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As heels get higher and higher, women face more and more foot problems. The obvious choice for a fancy evening dress is a pair of shoes that look good tonight, and cause pain tomorrow. But not all starlets making their way down the red carpet feel the need to keep up with expectations all night.
Shailene Woodley, co-star of “The Descendants” with George Clooney, sported an alternative foot style when the (main) cameras stopped rolling. The 20-year old attended a Golden Globes after-party wearing a black pair of the fashion-controversial Vibram FiveFingers.
Woodley was attending the Golden Globes because of her nomination for her role in last year’s family-focused tearjerker. While her outfit was stunning as she made her way down the red carpet, high heels and all, and her performance was worthy of an awards nod, she made the headlines because the awards show fashion police didn’t like her footwear.
High heels can destroy women’s foot health and posture, from bunions and blisters to sprained ankles and Achilles tendon issues. The unnatural angle of the foot in these shoes causes pain, and the pain is justified as the foot is just trying to look out for itself.
On the other hand (or foot), Vibram FiveFingers were designed to recreate the natural posture and support of being barefoot. The health benefits for athletes sporting these types of shoes are still being decided on, but everyone can agree that they’re quite a bit more comfortable, and healthier, than a pair of six-inch heels. So why don’t the fashion police just let a rising star enjoy her night in comfort?
Questions regarding proper footwear for women can be directed to the Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. The Santa Fe podiatrist office also offers the Foot and Ankle Health Book free online.
If you ask someone what they know about diabetes, the first two things you’ll probably hear are something about sugar and foot amputations. Diabetes does lead to problems in the feet, and if they are left untreated for too long, nerve damage and skin sores can, in fact, lead to foot amputations.
But doctors in the United Kingdom are working with the Putting Feet First campaign to raise awareness about diabetic foot health care that could reduce the need for amputations. Over the course of twelve months, there were 199 diabetic foot amputations in Northern Ireland, and according to doctors working with the campaign, up to 80% of those could have been prevented. And if one amputation could have been prevented, they say, then there are too many amputations.
A lot of people with diabetes don’t know that their feet are at an elevated health risk and that something as simple as a scratch or hangnail can cost them their feet. Putting Feet First hopes to bring attention to the special care that needs to be taken with feet. They advise a foot inspection from a doctor at least annually, and say that foot ulcers and cuts should be treated by a doctor within twenty-four hours of being detected.
The campaign hopes to get their message across to the United Kingdom, and hopes that other diabetes organizations will also pass their message around the globe. Their goal is to reduce diabetic foot amputations by 50% over the next five years.
If you have questions about the health care of diabetic feet and how to prevent unnecessary amputations, contact a Santa Fe foot doctor that can develop a plan to keep your diabetes under control. The Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. specializes in foot health and can work with you to make sure you stay on your feet. Order their Foot and Ankle Health Book available for free online.
Recent studies have shown that the price of an artificial leg has gone up by more than half while amputations due to diabetes have been on a steady decline the last several years. Between 2005 and 2010 the number of foot amputations decreased by about 1,900, but Medicare went from paying $59 million to $94 million a year for artificial feet. Something is not adding up.
The Associated Press had funded research into the area of prosthetics and discovered the 58% increase in insurance spent on this health care issue. Medicare is worried about the fact that it is paying significantly more money while serving fewer older or disabled Americans.
Representatives of the prosthetic technology community have asserted that persons with disabilities are benefitting from better technology and higher mobility after receiving their surgery and artificial foot. But at what cost? Medicare says they are simply trying to help people with basic day-to-day operations, not get back on the basketball court, and the technology in use has been more than adequate. The research and development that has gone into providing returning soldiers with marathon-capable limbs might be destroying the affordability for older patients.
The Associated Press also found gross overbilling and evidence of widespread fraud in the billing of prosthetics. From improper diagnoses to prescribing more expensive prosthetics, to outright fabrication of charges, Medicare is having to cover more than what is necessary in the field. With a more controlled billing system, and a better process of matching the patient to the best artificial limb for his situation, Medicare hopes to bring down the cost of health care to its patients again.
Questions regarding the prosthetics and artificial limbs available for diabetic patients can be directed to Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. These Santa Fe podiatrists can work with patients to discover their best plan of action during trying times. You can also order their Foot and Ankle Health Book free online.
Runner Alan Webb is looking to earn a spot on the United States’ roster for this summer’s 2012 London Olympics. Webb first garnered recognition in 2001 by beating the high school record for the mile, which had stood for 36 years. Unfortunately, Webb’s career since then has been a roller coaster.
In 2007, his 1,500 meter time of 3:30.54 broke the American record for U.S.-born runners. He failed to qualify for the 2008 games and later suffered injuries that set him back even further. He developed an Achilles tendon complication in 2008 that was finally operated on and repaired two years later.
Soon after his Achilles surgery, Webb suffered a stress fracture in his foot and another stress fracture in his tibia following that. Despite these setbacks, he has been working tirelessly to overcome his injuries in time for the 2012 games. The injuries shortened his preparation period, giving his competitors an edge in the qualifying races.
With only two months left before the Olympic trials, Webb has more ground to cover. His immediate focus is improving his current 1,500 meter time of 3 minutes and 39 seconds. This time is promising given how long he was out for rehab. However, Webb knows that it is not fast enough in a race with numerous strong competitors. At 29 years old, Webb states, “I’m not the young guy anymore, but I’m not the old guy. I’m in my prime now. I’m not going to give up now.”
As experienced Santa Fe podiatrists, we know how much dedication it takes to come back from extensive injuries. We wish the best to Alan Webb as he pursues his Olympic dream. If you have questions regarding rehabilitation of sports-related injuries, contact us today at 505-982-0123.
The offseason has had its ups and downs for every team in the National Football League. The New York Giants have been celebrating a Superbowl victory, while the New England Patriots and the other thrity teams of the NFL have been trying to figure out how what went wrong last season and how to improve before August.
Adding to the difficulty of getting coaches to learn more and players to play better, injuries have been almost as common in the offseason as they were during the regular season. However, unlike during the regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles have some notice before they have to replace their starting all-pro left tackle Jason Peters.
Peters recently underwent surgery for an Achilles tendon injury he sustained while particpating in individual workouts in Texas on March 27th. The Eagles are scrambling to come up with a replacement who can fill his role before the preseason begins in August. They’re hoping to have one sooner so he can learn the ropes of the Eagles, but an available left tackle could be hard to acquire on short notice.
The average recovery period for a professional athlete of this level is about nine months, which is about five months longer than the Eagles have. Peters will hopefully return in time for a final push towards the playoffs later in the season, but Philadelphia can’t just wait for his return.
Demetrius Bell has met with a few teams after the Buffalo Bills failed to resign him at the end of the season. Several teams are interested, so Philadelphia needs to act fast unless they want to take their chances in the NFL Draft in a couple weeks.
If you have questions about recovery, diagnosis, or prevention of Achilles tendon injuries or other podiatry issues, contact an experienced Santa Fe foot doctor who can help. The Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. can answer questions you have and set up a recovery plan with you. Their Foot and Ankle Health Book is available for free online.
Following the end of the lockout of the National Basketball Association, players had to hit the ground running as the season got under way. The off season usually includes conditioning camps, extra practices, and court experience necessary to begin a successful year in the NBA.
Because of the lockout, teams were unable to meet officially or at the regular practice sites. Some players organized individual workouts, but there were no required pracices or conditioning sessions, which would prepare their bodies for the grueling season ahead.
Rookies were put in an especially difficult situation because they didn’t have the experience of working through a previous off-season. After the lockout was resolved, they had to immediatelly begin running with the professionals they had only see on TV previously. Without the conditioning to prepare them, their bodies were not used to the physical demands, and some paid the price.
Mike Miller of the Miami Heat sprained his ankle during a difficult scheduling stretch a few weeks ago and is scheduled to make his return against the Detroit Pistons. He missed fourteen games but has been involved in practices, hoping to get on the court soon. Without enough time to get used the schedule, the body can take bumps and bruises that greatly affect it.
Ankles and feet are especially vulnerable to injury after a period of rest leading up to an increase exercise workload. If a professional athlete can fall victim to this type of injury, the average person beginning a workout regiment can as well.
If you have questions about preparing yourself for a workout regiment or your foot health, contact an experienced Santa Fe podiatrist. The Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. can work with you and answer questions to prevent injuries in the future. You can also order their Foot and Ankle Health Book available for free online.
The New York Yankees may be one of the most storied franchises in sports history, but they are, in fact, made up of mortal men. With the season yet to begin, there are at least two injuries reported that will affect the line up for opening day, which is quickly approaching.
Right handed relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain suffered a severe sprained ankle recently while playing at a local play place with his son. The report did not mention if Chamberlain was using the trampoline at the time of the injury, but trampolines were pulled from many playgrounds years ago for their high rate of injuries.
The Yankees also suffered an injury when All Star pitcher David Robertson was injured at home while moving boxes.
Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman said that Chamberlain would be recovering in the hospital for a few days after the surgery repairing his ankle. The sprain caused a bone in the ankle to break out of the skin, probably from landing awkwardly, noted Cashman.
Chamberlain is a larger pitcher, standing at 240 pounds on a 6’2” frame. He was already expected to miss part of the season, possibly until early or mid summer, recovering from an elbow ligament replacement surgery earlier in the off-season.
When asked if this would affect Chamberlain’s career, Cashman said it was too early to tell, and that Chamberlain is a strong fighter in good hands. The Yankees hope to have him back on the field before the end of the season.
If you have further questions regarding treatment plans for a sprained ankle, or other foot injuries, contact an experienced Santa Fe podiatrist office that may have your answers. The Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. can work with you on a recovery plan to get you back on your feet. You can also order their Foot and Ankle Health Book available for free online.
Tiger Woods recently added an Achilles tendon strain to his long list of career injuries. The good news is that it is not a season- or career-ending injury, as some Achilles tendon issues can be. The doctors told him it’s not as bad as it could be, or as bad as he’s had in the past.
Woods had to take himself out of the WCG Cadillac Tournament recently, marking the third time in three years that he’s pulled himself in the middle of an event. If he decides to sit out for the following week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, it will make the sixth year in a row that he’s missed tournaments due to, let’s say, unforeseen circumstances. For sports like football or basketball, that’s not bad, but it’s a little above average for golfers.
To almost literally add insult to injury, this is the same Achilles tendon that was responsible for Woods missing four months of last season, including two Majors. And although this injury is more minor, his hopes of being out on the driving range after only a week could be a little overly optimistic. Rest and ice are good, but it could take a little more time to be back on the links with the best in the world.
Minor Achilles injuries can take two to four weeks to recover if a good rehabilitation program is in place, along with proper ice and rest. This could put Tiger behind on preparation for the Masters season, but he’s been through worse, on and off the links.
If you have questions about an Achilles tendon injury, or want to develop a rehabilitation program with an experienced Santa Fe foot doctor, contact the Foot and Ankle Associates, Inc. to set up a consultation. You can also order their Foot and Ankle Health Book available for free online.
After looking at the numbers of injuries this past season in the National Football League, one statistic jumped out to trainers, coaches, and players. The rate of Achilles tendon issues was around the yearly average before a single snap of the ball in the regular season.
Before week one, there were ten Achilles tendon injuries, five of which were suffered by rookies. According to different sources, the league averaged between four and eight Achilles tendon tears per season since 1980.
The NFL was on a lockout that threatened to end the whole season before it even began, so players could not participate in formal team practices or workout at their team’s facilities. Some players worked out on their own and some got teammates together for more formal workouts, but many used the extra time for relaxing or working other jobs.
When the league and the players finally came to an agreement, many players were behind the in their fitness. The prevalence of Achilles tendon problems had a lot to do with players being unprepared for getting back to the grind of an NFL lifestyle. Rookies were especially at risk because they had never worked out at the professional level.
To keep a healthy body, the players should have been maintaining a workout regiment that was on par with their regular routine. Athletes at this level aren’t the only ones at risk of injuries like these. A set of basic ankle flexibility and strength exercises can keep people on their feet through recreational sports or just life in general.
If you have questions about Achilles tendon injuries or other ankle problems, or want to know how to protect yourself from injuries like these, contact the Foot & Ankle Associates, Inc. The Santa Fe podiatrist office can offer advice on how to stay active and what to do if you’re already injured. Order their, Foot and Ankle Health Book, for free online.
The Washington Nationals have been hard at work getting ready for spring training, which kicked off recently. But Adam LaRoche has been given a few extra days to rest a sore shoulder in hopes of getting back on the field before the first game of the Grapefruit League against the Houston Astros.
LaRoche is able to take some time to rest his shoulder not because the staff felt he should be better safe than sorry, but because he recently sprained his left ankle in running drills. He missed some team practices during the week, but he isn’t giving himself too much of a break, still participating in a few hitting and throwing drills. Running is off the table until the game so he doesn’t risk adding time to the healing process.
This break before the action will help give his left shoulder, which he had surgically repaired last season, time to heal. As a major injury like that might, it started getting sore after just a few days of drills at the beginning of the preseason. But he feels a few days off of major action should get him ready for the preseason games.
The injuries actually came at a decent time for the first baseman. On top of each other, the injuries will keep him off his feet for less time than if they came back to back. All players are adjusting back to the daily grind of baseball, and he’s happy to have the time to let both heal before the regular season games get going.
If you have questions about the nature of ankle sprains or sports injuries in general, contact the Foot & Ankle Specialists, Inc. for a consultation to work out a healing process that can get you back on your feet. This Santa Fe podiatrist also offers the free, Foot and Ankle Health Book, for free online.
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