Proper footwear is essential for a patient who is experiencing heel pain. Often the cause of heel pain can start due to improper shoe gear. A proper athletic shoe will help alleviate heel pain if it is the correct type of shoe for the patients foot.
Most people do not realize that there are many models or shoes available and most likely one will fit your specific foot better then others. It is very easy to buy and wear the wrong type of shoe without realizing it. By doing this your feet will continue to hurt, your arches will be tired at the end of the day and your feet will be sore in places that you didn't realize could hurt.
Depending on the specific foot type you have and your bio mechanics (the way you walk and run) can help determine the best shoe for your foot. A person with a high arched foot or a "pes cavus foot type" will be best fit in a cushion of neutral type of shoe. A person with a flatter foot or hypermobile foot or better known as "pes planus foot type" will need a moderate to maximum motion control shoe. A normal foot type is usually best fit in a light stability or mild motion control shoe.
Many times patients will come into our office and will be confused if they are in the correct shoes. When this occurs a shoe exam can be performed checking for heel counter rigidity, midfoot torsion stability, and forefoot flexion of the shoe. Once in the appropriate shoe a gait exam can be performed which includes the patient walking and running in their shoe gear. At that time it can be determined if an orthotic is necessary for your specific type of foot. An orthotic is a custom device that will fit into your shoe and help you function in a more ideal and neutral position.
So if your feet hurt, or you are not sure you are wearing the correct shoes, think about visiting a podiatrist who can help confirm what is the best shoe for your feet.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Laser Treatment for Fungal Toenails: You Have to Treat ALL of the Nails!
Laser Treatment for Fungus- Calling All Toenails!!!
I have been lasering toenails for quite some time now and only recently have come across more and more people wondering “Why not just laser the affected toenails? It would, after all, come out cheaper that way wouldn’t it?”
The simple answer is “No, not really.” But let me back this up so you can take my word for it.
Fungus is visible when the nail is grossly infected. What many do not realize, is that the process started long before you could see it with the naked eye. This alone is enough reason for the need to laser all ten toenails.
All too often I see patients who tell me that their nail fungus was only on one nail for the longest time. Then, all of a sudden, it has spread to others. Fungus is contagious! It does not just sit in one place. It gets in in your carpet, your bath mats, your shower tile. And worst of all, if you do have fungus, even in just one toenail, that fungus has already grossly contaminated your shoes! For your other nails there is no escape!
Think about how lasering only those affected nails singularly, ignoring all the others which are surely contaminated. How secure do you feel about that? If you had a bad cough and shortness of breath, how secure would you feel about going to a doctor who gave you cough medicine, but didn’t bother to listen to the pneumonia brewing in your lungs? Only treating the “visible” symptom, but not the underlying problem is a problem, whether it is lungs, nails or any other condition. Fungus brews until it has a large enough colony to “visibly” affect other nails or even a previously treated nail! What does that mean to the patient? It means more frequent trips to the podiatrist for yet another “spot” treatment. You will find, is that in the end, you will have coughed up (no pun intended!) what you should have to have all nails treated in the first place! Worse yet, the cycle may continue since only the nails with visible fungus are treated again! Who knows when it might end for you and how much time you will need to devote to these types of visits? Why take that chance?
What I do strongly believe, as do all the physicians at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas (FAANT), is that if you are going to spend your valuable time and finances to have this procedure preformed, the least we can do is treat all your toenails at once. This will greatly increase the odds of success! One very effective treatment in one visit!
Another thing to consider is FDA approval. Only one type of fungus-treating laser in the U.S. is FDA approved. Fortunately, we have this laser at FAANT!! This is something that should give you extra piece of mind! You are getting what we know is safe and effective! All ten toenails and FDA approval is money well spent!
I have been lasering toenails for quite some time now and only recently have come across more and more people wondering “Why not just laser the affected toenails? It would, after all, come out cheaper that way wouldn’t it?”
The simple answer is “No, not really.” But let me back this up so you can take my word for it.
Fungus is visible when the nail is grossly infected. What many do not realize, is that the process started long before you could see it with the naked eye. This alone is enough reason for the need to laser all ten toenails.
All too often I see patients who tell me that their nail fungus was only on one nail for the longest time. Then, all of a sudden, it has spread to others. Fungus is contagious! It does not just sit in one place. It gets in in your carpet, your bath mats, your shower tile. And worst of all, if you do have fungus, even in just one toenail, that fungus has already grossly contaminated your shoes! For your other nails there is no escape!
Think about how lasering only those affected nails singularly, ignoring all the others which are surely contaminated. How secure do you feel about that? If you had a bad cough and shortness of breath, how secure would you feel about going to a doctor who gave you cough medicine, but didn’t bother to listen to the pneumonia brewing in your lungs? Only treating the “visible” symptom, but not the underlying problem is a problem, whether it is lungs, nails or any other condition. Fungus brews until it has a large enough colony to “visibly” affect other nails or even a previously treated nail! What does that mean to the patient? It means more frequent trips to the podiatrist for yet another “spot” treatment. You will find, is that in the end, you will have coughed up (no pun intended!) what you should have to have all nails treated in the first place! Worse yet, the cycle may continue since only the nails with visible fungus are treated again! Who knows when it might end for you and how much time you will need to devote to these types of visits? Why take that chance?
What I do strongly believe, as do all the physicians at Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas (FAANT), is that if you are going to spend your valuable time and finances to have this procedure preformed, the least we can do is treat all your toenails at once. This will greatly increase the odds of success! One very effective treatment in one visit!
Another thing to consider is FDA approval. Only one type of fungus-treating laser in the U.S. is FDA approved. Fortunately, we have this laser at FAANT!! This is something that should give you extra piece of mind! You are getting what we know is safe and effective! All ten toenails and FDA approval is money well spent!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
So another athlete down with nothing other than a darn toe injury!!
With Clemson running back Andre Ellington missing the next two games with a toe injury, it is unlikely that the Tigers will become bowl eligible. Sorry Clemson fans!
So what happened? Well, the same thing that happened to San Diego Chargers star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Turf toe strikes again! We have written about this before and I will waste no time to link you to our great turf toe article written and available for your perusal. Only wish Andre Ellington knew what he was in for. Being as young as he is, he will most likely heal without incident. Then again, being as young as he is, he may also jump back into what is left of the season a little sooner than recommended. If you are listening Andre, don’t do it! Let this heal and help avoid what could end up being an arthritic toe later on in life that may end your career sooner than intended!
Let this serve as yet another reminder to all of us, athletes or not, that the big toe is just that important! The mere jamming of the toe is enough to jump start an arthritic process. Micro tears in the cartilage cushioning the joint can become deep fissures down to the bone over time. These are allowed to wear down until there is no cartilage to cushion the joint and suddenly there is joint pain when before there was none!
Do not ignore joint pain! It is not normal. Even though it can go away, it will more than likely return more frequently over time and return with a vengeance. As podiatrists, we do not merely treat injuries; we pride ourselves as a profession of prevention! Recurrence prevention is just as important as eliminating the initial pain. Heed our recommendations if we point you to certain shoes or inserts or functional orthotics to better control any foot instability. The cliché is true, prevention is key!
With Clemson running back Andre Ellington missing the next two games with a toe injury, it is unlikely that the Tigers will become bowl eligible. Sorry Clemson fans!
So what happened? Well, the same thing that happened to San Diego Chargers star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Turf toe strikes again! We have written about this before and I will waste no time to link you to our great turf toe article written and available for your perusal. Only wish Andre Ellington knew what he was in for. Being as young as he is, he will most likely heal without incident. Then again, being as young as he is, he may also jump back into what is left of the season a little sooner than recommended. If you are listening Andre, don’t do it! Let this heal and help avoid what could end up being an arthritic toe later on in life that may end your career sooner than intended!
Let this serve as yet another reminder to all of us, athletes or not, that the big toe is just that important! The mere jamming of the toe is enough to jump start an arthritic process. Micro tears in the cartilage cushioning the joint can become deep fissures down to the bone over time. These are allowed to wear down until there is no cartilage to cushion the joint and suddenly there is joint pain when before there was none!
Do not ignore joint pain! It is not normal. Even though it can go away, it will more than likely return more frequently over time and return with a vengeance. As podiatrists, we do not merely treat injuries; we pride ourselves as a profession of prevention! Recurrence prevention is just as important as eliminating the initial pain. Heed our recommendations if we point you to certain shoes or inserts or functional orthotics to better control any foot instability. The cliché is true, prevention is key!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Eleven Tips to Ease Arthritis Pain and Increase Mobility!
The little things you do can get your arthritis pain under control and increase your mobility. Lots of patient in my Grapevine, TX, office complain of arthritis pain in their feet and ankles as well as their knees, hips and back. The dynamic chain of our lower extremity biomechanics is all connected. Help your back by helping your feet, knees and hips! All the joints benefit!
When you have osteoarthritis, it is very common to cut back on most of your physical activities to minimize your pain. This inactivity often leads to more health problems, so it is important to find ways to keep the pain under control.
Here are my top eleven tips to keep you moving with arthritis:
1. Lose Weight. Every pound matters. Think that if you lose one pound, it takes three pounds of torque off your feet. Every extra pound puts more pressure on all your joints. Find a sound lifestyle changing diet and adjust your eating habits to slowly lose the weight.
2. Give yourself a break. Overuse can increase arthritis symptoms significantly. To ease your pain and the stress on your joints, take frequent breaks. Break large tasks into small ones.
3. Stretch. Athletes always ask, “To stretch or not to stretch, that is the question?” In patients with arthritis, stretching can really ease the pain in your joints, especially you foot and ankle. Learn to stretch properly and make it a daily habit.
4. Exercise. Exercise will help maintain mobility and flexibility as well as strength. Yoga or water workouts are good alternatives for patients with arthritis. If you don’t move it, you will lose it!
5. Heat it up. A hot water bottle, warm compresses or a heating pad can often relieve arthritis pain. Be careful not to make it too hot, especially if you have diabetes and a little neuropathy!
6. Talk to your doctor. There are many new options for pain relief, so don’t think you just have to live with it. Ask your doctors for options.
7. See a podiatrist. A podiatrist can help you with shoe gear, functional foot orthotics and even joint surgery that can relieve your pain. Talk to a podiatrist about options to ease your foot and ankle pain and/or balance the biomechanics of your lower extremity to let your joints function as optimally as they can.
8. See a physical therapist or chiropractor. Many times a little physical therapy or manipulation can help to ease your pain and get you moving in the right direction.
9. Try OTC options. Many people use over-the-counter arthritis pain relievers or topical analgesic creams to help with their pain. My favorite is Biofreeze.
10. Consider supplements. Many patients report relief from glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. Remember that you need to take them for at least a month to see if they help.
11. Start early. Get your arthritis pain under control early. It is much easier to get it under control and focus on a mobility regimen when you are younger. It is easier to lose weight in your 40’s than your 60’s.
Arthritis pain getting you down? Follow these tips to help control your pain and increase your mobility!
When you have osteoarthritis, it is very common to cut back on most of your physical activities to minimize your pain. This inactivity often leads to more health problems, so it is important to find ways to keep the pain under control.
Here are my top eleven tips to keep you moving with arthritis:
1. Lose Weight. Every pound matters. Think that if you lose one pound, it takes three pounds of torque off your feet. Every extra pound puts more pressure on all your joints. Find a sound lifestyle changing diet and adjust your eating habits to slowly lose the weight.
2. Give yourself a break. Overuse can increase arthritis symptoms significantly. To ease your pain and the stress on your joints, take frequent breaks. Break large tasks into small ones.
3. Stretch. Athletes always ask, “To stretch or not to stretch, that is the question?” In patients with arthritis, stretching can really ease the pain in your joints, especially you foot and ankle. Learn to stretch properly and make it a daily habit.
4. Exercise. Exercise will help maintain mobility and flexibility as well as strength. Yoga or water workouts are good alternatives for patients with arthritis. If you don’t move it, you will lose it!
5. Heat it up. A hot water bottle, warm compresses or a heating pad can often relieve arthritis pain. Be careful not to make it too hot, especially if you have diabetes and a little neuropathy!
6. Talk to your doctor. There are many new options for pain relief, so don’t think you just have to live with it. Ask your doctors for options.
7. See a podiatrist. A podiatrist can help you with shoe gear, functional foot orthotics and even joint surgery that can relieve your pain. Talk to a podiatrist about options to ease your foot and ankle pain and/or balance the biomechanics of your lower extremity to let your joints function as optimally as they can.
8. See a physical therapist or chiropractor. Many times a little physical therapy or manipulation can help to ease your pain and get you moving in the right direction.
9. Try OTC options. Many people use over-the-counter arthritis pain relievers or topical analgesic creams to help with their pain. My favorite is Biofreeze.
10. Consider supplements. Many patients report relief from glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. Remember that you need to take them for at least a month to see if they help.
11. Start early. Get your arthritis pain under control early. It is much easier to get it under control and focus on a mobility regimen when you are younger. It is easier to lose weight in your 40’s than your 60’s.
Arthritis pain getting you down? Follow these tips to help control your pain and increase your mobility!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Chronic foot and ankle injuries, why not wait?
I just had a friend tell me this. She has had pain and swelling in her ankle and is ready to have it addressed. Crazy thing is, her injury happened in 1996! Say again?! 1996?! And this prompted me to write about what happens if you wait.
With 26 bones, 33 joints on top of more than 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles, the foot has plenty of places it can injure. All of these parts make a whole in the function of the foot and ankle. And since the foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone and the ankle bone’s connected…well you get my drift. One component stretches, breaks, tears, strains and every other part has to bear the load of that one small part. With as much as we use our feet, one or some components have already given out to some degree.
So now we all have feet that are not in their perfect position to function at their best.
The aches and pains begin. Sure, Tylenol and Motrin are great band-aides. But they mask pain rather than fix what’s wrong. Keep it up and over time, the anti-inflammatories stop working. Not a good sign. The stress from years of small, meaningless injuries start adding up to more stress than your feet and ankles can handle. Now your injury is chronic. What does that mean? It means that you have ignored the small stuff and now your body is ignoring it too and won’t heal it on its own.
Good thing is, most of you are not a professional athlete, like Shaquille O’Neal, whose plantar fasciitis raised havoc on his ability to dunk those hoops! Bad thing is, whether you are Shaq or not, ignoring an injury or chronically re-injuring could have dire consequences.
I found this list off an article about athletic performance by Keith Wassung listing the following athletes using chiropractic care as part of body maintenance:
Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Keith Jackson, Emmit Smith, Chris Carter, Evander Holyfield Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Jr., Wade Boggs, Penny Hardaway, Jon Smoltz, Ken Griffey, Jr. Mark McGwire, Ryne Sandberg,, Ricky Bell, Brett Butler, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Robert Parish, Gerald Wilkins, Lee Haney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dr. Frank Columbu, Irving Fryar, Brett Hall, Tiger Woods, Roberto Clemente Michael Carbajol, Bob Hayes, Muhammad Ali, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Alex Karras, Gary Clark, Mark May, Charles Haley, Bill Fralic, Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Tim Dwight, Jack Dempsey,Fred Funk, Beth Daniel, Mary Lou Retton, Olga Korbut, Wayne Gretzky, Rocky Marciano, Dan O’Brien, Bruce Jenner, Donovan Bailey, Mac Wilkins, Dwight Stones, Mary Decker, Willie Banks, Nancy Ditz, Gregg Blasingame, Billy Jean King. Tracy Austin, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jim Connors, Jan Stephenson, Shawn Marion, Stephon Marbury, Barry Bonds, Vijay Singh,Steve Nash, LeBron James, Barry Zito, Grant Hill, Shaquille O’Neal
Why not podiatric care to maintain the only set of “tires” you have?!
The simple lesson here is, if you do not want to spend your golden years limping and kicking yourself for not addressing your foot and ankle pain sooner, get in to see your podiatrist when the injury happens! An acute injury is sooooo much easier to treat and your prognosis is soooo much better if you treat EARLY. And remember that with many injuries, though you may have healed, you are also more prone to re-injury. The best thing about early intervention is that you will also be informed of ways to prevent re-injury. Either way, that visit to your podiatrist could take you many more miles and that is golden!
The simple lesson here is, if you do not want to spend your golden years limping and kicking yourself for not addressing your foot and ankle pain sooner, get in to see your podiatrist when the injury happens! An acute injury is sooooo much easier to treat and your prognosis is soooo much better if you treat EARLY. And remember that with many injuries, though you may have healed, you are also more prone to re-injury. The best thing about early intervention is that you will also be informed of ways to prevent re-injury. Either way, that visit to your podiatrist could take you many more miles and that is golden!
With 26 bones, 33 joints on top of more than 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles, the foot has plenty of places it can injure. All of these parts make a whole in the function of the foot and ankle. And since the foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone and the ankle bone’s connected…well you get my drift. One component stretches, breaks, tears, strains and every other part has to bear the load of that one small part. With as much as we use our feet, one or some components have already given out to some degree.
So now we all have feet that are not in their perfect position to function at their best.
The aches and pains begin. Sure, Tylenol and Motrin are great band-aides. But they mask pain rather than fix what’s wrong. Keep it up and over time, the anti-inflammatories stop working. Not a good sign. The stress from years of small, meaningless injuries start adding up to more stress than your feet and ankles can handle. Now your injury is chronic. What does that mean? It means that you have ignored the small stuff and now your body is ignoring it too and won’t heal it on its own.
Good thing is, most of you are not a professional athlete, like Shaquille O’Neal, whose plantar fasciitis raised havoc on his ability to dunk those hoops! Bad thing is, whether you are Shaq or not, ignoring an injury or chronically re-injuring could have dire consequences.
I found this list off an article about athletic performance by Keith Wassung listing the following athletes using chiropractic care as part of body maintenance:
Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Keith Jackson, Emmit Smith, Chris Carter, Evander Holyfield Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Jr., Wade Boggs, Penny Hardaway, Jon Smoltz, Ken Griffey, Jr. Mark McGwire, Ryne Sandberg,, Ricky Bell, Brett Butler, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Robert Parish, Gerald Wilkins, Lee Haney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dr. Frank Columbu, Irving Fryar, Brett Hall, Tiger Woods, Roberto Clemente Michael Carbajol, Bob Hayes, Muhammad Ali, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Alex Karras, Gary Clark, Mark May, Charles Haley, Bill Fralic, Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Tim Dwight, Jack Dempsey,Fred Funk, Beth Daniel, Mary Lou Retton, Olga Korbut, Wayne Gretzky, Rocky Marciano, Dan O’Brien, Bruce Jenner, Donovan Bailey, Mac Wilkins, Dwight Stones, Mary Decker, Willie Banks, Nancy Ditz, Gregg Blasingame, Billy Jean King. Tracy Austin, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jim Connors, Jan Stephenson, Shawn Marion, Stephon Marbury, Barry Bonds, Vijay Singh,Steve Nash, LeBron James, Barry Zito, Grant Hill, Shaquille O’Neal
Why not podiatric care to maintain the only set of “tires” you have?!
The simple lesson here is, if you do not want to spend your golden years limping and kicking yourself for not addressing your foot and ankle pain sooner, get in to see your podiatrist when the injury happens! An acute injury is sooooo much easier to treat and your prognosis is soooo much better if you treat EARLY. And remember that with many injuries, though you may have healed, you are also more prone to re-injury. The best thing about early intervention is that you will also be informed of ways to prevent re-injury. Either way, that visit to your podiatrist could take you many more miles and that is golden!
The simple lesson here is, if you do not want to spend your golden years limping and kicking yourself for not addressing your foot and ankle pain sooner, get in to see your podiatrist when the injury happens! An acute injury is sooooo much easier to treat and your prognosis is soooo much better if you treat EARLY. And remember that with many injuries, though you may have healed, you are also more prone to re-injury. The best thing about early intervention is that you will also be informed of ways to prevent re-injury. Either way, that visit to your podiatrist could take you many more miles and that is golden!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Foot and Ankle Injuries in Golfers
Most of the time, injuries that occur in the foot and ankle during golf activites are either due to overuse type injuries or traumatic injuries. Overuse injuries are more common and are commonly directly related to the mechanics of the golf swing.
The golf swing can be broken down into the following phases:
Set up
Takeaway
Downswing
Impact
Follow-through
At set up: The weight should be evenly distributed on both feet with slightly more weight on the inside of the balls of the feet. During the takeaway or back swing phase, the front foot should pronate, placing more pressure on the inside of the foot while the back foot stays stable as it receives more weight. At times the heel of the front foot will come off the ground to promote a full shoulder turn.
During the downswing: Weight will rapidly shift to the front foot until impact, at that point the weight should be evenly distributed between both feet. A lateral shift of the hips and knees will occur during downswing that continues through the impact of the ball and will continue slightly into the follow-through phase.
During the follow-through phase, the front foot supinates and the back heel comes off the ground with the weight of the back foot being placed on the big toe.
The most common golf injuries that occur in the foot and ankle are heel pain, metatarsalgia, Mortons Neuroma and tendinitis. Most of the time these injuries occur due to an increase of the motion in the feet.
Most common complaint in golfers is an intermetatarsal neuroma. Typically these occur in the third interspace and is almost always in the non-dominant foot. In other words if you swing the foot with the right then the neuroma is more likely to develop in the left foot. The nerve becomes irritated and is more noticeable in longer shots. As the forefoot inverts and the rearfoot supinates the interdigital nerve becomes irritated within the interspace. Symptoms include burning, tingling, numbness and shooting pains into the toes. Treatment begins with NSAIDS, Ice, Injection therapy and custom orthotics. One important treatment option is to adjust the mechanics of the swing to decrease the inversion/supination of the foot. Abduction of the front foot will help decrease the inversion at the end of the swing and decrease the irritation of the nerve.
Extensor Tendinitis: another complaint that we commonly see with golfers. This is due to driving the golf cart. It is often caused after driving a hilly course and using the brake to much. The motion of depressing the brake on a golf cart can cause a strain on the extensor digitorum longus tendons and causes irritation of those tendons. Symptoms include top of the foot pain and sometimes swelling. If this sounds like something you may have developed try alternating feet that use the brake. Using the heel to depress the brake may also help.
Lateral Ankle Pain: Occurs due to excessive motion of the rearfoot during the golf swing follow through. The forces that are applied during the follow through phase cause an abduction of the knee on the non-dominant limb and a supination on the foot on that side with eversion of the rearfoot. Symptoms include lateral ankle pain, lateral midfoot pain and swelling to the foot and ankle. Treatment starts with stabilizing the ankle with a compression brace or ankle brace. Trying to abduct the front foot toward the target and away from the midline of the body in the stance position when the golfer is addressing the ball will help take pressure off the lateral ankle.
Hallux and Subungal Hematomas: this occurs when the golfer applies excessive pressure to the big toe during the golf swing. Typically this occurs at the end of follow through and will only happen on the dominant foot. It occurs due to a jamming of the toe into the top of the shoebox. With repetition the subungal tissue will be injured and blood will form under the nail plate. Symptoms include pain in the hallux, pain with pressure on the hallux and a discolored big toenail. Treatment includes draining of the toenail or removal of the toenail.
We talked at the beginning that most golf injuries are caused by an increase motion of the foot. Studies have found that custom orthotics, which are devices that are made specifically for your feet are able to increase balance and allow golfers to drive the ball farther.
The golf swing can be broken down into the following phases:
Set up
Takeaway
Downswing
Impact
Follow-through
At set up: The weight should be evenly distributed on both feet with slightly more weight on the inside of the balls of the feet. During the takeaway or back swing phase, the front foot should pronate, placing more pressure on the inside of the foot while the back foot stays stable as it receives more weight. At times the heel of the front foot will come off the ground to promote a full shoulder turn.
During the downswing: Weight will rapidly shift to the front foot until impact, at that point the weight should be evenly distributed between both feet. A lateral shift of the hips and knees will occur during downswing that continues through the impact of the ball and will continue slightly into the follow-through phase.
During the follow-through phase, the front foot supinates and the back heel comes off the ground with the weight of the back foot being placed on the big toe.
The most common golf injuries that occur in the foot and ankle are heel pain, metatarsalgia, Mortons Neuroma and tendinitis. Most of the time these injuries occur due to an increase of the motion in the feet.
Most common complaint in golfers is an intermetatarsal neuroma. Typically these occur in the third interspace and is almost always in the non-dominant foot. In other words if you swing the foot with the right then the neuroma is more likely to develop in the left foot. The nerve becomes irritated and is more noticeable in longer shots. As the forefoot inverts and the rearfoot supinates the interdigital nerve becomes irritated within the interspace. Symptoms include burning, tingling, numbness and shooting pains into the toes. Treatment begins with NSAIDS, Ice, Injection therapy and custom orthotics. One important treatment option is to adjust the mechanics of the swing to decrease the inversion/supination of the foot. Abduction of the front foot will help decrease the inversion at the end of the swing and decrease the irritation of the nerve.
Extensor Tendinitis: another complaint that we commonly see with golfers. This is due to driving the golf cart. It is often caused after driving a hilly course and using the brake to much. The motion of depressing the brake on a golf cart can cause a strain on the extensor digitorum longus tendons and causes irritation of those tendons. Symptoms include top of the foot pain and sometimes swelling. If this sounds like something you may have developed try alternating feet that use the brake. Using the heel to depress the brake may also help.
Lateral Ankle Pain: Occurs due to excessive motion of the rearfoot during the golf swing follow through. The forces that are applied during the follow through phase cause an abduction of the knee on the non-dominant limb and a supination on the foot on that side with eversion of the rearfoot. Symptoms include lateral ankle pain, lateral midfoot pain and swelling to the foot and ankle. Treatment starts with stabilizing the ankle with a compression brace or ankle brace. Trying to abduct the front foot toward the target and away from the midline of the body in the stance position when the golfer is addressing the ball will help take pressure off the lateral ankle.
Hallux and Subungal Hematomas: this occurs when the golfer applies excessive pressure to the big toe during the golf swing. Typically this occurs at the end of follow through and will only happen on the dominant foot. It occurs due to a jamming of the toe into the top of the shoebox. With repetition the subungal tissue will be injured and blood will form under the nail plate. Symptoms include pain in the hallux, pain with pressure on the hallux and a discolored big toenail. Treatment includes draining of the toenail or removal of the toenail.
We talked at the beginning that most golf injuries are caused by an increase motion of the foot. Studies have found that custom orthotics, which are devices that are made specifically for your feet are able to increase balance and allow golfers to drive the ball farther.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Podiatry Visits Save Diabetic Feet!
New Study Demonstrates Dramatic Impact of Podiatric Care
Patients with diabetes who receive medical and surgical care provided by a podiatrist are less likely to suffer hospitalization or amputation than patients who do not receive care from a podiatrist, according to a new study from Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is an internationally respected research firm with expertise in the health-care market.
The study examined records for more than 32,000 patients with diabetes under 65 and matched health and risk factors for those who had podiatry visits to those who did not. Care by a podiatric physician, defined as at least one pre-ulcer visit, was associated with lower risk of hospitalization and amputation. The results were presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions this weekend in Orlando, Florida.
"The dramatic results of the study demonstrate the important role of today's podiatrist," said APMA President Kathleen Stone, DPM. "As a profession, we make a significant impact on patient outcomes and health-care costs. As more diabetic patients receive high-quality medical care by podiatrists prior to developing ulcers, we will see even greater reductions in cost and improvements in patients' quality of life. The next step is to confirm these findings with prospective pilot programs that identify high-risk patients and provide preventive foot care services by podiatrists."
The importance of regular podiatric care for EVERY diabetic cannot be emphasized enough! If you or a family member suffers from diabetes, go to www.faant.com and request our free book, “Got Diabetes”. It is full of helpful information to keep diabetic feet out of the hospital!
Patients with diabetes who receive medical and surgical care provided by a podiatrist are less likely to suffer hospitalization or amputation than patients who do not receive care from a podiatrist, according to a new study from Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is an internationally respected research firm with expertise in the health-care market.
The study examined records for more than 32,000 patients with diabetes under 65 and matched health and risk factors for those who had podiatry visits to those who did not. Care by a podiatric physician, defined as at least one pre-ulcer visit, was associated with lower risk of hospitalization and amputation. The results were presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions this weekend in Orlando, Florida.
"The dramatic results of the study demonstrate the important role of today's podiatrist," said APMA President Kathleen Stone, DPM. "As a profession, we make a significant impact on patient outcomes and health-care costs. As more diabetic patients receive high-quality medical care by podiatrists prior to developing ulcers, we will see even greater reductions in cost and improvements in patients' quality of life. The next step is to confirm these findings with prospective pilot programs that identify high-risk patients and provide preventive foot care services by podiatrists."
The importance of regular podiatric care for EVERY diabetic cannot be emphasized enough! If you or a family member suffers from diabetes, go to www.faant.com and request our free book, “Got Diabetes”. It is full of helpful information to keep diabetic feet out of the hospital!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)