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January 2022

Tuesday, 25 January 2022 00:00

Not All Ankle Sprains Are Alike

You don’t have to be an athlete to sprain your ankle. This common injury can occur whenever the ligaments—which bind and support your ankle and connect bones—get overly stretched or even torn. If you sprain your ankle you may feel pain, notice swelling, and it may be difficult for you to walk. Most ankle sprains are lateral, which means they affect the outside of your ankle. Ankle sprains are graded according to the severity of the sprain as well as the damage caused. Grade 1 sprains involve mild stretching of the ligaments with no tearing. Typically, this type of sprain will produce minimal pain, tenderness and swelling with no joint instability or bruising. There is usually no difficulty walking either. Partial tears, moderate pain/swelling/tenderness and bruising are indicative of a Grade 2 sprain. There may also be difficulty walking and some ankle instability. Grade 3 sprains result in ruptures or tears of the ligament. They can produce severe symptoms of pain, bruising and tenderness. The ankle will be unable to bear weight, and there may be a great deal of instability and dysfunction. If you’ve suffered an ankle sprain and the symptoms do not improve soon after being injured, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist right away. You will receive a full examination and assessment, with an appropriate treatment plan depending on your grade of ankle sprain and other factors.

Although ankle sprains are common, they aren’t always minor injuries. If you need your ankle injury looked at, contact the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?

Ankle sprains are the result of a tear in the ligaments within the ankle. These injuries may happen when you make a rapid shifting movement while your foot is planted. A less common way to sprain your ankle is when your ankle rolls inward while your foot turns outward.

What Are the Symptoms?

  • Pain at the sight of the tear
  • Bruising/Swelling
  • Ankle area is tender to touch
  • In severe cases, may hear/feel something tear
  • Skin discoloration

Preventing a Sprain

  • Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion
  • Stretching before exercises and sports
  • Knowing your limits

Treatment of a Sprain

In many cases, the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) is used to treat ankle sprains. However, you should see a podiatrist to see which treatment option would work best with your injury. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

It is important to ask your doctor about rehab options after you receive treatment for your injury. Stretching, strength training, and balance exercises may help the ankle heal while also preventing further injury.

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

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Published in Blog
Wednesday, 19 January 2022 00:00

Heel Pain Is Often Caused by Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel with the forefoot. Because the plantar fascia is so instrumental in the mechanics of walking, it can become overloaded and stressed from overuse, excess weight, structural issues in the foot, or improper footwear. This strain can cause the plantar fascia to become excessively stretched, painful and inflamed. Tiny tears may also develop in the tissue, particularly where it connects with the heel bone. This condition is known as plantar fasciitis. The pain of plantar fasciitis tends to be worse in the morning or after periods of rest, and may lessen as you move around and warm up. Wearing footwear with insufficient support in the heel or walking barefoot can intensify the pain. If you believe you may have plantar fasciitis, it is important to seek the care of a podiatrist as soon as possible to treat the condition before it worsens.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact the podiatrists  from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

  • Excessive running
  • Non-supportive shoes
  • Overpronation
  • Repeated stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia

How Can It Be Treated?

  • Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices
  • Shockwave therapy – sound waves are sent to the affected area to facilitate healing and are usually used for chronic cases of plantar fasciitis
  • Surgery – usually only used as a last resort when all else fails. The plantar fascia can be surgically detached from the heel

While very treatable, plantar fasciitis is definitely not something that should be ignored. Especially in severe cases, speaking to your doctor right away is highly recommended to avoid complications and severe heel pain. Your podiatrist can work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options tailored to your condition.

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

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Published in Blog
Tuesday, 11 January 2022 00:00

Plantar Warts Can Be Treated!

Plantar warts are small growths that develop on parts of the feet that bear weight. They're typically found on the bottom of the foot. Don't live with plantar warts, and call us today!

Published in Blog
Tuesday, 11 January 2022 00:00

The 10% Rule for Preventing Running Injuries

Running is a great sport that can help to build bone density, improve heart health, maintain a healthy weight, and even boost your mood. However, running has one main drawback – it can increase your risk of developing various foot and ankle injuries. Most running injuries are caused by overuse, when excessive pressure is placed on the feet repetitively, damaging the muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, or bones that make running possible. The risk of injury can be reduced by following something known as the 10% Rule. This simple rule states that if you are increasing the amount of miles you run, you should increase this number gradually, by no more than 10% each week. For example, if you ran 15 miles this week and would like to run even more next week, you should only add 1.5 miles to your mileage total. That is, the following week, you should run no more than 16.5 miles. Increasing your mileage gradually allows your body to get used to the higher demands being placed on it and makes overuse injuries less likely. For more information about preventing running injuries, please consult 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 the podiatrists of The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. 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 Paramus, NJ . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Published in Blog
Tuesday, 04 January 2022 00:00

What Can Cause Foot Pain?

The feet are made up of a complex system of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Because of this complexity, there are a number of painful conditions that could possibly arise involving the feet. For example, one of the most common sources of heel and arch pain is plantar fasciitis. This occurs when the plantar fascia, which connects the heel to the toes along the bottom of the foot, becomes inflamed or partially torn. Another frequent source of heel pain is known as heel spurs, which are calcium deposits in the heel that form bony bumps. Gout is a painful condition that may develop, causing a burning sensation in the foot when excess uric acid builds up in the joints. Numbness in the foot can be an indication of the nerves around the ball of the foot thickening, known as Morton’s Neuroma. Because there are so many conditions that can cause foot pain, a visit to a podiatrist to find its source and receive treatment is highly suggested.  

Foot Pain

Foot pain can be extremely painful and debilitating. If you have a foot pain, consult with the podiatrists from The Foot & Ankle Center of New Jersey. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Causes

Foot pain is a very broad condition that could be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bone Spurs
  • Corns
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Arthritis (such as Gout, Rheumatoid, and Osteoarthritis)
  • Flat Feet
  • Injury (from stress fractures, broken toe, foot, ankle, Achilles tendon ruptures, and sprains)
  • And more

Diagnosis

To figure out the cause of foot pain, podiatrists utilize several different methods. This can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause of the foot pain. Whether it is resting, staying off the foot, or having surgery; podiatrists have a number of treatment options available for foot pain.

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

Read more about Foot Pain
Published in Blog
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