Achilles Tendon Injury hits Nikola Pekovic - The Texas Foot Specialists

Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic recently suffered an injured Achilles tendon. It was later announced that the center will be out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to repair his Achilles' tendon. It is hoped that he will fully recover from the injury and will return to the team.

What is an Achilles tendon injury?

The Achilles' tendon is a band of tissue that can be found at the back of the ankle and above the heels that allows the foot to extend. The Achilles' tendon is also likely to suffer from and injury especially among amateur and professional athletes. It is important that you consult with a podiatrist for the first signs of a foot injury. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

What are the causes of Achilles tendon injury?

Achilles tendon can be injured when a sudden force or stress is applied to it. Activities such as football, tennis, diving, basketball, even running that uses a forceful push can cause an Achilles tendon injury. It can also be damaged by accidents like falling or a deep cut at the back of the ankle. Sometimes an Achilles' tendon become weak making it prone to injuries or rupture. Wearing high heeled shoes is also one of the causes of Achilles tendon injury.

What are the symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury?

Signs and symptoms may come immediately right after a sporting activity or injury. The following are some of the symptoms of Achilles tendon injury:

• The foot is difficult to flex
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• A snapping or popping sound after the accident
• Swelling
• Pain when stretching

What are the treatments for an Achilles tendon injury?

An Achilles tendon injury should be treated immediately. Check with your Podiatrist before any treatment. The following conservative treatments will help the injured tendon to heal naturally:

• To protect your injured Achilles tendon from stretching, using a heel lift is advised.
• Using anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen will relieve the pain and swelling
• Elevate your injured foot using a pillow especially when sitting or lying
• Compressing your injured foot will relieve the swelling
• Apply an ice compact on your injured foot until the pain disappears
• Use crutches to avoid putting extra weight on your injured Achilles tendon

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

Mike Conley - Achilles tendonitis - The Texas Foot Specialists

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is just one of the NBA players who recently suffered from a foot injury. His condition was later diagnosed as Achilles tendonitis. Mike Conley missed three games due to the pain in his left foot. After re-evaluation by team doctors, the decision was made not to allow Conley to return to the game. But what is Achilles tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of your Achilles' tendon. It causes pain along the along the back of your leg near the heel. It occurs when the tendon of your heel become swollen and painful. Consult a podiatrist any signs of chronic foot pain. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrist who specializes in helping people with Achilles tendonitis.

Any repeated activity that strains the Achilles tendon can contribute to this problem. Achilles tendonitis is likely to occur if:

• Exercising without a proper warm up
• Your calf muscles are very tight
• Running on hard surface such as concrete
• Running too often
• Jumping a lot
• Not wearing shoes that give your feet proper support
• Your foot suddenly turns in or out and
• Wearing high heels daily

Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis are:

• Pain above your heel and the back of your foot especially when stretching
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Snapping or popping noise during the injury
• Stiffness
• Difficulty in flexing your foot or pointing your noise

Your doctor might suggest a variety of treatments available for Achilles Tendonitis:

• Reducing your physical activity
• Switching to a different, less strenuous sport
• Elevating your foot to lessen the swelling
• Wearing a brace or elastic bandage to prevent movement
• Getting steroid injections
• Stretching and strengthening the calf muscles
• Applying ice in the area after an exercise or in pain
• Going to physical therapy
• Using anti-inflammatory medications for a limited time

There are times that the conservative treatments are not effective. In these cases, surgery is necessary to repair the Achilles' tendon.

Here are some tips on how to lower the risk of Achilles Tendonitis:

• Stretch your calf muscles every morning to improve your agility.
• Ease into a new exercise routine that will gradually intensify your physical activity.
• Combine a low and high impact exercises to reduce constant stress on your tendons.
• Choose a shoe that has arch support and proper cushioning.
• Gradually reduce the heel size of your shoes to allow the tendons to slowly stretch and increase its range of motion.

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

Plantar fasciitis - Peyton Manning - The Texas Foot Specialists

Peyton Manning, legendary Broncos Denver’s quarterback suffered from a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot last season. He was then relegated to the sidelines and had difficulty walking for weeks. This was not uncommon, since foot injuries is a common occurrence among athletes.

Plantar fasciitis is a stabbing pain that usually occurs in the morning and will disappear after making few steps. This kind of injury is very common to runners and athletes who are involved in tough playing games. Consult a podiatrist for any type of foot injury. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with chronic foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

Symptoms

• There is an aching, or burning pain in the sole of your foot
• Foot pain that occurs as you step out of the bed early in the morning
• Pain that will decrease after you’ve been on your feel for a while
• Sudden heel pain
• Foot pain that lasted for more than few days
• Pain in just one foot
• Swelling, heat feeling, or redness in the heel area
• Limping
• Plantar fasciitis is mistaken with other conditions that have the same symptoms such as arthritis or tarsal tunnel syndrome.

What are the risks in developing plantar fasciitis?

• Pronation. This is a condition when a plantar fascia doesn’t transfer weight evenly while walking.
• Overuse of the feet without proper rest
• Tightness, flat feet, or high arches at the back of the heel
• Obesity
• Standing or lifting heavy objects for a long period of time
• Ill-fitting or worn footwear
• Normal aging process
• Physical trauma to the foot

What are the treatments for plantar fasciitis?

A simple three step approach is all you need to experience immediate symptom relief: 

Give your feet a rest - adjust your daily habits to spend some time off your feet and let it rest. Ice brings cooling relief - you have to apply an ice pack to your injured heel for twenty minutes every two hours. This will numb the pain and control inflammation. Use of orthotics devices such as splints, shoe inserts, and wraps will lessen the pressure on your heel.

 How to prevent plantar fasciitis

•  You need to maintain a healthy weight.
• You have to warm up before participating in any sports.
• You need to wear shoes that cushion the heel and support the arch. 

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

New York Yankee Pitcher Bryan Mitchell Falls to Turf Toe Injury - The Texas Foot Specialists

New York Yankees pitcher Bryan Mitchell is rumored to have a grade 3 Turf toe. Mitchell is a professional baseball pitcher who suffered an injury in a game against Atlanta Braves. It is said that he was running to cover the first base. His injury will require him a surgery that will take him three months to fully recover.

Turf toe is the term used to describe the sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint. This injury is caused when the big toe is jammed forcefully while running or jumping. Consult a podiatrist for any type of foot injury. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with chronic foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

 What are the signs and symptoms of Turf toe? 

• There is limited toe movement
• At a time of injury, a snapping or popping sound can be heard
• Your mobility is reduced
• Your toe is swelling
• Your big toe is bruising
• There is pain at the base of your big toe
• Tenderness
•  Pain and other symptoms are mild at first but it will gradually get worse. Not everyone will experience all these symptoms but everyone complains about pain. 

Tips on how to prevent turf toe

• With the help of a proper footwear, turf toe and other toe injuries can be avoided and prevented. You can also try various stretching exercises that will strengthen your toes.
• Instead of tennis shoes, it is much better if you will wear cleats
• Wearing proper shoes that provide protection most especially on your toes
• Toe walking - you must do this exercise slowly at first. It is simple as standing on your tiptoes and walk
• Pencil pick-up - you have to use your toe to pick up the pencil on the floor while you are sitting

Tips on how to treat a turf toe

• Rest - putting weights and pressures on your toes should be avoided when you are in the healing process
• Ice - should be applied on the injured part every hour that will take 15 to 20 minutes to lessen the pain
• Compression - it is important to tape your toes with the help of elastic bandages to prevent your toes from moving
• Elevation - with the help of pillows and cushions, you have to raise your injured foot above your heart level
• Anti-inflammatory drugs - over the counter medication like Ibuprofen can help to lessen the pain

It is said that turf toe can cause long-term problems even with proper medication and treatment. This can also lead to hyper flexion injuries. The pain will subside from two to three weeks with the help of proper treatment and medication. 

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

Heel Pain in Athletes - The Texas Foot Specialists

Joining a sports activity places people at a higher risk for foot injuries. This is because it exposes the foot to constant pressure from the different high-impact foot movements required. Running and jumping for example exposes the feet to tremendous stress that often exceeds it structural limits. When this happens, foot injuries are just around the corner.

 What is a Bruised Heel? 

A bruised heel can be very painful and can be caused by repeated abuse such as high impact foot movements. The foot and its numerous structures are responsible for absorbing the shock from running, jumping or walking. The calcaneus bone or heel bone is responsible for the feet’s load bearing function. 

 The heels are at high risk for injuries. A person’s weight is transferred from the legs directly to the heels. This is the feet’s first point of contact with the ground before the pressure is transferred to other foot structures. The heel bone or calcaneus bone is surrounded by a layer of fatty tissue. This helps absorb some of the pressure away from the heel bones.   

Bruised Heel Management

If you suspect a bruised heel, rest the foot immediately. Continued foot activities may only worsen the condition. Resting buys your body precious time to heal. Consult a podiatrist if pain persists even with rest. A podiatrist can identify if this is a simple case of a bruised heel or a symptom of a serious foot injury. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists specialize in treating bruised heels and other foot injuries. 

To prevent future injuries, wear shoes with adequate heel support or heel cushioning. This should be used when the heels are tender or if you are suffering from a bruised heel. This should be worn on both heels. Wearing a foot insert on one shoe may cause an imbalance which can cause an accident or another foot injury. 

Replace your running shoes regularly. Running shoes on average are designed to last around 400 miles. Constant abuse from running or jumping can destroy the shoes’ integrity leaving its structures weak. 

Bruised heel recovery time

A bruised heel if caught early and gets adequate rest can recover pretty quickly. Symptoms could disappear in as little as a few days. If the early symptoms are ignored and a person continuous with their regular activity, this can aggravate the injury. 

Consult a podiatrist for any signs of foot injury. If diagnosed early, treatment is easier and recovery time can be quicker.  The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people suffering from a bruised heel and other foot injuries.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Heel Pain - Texas Foot Specialists

Heel pain is a relatively common affliction that affects many people, and celebrities are no exceptions. Victoria Beckham, former Spice Girl and wife to international football star David Beckham, suffers from bunions and chronic heel pain as a result of her disdain for flats and refusal to wear any other shoes apart from high heels.

High heels are one possible cause for heel pain, but there are many reasons why one might experience discomfort in the heel area.

Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are podiatrists who specializes in helping people with heel pain and plantar fasciitis.

What Causes Heel Pain?

One of the leading causes of heel pain is Plantar fasciitis, which is often caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toe, clinically called the plantar fascia. This tissue runs across the bottom of your foot to create the arch.

Another reason why you might experience pain in the heel area is Achilles tendinitis, which can be diagnosed by your doctor via an MRI or an ultrasound. If you experience discomfort alongside the back of your help, that is a common symptom of Achilles tendinitis, but if the pain is on the bottom of your heel, you’re more likely to have Plantar fasciitis.

How can I prevent heel pain?

The foot contains 26 bones, the largest bone of which being your heel. If you take proper precautions, you can avoid discomfort and pain.

• Make sure your shoes provide support for your feet and fit correctly
• Stretch before you exercise
• Maintain a healthy diet- obesity can trigger various issues with the feet, so by maintaining a healthy diet, you avoid putting that extra stain on your feet.

Wear proper shoes- while you may enjoy living on the more fashionable side of life, high heels can cause deformities that in turn, trigger pain.

How is heel pain treated?

Orthotic devices can elevate your arches and provide cushioning to aching heels
If several months of treatment don’t work, or your tendon has torn, doctors may suggest surgery to repair your Achilles tendon

• Doctors can prescribe strong anti-inflammatory and pain medication 

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

Bruised Heel – Foot Abuse and Overuse in Athletes

Any physical activity that requires extensive footwork exposes people to foot injuries. Repeated high impact activities such as running or jumping places great pressure on the foot and its structures. The feet are very durable but they too has their limitations.   

Bruised Heel

A bruised heel happens when the heels are exposed to repeated physical abuse. The heels are responsible for supporting the body’s weight even during walking or standing, the possibility of injury is a constant.

The calcaneus bone or heel bone acts like a shock absorber. The body’s weight is transferred to the legs and ultimately the foot. The heel aside from absorbing the body weight is also the body’s first point of contact with the ground before the stress is dispersed to other foot and body structures.

The heels are naturally surrounded by fatty tissue. This helps in absorbing the shock and limits the stress on the heels. However, this is lost with age increasing the risk for bruised heels and other injuries.

Treatment and Management

Rest the foot immediately if a bruised heel is suspected. Continuing your normal activities or engaging in foot-heavy activities can only aggravate the situation. A bruised heel may heal faster if given time to rest. However, if pain persists even after resting the foot then consulting a podiatrist is advised. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specializes in treating bruised heels and other foot injuries.

Prevention

Preventing bruised heels in the future can be done by practicing proper foot care. This can be done by using custom orthotics. Shoe inserts should be used on both feet and not only on the affected foot. This is because wearing one insert causes a slight imbalance which in turn can cause more injuries.

Just like your car’s wheels, shoes should be replaced over time. Wear and tear happens due to direct contact with the ground. Shoes are designed on average to last around 400 miles.

Recovering from a bruised heel

You may recover quickly from bruised heels  if detected early and given ample time to heal. The injury could disappear in a matter of days.  Visit a podiatrist if a bruised heel persists even after rested or pain intensifies.   The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people suffering from a bruised knee and other foot injuries. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.