Advice on Foot Care

About 10-15% of all football injuries occur in the foot, ankle and lower extremity. Common injuries include ankle sprains, shin splints, dislocated and broken toes, stress fractures and blisters. It doesn’t matter is you are playing college football, full contact flag football or touch football, you are at risk of foot and ankle injuries.

Ankle Sprains: An ankle sprain is the tearing or stretching of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Generally occurring when the player “rolls” their ankle running or landing from a jump. Some may hear an audible popping sound, which may indicate a rupture of the ligaments, while most may experience only a sharp pain. If the player can walk on the ankle, it is most likely a mild sprain.

Continue Reading »

Gravity Defyer Shoes

Gravity Defyer shoes are built with a hidden spring in the heel of the shoe. Shoes with springs or coils are designed to ease joint pain, especially at your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. Some individuals swear by these shoes, especially those suffering with heel pain. Gravity Defyer shoes are not the only shoes on the market with springs built into the heel. Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™ is another brand of shoes with built in coils at the heel, but need to be fit at a retail store or a podiatrist’s office. Stress is taken off the heel and the arch with coil shoes and the shock absorption can help relieve stress at the knees, hips and back. The downside is that any heel over 1 1/2″ will transfer weight to the forefoot. With coil shoes, this depends on the design of the shoes and the size of the spring. Another downside with higher heel coil shoes is the increased chance of ankle sprains.

The bottom line: for relief of heel and arch pain, knee, hip or back pain, this type of shoe may be beneficial. For individuals with forefoot problems or unstable ankles, this type of shoe may not be the best choice, but may be dependent on the size of the spring and the height of the heel.

It is easy to mourn the loss of those long, warm summer days as we move into the Fall season. Cold, crisp mornings make winter seem just around the corner and many will put away their hiking boots until next Spring. But, Fall is one of the best times for hiking. The colors are vibrant and the summer haze is gone - along with the crowds. Although the mornings will be cool, most days bring perfect hiking weather.

Continue Reading »

The following is part of a press release from the APMA on 10/1/07.

FOOT-FRIENDLY TIPS OFFER FEET RELIEF DURING COLDER MONTHS

BETHESDA, Md. – As the summer months dwindle, consumers everywhere switch gears in preparation for cooler temperatures. Sandals and flip-flops give way to heavy socks and close-toed shoes. Podiatric physicians from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) offer advice on how to successfully transition those sun-tanned feet into hibernation. “Proper foot care should not fluctuate with the seasons, said Dr. Christian Robertozzi, APMA president. “Dry, cold air can contribute to a myriad of pesky foot ailments.” Properly caring for the feet, including keeping them clean and moisturized, is essential to maintaining foot health during the fall and winter.” Continue Reading »