Lance Armstrong is likely feeling some emotional pain this week after receiving a lifetime ban from international cycling competition; however, the longtime champion of the Tour de France has continued to do what he loves by participating in a mountain bike race this past weekend. Throughout the cycling career of Lance, as well as other professional and amateur cyclists, injuries can happen, including those of the foot and ankle. Being able to prevent and identify these injuries will help you to get back in the bike saddle!

Similarly to running, most bicycling foot injuries are due to overuse and repetitive loading of muscles, joints and bones. These types of injuries are accelerated when there is improper alignment of the body during motion, either from naturally occurring deformities within the body or from equipment such as cycling shoes or bicycle setup. Pain in the heel is not uncommon in cyclists.

The repetitive motion of lifting the toes, or dorsiflexing the foot during cycling can lead to Achilles tendonitis due to the passive pull on the tendon. Not only will a tight Achilles tendon become aggravated and painful along the posterior aspect of the heel, but it will contribute to another condition commonly seen in cyclists: plantar fasciitis. Having a very high arched foot or a very flat foot, as well as having the foot in an angled position while pedaling will all contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis. Both Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis may be relieved by raising the height of the bike seat. This simple adjustment decreases the amount of dorsiflexion required by the ankle joint, thus relieving demands of excessive motion that can lead to heel pain.

Pain in the ball of the foot, or metatarsalgia, is another common complaint in cyclists. This pain is often caused by excessive pressure on the bones in this region of the foot. A few conservative changes that may relieve metatarsalgia include: switching to a less rigid cycling shoe and decreasing pedal resistance. These changes decrease the pressure placed on the ball of the foot and may be helpful in symptom relief.

If simple changes do not alleviate pain while cycling and participating in daily activities, cycling enthusiasts should always contact their podiatrist immediately to receive appropriate treatment and pain relief from injuries.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

“Kinesiotape” has become a household name around Columbus and the world after the London Olympics. Athletes in a wide variety of sports wore the brightly colored strips of tape on any body part possible with hopes of improving performance. While this special tape may be promising and allow some athlete’s to feel as though their performance is improved with its use, it has not yet been proven to be of great benefit in foot and ankle through clinical studies.

What is the difference between kinesiotape and normal athletic tape?

Kinesiotape, or elastic therapeutic tape is different from the other types of tape your podiatrist may utilize to pain relief and treatment of conditions in the foot. Athletic taping is typically restrictive and limits undesired motion of a joint. Kinesiotape is not utilized for this purpose, but has been marketed as supporting the function of muscles.

How is taping used to treat your foot and ankle?

Traditional taping methods have been successfully used as conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendonitis and ankle sprains. Traditional taping may also be used to create a temporary support to determine if custom orthotics will be successful as a permanent conservative treatment of these conditions and many others in the foot.

Kinesiotape has been demonstrated as having only a minor beneficial role in improving strength and range of motion compared to other tapes.

Currently, as the popularity of kinesiotape increases with its use by elite athletes, patients should think twice before splurging on the colorful tape as a treatment of pain in the foot and ankle. Taping of any sort may not be indicated or beneficial in many athletic injuries of the foot and ankle and patients should consult with their podiatrist or other physician at the onset of any painful condition.
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Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Plantar fasciitis knows no boundaries in who it strikes against. Olympic athletes, professional football and baseball players and the average citizen of Columbus can all be struck by this condition and the resulting heel pain that interferes with daily activities. Recently, Philadelphia Phillies player Carlos Ruiz has been placed on the team’s disabled list because his plantar fasciitis was not properly addressed and progressed to a tear. A more successful story of dealing with plantar fasciitis came from British field hockey player Crista Cullen. Crista was able to significantly reduce her heel pain and compete in the Olympics after receiving treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or ESWT is used in cases of chronic plantar fasciitis, occurring for six months or more, where more conservative means of treatments have failed to offer substantial pain relief. In ESWT, an electrode is used to generate pulses of high pressure sound, or “shock waves” that travel through the skin to the plantar fascia. No surgical incisions are made in this noninvasive procedure. These shock waves create microdisruptions in the plantar fascia and its attachment to the heel bone in order to stimulate the healing process. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been shown to have long term relief of foot pain, and improvement of function in daily life for those suffering from plantar fasciitis.

Prior to reaching the need for ESWT, many patients can find excellent pain relief using conservative means. Rest, icing and stretching of the plantar fascia all serve to decrease symptoms over time. In people who overpronate (or are flatfooted), the flattened arch places additional tension on the plantar fascia, leading to its irritation. In individuals with this foot type, improving the function of the foot through custom functional orthotics can eliminate this underlying cause of plantar fasciitis. At Columbus Podiatry and Surgery, a state of the art foot scanner is used to quickly and accurately develop the mold for an orthotic that will be a perfect fit for each individual foot.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

For kids in Columbus, summer months mean the best time of the year to play outside from sun up to sun down. The health benefits that come along with the increased activity levels are great for your feet and the rest of your body. In some cases, aches and pains in the feet and legs may develop as kids go from a more sedentary “school year” lifestyle to their high activity level in summer. While mild temporary soreness may be normal, foot pain that is constant, abnormal or affects the child’s daily activities should be examined by your podiatrist.

Heel pain is not only one of the most common complaints in adults, but kids can be similarly affected. In adults, the most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. One major cause of heel pain that is unique to the pediatric age group is called calcaneal apophysitis or Sever’s disease. The calcaneus has a primary and secondary area of growth which creates a growth plate in the back of the bone. This growth plate appears in girls around age four to six years old, and slightly later in boys around seven to eight years old. In Sever’s disease, various factors agitate the growth plate and cause it to become irritated and painful. Increased physical activity that places tension on the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia is one of the main causes of Sever’s disease. Obesity, trauma to the heel bone and diet disturbances also may play a role in the irritation of the calcaneal growth plate.

Children with Sever’s disease will often complain of heel pain occurring more when they are involved in sports activities. Pain will also be felt when the heel is squeezed while the child is standing, bearing weight on the affected limb. Luckily the treatment for this condition alleviates pain and does not involve surgery. Implementation of a stretching regimen for the child, resting for a period of time from sports and custom orthotics are a very effective treatment. In severe cases, a cast may be required. When the growth plate fuses, typically between 12-15 years of age, symptoms should resolve completely. If your child experiences heel pain, be sure to contact your podiatrist for treatment that will allow them to continue enjoying their summer and healthy lifestyle pain free!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

The extreme heat plaguing Ohio lately has everyone feeling as though walking outside is more difficult than usual and that slow is the only acceptable pace. Changes in the way you walk develop not only based on external conditions, but can also reflect internal changes in your body. Recent studies presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this month have suggested that gait changes in the elderly parallel losses in cognitive function. These studies contribute to the long list of medical conditions affecting all parts of the body in which the feet can serve as a window to disease.

The way an individual walks is a function of many different factors. Foot and leg muscles, nerves, bones, arteries and veins are all imperative to foot health and maintaining the normal sequence of walking. In diabetes, both the nerves and vasculature in the foot supply become diseased. When the nerves in the lower extremity are damaged it is called a peripheral neuropathy, because these nerves are not included as part of the central nervous system, which is primarily the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral neuropathies can cause major changes in gait. When the nerves controlling the muscles that lift your foot off the ground stop working a “steppage” gait develops. This style of walking is characterized by lifting the leg high up during the swing of each step to avoid the toes dragging on the ground. When the heel lands back on the ground a loud “foot slap” also occurs. The muscles and nerves that lift your toes up to clear the ground are also responsible for a slow and smooth landing, which when lost, results in the toes “slapping” to the ground. The one advantage of this slap noise is that in those with a peripheral neuropathy who cannot feel their feet land, they can at least hear the landing. This type of gait occurs not only in individuals with diabetes, but also in individuals with sciatica, stroke, multiple sclerosis and spinal stenosis.

When certain parts of the central nervous system are damaged, gait will become slower and less organized. Normal muscle control of the lower extremity is disturbed, resulting in an unsteady, unbalanced walk in which the feet are wide apart. Feet set widely apart provide a large base of gait to help maintain balance. These gait changes are those that have been found to parallel losses in mental function in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that typically affect the elderly. While these changes may indicate disease processes in the brain, it is important to differentiate a gait of disease from that of normal aging. It is normal to see some decrease in speed and symmetry of stride with increased age.

Changes in gait at any age can be a sign of problems that should be evaluated by your podiatrist. By addressing these changes, not only may the underlying disease process be appropriately treated, but falls resulting from an unsteady gait may be prevented by utilizing custom orthotics, bracing or custom shoes.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Those seeking the thrill of surfing in Columbus this summer are going to have to take a vacation beyond Lake Erie if they want to experience some waves. Throughout the summer big wave surfing competitions are occurring, with the next big stop being the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti starting August 16th. Footing is crucial for maintaining a steady balance and control of the board and unfortunately for one of the world’s top ranked surfers, Kolohe Andino, has lost that steady footing and number one world ranking due to a foot injury.

While training with his father, Andino suffered both a high ankle sprain and tore a ligament in the top of his midfoot called the Lisfranc ligament. Andino landed an aerial 360 before landing on his foot in such a way that it strained the connective tissue holding the tibia and fibula together known as the “tibial-fibular syndesmosis” and the lisfranc ligament. Lis franc injuries occur most commonly in 30-40 year old males and can be caused in a variety of ways. Football players are a group that more commonly experiences a Lisfranc injury, but falling off a bike or a horse can also cause similar damage. After the injury, an ecchymosis, or bruise may appear on the bottom of the foot and the entire foot may become swollen and painful. While Andino has been taking a break from suffer to recover for more than 10 weeks now, many Lisfranc injuries require surgery in order to return the stability of the structure of the foot.

18-year-old Andino is certainly not the first surfer to suffer a season damaging foot injury. World famous surfing pro Kelly Slater suffered a major foot injury to the joint at the base of his big toe, or hallux (where bunions develop) during his 2010 surfing season. Surfers can do their best to prevent injuries by purchasing a board with a hard plastic or rubber tip to soften the blow of an unbalanced landing or “wipeout”. Some surfers also utilize special booties to protect their feet from cuts and wounds. Stretching and strengthening the feet can also help to avoid lower extremity injuries. Like any foot and ankle injury in an athlete, wounds should be treated immediately to avoid infection, and painful injuries should not be ignored in order to continue enjoying the sport.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

With less than a month until the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, athletes around the world are striving to be peaking just in time for competition. Unfortunately for the current world record holder in the marathon, Paula Radcliffe, old running injuries in her foot have begun to flare up at this most inopportune time.

As of now, Radcliffe is still set to compete in the marathon on August 5th. Her current foot problem is the result of an old stress fracture that was misdiagnosed in 1994. Radcliffe is no stranger to injuries and accidents and has shown great strength at working her way through to amazing race performances. In 2003, she dislocated her jaw, had whiplash injuries, severe bruising, developed an injury in her right shin and two partially punctured lungs throughout the course of one year. Not only did Paula recover from her injuries in 2003, but she ran her second ever marathon in which she set the world record that same year.

Now, in 2012, an improperly addressed injury from 1994 has resulted in osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease in her foot. The fact that Paula was able to overcome such severe injuries and keep running in 2003 shows how severe osteoarthritis in the foot can be by the fact that Paula’s current foot pain threatens her even participating in the marathon. Following injury, or through excessive wear and tear on a joint, the lining of the joint wears away. This can then lead to overgrowth of bone around the joint and joint motion that is both painful and limited. In the foot, there are twenty synovial cavities, or joint spaces, providing many opportunities for osteoarthritis to develop when the foot is not functioning properly. According to her autobiography, Radcliffe’s 1994 stress fracture that resulted in her current osteoarthritis was partially due to overpronation, or flat foot. While being flat footed is normal in young children, in adults it can be both a sign of other underlying problems and a cause of new problems.

Overpronation contributes to bunions, tailor’s bunions (of the 5thtoe), posterior tibial tendonitis and dysfunction. Luckily, overpronation and the subsequent problems it can lead to can be corrected by wearing custom functional orthotics while running, and in shoes worn throughout the day. Hopefully Paula and her sports medicine doctors and podiatrists will be able to develop a custom orthotic or other treatment plan that can limit the motion of her painful osteoarthritic joint in time for the Olympic marathon!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Fall camp for the Ohio State Buckeyes begins in five weeks and senior running back, Jordan Hall will need every one of them and then some to recover from the foot surgery he was forced to undergo this Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Hall had been walking barefoot in grass when he stepped on a piece of glass. The cut was deep enough to require surgery and a non-weight bearing cast for 6 weeks after, followed by 4 weeks of rehabilitation. There are many important structures located fairly superficially from the skin on the bottom of the foot that could have been damaged including the plantar fascia (which is known for becoming inflamed in plantar fasciitis) and a number of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Ideally, injured tendons and ligaments can take up around six to eight weeks to heal to good strength, so it is likely some serious soft tissues needed repair to call for this length of time in a cast.

Although an extreme, Hall’s unlucky injury should serve as a reminder to others to always be aware of where you are walking barefoot this summer. Not only may dangerous objects such as nails or glass be lurking to damage the unsuspecting foot, much more common maladies can also arise from being barefoot. Both warts and athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis can be acquired by going barefoot in areas where others with these diseases have walked. Foot warts are caused by a strain of the Herpes Simplex Virus different from the strains of Herpes that cause sexually transmitted disease. Warts can resemble a corn or callus and can be very painful on the foot. Athlete’s foot commonly develops as an itchy, scaly rash on the bottom of the foot, or as itchy areas between the toes where skin will often show signs of breakdown. Increased wetness on the foot from improper drying after bathing, excessive sweating, or wearing wet socks and shoes can also contribute to the development of tinea pedis.

Individuals with peripheral neuropathy and diabetes should avoid walking barefoot due to lack of adequate nerve sensation and ability to detect the pain associated with a cut or scrape. When an individual with neuropathy, or nerve disease cuts their foot, they may not notice for a longer period of time than an individual with normal sensation. This can lead to serious complications such as infection. Luckily, Jordan Hall’s nerves quickly indicated to him that his foot was in trouble and he was able to receive medical attention quickly. Hall has reported via his twitter account that his surgery went successfully.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Varicose veins affect primarily women as they age and veins become tortuous and enlarged. While this may be less concerning during the cold Columbus winters when legs are covered, varicose veins pose a cosmetic problem in the summer when shorts and bathing suits place them prominently on display. While varicose veins may be a cause of increased self-consciousness, they can more importantly be a cause of serious health problems in the foot and ankle year round.

Varicose veins occur in the leg when increased blood pools and disrupts the function of valves that normally keep blood flowing in the correct direction. This allows excess blood to accumulate in the vein and greatly enlarge the vessel’s diameter, causing it to appear more prominently. Aside from being cause for cosmetic concern, these veins can become painful. One condition that can be caused by varicose veins in the ankle is called “tarsal tunnel syndrome”. The nerve passing through the ankle into the foot becomes impinged upon by the enlarged vein. When the nerve is impinged it causes pain, and burning or tingling that may radiate into the foot and toes. This burning foot pain will typically increase with activity, and be lessened with rest. Numbness in the foot and weakness of the foot muscles may also occur.

When blood accumulates excessively in a blood vessel, fluid will lead out into the surrounding tissue causing swelling, or edema. When edema occurs in patients with varicose veins for an extended period of time, tissue breakdown and ulcers can develop in the foot. In addition, varicose veins will often cause the surrounding tissue to be pruritic, or itchy. Chronic scratching with weakened tissue compounds the risk of developing ulcer and infection. This is of especially important concern in individuals with diabetes who are already predisposed to infection and ulceration if they have some loss of sensation in the feet.

Luckily, patients can work to prevent and slow the development of varicose veins. Exercising and weight control are two ways to keep the leg and foot veins open and flowing properly. In patients already developing varicosities and slowed venous blood flow, their podiatrist can recommend specific types of socks called compression socks or stockings that help to better circulate the blood and keep it from pooling in the legs. Other treatment options including a special type of soft cast may also be required if severe swelling and heightened risk of ulceration develop.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.

Bug bites are seemingly inevitable when spending time outside and feet and ankles are a sweet spot for many insects to latch on to. While a mosquito bite can often be easily spotted (especially if you catch the critter in the act!), other insect bites on the lower extremity may be a bit more irritating or worrisome.

Ticks causing Lyme disease frequently transfer the disease to human through a bite on the ankle or lower leg region. If you have been bit by a tick that did transfer the disease, a small raised lesion initially appears at the site of the bite. This small bump will then spread to for a ring of redness with a central area of clearing that may be the color of normal skin or slightly blue. This bulls-eye shaped lesion is a characteristic of Lyme disease called “erythema migrans”. Symptoms that occur along with the rash in the initial stage of Lyme disease that occurs days to weeks after the tick bite resemble the flu. If the disease is not caught early, typically by knowledge of being bit by a tick or the appearance of a bulls-eye rash that is most commonly seen on the ankles and legs, it may progress to the brain and heart. Preventative measures should be taken when going into the woods to avoid tick bites. Using tick-repellent bug spray and wearing appropriate shoe gear and pants to keep the feet and ankles protected can help avoid bites.

Even if you don’t own a dog or cat, a visit to Alum Creek State Park Beach or other Columbus area beaches can cause you to acquire bites on your feet and ankles from an unlikely suspect this summer. The same fleas the bite pets will also humans, and these fleas can be found at beaches. These bites typically occur in a linear pattern of three or four bites on the foot and ankle as the flea “samples” several areas while feeding. Raised bumps will occur that may have a center that bleeds. These bumps are extremely itchy and irritating to the flea’s victim. Topical medications can be prescribed to lessen the itchiness until the bumps resolve if your podiatrist diagnoses you with this type of bite. Excessive scratching of an irritated bite can lead to open wounds and infection and should be avoided.

While these are only two types of bites that commonly occur on the foot and ankle with increased frequency in summer months, many others exist. Regular self-examination of your feet can help catch a more serious bite, such as from a lyme-disease carrying tick, early on in the disease process. If irritating rashes, bites or unusual swelling are found on the feet contact your podiatrist to obtain a correct diagnosis and learn how to treat the irritation and avoid future bites.

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington.