Items filtered by date: November 2023

Embarking on a running journey is not only invigorating but also demands a proactive approach to prevent injuries and ensure a sustained passion for the sport. Incorporating targeted exercises into your routine is key to building strength and resilience. Strengthening the muscles surrounding the knees and ankles through exercises such as lunges and calf raises enhances stability, reducing the risk of sprains and strains. Core exercises contribute to overall body balance, promoting a more efficient running gait. Flexibility exercises, such as dynamic stretches, help improve the range of motion and minimize the impact on joints. Regular strength training sessions, focusing on both the upper and lower body, foster muscular endurance that is vital for sustained running performance. Listening to your body, incorporating adequate rest, and gradually increasing mileage are essential components of injury prevention. If you are seeking more information about how running injuries may affect the feet, in addition to learning about effective prevention methods, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.

Exercising your feet regularly with the proper foot wear is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of Podiatry Associates of Victoria. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.

What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.

Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber; this will help you gain better flexibility.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Victoria, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Managing persistent foot pain or deformities can be challenging, often prompting the consideration of foot surgery when conservative treatments prove ineffective. In such cases, surgery becomes a viable option. Bunions, or hallux valgus, can be surgically managed when conservative treatments fail to alleviate pain and hinder day-to-day functioning. Similarly, hammertoes may necessitate surgery when they become rigid and painful, causing issues such as inflammation and open wounds. Metatarsal surgery addresses various foot issues caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, and dislocated joints. Ankle osteoarthritis, marked by symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and swelling, may require surgical intervention. Achilles tendon disorders, including tendonitis, may prompt surgery consideration. Morton's neuroma, characterized by nerve thickening between the third and fourth toes, might necessitate surgery for those unresponsive to non-surgical management. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, or adult-acquired flatfoot, may require surgical intervention as symptoms worsen, aiming to restore the function of the posterior tibial tendon and support the arch. Foot surgery is generally considered a last resort, but it can be a consideration when conservative treatments no longer provide relief for persistent foot pain or deformities. It is suggested that if you are suffering from continual foot, toe, or ankle pain that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to determine whether surgery is the appropriate course of action for you. 

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact one of our podiatrists of Podiatry Associates of Victoria. Our doctors will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Victoria, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Exercising the feet and ankles regularly can ward off pain and strengthen these areas, enhancing flexibility in the process. Simple routines like stretching the big toe, spreading the toes, extending the Achilles tendon, and walking in sand can be especially helpful. These exercises ensure that the foot muscles are strong and supportive, contributing to an increased range of motion which is vital for long-term activity and mobility. These types of exercises are straightforward and can be easily integrated into daily routines without the need for specialized equipment. Whether at home or as part of a gym workout, they can become a regular aspect of anyone's fitness regimen, aiding in the maintenance of foot health and overall well-being. If you are interested in learning more about stretching the feet and specific exercises you can do, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist who can provide the information you are seeking.

Why Stretching Is Important for Your Feet

Stretching the feet is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any concerns with your feet consult with one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Associates of Victoria. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Stretching the Feet

Stretching the muscles in the foot is an important part in any physical activity. Feet that are tight can lead to less flexibility and make you more prone to injury. One of the most common forms of foot pain, plantar fasciitis, can be stretched out to help ease the pain. Stretching can not only ease pain from plantar fasciitis but also prevent it as well. However, it is important to see a podiatrist first to determine if stretching is right for you. Podiatrists can also recommend other ways to stretch your feet. Once you know whether stretching is right for you, here are some excellent stretches you can do.

• Using a foam roller or any cylindrical object (a water bottle or soda can will do), roll the object under your foot back and forth. You should also exert pressure on the object. Be sure to do this to both feet for a minute. Do this exercise three times each.
• Similar to the previous exercise, take a ball, such as a tennis ball, and roll it under your foot while seated and exert pressure on it.
• Grab a resistance band or towel and take a seat. If you are using a towel, fold it length wise. Next put either one between the ball of your foot and heel and pull with both hands on each side towards you. Hold this for 15 seconds and then switch feet. Do this three times for each foot.
• Finally hold your big toe while crossing one leg over the other. Pull the toe towards you and hold for 15 seconds. Once again do this three times per foot.

It is best to go easy when first stretching your foot and work your way up. If your foot starts hurting, stop exercising to ice and rest the foot. It is advised that you then see a podiatrist for help.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Victoria, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Swollen feet can arise due to various health concerns, including skin infections and underlying health conditions. For instance, cellulitis is a painful bacterial infection causing swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected region. Particularly vulnerable are individuals with diabetes. They often face complications due to reduced healing ability and decreased sensation, which can lead to unnoticed injuries becoming infected and subsequently causing foot swelling. Another condition, lymphedema, results from impaired lymph flow, often due to damaged or removed lymph nodes. It can be congenital or caused by factors such as cancer treatments or infections. Heart failure, a severe medical condition, results in fluid accumulation, with swollen feet as a common symptom. Prolonged immobility can cause deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening blood clot. Kidney issues can also lead to swollen feet if fluid balance is disturbed. Additionally, liver disease, especially cirrhosis, can cause fluid accumulation in the lower extremities due to portal hypertension. If you have swollen feet that do not respond to rest, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist to identify the root cause of the swelling and get treatment appropriate to what is discovered.

Swollen feet can be a sign of an underlying condition. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Podiatry Associates of Victoria. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Swollen feet are a common ailment among pregnant women and people who stand or sit for extended periods. Aging may increase the possibility of swollen feet and patients who are obese often notice when their feet are swelling too. There may be medical reasons why swollen feet occur:

• Phlebitis - A condition that causes the veins to become inflamed and can also cause leg pain.
• Liver disease - This may lead to low blood levels of albumin which is a protein. This can cause fluid in the blood to pass into the tissues and several areas of the body can become swollen.
• Heart failure - When the heart doesn’t pump properly the blood that is normally pumped back to the heart can pool in the veins of the legs causing swollen feet.
• Kidney disease - One of the main functions of the kidneys is releasing excess fluid in the body. This type of condition can make it difficult for the kidneys to function properly, and as a result the feet may become swollen.
• Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)- This is a serious condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs. They can block the return of blood from the legs to the heart which may cause the feet to swell. It is important to be treated by a podiatrist if this condition is present.

Swollen feet can also be caused by bone and tendon conditions, including fractures, arthritis, and tendinitis. Additionally, there may be skin and toenail conditions and an infection may cause the feet to swell. Patients who take medicine to treat high blood pressure may be prone to getting swollen feet. 

Many patients elevate their feet to help relieve the swelling and this is generally a temporary remedy. When a podiatrist is consulted the reason behind the swelling can be uncovered and subsequently treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Victoria, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.