Foot and Ankle Solutions

 Achilles Tendinitis  "The pain in the back of my leg has been increasing the last few months. I can feel a bump along my achilles." Achilles Tendinitis-Non-Insertional The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and is used when you walk, run, and jump. Non-insertional tendinitis involves the middle portion of your achilles. It can feel like a bump in the middle of your calf. The leg typically hurts when you move your ankle in an upward position(dorsiflex). Causes   There is not one cause of achilles tendinitis. Having tight calf muscles and suddenly starting an aggressive exercise program can put extra stress on the Achilles tendon . Systemic conditions such as sarcoidosis, RA, MS, SLE can also contribute. Symptoms Common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include: Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon in the morning Pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity...

 Common Foot and Ankle Injuries with Athletes I'm going to discuss Foot and Ankle injuries involving sports. The best treatment for a sprain or strain around the ankle or foot is the age-old RICE. I don't have products on this blog/website but I do have suggestions. Comment or email me at zbeth02@gmail.com RICE = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Rest : Motion and impact on the injured area needs to be limited in order for the body to heal itself.  Unfortunately the foot/ankle are difficult to stay off of because you need them! Ice:  Why ice? Ice can help in acute injuries mostly. Ice no more than 20 minutes at a time because it can actually hurt your skin! Ice reduces inflammation which reduces pain and swelling. A frozen bag of peas, bag of ice is all you need. Compression: This reduces swelling which reduces pain! ACE bandage, splint, air cast all work Elevation:  Keep a pillow under your foot/leg at all times to reduce swelling! It is importa...

Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease) What Is Calcaneal Apophysitis? Calcaneal apophysitis is a painful inflammation of the heel’s growth plate. It typically affects 8-14 year old who are active in sports. At this age the growth plate in the back of the heel is still open. When there is too much repetitive stress on the growth plate, inflammation can develop. Calcaneal apophysitis is also called Sever’s disease, although it is not a true “disease.” It is the most common cause of heel pain in children, and can occur in one or both feet. When people think of heel pain in adults it commonly occurs on the bottom of the heel and involves the plantar fascia. However in children, its on the back of the heel and involves the growth plate. Causes Overuse and stress on the heel bone through participation in sports is a major cause of calcaneal apophysitis. Repetitive trauma irritates the growth plate and causes inflammation. Symptoms Symptoms of calcaneal apophysitis may...