The Millstone Times

♥ HEALTH & WELLNESS

Our Specialty Services For Adults, Children & Seniors Bunions Corns & Callouses Diabetic Foot Care Flatfeet Fungus HammerToeTreatment Heel Pain InGrownToeNails Plantar FasciitisTreatment Plantar Warts Orthotics and Surgery

Complete Family Foot & Ankle Care A Step Up Podiatry

What is a bunion? A bunion is a bump on the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ), the joint where your big toe and foot connect. When bone alignment problems in your foot force your big toe to tilt toward the other toes instead of pointing up, it pushes the MTPJ outward and causes the bump. Bunions usually appear on the big toe, but can also appear on the little toe. These little toe bunions are called tailor’s bunions or bunionettes. They’re caused by bone misalignment, just as big bunions are. What are the signs of a bunion? The bony bump is the tell-tale sign, but you can also expect other symptoms, including soreness, pain, and red skin around the bump. Many bunion sufferers also have restricted movement in their big toe. How do I treat a bunion? At A Step Up Podiatry, LLC, bunion treatment usu- ally starts with a clinical examination and Xrays to determine its severity. Some treatment options include:

• Custom orthotics to redistribute foot pressure • Medication to relieve pain • Cortisone injections for long-term pain relief • Ice application to reduce inflammation and soreness

• Taping, padding, or splinting to correct position and decrease stress • New footwear with a wider toe box • Surgical treatment

215 Gordons Corner Road, Suite 2A, Manalapan, NJ 07726 ASTEPUPPODIATRY.COM • 732-446-7136

Dr. Sanjay Gandhi, DPM

What is the Pomodoro technique? How Can It Help My Stress? By, Laur n Kowlacki

The Pomodoro technique is a time management method developed by a stressed-out student, Francesco Cirillo, in the late 1980s. Cirillo devised the technique while studying for upcoming exams, using nothing but tenacity and a basic tomato-shaped kitchen timer (hence the name, Pomodoro). Cirillo set his kitchen timer for 10 minutes and worked solidly until the timer went off. He then rewarded himself with a break, before setting the timer for another 10-minute study-session. Even with the break time, Cirillo found that he accomplished more and that there is a better way to handle a stressful workload and help you stop procrastinating! The Technique:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes (each session is called a “Pomodoro”) • Work solidly until the timer goes off • Take a break of five minutes

• Set the Pomodoro technique timer again for 25 minutes • Work solidly until the timer goes off • Repeat until you have completed four consecutive Pomodoro’s • Take a longer 15- to 20-minute break

According to the Pomodoro technique, sometimes referred to as practicing “spaced repetitions” it shows to support a better productivity and greater learning abilities. Not only does the Pomodoro technique timer enhance your ability to get things done, it’s also a great way to avoid sitting for hours at a time. Research has shown that such sedentary behavior is a major health risk. Getting up to take a stretch and walk or go for lunch helps the Pomodoro method work even better. As you practice the technique, your ability to focus, and your productivity improve during each session. If you get pulled away from work during a Pomodoro? Cirillo suggests an inform, negotiate, and call back technique, that is to let the person who is distracting you know that you’re working on something right now, then negotiate a time to talk later. This will help you feel more in control of your day and has the bonus of letting your colleagues know you respect their time while helping them to respect yours. If you absolutely must stop what you’re doing, to address an emergency for instance, you’ll need to end your Pomodoro and begin another session later.

28 The Millstone Times

May 2021