Health

By Thomas Vail, DPM
Podiatry Staff, Blanchard Valley Health System

Read your footprints and discover how you roll! Like a good detective story, your bare footprints can leave clues to your foot health and drop hints about possible problems. Before we crack the barefoot code, here's a quick course on walking patterns.

• The heel usually hits the ground first.
• As the foot moves forward, the arch flattens, and weight is transferred to the ball of the foot.
• As you push off from the ball of the foot, the arch springs upward and does not touch the ground.

At least, that's how normal feet are supposed to work. Unfortunately, many feet aren't normal. In normal feet, this movement is straight. If the foot rolls to the inside, it's called "overpronation" and can strain the arch and hurt the knee. If the foot rolls to the outside, it's called "underpronation" and can lead to stress fractures and ankle sprains.

By Jill Jaynes, RT (R)
Director of Imaging Services, Blanchard Valley Health System

If you have ever had to have an imaging test, you may have been asked to change your clothes, remove jewelry, take out hearing aids, etc. Let’s review how to “dress for success” and other steps you will want to consider prior to arriving for your next imaging exam. 

If you are going to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted, it is best to leave your jewelry at home. You will be asked to remove jewelry before entering the exam room. Jewelry will show up when taking an X-ray if it’s in the field of interest. We want to make sure your valuables are safe and protected, and the easiest way to do that is to remove them beforehand. With that said, if you can leave jewelry at home, you won’t have to worry about it during the time of your exam.

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