Information
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The
Association’s more than 800 members are highly skilled
specialty doctors, licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
As a member of PPMA, podiatric physicians have a voice
with the legislature, a means to keep the standards high
in patient care, and educational programs for continued
professionalism. |
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Buying a 'Healthy' Shoe
Crucial During Back-to-School
Shopping Season
By Edwin
Hart III, DPM
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I don't know
about you, but with the recent
cool temperatures here in
Pennsylvania this past week I
was reminded that summer is
drawing to a close, at least for
those of school age. Summers no
longer seem to drag on like they
did when I was a kid, they just
seem to fly by.
 So once again we are faced with
the task of purchasing school
backpacks, laptop cases, and all
the other stuff on our
back-to-school shopping lists.
Like me, I am sure your list
includes the names of important
supplies and fashionable new
clothing options for your
children. It may be as "easy" as
pushing a button like the
Staples® commercial indicates
and seamlessly drop items into
our online or store shopping
cart, but for a big item like
children’s shoes, it should be
more time-intensive than simply
picking a brand name off a
store’s shelf.According to
results taken from American
Podiatric Medical Association
(APMA) surveys among adults aged
18-49, 18 percent of males and
65 percent of females have not
had their feet measured in the
last five years. Wearing an
improperly fitted shoe often
leads to foot problems such as
plantar fasciitis and
tendonitis, so it’s particularly
important for children – whose
feet are still in the developing
stages – to always have their
foot measured by a shoe store
professional. As a parent you
need to insist on your child
being measured for the correct
fit.
Remember that not every
child’s shoe on the market is a
healthy choice, and a high price
is not indicative of quality.
You should have your child’s
foot size professionally
measured before purchasing a
shoe, paying close attention to
three footwear aspects: a stiff
heel counter, proper toe
flexibility, and proper
rigidity. Doing this drastically
reduces the chance of injury in
young feet and increases your
child's comfort with school
activities.
To help parents understand
the basics of buying a healthy
shoe, the APMA has assembled a
list of important shoe-buying
tips, as well as an
easy-to-remember "1, 2, 3 Test."
The tip sheet and "1, 2, 3 Test"
can be viewed in PDF format by
clicking here.
Several company’s footwear
products on the market for
children have recently received
the APMA’s
Seal of Acceptance,
including
Chaco's kids sandals, See
Kai Run's Smaller Collection
and
Reebok’s Versaflex
Collection of Toddler Footwear.
APMA’s Seal program recognizes
products that set the benchmark
for footwear and foot care
industries. Evaluated by a
committee of APMA podiatric
physicians, these products are
proven to allow for normal foot
function and promote
quality foot health. For a
full listing of Accepted
children’s products, please
click here.
Remember as with any issue
related to your child's foot
health or your own, talk to your
podiatrist. Your podiatrist is
the health care provider best
able to advise you on issues
related to your feet. If you
don't have a podiatrist in your
area or don't know of one, feel
free to consult our "Find a
Podiatrist" link on this web
site. I hope you and your
children have a successful
school year and great foot
health. |
Edwin S. Hart, III, DPM, FACFAS,
FACFAOM: Received his DPM in
1983 from Temple University
School of Podiatric Medicine;
Diplomate—ABPS & ABPOPPM;
Teaching Staff, St. Luke’s
Hospital Podiatric Residency
Program; Private Practice,
Bethlehem, PA. More information
can be found about Dr. Hart and
his practice at
www.footmed.com. |
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Unprecedented Meeting for
Podiatry and Current
Presidential Candidate
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l-r: Dean John A. Mattiacci,
President of the First National
Guild, Michael Goodwin,
President of the Office and
Professional Employees
International Union, and Senator
Hillary Clinton, at a December
2nd OPEIU reception for the
Senator in Des Moines, Iowa.
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Following Senator Clinton’s
September televised reference to
podiatry, Dr. John Mattiacci
worked with President Michael
Goodwin of the Office and
Professional Employees
International Union (OPEIU) in
securing a meeting with
Presidential Candidate Hillary
Clinton during her recent
campaign trip in Iowa. The
Senator’s health care proposal
lists the failures of the
country’s current health care
system. Among those failures,
she cites the system’s refusal
to pay a podiatrist for
preventive diabetes treatment,
while paying for surgical
correction of diabetic
conditions that could have been
avoided. |
At the meeting, Dr.
John Mattiacci, Dean of Temple
University School of Podiatric
Medicine, Dr. Robert Yoho, Dean of
the Des Moines College of
Podiatric Medicine and Surgery,
Dr. Robert Herpen, trustee of
the First National Guild, and
three other podiatrists from
Iowa presented a position paper
to Senator Clinton, requesting
legislative additions to her
American Health Choices Plan.
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The recommendations
related to providers
and their
participation in the
Senator’s health
care proposal. The
position paper also
specified
legislation through
which doctors can
become meaningful
participants in the
development of
health care
solutions posed by
future
administrations.
The hour long
meeting was, in
diplomatic terms,
"…a full and frank
discussion of issues
relating to
podiatry’s role in
health care."
Senator Clinton
requested copies of
the position paper
as well as diabetic
statistics |
l-r: Dr. Freschi,
Dr. Mattiacci, Dr.
Yoho, Senator
Clinton, Dr. Rogers,
Kate Banasiak with
Iowa Podiatric
Medical Society, Dr.
Bevilacqua, and Dr.
Herpen.
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prepared
by Doctors Rogers and Bevilacqua
of Iowa. At a caucus event
following the meeting, the
candidate referenced the topics
that had been raised by the
podiatric delegation.
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| OPEIU has voted
to endorse Senator Clinton and
will be supporting her campaign
in the month remaining before
the Iowa Caucus. |
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757 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA, 17011
PH: 717-763-7665, FAX: 717-761-4091
info@ppma.org
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