Golfing in Grapevine, Texas should not be limited by foot pain this spring!
The barrier to a perfect golf swing could lie in your big toe. Or your heel. Or on the ball of your foot. The physicians at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas in Grapevine, TX, say these are the three areas of your feet most likely to cause pain that can ruin your golf swing.
Behind these pain-prone spots can lie stiff joints, stretched-out tissues and even nerve damage. But pain relief is possible and frequently does not require surgery.
According to FAANT, the three most common painful foot conditions that can ruin your golf swing are heel pain, arthritis and pinched nerves.
1. Arthritis can cause pain in the joint of your big toe that makes it difficult to follow-through on your golf swing.
2. Heel pain typically results from an inflammation of the band of tissue that extends from your heel to the ball of your foot. People with this condition compare the pain to someone jabbing a knife in their heel. Heel pain can make it uncomfortable for golfers to maintain a solid stance during crucial portions of their golf swing.
3. Neuromas are nerves that become thickened, enlarged and painful because they’ve been compressed or irritated. A neuroma in the ball of your foot can cause significant pain as your body transfers its weight from one foot to the other in a golf swing.
Several other painful conditions can also cause instability during your swing. Some athletes and former athletes develop chronic ankle instability from previous ankle sprains that failed to heal properly. Motion-limiting arthritis and Achilles tendonitis can also affect your balance. Ill-fitting golf shoes may cause corns and calluses that make standing uncomfortable.
For the majority of golfers and other patients the doctors at FAANT recommend simple treatments such as custom orthotic devices (shoe inserts), stretching exercises, changes to your shoes, medications, braces or steroid injections and physical therapy. However, if these conservative measures fail to provide adequate relief, surgery may be required.
“Foot pain is not normal. With the treatment options available to your foot and ankle surgeon, a pain-free golf swing is clearly in view,” says FAANT. “When your feet aren’t in top condition, your golf swing won’t be either.”
For more information on foot and ankle conditions, visit www.faant.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Barefoot Running Good or Bad for You?
Barefoot running has become a growing trend. It has gained a lot of popularity due to the publication of the book "Born to Run". This books talks about the story of the Mexico-based Indians who for centuries have been running without shoes at distances sometimes greater than the distance of a marathon.
People are heavily debating the issue of shoes vs barefoot. The book "Born to Run" claims that the Tarahumara Indians are able to run great distances barefoot without being injured. They also claim that there is no proof that expensive running shoes are actually doing there job to prevent injuries. The book suggests that everyone should go back to how our earliest ancestors ran: barefoot.
Barefoot advocates claim that running shoes cause injurues and that it is more natural to run without shoes. Some say that you must be completly barefoot to reap the full benefits while others say it is best to wear a "minimalist shoe" that have thin soles and are lightweight.
So if Barefoot Running is so great how come there have not been more barefoot runners breaking the finishing tape at races. Are these athletes worried that if they trained barefoot they might injure themselves??
If runners ask me how I feel about barefoot running I tell them this:
There are many athletes and runners out there that do run with shoes and are not injured and have never had injuries. I tell my patients that if they want to try running barefoot that it would be safer running in a lightweight racing flat. If you do decide to run barefoot make sure you pick a soft surface. I also make sure to inform all my patients that there is no scientific evidence that barefoot running produces less injuries than running in shoes. Also the book focuses on a group of people that have been raised barefoot in their daily lives. Most of us have been in shoes since we were ambulatory, so due to this our skin toughness, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones have developed differently.
No matter what you decide shoes or no shoes, be careful and remember if something hurts to seek medical attention.
People are heavily debating the issue of shoes vs barefoot. The book "Born to Run" claims that the Tarahumara Indians are able to run great distances barefoot without being injured. They also claim that there is no proof that expensive running shoes are actually doing there job to prevent injuries. The book suggests that everyone should go back to how our earliest ancestors ran: barefoot.
Barefoot advocates claim that running shoes cause injurues and that it is more natural to run without shoes. Some say that you must be completly barefoot to reap the full benefits while others say it is best to wear a "minimalist shoe" that have thin soles and are lightweight.
So if Barefoot Running is so great how come there have not been more barefoot runners breaking the finishing tape at races. Are these athletes worried that if they trained barefoot they might injure themselves??
If runners ask me how I feel about barefoot running I tell them this:
There are many athletes and runners out there that do run with shoes and are not injured and have never had injuries. I tell my patients that if they want to try running barefoot that it would be safer running in a lightweight racing flat. If you do decide to run barefoot make sure you pick a soft surface. I also make sure to inform all my patients that there is no scientific evidence that barefoot running produces less injuries than running in shoes. Also the book focuses on a group of people that have been raised barefoot in their daily lives. Most of us have been in shoes since we were ambulatory, so due to this our skin toughness, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones have developed differently.
No matter what you decide shoes or no shoes, be careful and remember if something hurts to seek medical attention.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Pretty Feet for Summer!
As ecstatic as I am about getting an article into Southern Living magazine, I am even more so about getting the word out nationally on how to get those feet summer-ready!
You will find some surprisingly easy ways to keep the skin on your feet healthy, soft and oh, so smooth! As important as it is to get your feet hydrated, it is just as important to keep your nails safe from those little nasty dermatophytes lurking around (that would be the “fungus among us!”). Keep my pointers in mind next time you hit the nail salon!
And always remember, at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas, we are committed to providing you with the exceptional healthcare solutions to keep your feet “summer-ready” the whole year through!
You will find some surprisingly easy ways to keep the skin on your feet healthy, soft and oh, so smooth! As important as it is to get your feet hydrated, it is just as important to keep your nails safe from those little nasty dermatophytes lurking around (that would be the “fungus among us!”). Keep my pointers in mind next time you hit the nail salon!
And always remember, at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas, we are committed to providing you with the exceptional healthcare solutions to keep your feet “summer-ready” the whole year through!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
One of the most common injuries that occurs among running and jumping athletes...
Medial tibial stress syndrome also been called "shin splints" is the most common injury in the legs of active individuals. Females are more commonly affected, along with 22 percent of all injuries in aerobic dancers. Anyone participating in running or jumping acitvites are likely to develop this stress syndrome.
The pain from MTSS only occurs during the activity (running) with the pain diminshing rapidly within five minutes of activity cessation. If the pain persists during walking activites the suspicion for a stress fracture is high. Most common side effects are diffuse pain and tenderness that occur along the distal aspect of the medial tibial border (inside along the ankle bone)
How is MTSS diagnosed?
Most physicians will start with x-rays but most of the time they will get an MRI which is more specific test and has the abilty to diagnose the injured athlete.
How do I treat MTSS?
After the diagnosis has been made of MTSS, ice should be applied for 20 minutes multiple times a day. Activites should be reduced, patients should focus on exercising on softer surfaces, and wear appropriate shoe gear at all times. Custom foot orthotics are recommended for the vast majority of these patients. Orthotics are able to shift the ground force; as well as reduce subtalar pronation which helps reduce the bending motion of the tibia (which is why we get MTSS in the first place)
Understanding the disease is the key to getting an athlete back to their activites as soon as possible. If you think that your symptoms sound like these make an appointment with your podiatrist.
Medial tibial stress syndrome also been called "shin splints" is the most common injury in the legs of active individuals. Females are more commonly affected, along with 22 percent of all injuries in aerobic dancers. Anyone participating in running or jumping acitvites are likely to develop this stress syndrome.
The pain from MTSS only occurs during the activity (running) with the pain diminshing rapidly within five minutes of activity cessation. If the pain persists during walking activites the suspicion for a stress fracture is high. Most common side effects are diffuse pain and tenderness that occur along the distal aspect of the medial tibial border (inside along the ankle bone)
How is MTSS diagnosed?
Most physicians will start with x-rays but most of the time they will get an MRI which is more specific test and has the abilty to diagnose the injured athlete.
How do I treat MTSS?
After the diagnosis has been made of MTSS, ice should be applied for 20 minutes multiple times a day. Activites should be reduced, patients should focus on exercising on softer surfaces, and wear appropriate shoe gear at all times. Custom foot orthotics are recommended for the vast majority of these patients. Orthotics are able to shift the ground force; as well as reduce subtalar pronation which helps reduce the bending motion of the tibia (which is why we get MTSS in the first place)
Understanding the disease is the key to getting an athlete back to their activites as soon as possible. If you think that your symptoms sound like these make an appointment with your podiatrist.
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