Save Your Summer

It is summer and I have a few suggestions that may be of help to you or your friends and family.

•          Hydration: If you are planning outside activities (such as yard work, hiking, fixing the house, etc.) start drinking water with each meal and in between meals the day before your planned activity. Keep drinking water during the activities also. Waiting until you feel thirsty can lead to a heat stroke, kidney stone problems, and even ischemic stroke in some people. Drink water, sports drinks such as Gatorade/Powerade can delay gastric emptying and caffeine in drinks can dehydrate you even further.

•          Sunblock: You should buy new sunblock and buy “the good stuff” each year. Having a recent sunburn on my legs reminded me that last year’s products can lose their efficacy. Also it is best to use sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.

•          Shoes: It is summer and women (men too) are going to wear sandals/flip flops. Be sure to wear supportive footwear or sandals with a good footbed. Vionic offers some shoes with good support, as well as Birkenstocks and Chacos. Avoid the flat, floppy brands of flip flops. These can result in severely irritated arches. Also be aware that flip flops can facilitate falls due to foot dragging or hanging toes. Shoes with a strap around the back are ideal. Shoes without a strap around the back can lead to foot or toe pain.

As always, if you get in a bind or make poor choices we are here to help. Give us a call and we will help you get things under control so that you can have a more pain free summer.

Mark Ware PT/STC