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Posts Tagged ‘athlete’

Happy Feet; Preparing Before You Start Dancing

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

A quick browse through the channels and you will see a variety of TV shows that suggests that America is obsessed with dancing. Some of the popular shows include Dancing with the Stars, America’s Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance? It’s true, whether you are dancing competitively or just for fun, dancing is pretty hot right now!

Dancing can be a great way to stay fit. For those who are currently watching Dancing with the Stars, it is hard not to notice how much the actress and fan favorite Kristie Alley has slimmed down. If running or going to the gym doesn’t hold your interest, dancing may be an activity that is worth looking into. It’s obvious that feet are very important to dancers. However, before you hit the dance floor or consider taking lessons, you should seriously take a good look at the health of your feet.

Since they spend a lot of time on their feet, dancers tend to have a variety of foot problems. Common problems include pain from overuse, foot fractures, and bunions and corns associated with poor fitting shoes. A newcomer to dancing may also experience tendonitis. Tendons are structures in your body that connect muscles to bone and there are many tendons in your feet. Tendonitis occurs when these structures get inflamed or damaged. The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse. Sometimes being new to exercise in general, let alone dancing, is enough to irritate tendons in your feet. Tendonitis is common in the 40-60 year old range because as we age our tendons lose flexibility. Common signs of tendonitis are pain when moving muscles and tendons, tenderness when the tendon is felt, and swelling of the tendon.

So should we all stop dancing? Of course not! Dancing can be a great way to stay in shape, but like any other activity, start slow if you are a beginner and know your limits. Since dancing depends a lot on foot health, another great idea is to go see your podiatrist before you begin taking lessons or if you experience foot pain while you are dancing. If you are in the New Jersey area, Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP with locations in Howell, Edison, and Monroe, NJ, is an excellent place to talk to podiatrists about foot issues associated with dancing. A podiatrist can give you a better explanation about the health of the foot tendons and, based on your foot type, which dance movements you should avoid to prevent injury. Don’t forget that the right dancing shoe is also very important. Your podiatrist may even suggest an orthotic (a special type of foot insole) that can help making dancing more comfortable.

Lets be honest; not everyone will be able to do the back flips and splits that are popular on the dancing shows. That is completely okay! There is a dance out there for every age group and comfort level! If you are able, go ahead and see if this exciting activity is for you. But remember to keep your feet healthy so that you can dance for as long as possible.

By Dr. Varun (Ben) Gujral

Tags: Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, athlete, athletes, Bunions, dancing, dancing with the stars, Dr. Gujral, edison, fractures, monroe, proper footwear, sports injury
Posted in dancing, Exercise | No Comments »

What is the Best Way to Train for a Half Marathon?

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

This is an excellent question and one that we get asked routinely at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center with locations in Howell, Edison, and Monroe, NJ.

The first thing to do is to contact your primary care physician and get a physical, and get a referral to see your podiatrist. Prior to starting any new training regimen, it is important to establish your fitness level and get your feet examined. It is important to establish your foot type and any limb length discrepancies prior to getting started. This way we are able to establish what type of shoes/brace(s) and/or orthotics you might need to help prevent injury.

I recently spoke with a friend of mine, John Reagan (brn2runcc@aol.com), who is a professional marathon runner/trainer for 15+ years. I mentioned that I personally wanted to train for a half marathon since the longest I have run recently was a 5K. The following is his guidelines for me (he learned of my fitness level and where I was at) personally. Please keep in mind that there is a difference between seeing your podiatrist and a professional marathon trainer. One will treat any foot and ankle ailments you might have prior to, during and after training as well as in the future as needed. The latter will coach/train you on how to prepare for the mental and physical (endurance, stamina, pacing) demands to accomplish your goals.

The following is the advice from my new coach on how to prepare for a half marathon:

“I would suggest your half marathon training would consist of running 4 days a week and starting with your long run of 5 miles and increasing your long run 1 mile every other week so if you give yourself 5 months (20 weeks) to train, start at 5 miles and cap your long run at 12 miles. The final month (4 weeks) consist of “tapering”, so your long run would go from 4 weeks prior to the race 12 miles; 3 weeks prior to the race 10 miles; 2 weeks prior to the race 8 miles and 1 week prior to the race 6 miles. The remaining 3 days you run a week, just focus on running distance as the most important thing is building a base and your endurance. Pick a day and run 1 mile less than your long run and the other two days running an easy 3 – 4 miles.”

This information is based off of his personal recommendation for me. For this reason, it is important to follow the guidelines above with the PCP and podiatrist, and then meet with a professional trainer. There are many variables to consider, and remember… this is a team effort. Don’t forget to subscribe to Runner’s World Magazine for more helpful tips and insights as well as getting the right pair of shoes. One shoe store I recommend locally runners is “Miles Ahead Sports” in Manasquan, NJ.

As a side note to this blog entry, there is a 5K race/walk taking place in Howell on Saturday, 6/4/11. Please visit www.TheRaceToEducate.com for more information or to register for the race.

By David Hunnicutt

Tags: Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, athlete, athletes, Exercise, Exercising, howell, orthotics, proper footwear, runner, runners, running, running injury, shoes
Posted in Exercise, Footwear, shoes | No Comments »

Shin Splints Rx

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Shin splints is a general medical term for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), a slow-healing and painful condition in the shins, usually caused by exercise such as running, jumping, swimming, cycling, dancing, or other high impact sports. Fifteen percent of running injuries are shin splints. On the list of running injuries, shin pain ranks as one of the most annoying.

Specifically, the pain associated with shin splints is a result of fatigue and trauma to the muscle’s tendons where they attach themselves to the tibia. In an effort to keep the foot, ankle and lower leg stable, the muscles exert a great force on the tibia. This excessive force can result in the tendons being partially torn away from the bone.

Many cases of shin splints may be due to inappropriate footwear, or muscle imbalances in the legs where the shin muscles are not conditioned to withstand pounding on hard surfaces, such as wood floors, concrete, or hard ground. The onset of shin splints is most common after exercise, caused by high-impact training, excessive training, poor technique or biomechanical problems such as pes planus (flat feet) or pronation. Some studies have suggested that shin splints are more common in women. Standing for long periods of time and wearing high-heeled shoes may also induce shin splints. Dehydration and certain vitamin/mineral deficiencies may also contribute to the development of shin splints.

If you think you have shin splints, it is best to see a specialized foot and ankle physician to diagnose your condition, treat the injury, and give you tips on preventing the problem from returning. At Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, in Howell, we have the all tools to diagnose and treat this irritating injury. Custom orthotics will help prevent the injury from recurring.

Control the pain with this proven three-step regimen:

Step 1: As soon as you sense any shin pain mid-workout, cut back on the training or change the routine to non-impact cross training, like the elliptical machine, cycling, or swimming. Less pounding and stress equals quicker healing time. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) post workouts.

Step 2: STRETCH. Tight calf muscles can increase your chances of developing shin splints. To loosen them up: find a leather belt. Lie down on your back with your legs fully extended, and place the belt around the ball of your foot, slowly lift the leg straight up while pulling your toes to your nose and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on each leg 3 times. To stretch the shin muscles: Sit on your heels to open up the anterior compartment of the shin for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.

Step 3: Reduce the wobble in your feet. Stabilizing your arches will lessen the stress on your shins. Custom orthotics will help stabilize and decrease the amount of stress on your shins whether you have flat feet or not. Get Fitted!

By Valerie Gregory, MSPT, CKPT

Tags: Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, athlete, Exercise, Exercising, howell, orthotics, runner, runners, shin splints, valerie gregory
Posted in Exercise | No Comments »

I’ve Slipped, Fallen and I Can’t Get Up (Part 2)…

Monday, March 28th, 2011

$ankle-fracture-xray-cs-2-16-111$ As I spoke about is a previous blog, I was preparing to repair an ankle fracture that a local high school baseball player sustained while slipping on ice. I wrote about the etiology, or causes of ankle fractures and what could happen if it went untreated versus treating it conservatively and surgically.

Well, this patient and their parents elected to have the ankle repaired. In the orthopedic foot and ankle world, it is known as an open reduction and internal fixation of the ankle. After the patient elected to have it surgically repaired, they needed medical clearance and blood work. The blood work is important because it can give the physician pertinent information on the patient’s health such as infection, illness or bleeding disorders. This patient was a non-smoker and 280 lbs. The patient’s parents signed his consent after I went over the x-rays and reviewed his possible risks and complications. Oh yeah, there are risks and the patient and physician can potentially encounter complications. Some of the complications associated with this surgery can be infection, non-healing of the wound or bone, re-fracture, fixation failure (this is where the screws and plates fail), numbness, chronic swelling, increased pain, and complex regional pain syndrome, better know as RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). Well, the patient was healthy!!!!

I met the patient at the hospital on a cold Wednesday morning and it was early. I love to do early surgeries because I am awake and full of Starbucks. The patient was anxious, but calm for a 17 year old. The mother and father were a little anxious, but I always try to have a conversation that is not related to the surgery and try to have a laugh before a case. To my many patients, I do have a good time and good laugh. Ha Ha!!!

The patient was brought into the operating room and was placed in the hands of our highly trained anesthesiologist and was put under general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is the best choice, especially for relaxation of muscles and pain control.

We proceeded to place the patient in the proper position and this patient is tall and quite heavy, but proportionately built. Man, I was tired from just moving the patient! The patient tolerated the procedure and I reduced the ankle while they were under the general anesthesia. This is entails distracting the ankle fracture fragments and putting back into alignment. Once the fracture is put back into alignment, bone clamps are used to temporarily hold the fracture in place and we take intraoperative pictures to the position. His reduction looked GREAT! We used what we call a 5 hole, 1/3 neutralization plate and 5 screws. This will allow the fracture to stay in place without placing too much compression on the fracture. Prior to putting in the last screw, I examined the ankle joint and saw that there was some instability in the lower part of the ankle. The placement of the last screw was just above the ankle joint to provide stability and healing of the lower part of the ankle, and this is known as a transyndesmotic screw.

The patient was placed in a posterior splint and they were instructed not to walk on the ankle. The patient was seen after the procedure and he was doing very well…

Next month, we will see how the patient survived the first month!!! Please look for “Part 3” to this blog collection about ankle fractures.

If there are any ankle injuries, our physicians are highly trained to repair any ankle injuries or ailments. Please think of Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP for your foot and ankle conditions. We have locations in Howell, Edison and Monroe, NJ and have been providing top quality foot and ankle care for over 20 years….

By Dr. Jasen Langley

Tags: Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, ankle, ankle pain, athlete, broken ankle, Dr. Jasen Langley, foot injuries, foot injury, fractures, howell
Posted in fractures | 4 Comments »

Cold Weather Exercising? YES!!!

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Winter running or biking outdoors is tough on your body temperature. It is best to dress in layers when exercising outdoors below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the hardest things about exercising outside in the cold weather is dealing with cold feet. I battle that problem every winter. My running shoes are not the best for outdoor runs or bike rides. The wind goes right through my Asics Kayano’s and my feet go numb after 20 minutes.

So what is the solution? (Follow these helpful hints to keep your feet warm during cold weather exercise)

Wear running shoes with little mesh as possible. Most running shoes are made with a mesh fabric which allows moisture to evaporate, best for warm weather. Trail running shoes are the best for the cold and wet days. Most trail running shoes are somewhat water-proof and will give you a little more traction in the snow.

Be sure to wear a good pair of wicking socks made of fabrics such as acrylic, CoolMax, or wool. Never wear cotton socks, this applies to cold or warm weather, when running because they won’t wick away the moisture, leaving your feet wet and at risk for frostbite. If it’s really cold, you may need to wear two pairs of socks; one thinner (synthetic material) pair closest to your feet and a thicker (wool) pair over them. For this strategy, you have to be careful that your running shoes still fit properly with the extra layer. You may want to purchase another pair of running shoes that are a 1/2 size bigger than regular running shoes, so you have some extra room. To help prevent your feet from sweating too much, spray anti-perspirant on them before you put your socks on.

Your feet will obviously be the coldest at the beginning part of your run/bike ride. To avoid that uncomfortable feeling for your first mile or so, try marching or slowly jogging in place for a few minutes inside before you head out.

Some exercise enthusiasts love to put in hand warmers in their running shoes. I especially use them in my ski boots when I hit the mountains. They’re easy to use: Just take them out of the package and put them inside your sock, on top of your toes. Once your feet warm up, you can take them out so you don’t overheat.

Try to avoid puddles, slush, and snow. This may sound like common sense, but steer clear of wet ground. It may seem like fun to run in the snow for a little while, but your feet will get wet and cold quickly.

Wear a hat. This may sound strange as a cold feet prevention tip, but you can lose a reported 40% of your heat from your head. So, in order to help keep the rest of your body warm, you need to make sure your head is covered. Wear a wool or synthetic-blend hat that will wick away sweat.

Enjoy the outdoors and don’t be a couch potato!

By Valerie Gregory, MSPT, CKTP

Tags: Add new tag, athlete, athletes, Exercising, foot pain, Frostbite, howell, proper footwear, runner, runners, valerie gregory
Posted in General | No Comments »

NY Giants Aaron Ross Now Plagued with Heel Pain

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Watching the Giants play the Colts this past weekend was painful for many Giants fans alike. Living and working in central New Jersey, we have many Giants fans in the area. Last year we watch Eli Manning be plagued with plantar fasciitis. This year, Aaron Ross, who is the Corner Back for the Giants that suffered several hamstring injuries last year, has now suffered a partial plantar fascia tear. Plantar fasciitis, also known as heel pain, is a common condition that affects many people on a regular basis. Plantar fasciitis can give you sharp stabbing pain to the bottom of your foot, which is worse when getting up from rest or with the first steps in the morning.

Plantar fasciitis, or heel pain, occurs when there is increase strain to the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot that attaches from the heel bone to the skin in the toes. When walking, the heel strikes the ground and the toes roll forward. The Achilles pulls on the back of the heel making the fascia tighten like a sail and propels the body forward. If the foot pronates, or flattens when standing, then the fascia pulls harder then its suppose to. In addition, if the Achilles is tight, the fascia will pull earlier making it pull longer and harder making it become inflamed. The inflammation creates pain when walking or standing. When it gets rested, it is often in the shortest position and then when getting up in the morning or from sitting at the end of the day, it will create a sharp stabbing pain in the bottom of the heel. If not treated then the pain can radiate to the outside part of the foot from walking differently. The longer the fascia goes untreated the more difficult it becomes to treat. As the condition progress it no longer becomes a fasciitis but becomes a fasciosis. There is no longer the acute inflammatory condition but a chronic injury to the area. When it progresses to this it is less likely to respond to traditional treatment. Most patients with plantar fasciitis (heel pain) will respond to conservative treatment which most importantly includes stretching and orthotics. Stretching the Achilles and fascia reduces the pull of the Achilles on the back of the heel. Orthotics prevent the foot from pronating and pulling the fascia. Cortisone injections maybe used to reduce the inflammation to the area. If the condition progresses to fasciosis, then EPAT, or Extracorpeal Pulse Activation Treatment, may be used to break up the fibrotic tissue and increase the growth factors to the area. This is something we use in our offices in Howell, Edison, Carteret and Monroe with much success. If all else fails then surgery may be warranted.

By Dr. Alison DeWaters

Tags: achilles, arch support, athlete, athletes, Dr. Dewaters, feet pain, foot, foot injuries, foot injury, foot pain, heel pain, howell, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, sports injury
Posted in General | No Comments »

How Would You Like to “Patch Up the Pain”?

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

In a recent article, in the New York Times, dated September 7, 2010, the author reveals that there are a number of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) that being used in multiple specialties for pain. Some of the medications come in gels, liquids, and even patches. The active ingredient is Diclofenec Sodium, also known as Voltaren. Voltaren, in oral form, is an excellent NSAID; however, it has been linked to liver problems and GI upset.

There are a few commonly prescribed topical NSAID and they are Flector Patches, Voltaren and Solaraze Gel (which is used off the label). These medications are excellent for arthritic pain and very few side effects; however, as stated in the New York Times article, there are no known or very little randomized controlled studies available. My experiences with these drugs have been good and hopeful for patients that have trouble tolerating Voltaren. I have been employing topical anti-inflammatories for the past 6 years as a podiatrist in Howell, NJ.

In our office, I will prescribe NSAID patches for heel pain. The compliance, or in other words, patients using these drugs as prescribed, has been 90-95%. There are some patients who skeptical because they cannot understand how medication is delivered through the skin. These patients will start using the medications and they will “test the waters” by stopping use of the patch or gel and the pain returns to the foot. Patients are truly fascinated that pain relief can be delivered through the skin.

Now, these topical medications are not for everyone. Patients who have bleeding disorders, GI upset, Kidney disease, Liver disease, and also, patients who are taking blood thinners should consult with their doctor. Even though a direct and relatively minimal amount is delivered to the area of pain through the skin, there are not many studies to show the health effects of these medications.

If you are suffering with pain, consult with your doctor for an alternative to taking an oral form of NSAIDS. Even though these oral medications are relatively new in the United States, these old medications, topical NSAIDS, are going to be the future for pain management.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP office.

By Dr. Jasen Langley

Tags: athlete, Dr. Jasen Langley, feet pain, foot, foot injuries, foot injury, foot pain, heel pain, howell, runner, runners, sports, sports injuries, sports injury
Posted in General | No Comments »

To Tape or Not To Tape? That is the question…

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Ankle sprains are one of the most frequent injuries that occur in athletes. The inversion ankle sprain is where the foot goes inward and is the classic rolling of the ankle. Prevention of this type of injury in athletes that have a tendency to roll their ankle has been a large debate. To tape or not to tape has been the question. Taping vs. prefabricated bracing has been researched on both the efficacy and the cost of each. It has been shown that both can reduce the risk of recurrent ankle sprains. It also has been shown that taping and bracing does help to strengthen the ankle and also improve the proprioception. Proprioception is the body’s ability to detect where it is in space, which is often damaged with a sprain, which leads to recurrent sprains.

Taping has been shown to reduce the risk of ankle sprains in the athlete that is prone to the inversion ankle injury. There are several issues with taping though. Some athletes develop irritation from the taping. There are variations in the person taping. The tape has also been shown to loose its efficacy in as soon as 10 – 30 minutes. Taping can also be more costly as you add up the cost of the tape on a regular basis and the time of the person taping. The cost of one roll of tape is on average $1.40, which is needed for one ankle plus the cost of pretape, lubricant and the person taping, it can cost over a thousand dollars per athlete per season. Taping does work very well but the cost and loss of strength has been points to advocate the use of a prefabricated brace. Taping can also not be adjusted by the athlete.

Bracing has also been shown to decrease the risk of ankle sprains. Ankle braces are prefabricated and not being custom to each athlete may cause some irritation to certain patients. The ankle brace can be adjusted by the individual athlete during the course of the game or practice, which cannot be done with the tape. The cost of the brace is anywhere from $35-$100 which is significantly less than the cost of the tape.

Overall both taping and bracing are both effective ways of reducing ankle sprains. Bracing is a more cost effective way of reducing the ankle sprain and since there is no learning curve, it is always applied properly and can be adjusted by the athlete his or herself.

By Dr. Alison DeWaters

www.footdoctorsnj.com

Tags: Alison DeWaters, ankle, ankle pain, ankle sprain, Ankle Sprains, athlete, athletes, Dr. Dewaters, feet pain, foot, foot injuries, foot injury, foot pain, runner, runners, sports, sports injuries, swollen foot
Posted in General | No Comments »

Ankle Sprains; The End to a Sports Career?

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

During the spring, many professional sports teams are at the highest levels of competition. The NBA playoffs, the NHL playoffs and the inauguration of the baseball season are all happening at the same time. This is not only a very exciting time for me, but also for many fans all around the country.

While competing at these high level sporting activities, an injury can be devastating not only to the player, but also to the team involved. The ankle sprain can be one such event that can debilitate a player, anywhere from a minimum of 4 weeks, to a maximum of 6 months to a year depending on the severity of injury. In the worse case, it is even possible that the player might not be able to return to the sport.

It is essential to promptly evaluate an ankle sprain for effective management. The initial studies should include a comprehensive physical exam to assess a fracture, dislocation, and ligament or tendon damage. Many professional sports team will immediately go to an MRI to aid in diagnostic evaluation. Alas, in real life it is not practical to get an MRI every time someone sprains an ankle. At our office, we use other diagnostic tools such as digital x-ray’s and diagnostic ultrasound to evaluate for ligament or tendon damage.

The treatment rendered will depend on the severity of the ankle sprain. The American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons grades ankle sprains on a Grade I-IV. At our office, I see ankle sprains quite often, ranging at different grades. Amazingly, greater than 90% of our patients are treated conservatively without surgical intervention. Again, I feel the key to proper management is early diagnosis and treatment. The longer the treatment is delayed the more chances for long term instability.

By Dr. Varun (Ben) Gujral

Tags: ankle pain, ankle sprain, Ankle Sprains, athlete, athletes, foot injuries, foot pain, fractures, sports, sports injuries, sports injury, torn ligaments
Posted in General | No Comments »

JETS, JETS, JETS; Brings Back Memories of Testerverde

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

I was watching the football games this weekend and specifically the Jets game. In addition to teaching my son to chant, J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS, I was thinking about them having such a young quarterback and it wasn’t that long ago that Testerverde was the Quarterback and ruptured his Achilles tendon. Achilles ruptures can be a career ending injury. It occurs when there is a sudden sharp movement and flexion of the Achilles causing the weakest area to break. The person will say that they felt like were hit in the back of the leg and are looking behind them to see who hit them. It depends on the activity level of the person and the degree of rupture whether it is treated by casting or by surgery. Stretching and strengthening the tendon can help prevent the injury. Ruptures can happen to the professional athlete but often is the weekend warrior that does not warm up properly and stretch well before an activity like, tennis, basketball, soccer and football.