Keep Your Feet Feeling Young

Even here in Houston, TX, where winter means we put on a light jacket, many are glued to the TV watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The athlete’s focus and dedication is inspiring and we’re disappointed to see it come to an end after eighteen days of competition. I’ve overheard kids ask their parents for a snowboard, even though there is no place to use it in Houston. This is what the Olympic games are all about.

On February 12th, 2010, at the Opening Ceremony, a moment of silence was observed in honor of Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luge slider who died in a training run on the Vancouver luge track. The moment was a chilling reminder to all the athletes from around the world that were there that night that many of the winter games aren’t without risk.

The Winter Olympics separate themselves from the Summer Olympics by the high level of risk involved with many of these sports. Running, swimming, and track and field do not even compare to luge, ski jumping, alpine downhill skiing, and half pipe snowboarding in respects to real danger to the athlete. Many people watch the winter games and feel a rush of sheer thrill because the athletes are doing things that seem crazy to some and near impossible to others.

Nodar Kumaritashvili participated in a sport that few have the opportunity to ever try, luge. Luge is a sport in which a person lays on their backs on a luge, which is an aerodynamic sled, and speed down a half enclosed ice tube at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. If an athlete makes any mistakes the end result is almost always life threatening, as what was the unfortunate fate of Nodar. The luge track is also used for bobsledding and skeleton and can be just as dangerous for these sports as well.

Although many winter games are noted for their extreme speeds and heights, this does not mean that caution should be avoided in order to increase these two factors. Many athletes and experts commented that the Vancouver luge track was simply too fast and therefore dangerous. Unfortunately nothing was done to fix the track until it was too late and Nodar was fatally killed. Hopefully this 21 year old Georgian luge sliders story will help to caution and improve safety protocols for more winter sports so that the amazing athletes from all over the world will be as safe as possible for future winter games.

The main thing that really separates the Winter Olympics from the Summer Olympics is the extreme danger that many of these sports present to the athletes. With events such as Alpine downhill skiing, luge, ski jumping, and skeleton, athletes find themselves going at speeds over 90 mph, being at heights of over 50 feet, and traveling in the air over the length of a football field.

The one thing that many of the winter sports have in common is the athlete going from extreme heights to ground level in a matter of seconds. Even if the athlete is on skis, a snowboard or figure skates, the amount of pressure that is put on the foot and ankle during landing can be disastrous if anything goes wrong.

It’s not only landing from a height that is challenging for winter athletes but also the conditions they are forced to land in. Take pairs figure skating for example; female skaters are thrown in to the air spinning and then attempt to land on one leg wearing a 1/8 inch blade. The physics of these throws makes them very hard to land and if not done properly can lead to terrible ankle sprains or fractures.

Although many of the Winter Olympic sports put athletes at high risk of injury, only some of these sports are prone to increased ankle and foot injuries due to the different types of equipment and protection that are used. Figure skating is a winter sport with one of the highest incidences of ankle sprains, while skiing and snowboarding offer more protection to the ankle due to the heaver barrier provided by the boots.

The Winter Olympics are truly amazing to watch because these athletes participate in sports that are not as commonly accessible to everyone as are sports in the Summer Olympics like running or swimming. Although these sports may seem cool to watch it is important to remember that they are trained athletes and that injuries are very common to not only beginners but also to Olympians.

For some reason, treatment for an ingrown toenail is scary. People who have gone through major surgeries without a problem cower at the prospect of having an ingrown toenail cared for…why is that?

For some, there’s personal experience that plays into it.  How many of us were threatened by our mothers that if we didn’t cut our nails correctly they would become ingrown.  We didn’t know what that meant, but it sure sounded bad!  Some even got an ingrown toenail and was treated by their pediatrician who gave them what seemed like hundreds of injections in the end of the toe and it took forever to heal (incidentally, which is similar to the reason I fear the dentist to this day!).

The oddest explanation I heard from a patient in my Houston, TX podiatry practice just this week.  She was a very pleasant new patient to my office, but was petrified about what I was going to do to her.  I promised her that I wouldn’t hurt her and kept my promise.  She left smiling and couldn’t believe there was no pain.  She did tell me that her fear of a toenail procedure stems from the 70′s television series The Incredible Hulk starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno.  She told me that the ONLY time he was in the hospital was when he had a toenail torn away.  Now, I’m not well-versed enough to know the episode, or even if it’s true, but I certainly never have heard a more random reason to fear an ingrown toenail.

As common as the fear is, also common is the relief after the procedure.  Without fail, people feel that it is never as bad as they pictured in their mind.  The procedure only takes a few minutes and, other than an injection to numb the toe, the procedure is entirely painless.  In fact, the relief is immediate.  If you have been suffering with an ingrown toenail…Don’t Wait!!  Come in to see what it will take to provide you instant relief.  I guarantee it’s not like you think i will be.

To enter our contest to win fantastic foot health products, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

This past Wednesday at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Lindsay Vonn finally captured the Olympic gold, despite a serious shin contusion. Vonn had been forecasted to win the Alpine Skiing Ladies’ downhill event for months leading up to the Olympics until a disastrous injury on February 2nd in Austria left everyone wondering if she would even compete. Vonn reported that she suffered from a severe contusion to her right shin in practice that left her unable to even put on her tight ski boots for days. Being a downhill racer, the shin is one of the most devastating places a skier can get an injury due to the tightly fitting boots that puts pressure around the area.

Vonn took it easy for the weeks following the accident and decided to go to the Vancouver games to test out the course and decide if she would compete. Lucky for her nasty weather conditions pushed back her first event a couple of days leaving Lindsey more time to recover.

When the race finally took place, Lindsey felt healed enough to compete at full strength. Vonn was able to edge out fellow United States athlete Julia Mancuso for the gold. At the medal ceremony an uncharacteristic emotional Vonn was seen teary eyed as the US National Anthem played and the American flag rose. Vonn reported that emotions ran especially high for this event due to her injury that she thought might have cost her all the years of training leading up to the event.

Lindsey Vonn has won countless races throughout her career but has never been able to medal at the Olympics until now. With 4 more events to go for Lindsey at these Olympic games, including the Ladies’ Super Combined, Ladies’ Super G, Ladies’ Slalom, and Ladies’ Giant Slalom fans wait to see if she will continue to capture gold or if her injury will start to take its toll on her body. The refreshing news is, that after winning the gold, and asked about the upcoming events, she responded that she reached her goal – an Olympic gold medal and she was just going to enjoy her moment.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

To enter our contest to win fantastic foot health products, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

This week the pairs figure skating competition took place at the Robson Square Arena at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. After a close competition Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China managed to capture the gold. Although the competition was close with silver going to Pang Qing and Tong Jian, also a Chinese pairs team, and the bronze medals going to the German pairs skaters Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, spectators could not help but cheer for Shen and Zhao due to their amazing history together.

Shen and Zhao have been to four Olympics together winning bronze in 2002 and 2006 but could never quite get the gold medals they always wanted. The pair got married in 2007 and retired after they won their third world title but shortly after this career move they decided they needed to try once more for the gold medals they could never quite reach.

Part of the reason that the pair has never been able to surpass their bronze medal status until this year is because Zhao’s ruptured his Achilles tendon right before the 2005 world championship. Zhao was forced to take the entire season off from skating to heal and could not return to the sport until weeks before the 2006 Olympics. Although Shen and Zhao were able to capture the bronze that year it still took years for Zhao to completely recover from the Achilles tendon rupture.

In the end Shen and Zhao finally got their gold after 18 years of competitive pairs figure skating. I’m sure Zhao questioned if he would ever skate again after his terrible injury but this story really shows that if you want something enough and really work for it anything is possible…..got to love the Olympics!

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

The Snowboarding Halfpipe event became an Olympic event in 1998. It was the beginning of the traditional Olympics embracing the less traditional X-games. Derived from skateboarding, snowboarding was slow to be embraced by ski slopes. In fact, there was much animosity between skiers and snowboarders. Some ski areas actually banned snowboarders from their facilities.

Today, more than 97% of ski areas embrace snowboarding. Half of those have special areas specific for snowboarding, including rails, jumps, and halfpipes.

Injuries most commonly associated with snowboarding include fractures of the wrist and ankles. The best way to avoid injury is to use proper form and protective equipment. Snowboarding boots should be well-fitted, with toes snug in the end of the boot to minimize movement.

The Gilden Tree Exfoliating Foot Scrub is a creamy, deep-cleansing scrub that leaves skin sensuously soft and velvety. This scrub is wonderful to use – whipped, so it spreads easily, creamy enough to be moisturizing on its own, and with very even, gentle pumice to exfoliate dry skin on feet and body. It’s made with with Certified Organic Aloe Vera, but with a cream base, not soap so it leaves skin softer and more moisturized.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Even with the increased popularity of snowboarding, Alpine Skiing continues to be the most popular snow sport. Although it is often criticized as being dangerous, in truth only 3 in 1000 skiers are injured participating in the sport. Fatalities are extremely rare, although are usually high profile when they occur.

About 50% of skiing injuries occur in the lower extremity, with the knee being the most common area of injury. The knee injuries most commonly occur due to faulty bindings that do not release properly. Newer bindings do help to protect the knee from injury better.

Most ski injuries are ligament sprains. Soft tissue bruising and joint injuries are the next most common injuries. Skiers have half the rate of fractures (broken bones) that skiboarders do – about 17% compared to 34%. “Boot top” fractures of the tibia and fibula at the top of the ankle where either the binding fails to release as it should, or the skier unexpectedly enters softer snow and the skis slow down but his momentum carries him forwards leading to the injury.

Today’s prize for our Winter Olympics Facebook Contest is Orthogel Advanced Cold Therapy Pain Relief Gel. It is a topical pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that is perfect for any aches and pains that you may feel once you get off the slopes.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

To many of us, Luge may seem to be a silly sport. Growing up in the northeast, we would bring our sled to the school hill and sled down. Sometimes, we’d go on a toboggan run. But luge is something else entirely.

The luge sled is on sharp blades going down an ice track, approaching speeds of 100 mph. Small movements of the driver will shift the balance and steer the sled. 64% of injuries with the luge are crash related, resulting in fractures. The others are muscle strains, often in the neck. I, of course, want to recognize the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili on a training run in Vancouver. Our prayers go out to his family and teammates.

Today’s prize for our Facebook giveaway contest is Barefoot Botanica Cracked Heel Repair Cream. It is a deep penetrating cream that actively soothes and repairs dry, cracked, damaged skin and heels.

It dissolves away dry and callused skin and moisturizes the underlying healthy skin. Feet and heels quickly feel and look good again! Cracked heels are a common foot problem that frequently causes pain, bleeding, and infections.If treatment is not initiated early, not only can the pain become intense, but the cracks and fissures may bleed. Once bleeding occurs, the skin is prone to bacterial infections and athletes foot.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Cross country skiing is the Winter Olympics equivalent of track.  With different distances and uneven terrain, and of course long flat devices attached to the feet, the biomechanics is different from the running gait.  Where in running, we strive to minimize the amount of time the foot is in contact with the ground, as we’re faster in the air, cross country skiers look for a fast glide.

Because of the extra weightbearing and the increased amount of contact with the ground, we see overuse injuries most predominantly occur with cross country skiing.  Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints are the most common.  Again, like running, heel pain has to be dealt with both in the summer running season and the winter cross country season!

Of course the presentation of heel pain from cross country skiing is the same as in running, typically a sharp, stabbing pain in the back or bottom of the heel, most commonly occurring first thing in the morning.

One of the most popular items in our Houston office is today’s prize for the Winter Olympics contest.  The TheraBand Foot Roller is used to provide temporary relief from pain associated with plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and tired feet. Patients with plantar fasiciitis can use the roller as a device to stretch the plantar fascia and increase flexibility. Those experiencing soreness from tired feet will find the massaging benefits of the roller pleasant and therapeutic. In all applications, the Foot Roller can be chilled or frozen to help reduce inflammation.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

It’s Valentine’s Day…a day for love!  We reach out to our wives and husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends, and express our love to them.  Great for the flower and chocolate industry!!

It’s also a great idea to shift the focus to loving ourselves.  Too often, in our pursuit of caring for those that we love the most, we start neglecting our own health and well being.  This goes for every aspect of our health, but foot health is something that usually is a low priority in particular.

In my Houston, TX podiatry practice, I see people everyday who can’t take their foot pain anymore.  When I ask them how long they have had it, the answer is commonly “months” and even “years.”  This is unacceptable.  We’ve all heard that if your feet hurt, you hurt all over, then how can we function with pain in our base of support.  It exhausts us to be in pain and affects our work life, recreation, and even our love life.  Waking up with a sharp, stabbing pain in the heel, and then managing your entire day with it takes too much out of you for one day, never mind more than that!

The good news is that your podiatrist can usually quickly and easily manage the pain you are in.  In most cases we are able to provide relief almost immediately!  Don’t suffer with your foot pain.  Your feet are responsible for too much of your enjoyment and productivity!  Love each other, but don’t forget to love yourself too!

Happy Valentines Day!

Some may think that the Biathlon is not so practical…cross country skiing along with rifle target shooting, but it’s pretty entertaining to watch. Not only that, cross country skiing truly provides a full-body workout and the athletes must be in optimal condition. Plus they must stop and calm enough to be sharpshooters.

The most common injuries associated with the biathlon are similar to running injuries, namely medial-tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, and Achilles tendinitis.

Today’s foot product for the winner of our Facebook fan contest is Corganics Topical Relief Analgesic Cream. Corganics Relief is a deep penetrating topical pain reliever that provides quick and effective relief!

Relief™ is formulated with a powerful blend of traditional medicines, each containing the purest herbal extracts such as L-Arginine, MSM, Eucalyptus Oil, Vitamin E, and Menthol.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Short Track Speed Skating became an event in the Winter Olympic Games in 1992. The events, for both men and women, include 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and a relay. Injuries most commonly associated with Short Track Speed Skating include lacerations below the knee, with skaters cut by their own skate blades or those of a competitor, and ankle fractures. Be sure to watch American superstar Apolo Anton Ohno!

Today’s product is one of our most popular!  Biofreeze (also known as “liquid crack” by patients) is a pair relief gel which provides an anti-inflammatory effect.  It’s perfect to rub on any area of pain, whether it be in your ankle after you take off the skates, or your neck, back, shoulder, knees…anywhere!

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Today, over 5000 athletes and officials from over 80 countries are gathering in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  Not as popular as the summer games, the winter games feature a multitude of sports played on ice and snow.

During the course of the winter games, I will highlight different sports and injuries related to the lower extremity.  I’ll also feature a product from my online doctor’s store to give away.  Because of the drying nature of cold weather, I think it’s appropriate for our first featured product to be:

Gilden Tree Foot Creme which is a serious, but gentle foot cream that almost magically helps to heal and soften feet, Gilden Tree’s Healing Foot Cream is extremely rich and gentle. Keep a jar on your bedside table and use it nightly for softer, healthier feet and legs. Made with a Certified Organic Aloe Vera base, instead of water. Thick, rich and very creamy, you’ll love the way it feels and smells. It is remarkably healing – even on very dry, damaged skin, and always one of our best-selling products – try it and find out why.
To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!!  Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

…you just might win!!

Each day of the Winter Olympics, beginning with Opening Ceremonies tonight through Closing Ceremonies on Sunday February 28, we will be choosing one of our Facebook fans to receive a FREE product from our online store. Become a fan by clicking the link at the bottom of this post, or visiting our Facebook page.

Tanglewood Foot Specialists

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With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics quickly approaching, I start to think about all the amazing athletes that will be competing at these games. It is amazing the speed, agility and climate that these athletes perform under. I am not only amazed at the talent that the athletes at the winter Olympics possess but also how well they perform considering the impact they are putting on their feet.

When it comes to the winter Olympics the first thing that you have to remember is that these athletes are performing in cold conditions. Whenever it is cold outside your body attempts to keep itself warm by constricting the superficial blood vessels in the extremities to push more of that warm blood to your vital internal organs. This is why when it is cold outside you are more likely to get frostbite on your toes, fingers, ears and nose then any other area of your body.

Since winter sports are played in cold conditions athletes are forced to make sure they have thick socks on their feet to make sure that they stay as warm as possible. The problem is that many winter sports require athletes to wear shoes that are tight and awkward and do not always go well with thick bulky socks. For example, if you are a skier, then you know that you want to keep your feet warm in your ski boots but need to make sure that the socks will stay in place. All skiers know that if your socks develop a small wrinkle in them while you are skiing then you are in for some terrible blisters and even bruises on your feet and shins.

The last thing that amazes me about the winter Olympics is the way many of these sports put amazing amounts of pressure on athlete’s feet. Think about figure skating, downhill skiing or ski jumping. All of these winter sports take you from standing still to extremely high and dangerous speeds in just seconds. They also can thrust you into the air and require you to land on your feet in uncomfortable and unstable shoes. For this reason the winter games only allows the best of the best to compete because these games can be down right dangerous, leading to twisted ankles, broken feet, concussions and even death!

When you watch the winter Olympics this February keep in mind how much pressure and torque these athletes are putting on their feet while you are cheering them on and you will be even more amazed then ever before at how talented these athletes really are.

We are running a contest during the 2010 Winter Olympics.  Beginning with the Opening Cereomony on Friday, February 12, we will be drawing one “fan” from our Facebook page to receive a high-quality foot health product from our online store.  To enter, just become a fan on Facebook.

Join us now at www.facebook.com/HoustonPodiatrist

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a MD who has been a fixture on Oprah Winfrey’s show and recently started his own talk show that focuses on explaining medicine in a way that the general public can understand. On one of his recent shows he explained how a person’s foot structure can affect their entire body. He showed the audience that there are three main foot types: high arch, normal arch and low arch.

On the show, he showed that there are two quick ways to determine what type of foot structure you have. First you can lay some paper down dip your feet in water and then take a couple of steps on the paper. In a normal arched foot you will be able to see the heel and toe of your foot as well as most of the arch. In a person with high arches their foot print will only show the ball and heel of the foot. A low arch, or flat foot, would look like a paddle.

Dr. Oz also explained that by looking at the bottoms of your shoes you can also get an idea of what your foot type is. The bottoms of your shoes will wear out in the areas where you apply the most pressure. If you have a low arch then the inside of the shoe will be worn down more quickly. However if you have a high arches the outsides of your shoes will wear out more easily.

Dr. Oz did an excellent job of quickly explaining that by having either a high arch, low arch or normal arch your body is more prone to getting different problems. For example if you have a flat foot (Pes Planus) then you are more a risk for developing heel pain and biomechanical deformities, such as bunions or hammertoes.

Although Dr. Oz only skimmed the surface of foot structure and related problems this helps give you an idea of how structure can really affect function. If you have more questions regarding what kind of foot type you have and if your foot structure is causing your health problems then, as Dr. Oz recommends, you should visit your podiatrist.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days…Super Bowl Sunday! Always bittersweet since, as a big football fan, it also indicates the end of another football season. I’m hoping it’s a good game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Not a fan of either team and I don’t have a particular aversion either….so I’m hoping I get to see a good game here in Houston.

One thing that I’m following is the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive end Dwight Freeney’s severe right ankle injury. Now, I wouldn’t play on it and wouldn’t advise my patients to do so either, but professional sports is a different story. They professionally beat their bodies up and push them to the limits for our entertainment and get paid royally to do so. So it certainly is possible, even though he hasn’t participated in any recent workouts, that he probably will play in tomorrow’s game.
From what I read, he sustained a grade 2-3 ankle sprain, which is a complete tear of some of the ligaments that support the ankle. This leads to severe pain and swelling and a very significant instability in his ankle.  Of course, with anti-inflammatory medication, possibly a cortisone injection, taping, and bracing, he can be pieced together to play.

Of course, there is some very real risk to him playing as well.  Without good sensation in his ankle, he will not be very sure-footed and his speed and reaction time will be affected.  Also, there is the good possibility of worsening his injury, rupturing the remaining ligaments that are supporting his ankle.  In fact, he is putting his career at risk, but so is every football player when they walk on the field.  Best case scenario, after the game, he will be immobilized followed by physical therapy to restore strength and balance. Worst case would be surgery to stabilize his ankle, again followed by physical therapy

If you twist or sprain your ankle, get it examined immediately.  Ligaments do heal, but are quick to heal in a stretched position that will provide less stability in the long run.  Even for moderate sprains, studies have shown that a period of immobilization is best to ensure more complete healing of the injury.

One of the most common issues I see in my Houston, TX podiatry practice is ingrown toenails. This is one that spans the ages – from very young children to senior citizens.

Ingrown toenails form for different reasons. In children, the nail sometimes is wider than the nail bed and the edges embed into the skin, which becomes red, inflamed, painful, and often infected. As we mature, the nails can naturally curve, which can cause them to grow in. Incorrect cutting of the nails can also cause and ingrown toenail to form.

If you believe that your nails are beginning to ingrow, do NOT perform “bathroom surgery.” In most cases this will cause the situation to worsen and increase the pain and infection. I have seen patients in the office after using tools such as razor blades and pliers to “remove” the nail, only to end up with a bloody mess.

For some reason, ingrown toenail surgery is particularly feared. In truth, it is pretty easy. the only uncomfortable part of the procedure is an injection at the base of the toe for anesthesia. After waiting a few minutes for the toe to become numb, the procedure itself takes about two minutes and is entire without pain. Only the small piece of nail that is growing into the skin is removed and the rest remains untouched. If there is any infection, it is cleared and a bandage is applied. In most cases, there is no pain when the numbing wears off.

The next time you think your nail may be ingrown, visit your podiatrist for this quick and easy procedure. It is much simpler than taking matters into your own hands.