If you are an active person, it’s more than likely that you’ll suffer any injury at some point, so it’s important to know what running injuries a podiatrist can fix for you.
In fact, nearly 80 percent of runners will sustain at least one injury each year, mostly due to the repeated stress that frequent exercises puts on your body’s tissue and joints.
At Delray Beach Podiatry, Dr. Ian S. Goldbaum treats numerous patients every week that have sustained running-related injuries and know for a fact that although these injuries can be painful, they all can be treated fairly easily with a quick trip to the podiatrist.
“I see runnings coming through my doors constantly,” said Dr. Goldbaum, who has offices in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Fla. “Well, actually, most of the time they’re walking or limping because of an injury they sustained during a run. Luckily, most of these injuries are very treatable and can be identified during a single visit. At our office, we have the tools to get runners back on their feet in no time.”
Running Injuries
1. Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendinitis in an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, which is the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone and allows you to push your foot down.
5 Running Injuries a Podiatrist Can Fix
Achilles tendinitis is usually not related to a specific injury, but instead commonly results from repetitive stress to the tendon, such as walking or running. The pain associated with this condition is characterized by dull or sharp pain anywhere along the back of the tendon, but usually close to the heel.
Achilles tendinitis usually responds well to self-care measures, but if your signs and symptoms are severe or persistent, your doctor might suggest other treatment options. In most cases, nonsurgical treatment options will provide pain relief, although it may take a few months for symptoms to completely subside.
2. Plantar Fasciitis
The most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel, plantar fasciitis the result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the band of connective tissue running from your heel bone to the front of your foot.
The plantar fascia is designed to absorb the high stresses and strains we place on our feet, but when too much pressure is placed on the area it can damage or tear the tissue. The body’s natural response to this type of injury is inflammation, which results in the heel pain and stiffness of plantar fasciitis. Inflammation also makes the fascia more prone to microtears, which can lead to debilitating pain.
If the problem persists, doctors recommend wearing custom-made orthotics, a night splint, or in some cases, getting a steroid shot into the heel to reduce the continued pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
At Delray Beach Podiatry, however, Dr. Goldbaum is able to treat his patients with an advanced cold laser technology that has been scientifically proven to drastically reduce the affects of plantar fasciitis in most patients.
“Plantar fasciitis can be extremely painful and persistent,” said Dr. Goldbaum. “Erchonia’s FX 635 laser is ideal for chronic heel pain sufferers, because it offers effective, pain-free treatment — without side effects. In just three weeks with two treatments per week, patients can have significant and lasting relief from plantar fasciitis.”
3. Shin Splints
A common exercise related ailment, shin splits are in fact not a specific injury, but instead may be a symptom of a number of possible injuries of the lower leg such as a tibial stress fracture or anterior tibialis tendonitis.
These injuries may result in swelling, weakness, numbness, and often cause a constant or intermittent pain in the soft tissues located in the front of the outer leg (tibia). Shin splints occur most commonly in runners, but in reality any rigorous activity in which repetitive stress is placed on the shin can bring about this condition.
It is more likely for a person to incur shin splints when their leg muscles and tendons are tired or if the intensity of their workout is rapidly increased. Women, people with flat feet or rigid arches, athletes, military recruits, and dancers all have an increased likelihood of developing shin splints.
Although there is no specific cure for shin splints, Dr. Goldbaum recommends R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) as a good place to start. If the pain and inflammation persists, however, cold laser treatments or injections are often recommended.
4. Blisters
For runners, blisters most commonly appear on the feet as the result of friction from shoes that don’t fit properly. If the fluid sack is ruptured, blisters can become infected and begin to form pus, thus making the already lingering issue even more difficult to deal with.
Luckily, most blisters don’t require medical treatment and can be handled in the comfort of your own home. The first step is to protect the irritated area as soon as you see signs of redness — also known as “hot spots” — that signal an oncoming blister.
However, if the fluid that comes out of the blister is white, yellowish, or greenish, then that is a sign that your blister could be infected. If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor immediately to get the infection under control. If you suffering from reoccurring blisters, Dr. Goldbaum also recommends custom-made orthotics as a way to limit the amount of blister-causing friction placed on specific areas of the feet.
5. Sprains
A sprain occurs when the ankle rolls in or outward, stretching the ligament.
For a slightly sprained ankle, keep it protected and reduce additional swelling. For a moderately sprained ankle, you’ll have to work on restoring its strength and flexibility. For a greatly sprained ankle, you’ll have to do all of the above in addition to maintenance exercises and physical activity to restore it.
A podiatrist can provide you the proper treatment plan before you begin your recovery process in order to make sure that the sprain heals both properly and in a timely manner. An ankle brace or air cast may be recommended based on the severity of the sprain, and taping methods can be taught in order to prevent re-twisting once the sprain has healed.
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The content on this website is for informational purposes only. Do not rely or act upon information from www.DelrayBeachPodiatry.com without seeking professional medical advice. If you live in South Florida and would like a consultation with Dr. Ian Goldbaum, a podiatric physician and surgeon with over 30 years of experience, please see our contact information below:
DELRAY BEACH
16244 S. Military Trail #290, Delray Beach, FL 33484
561-499-0033
BOCA RATON
2900 N. Military Trail #210, Boca Raton, FL 33431 (SOUTH BLDG)
561-499-2683
BOYNTON BEACH
8198 Jog Road #100, Boynton Beach, FL 33472
561-736-4002
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