Five Sports Injuries of the Foot and Ankle - The Texas Foot Specialists

Injuries are quite common in athletes. This is because of the physical demands that each sport requires. And one of the most abused parts in any sport is the feet. It is constantly exposed to stress from explosive movements such as jumping, running or quickly changing directions. The foot is one of the most robust structures in the body but it too has its limits. And when it is stretched beyond its limits, foot and ankle injuries can occur.

Five Foot and ankle sports injuries commonly seen in athletes:

1. Ankle sprains. This is usually the result of landing on an uneven surface which results to the foot turning in a bad position. This can result to a partial or complete tear of the ligaments responsible for stabilizing and supporting your ankle joint.
2. Achilles tendon injury. Coined as Achilles tendonitis, this injury to the Achilles tendon. It is often the result of over usage of the tendon. Usually an acute inflammation, the tendon may become ruptured especially if it is already weak.
3. Plantar fasciitis. This is a condition wherein the tissue that connects the heel to the toes becomes inflamed. Once there is plantar fasciitis, you may feel pain in your heel or in your arch.
4. Stress fractures. A stress fracture is most common in runners. This is an injury to the tendons and ligaments which are located on the inside and outside of your ankle. This can cause stress in your foot bones. Though a stress fracture does not happen in one event, repetitive stress on the bone may cause it to break. As a matter of fact, 5-15% on all running-related injuries are dedicated to stress fractures and 49% of all injuries are usually seen on those people who ran a range of 25 to 44 miles a week.
5. Turf toe. An athlete can also suffer from a turf toe which is best described as a sprain of the main joint on your big toe. It is painful and will result to limited joint movement in your big toe.

Pain and swelling are the first indication of a possible injury. Although most of the pain felt could be due to a strained muscle, lingering pain could be a sign of a serious foot and ankle injury. When this happens, consult a podiatrist.  Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping athletes suffering from foot and ankle injuries.  

A sport that has relatively high amount of foot and ankle injuries is soccer. Soccer injuries are usually the result of collisions when one player strikes another with a forceful impact. Since soccer can also be an example of a contact sport, a player usually gets a direct blow to his lower leg. This accounts for 20-30% ankle injuries in all of the recorded soccer injuries. 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Achilles Tendon And Sports Injuries - The Texas Foot Specialists

The tendon is a connective tissue that attaches muscles to the bones. And the largest tendon in our body is the Achilles tendon. This is no surprise since the Achilles tendon is responsible for supporting most of the heavy movements in our foot. Which makes it a perfect candidate for injuries especially for athletes.

The Achilles tendon allows us to lift our heel when walking, running or almost every movement in our foot. Therefore any injury to our Achilles tendon can have a direct affect in our movements. A visit to a podiatrist can help identify if you are suffering from Achilles tendonitis. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people suffering from Achilles tendonitis and other foot disorders.  

The inflammation of the Achilles tendon is called Achilles tendonitis. This inflammation is usually the result of overworking the foot or placing too much stress on your Achilles tendon.

Causes

1. Overuse of the Achilles tendon which lead to development of small tendon tears
2. Arthritis
3. Foot problems such as flat feet or hyper-pronated feet which turns inward while walking
4. Wearing shoes such as high heels and those with minimal support
5. Overweight and obesity, since this adds more pressure to your Achilles tendon
6. Intake of quinolone antibiotics since it can be linked to tenosynovitis

Signs and symptoms

• Pain at the back of the heel
• Difficulty in walking or running
• Achilles tendon is swollen, tender and warm

Severity degrees

• Mild. Pain at the Achilles tendon only occurs during an activity or immediately after a few minutes.
• Moderate. Swelling of the tendon occurs and sometimes, there is a formation of a hard lump or nodule.
• Severe. Any type of activities, even simple ones that involves weight bearing will elicit pain from the Achilles tendon. There are also rare cases wherein the tendon may rupture or tear. When this happens, you will feel a "hard whack" on your heel.

Diagnosis

1. Medical history which will include the type of footwear you normally use as well as your regular activities and exercise habits
2. Physical examination done by your doctor to see tenderness and swelling of your Achilles tendon
3. Imaging tests such as x-ray, ultrasound, and MRI scan of your tendon
4. Blood tests may also be done to check for inflammatory conditions

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot sports injuries. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

How to Choose Shoes - The Texas Foot Specialists

Go for Comfort

Shoes are an essential part of our everyday wardrobe. But if this is something that you would be wearing often then choosing comfort over style is the better choice. A quick look into your lifestyle will give you valuable insight into what type of footwear to use.

Flat Feet and High Arches

Make a quick assessment if you have flat feet or a high arch by doing this simple test. Get your feet wet and stand on a piece of paper. Check the silhouette or foot print left on the paper. If the footprint leaves an impression with your middle feet clearly visible then this indicates a flat foot. If a thin line connecting the ball of the foot to the heel is visible, then it can indicate a high arch.

Wearing the Right Shoes for Flat Foot and High Arches

Wear shoes that take into account your foot structure. This does not only mean wearing the right shoe size but shoes that provide additional support for flat foot or high arches. Flat foot sufferers should opt for inserts that give additional support to the middle of the feet. People with a high arch on the other hand should go for slightly elevated heels and good arch support. If you have questions visit a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders and injuries.

Shoe Equipment

Choosing the right sport equipment involves choosing which shoe works best in enhancing performance. Sports shoes are designed to provide optimum support for specific sport activities. Running shoes for marathons and basketball shoes for cushioning the impact of jumps and running across the court.

Give your feet a breather from high heels

Proper foot care does not prevent us from wearing high heels. It only asks us to avoid wearing high heels constantly for long periods of time.  Turning it down a few inches helps decrease the pressure of our weight bearing down on our heels and feet.

An essential part of foot care is wearing appropriate foot wear. This goes beyond wearing the right shoes size. Your shoes should also take into account your foot structure and the type of activity. Wearing sandals in public showers for example protects your feet from coming in contact with infection. Another example is wearing running shoes that help absorb the impact of your feet pounding against the ground. 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Exercises For Overpronation - The Texas Foot Specialists

Since this is like an action where one part can affect the whole, it is essential that we correct overpronation before it can lead to more serious and painful injuries. People might take overpronation lightly until there comes an injury because of it. But should you still wait when you can easily prevent it?

A visit to a podiatrist can help you minimize or even prevent foot injuries. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specializes in helping people with foot conditions.

Overpronation is the situation wherein there is an unwarranted foot rolling that is above the normal range of motion. When this happens, the weight of the person is being transferred to the medial part of the foot. Overpronation also affects not only the foot but also the functions of the leg, knee and the hip.

One way to correct overpronation is to exercise your foot. These exercises listed below will help correct the overpronation of your foot.

Golf ball roll

1. Have the golf ball roll under each of your foot for 30-60 seconds each while stopping for 10 seconds on any painful spot.
2. Pull your toes up and toward your shins for three to five times as this will help stretch your muscles.

Yoga – not only is it beneficial to all of your senses, yoga is done barefoot which will help improve the muscles on both of your feet. It also helps improve your flexibility and prevent further injuries.

Calf stretching

1. Place one of your foot forward and one foot backward with your hands on the wall.
2. Keep your heel on the ground while leaning forward and keeping your right knee straight.
3. Rotate your toes in and out. Do this for 30-60 seconds.

Big Toe Pushdowns

1. Stand straight with your foot and ankle placed in a neutral position.
2. Push down your big toe. Take note that you should not let your ankle to roll in.
3. Do this for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times on each side.

Towel curl

1. Have a medium sized towel on the ground and curl it towards you using your toes.
2. Spread the towel back.
3. Repeat 10 times on both feet.

These are just easy exercises, except perhaps for yoga. But rest assured that it will go a long way in relieving the symptoms of overpronation.

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.