Plantar Fasciitis - A Real Pain

children foot - plantar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The plantar fascia is a thick and wide band of tissue that connects the heel band to the toes forming the arch of the foot. When this tissue becomes inflamed and irritated due to overuse or over stretching, it is called plantar fasciitis. This is a common complaint and most often affects patients between ages 40-60.

The pain ranges from minor to severe and is usually more noticeable:

• When you first get up in the morning

• After vigorous exercise

• After long periods of standing or sitting

This is a common ailment of distance runners, and can also affect pregnant women, people who are overweight and those who do not wear shoes with adequate support. The pain usually develops gradually.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis ranges from simple non-invasive to surgical in extreme cases. Pain will usually diminish with conservative treatment methods which may include:

• Rest

• Icing

• Heel stretching exercises

• Over-the-counter pain medication

• Shoes with better arch support

• Inserts or orthotics

• Reduce mileage if you are a runner, alternate with swimming and bicycling

Generally pain diminishes with persistent treatment. Occasionally when all other methods have failed, Dr. Blaakman may recommend surgery, but surgery has risks that he will discuss with you.
As with so many foot ailments, prevention is the best medicine. Start early by keeping your weight under control, wear quality and supportive shoes. Just because your shoes look good on the outside does not mean they aren’t worn out on the inside. If you are a runner or walk aggressively, buy new shoes at 300-500 miles. You may think your old comfy shoes are your best friends, but this is not true.

If you believe you have symptoms of plantar fasciitis, see Dr. Blaakman at once. Chances of treatment being successful are greater with early intervention. During your examination, Dr. Blaakman will likely look for swelling, redness and tightness in the bottom of the foot. He may want an x-ray to rule out other conditions and he will ask questions about your medical history, if you have other pain and also ask about your physical activity. The treatment plan he develops for you will take all of this into consideration. Call him at (877) 941-3338 (FEET) so he can get you back on your feet.

References:
 
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/plantar-fasciitis/DS00508/

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High Impact Yields High Injury Potential

Rhee Tae Kwon-Do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Dan black belts in October 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Traditional martial arts like Taekwondo and Karate, along with the more aerobic discipline of Tae Bo, have seen a recent surge in popularity among children and adults. Unfortunately, every high intensity sport involves its share of injuries and martial arts are no exception. 

Some of the more common injuries include:

    •    Sprains
    •    Fractures
    •    Plantar fasciitis
    •    Achilles tendonitis
    •    Sesamoiditis
    •    Hematomas

Sprained ankles are a result of side to side lateral movement and the fact that the body is usually balanced on a single limb at the time. Rest, ice, compression and elevation are required. If pain is severe or persists, have your injury evaluated by Dr. Blaakman to make sure it’s not a more serious injury.

Fractures usually involve the toes, bones in the mid-foot (metatarsals) or ankles. A fracture can be the result of trauma or stress. Every fracture needs to be evaluated and treated to prevent it from becoming more serious. If you suspect you sustain a fracture, sit immediately and get medical help. If you do not cease this high impact activity a simple fracture could become displaced, treatment could be more complicated and recovery time increased. If you have just recovered from a sprain or a fracture you should never participate in a training activity or sparring unless you are completely pain free and cleared by your doctor.

Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis result from overuse or excessive stretching of tendons. Repetitive turns and pivots on the support foot and the strike motion on the other foot are critical factors. Rest, ice and elevation will provide some relief.

Sesamoiditis is the inflammation and irritation of the tissue surrounding the sesamoid bones located behind and under the big toe. Pressure caused by repeated elevation and pivoting can irritate this area.
Hematomas are caused by injury to blood vessels that can cause bleeding inside the foot resulting in swelling and pain. Dr. Blaakman should evaluate any hematoma. If they are not treated properly or are left untreated, it can result in the loss of foot.

Rest, ice and elevation are recommended for most of these injuries. If pain persists, call Dr. Blaakman at (877)941-3888. His expert diagnosis and treatment will help keep your roundhouse kick in top form.

References:
 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004438/
http://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/4121

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EPAT - What do it do?

Image via WikipediaWhen going to the podiatrist office, you might hear the term “EPAT” thrown around.  What is “EPAT” exactly?  It stands for “Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology.”  See why it’s shortened down to EPAT?  The EPAT therapy was introduced to Upstate Footcare by Dr. Hans Blaakman and it’s designed to treat a number of different foot and lower leg issues. 

The way the EPAT system works is to promote your natural healing processes by stimulating chemical processes to get your blood circulating in the area you are experiencing pain.  This allows the blood to get new blood cells into the area as well as remove things that might be causing the pain from those areas.  This system was created because a number of people were still experiencing pain after a number of treatments did not prove effective.  By promoting the bodies natural healing processes, it is safer than surgery and the results are faster, without the long recovery period.  If you are familiar with Shockwave Therapy, EPAT uses the same technology but does not require anesthesia.

The great thing about the EPAT system is that it is relatively inexpensive.  In fact, if you have a Health Savings Account or a Medical IRA, you can have your costs covered one hundred percent!  You should check with your medical insurance to see if they cover this or not.  It will only take four sessions in four weeks, meaning one session every week for four weeks.

If you have heel pain or achilles tendonitis or another pain in your feet or ankles, EPAT therapy could be the best option for you, especially if nothing else has worked to rid you of the pain.  If you are interested, you should contact Upstate Footcare so that you can schedule an appointment to discuss the EPAT process with Dr. Blaakman so that you can start to get rid of that pain as soon as possible.

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