A new study on radiation therapy proves to be good news for those suffering from painful heel spurs. The procedure, which aims a small beam of radiation at a specific part of the body, is designed to pinpoint the areas that cause heel spurs and eliminate the pain. “Radiation therapy has been used for its anti-inflammatory effect for more than 60 years,” says Marcus Niewald, MD, a radiation oncologist at Saarland University.  “We are very extremely encouraged by the results of our research because evidence of improved quality of life for patients is clearly evident with the standard dose regimen.”

Because heel pain is often a consistent problem plaguing many people, it is important to seek out care and treatment for it right away. Podiatrists, like Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay, can help manage your heel pain by examining your feet and diagnosing the cause of your heel pain. This can be due to foot injuries, heel injuries, and even ankle injuries, so seeking out care and treatment immediately is highly recommended.

Causes of Heel Pain

● Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

● Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

● Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

- Wearing ill-fitting shoes                 
- Wearing non-supportive shoes
- Weight change          
- Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a thing of the past.

With the advancements in technology and greater knowledge of how muscles and joints work, physical therapists can turn things around dramatically.    

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Anglia Ruskin University in Britain is engaging in a large scale study to analyze the walking patterns of Essex citizens. Volunteers from Essex will have their walking patterns measured by a 3D rig that can capture the particularities of their stride and foot movement. These will be compared to the walking stride of patients from New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. The researchers hope that their findings on normal gait and foot patterns will help them better understand foot and lower leg injuries, which could help in the development of better prosthetic limbs.

With the help of this new study, the biomechanics of podiatry are becoming a topic that is more and more understood. By studying and researching this, podiatrists, such as Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of East Bay, are better equipped to help patients when dealing with issues in movement and biomechanics. If you are suffering from a condition that is limiting your movement, it is highly recommended to speak to Dr. Stein, as he will be able to work with you to find the best treatment options.

Biomechanics in Podiatry

Podiatric biomechanics is a particular sector of specialty podiatry with licensed practitioners who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and lower leg. Biomechanics deals with the forces that act against the body causing an interference with the biological structure and focuses on the movement of the ankle, the foot and the forces that interact with them.

A History of Biomechanics
- Biomechanics dates back to the BC era in Egypt where evidence of professional foot care has been recorded.
- In 1974 biomechanics gained a higher profile from the studies of Merton Root, who claimed that by changing or controlling the forces between the ankle and the foot, corrections or conditions could be implemented to gain strength and coordination to the area.

Modern technology improvements are based on past theories and therapeutic processes providing a better understanding of podiatry concepts for biomechanics. Computers provide accurate determinations about the forces, moments and patterns of the foot and lower legs with the most important information captured.

Advances in materials and more awareness of biomechanics have developed enhanced corrective methods, offering further options for foot-related injuries. Understanding foot biomechanics can help improve and eliminate pain, stopping further stress to the foot.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Sports medicine professionals have found that women are more at risk of becoming injured from repetitive motions associated with sports.  This is due to the physiological differences between women and men. Having wider hips and a different thigh bone and foot structure increases the risk of stress fractures and foot injury for women.

Despite this, women still continue to play a large role in the sporting world, engaging in sports ranging from basketball to soccer. However, if you have experienced a foot or ankle injury related to playing sports, it is highly recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist like Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay. Dr. Stein can help with an accurate diagnosis of your injury and provide the appropriate treatment option.

Foot Rehabilitation for Athletes

Injured athletes are always looking for better, faster ways to aid their recovery and get back to the sport they love. To do this, podiatrists and physical therapists are often consulted so the injured athlete can get back onto the field as soon as possible. But rehabbing an injury is just as serious as the injury itself, and going through the motions of physical therapy or rehabilitation is a necessary process to keeping that injury at bay.

Sports Therapist or Physical Therapist?

If an athlete gets a foot injury, it is essential to receive foot rehabilitation to ensure proper healing. Sports therapists are more focused on athletic-related injuries than general physical therapists. It is important for an athlete to become healed properly because if they attempt to get back into their game before they are physically well, they could re-aggravate the original injury or even suffer a new one due to their weakened state.

Physical Therapy Gives Hope

Physical therapy helps to keep athletes as active as they are physically capable, which will get them ready to return to the field once their feet become healed. Physical therapy often gives hope to athletes. However in cases where the injury is very serious, the athlete may never be able to return to the game; but this does not mean it is the end of the road, as there is always hope to get better. It is best to seek out rehabilitation as soon as possible so there are better chances for a full recovery, no matter how severe or minor the injury is.

Preventing injuries is one thing, but avoiding them all together is harder than it seems, and when one does occur, seek out medical attention right away from your local podiatrist and sports therapist.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Television comedian and journalist, Dom Joly, appeared on TV’s celebrity edition of Total Wipeout, but not for long. Joly ended his run with a major foot injury.  According to Joly, he twisted his body in mid-air and tried to land sideways, instead landing on his left foot during an obstacle course. After suffering severe pain, Joly learned he broke four of five metatarsals and sustained a Lisfranc injury.

Dom Joly’s foot injury may have sidelined him from Total Wipeout for the time being, but getting back to the show, or any other sport, can be made much easier with the help of a podiatrist like Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay. Dr. Stein can provide the care you need by diagnosing any foot or ankle injury you might be experiencing and providing treatment options that best fit you, allowing you to get back into your sport quickly and foot pain free.

Getting Back into Sports after Foot and Ankle Injuries

While one of the most common injuries among athletes may be a sprained ankle, there are still many other types of injuries that plague athletes in any sport. But for less severe foot and ankle injuries, it is recommended by physical therapists and sports medicine doctors that athletes use the R.I.C.E. method to help alleviate pain and to speed up the healing process.

The acronym R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. These four steps help in the healing process, not only to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation, but also to improve overall health of the affected area, allowing you to get back on to your feet again. Although resting is usually the key to all healing, it is necessary to see a doctor to ensure treatment for any other problems that may not be obvious to you right away.

It is best for injured athletes to allow themselves time to heal. Some athletes need hours of re-training, exercise, check-ups with their physical therapist, and other remedies. But with the right attitude and motivation, it is not hard to get back into sports after foot and ankle injuries.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Running expert Jay Dicharry, stated that the way people run can be a main cause of foot injuries.  Dicharry shared tips on effective running during his presentation in promoting his new book Anatomy for Runners. According to Dicharry, training the body to run differently and to exert less energy, will reduce the impact on the body and minimize the amount of injuries to the feet.  He also discusses his thoughts on barefoot running and ultra-marathon running, and the best way to train the body for the impact.

Training your body properly is a great way to help prevent running injuries. However, even with proper training, injuries can still occur. If you are experiencing foot pain or ankle pain you think is associated with a running injury, it is highly recommended to consult a podiatrist like Dr. Michael Stein of Foot Doctor of the East Bay. Dr. Stein can examine the cause of your foot pain, diagnose any injuries you might have, and provide the appropriate treatment options.

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. Runner’s knee usually is treated with strengthening exercises focusing on the quad muscles and sports orthotic. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned. Physical therapy can help you learn the best exercises to heal runner’s knee.

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 one of our offices which are located in San Leandro, Pleasanton and Los Gatos, CA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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