Heel Pain Can Strike Us All – Even President Obama

Sometimes, life can be a pain in the … heel. Just ask President Barack Obama.

Recently, the commander-in-chief underwent a routine physical examination and was given a clean bill of health, except in one area – his feet. His doctor diagnosed him as having symptoms consistent with plantar fasciitis, which causes pain when standing or walking.

Common foot complaint

“This is the biggest complaint we get from the patients we see,” said Dr. Johnny Alayon, a podiatric physician with Ankle & Foot Care Centers. “This is common among people over 30, but sometimes it will happen with younger people who are very active.”

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament (plantar fascia) connecting the heel to the toe, supporting the foot’s arch, becomes strained or irritated. This tissue can become inflamed for many reasons, most commonly from irritation by placing too much stress (such as excess running and jumping) on the bottom of the foot.

“You feel this heel pain when you try to get out of bed in the morning and you feel like an old man,” said Dr. Alayon, who has been a practicing podiatrist for more than 13 years. “You get up and stretch it out and then the pain goes away. But then, maybe a month later, it happens again. Maybe then the pain is so bad that nothing you do stops it from hurting.”

Overuse injury

Plantar fasciitis is referred to as an “overuse injury” and commonly affects athletes who try to do too much or who do not stretch properly before starting their activities. The injury is most common with athletes participating in basketball, soccer and baseball.

For President Obama, too much basketball might be the culprit. It’s well known that he plays regularly, and the repetitive jumping and movement could be taking their toll. Jumping increases the bodyweight force that the foot has to absorb by several times.

“We see these types of injuries in athletes, as well as in “weekend warriors,” who don’t stretch or think they are 16 again and try to do the things they used to do,” said Dr. Alayon. “Some of this pain can be prevented before treatment is needed.”

Prevention tips

Dr. Alayon suggests these tips for preventing plantar fasciitis and other types of heel pain:

– Stretch. We aren’t always encouraged to stretch before and after our activities. But to avoid injury, you need to stretch regularly – even before you get out of bed in the morning.

– Evaluate your feet. It’s natural for your foot to change as you age. When it does, your ligaments do, too. Every five to seven years, your foot could change – become flatter, wider or longer. You need to evaluate these changes and make sure you have the right footwear for your activity.

– Choose proper footwear. If you are very active, you need to evaluate your footwear often. How old are your shoes? If you’re a runner, the soles of your shoes are only supportive enough for 500 miles. They might still look good, but they won’t support you like they need to. Generally speaking, for an active person, you should change your shoes about every six months.
Non-athletes develop the condition as well, with approximately 10 percent suffering from the condition at some point in life. General causes for plantar fasciitis include obesity, flat feet, repetitive trauma, tight Achilles tendon and/or poor shoe choice.

Treatment options

Fortunately, plantar fasciitis responds favorably with simple treatments such as rest, ice, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, proper shoe choices, night splints, orthotics and/or cortisone injections. Plantar fasciitis surgery is reserved for people who don’t get better despite treatment.

“Almost 100 percent of the time, we can treat this conservatively, without surgery,” explained Dr. Alayon. “The biggest thing is that if the pain is becoming progressively worse or won’t go away even after stretching and evaluating your shoes, you need to see a podiatrist. There might be other more serious reasons for your pain and we need to figure that out.”

To schedule an appointment at an office near you, visit www.ankleandfootcare.com/locations.html. To receive free information about heel pain, visit www.ankleandfootcare.com/heel-pain-booklet.html.

Don’t Leave Your Feet Out in the Cold This Winter

By Dr. Craig Beaudis

The winter months can be some of the most enjoyable of the year. Think blankets of snow, a cup of hot coffee, sitting by a warm fireplace reading a good book and spending time with family and friends during the holidays.

Although the season brings plenty of cheer and a break from outside chores, for diabetics, it also provides elements that make caring for their feet more challenging. Decreased circulation, dry skin and spending time exposed to cold and wet conditions put diabetic feet at a higher risk for developing an infection or serious foot condition.

“It’s the time of year when diabetics should pamper their feet and keep them as comfortable as possible,” explained Dr. Craig Beaudis, a podiatric physician at Ankle & Foot Care Centers. “The best gift you can give your feet this year is taking time to treat them right.”

Dr. Beaudis and the rest of the expert podiatrists at Ankle & Foot Care Centers offer these tips for taking care of your feet during the colder months:

BE SHOE SIZE WISE

Don’t settle for shoes and socks that are a half-size too big or small. Winter shoes, like boots, are more restrictive than summer footwear, but your toes need room to breathe. Make sure your toes aren’t cramped and that you don’t tie your shoes too tight. If you can’t find the right shoes in the store, check out diabetic footwear that is specially made to keep your foot cushioned and protected.

DAILY FOOT CHECK

Get a shower. Check. Brush your teeth. Check. Look at your feet. Check.

The most important few minutes of your day could be those spent looking at your feet. Diabetics should check their feet every day, searching for cuts, blisters, irritation, fungus or any other abnormalities. Don’t just check the tops, either – don’t forget the side, back and bottom of your foot. If you can’t get a good look at all the areas of the foot, we recommend having a family member or friend take a look, so nothing gets missed.

Give your toenails some attention, too, noting any discoloration or thickening. If you have difficulty noticing if things are changing, keep a photo log of your foot checks.

If you have neuropathy, these daily foot checks are vital. But, all diabetic feet run the risk of problems if not treated early. You are the first line of defense in preventing serious issues – if you see something questionable, call one the foot and ankle specialists at Ankle & Foot Care Centers.

LATHER UP

Dry skin is one of the unwanted effects of the cold, dry winter air. Just like chapped lips and cracked hands need help, so do your dry feet. It’s important to keep your feet dry, clean and moisturized during the winter. Find a nice lotion to apply to the top and bottom of your feet. But don’t get it between your toes – that could increase the risk of foot fungus. If moisturizer does get between your toes, make sure to thoroughly rub it in so no lotion is visible.

Creams you’d find at the drug store would do the trick, but if you have diabetic neuropathy, you should ask a podiatrist about a diabetic foot care cream that may help even more.

KEEP ‘EM COVERED

Going barefoot is a bad idea. Not only should diabetics keep their feet warm in the winter, they need to protect them. House shoes or slippers are recommended and comfortable. Diabetic slippers for men and women offer protection and support and can accommodate custom orthotics.

If you don’t have slippers, at least wear socks. Diabetic socks encourage healthy circulation and keep feet dry and fungus-free. Cotton or acrylic socks (not nylon) prevent irritation and reduce moisture. Remember: Never use heating pads or hot water to keep feet warm. Put on a pair of socks or slippers, instead.

The American Diabetic Association recommends at least one diabetic foot exam per year for anyone not already seeing a podiatrist regularly. For more information on diabetic foot care or to schedule a foot check, call 888-881-8805.

Running Can Be Fun and Injury-Free

Running doesn’t always have to feel like a punishment for doing something wrong – it can be a fun and healthy experience. But in order for running to provide health benefits without causing lower extremity injuries, you must follow proper technique.

Runners commonly battle foot and ankle injuries, as the impact of every step is the equivalent of up to two times a person’s body weight. The top five running injuries are stress fractures, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and shin splints.

Former high school and college runner and podiatric physician Dr. Kwame Williams treats patients out of Ankle & Foot Care Centers’ Northside, Liberty and Boardman offices. He offers the following tips for minimizing your injury risk and keeping running fun.

• Increase your turnover. Focus on taking quick, light steps while keeping your core ‘tighter.’ Pretend you’re stepping on hot coals, or run as if you’re trying not to create a sound. The culmination of these efforts make your stride and cadence most efficient.
• Mix in intervals. Go to a track, run one lap at your fastest minute per mile pace, walk half or quarter to recover, then do it again. Work your way up to five to five times. If you can’t find a track, run from light post to light post or stop sign to stop sign.
• Try some hills. Find a steep hill about a football field in length at most and sprint it hard, jog back down, and do it again. At maximum effort, you should only be able to get in about four of these.
• Rest. Running hard every day makes you slow and it’s no fun. Running is violent to your body –  it’s critical to recover and repair. Without rest, you will never built upon your success.

Remember to warm up. A quick way is to do 30 pushups, 30 sit-ups and one minute of jumping jacks and you’re good to go.

For more information on healthy running or injury treatment, contact Dr. Williams at 330.629.8800.