Pop Goes the Tendon

Lateral view of the human ankle, including the talus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Achilles tendon is a tough fibrous cord which attaches the calf muscles of the lower leg to the heel bone. When overstretched, the tendon can become inflamed and sore. This is called Achilles tendonitis. In many instances home treatment is successful when done under a doctor’s supervision. If further damage occurs to the tendon, small tears may begin. These tears are also called ruptures, and may be partial or complete. A rupture results in sharp pain and the inability to walk normally. Sometimes there is an audible “pop” when the tendon first ruptures. Other symptoms include:

• Pain and swelling in the heel area, and pain may be severe.
• Unable to bend foot downward.
• Inability to raise up on toes.
• Popping noise when injury first occurs.

Rupture of the tendon usually occurs near the point where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. Ruptures are most frequently caused by increase in physical activity, traumatic injury like falling high up or stepping into a hole.

Men between the ages of 30 and 40 present the greatest risk for Achilles tendon rupture. Also, the likelihood is increased if you participate in recreational sports that involve running, jumping and quick starts and stops. There are also certain types of medicines that can increase the risk of tendon rupture.

Because an Achilles tendon rupture affects your ability to walk, you should seek immediate treatment. Dr. Blaakman has certain tests he can perform to determine if it is your Achilles tendon and the degree of rupture. He may order additional tests like an MRI so he can view the extent of the damage. This is a painless test that creates a computerized image of the tissues in your body.

Both non-surgical and surgical treatment methods are common. Younger more active people may choose surgical repair to try to get back to their routine quicker, while older individuals may choose non-surgical methods.  Non-surgical methods may work equally well, but probably take a bit longer to heal and run a greater risk of the injury recurring. You would be required to wear a boot or cast for a period of time while the tendon mended itself.

Surgical correction is done through an incision, whereby the tendon is sewn back together. As with any surgery, infection is a possible risk. Regardless of the treatment method, a rehabilitative time of 4-6 months is necessary during which time you will undergo muscle strengthening exercises and physical therapy.

Exercises that strengthen the calf muscles can help prevent a rupture. Also alternating activities to avoid overuse is important as well as gradual increase of duration and intensity of exercise. If you have tendonitis or an Achilles rupture, contact Dr. Blaakman at (877) 941-3338. Don’t wait for things to get worse. A little help from Dr. Blaakman and you’ll be right back up and running in no time.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/achilles-tendon-rupture/DS00160/DSECTION=prevention

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The Doctor and the Physical Therapist

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The primary concern of the podiatrist should be treating the injury, and seeing to the comfort and care of the patient. If rehabilitative services are needed, this would be done by a physical therapist. There is no way to predict the number or frequency of visits that it may require for a patient to recover full use after sustaining an injury, but the primary goal of the physical therapist is to see that function is restored. Some foot and ankle specialists operating state of the art facilities may have affiliation with a physical therapist at their location. This is usually provided for patient convenience so that patients can receive all required services at one location.

Athletes usually appreciate referrals to physical therapists. They know that treatment by a therapist will expedite their recovery and restore their function to pre-injury condition more quickly. The back yard sports enthusiast, or adolescent playing high school sports, may not have that luxury. Insurance benefits may be limited to what coverage is provided, so they may need to spend their available dollars more wisely.

From the perspective of a person on the outside, looking in, the relationship between a podiatrist and physical therapist may be somewhat simplistic in its appearance. The doctor might be the equivalent of a head coach, calling the plays from the sidelines, and the physical therapist is the quarterback, provided with the knowledge, necessary to execute the play.

If you have sustained a foot or ankle injury, make no mistake about it, the doctor is calling the shots. It is his knowledge and diagnostic expertise that is getting to the root of the problem. He may then need to refer his patient to a physical therapist who will carry out his prescription and instructions pertaining to physical therapy that provides the quickest path to recovery for the patient. Call Dr. Blaakman at (877) 941-3338 (feet) if you are having a foot or ankle problem that requires treatment. His knowledgeable staff is there to answer any questions you may have to get you on the fastest road to recovery.

Visit Dr. Blaakman’s website, http://www.upstatefootcare.com/ for more information about the services he provides.

References:

http://www.physicaltherapyschdy.com/ASP_Pages/podiatry.asp
http://www.aapsm.org/plantar_fasciitis.html
http://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/6946?page=1

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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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Chronic Ankle Instability - The Reason You Keep Twisting Your Ankle

Image via WikipediaHave you ever sprained or twisted your ankle?  If you have you know how much it hurts.  I don’t know any adult who has never sprained their ankle.  But why after the first ankle sprain does it get easier and easier to sprain your ankles? 

The answer could very well be Chronic Ankle Instability.  Chronic Ankle Instability is a condition that plagues many athletes who have sprained their ankles in the past, or a couple of times.  The problem occurs when the ankle doesn’t heal completely after a sprain.  The muscles and ligaments are weakened or even torn so that your foot can not even keep you balanced while you’re standing.  If your foot constantly slips out from under you, making your foot roll onto it’s side, you probably have this ankle problem. 

There are ways to build up the muscle and ligaments again in your ankle.  If you can build them up, you won’t have to have surgery performed on your ankle to tighten the ligament.  If your ligament is torn, chances are you will need to have surgery to fix or replace the torn ligament.  To correct the problem without surgery, you’ll need to go through physical therapy, wear an ankle brace at least during times when you are active, and maybe have to take anti-inflammatory medicine to keep the swelling down, allowing your body’s healing processes to get into the injury and work at fixing it.  Also, the more rest you give the ankle the better.  By being active all the time, you run the risk of injuring the ankle again and again.  If you’ve had Chronic Ankle Instability for a while, you know that it doesn’t take much at all to sprain your ankle again.

If you have sprained your ankle, you need to have it looked at by a doctor.  If you need a podiatrist, contact Upstate Footcare to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hans Blaakman.  He’ll help you to enjoy all you love to do again!

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