Broken Ankle

Do you know how handle a broken ankle?

All of the tasks and activities you are involved in on a daily basis can take a toll on your feet. While they are incredibly designed to withstand extreme amounts of stress, they have their limits like any other part of your body. Ankles are especially vulnerable to injury and broken ankles are very common.

There are three bones that make up your ankle joint and even a small or minor injury can prove harmful to these bones. Most often the result of injury, a broken ankle can be as small as a crack or a severe break. Also called a fracture, a break can happen with a minor injury and may not even be obvious.

Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot and ankle specialist in Houston, TX has treated many patients with broken ankles who weren’t even aware they had that level of injury. A severe sprain can result in a lot of pain as well so look for the following symptoms to diagnose a possible fracture:

• Painful to the touch

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Limited or no ability to bear weight on the ankle

• Deformity

What you can do

If you experience any of these symptoms after an injury, avoid putting any weight on the ankle. Apply an ice pack and elevate your leg to reduce pain and swelling. If possible, immobilize the ankle by wrapping it and see a health care professional as soon as possible. X-rays will be needed to identify which bone is broken and the severity of your injury.

There are serious risks involved if an injury like this is not cared for appropriately. Arthritis, infection and nerve damage can develop if the fracture is not properly treated. If you have any ankle pain, either from injury or that has come on over time, please contact Houston Foot Specialists for help. You can call our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or visit us online.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

Related articles

• Broken Foot - It's a Traumatic Thing
• Hudson carted off after right ankle is broken
• Don’t Be That Person. Get Strong Ankles!

Baseball Cleats

For many adults and kids alike, baseball is in full swing. Whether you are playing in a professional game, recreationally or have a child in little league, protecting feet and ankles with the proper footwear is essential.

Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot specialist in Houston, TX, has all too often seen the damage done to feet from wearing poor shoes. This is especially true with athletes. With the sliding, running and rapid starts and stops involved in baseball, feet and ankles can take a beating. Some of the more common injuries Dr. Bowman treats with his baseball enthusiasts include: ankle sprains, fractures, shin splints, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. While tennis shoes may suffice for a game of catch, baseball typically requires cleats as the necessary footwear.

When you are looking for a good pair of cleats, keep comfort in mind. You may be tempted to find a cheap pair online, instead go to a store and try shoes on. You want to find cleats that have a wide toe box with room for your toes to wiggle. The heel cup should also be snug so your feet do not slide in and out of the shoe. There are also variations in how high cleats come up the ankle. A low top will be lightweight but may not offer your ankle much support. If you have had sprains or injury in the past, choose a cleat with a high top for maximum support. Some leagues also have rules on the type of cleat allowed so be sure to check which style you need.

If you are new to wearing cleats, it will be helpful to practice in them to adjust to how they feel during play. The cleats can get stuck and result in foot and knee injuries. Practicing will help you go full speed during the game and avoid potential injuries.

If you have an old or new sports injury or a concern about how your foot health may be affecting your game, please contact our podiatric office for help. Make an appointment by calling (713) 467-8886 or visit us online www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

Related articles

• Footwear for Lacrosse
• Symptoms of a High Ankle Sprain
• How to Choose Different Types of Soccer Cleats

A Ballet Dancer’s Guide to Foot Care

Ballet is one of the most intense and competitive physical activities. It puts excessive stress upon your feet, ankles and toes. Ballet dancers put themselves at risk for many painful foot problems, most commonly severe blisters and bone fractures.

Below are some tips for ballet dancers to help keep free from injury. They include:

• Wrap your feet. Most ballet dancers practice on a daily basis. This makes their feet susceptible to aches and pains. Wrapping your feet before every dance can relieve swelling and pain brought on by the pressure. Wrapping your feet can also prevent your feet from blistering.

• Find your correct size. If your ballet shoes allow your feet and toes too much room to move it can result in painful blisters.

• Massage your feet.  

• Give your feet a rest. Practice makes perfect, but too much physical activity can easily lead to an overuse injury. If you begin to experience pain in your feet, toes, or ankles, take a break. Allow your feet time to rest while icing and elevating your affected area to reduce swelling and pain.

Dancing, particularly ballet, places extreme physical demands on your feet, toes and ankles. The physical demands put your feet at risk for injuries or other ailments. Practicing proper foot care on a daily basis is important in maintaining the health of your feet.

If you experience a foot or ankle ballet injury contact our office at (713) 467-8886 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Bowman.

References:

http://www.dancersfeetct.blogspot.com/
http://houstonfootspecialists.com.edit.officite.com/blog/post/have-fun-dancing-without-injury-to-feet--ankles.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/362111-how-to-wrap-a-dancers-foot/

Related articles

• The Pain Of It All - How One Thing Leads To Another!
• By Golly Laddie, the Feet Pain Me So!
• The Athlete In The Performing Artist

Purchase of Reebok’s Easy Tone Shoes to be Refunded

If you have watched the news in the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably heard about the big fiasco between Reebok and the The Federal Trade Commission.  It all centers around the Easy Tone collection of Reebok shoes and the claim that these shoes will strengthen people’s legs and backside.  The American Council of Exercise did a study at the University of Wisconsin at La Cross, and they found that there really isn’t any benefit to wearing one of the three brands of toning shoes over a pair of regular running shoes.  

One major problem with these toning shoes, though, is that there have actually been injuries that have occurred.  These injuries include ankle sprains and ankle fractures.  These shoes are especially dangerous for people who already have a hard time with balance.  The problem is that the way the shoes are designed, your normal walk is thrown way off.  The toning technology in Skechers Shape-Ups is that of a rocking motion.  With the bulk of the contact of your shoe in the middle of your foot, you have to relearn how to walk and it is very easy to trip, thus resulting in a fall.  In contrast, Reebok Easy Tone shoes are built on a ball on both the front of the foot and the heel of the foot.  This makes your steps very unstable and thus the foot can slip side to side, which can result in ankle sprains and/or ankle fractures.  The danger significantly  increases with the elderly wearing these toning shoes, as their bones are more easily damaged, and a fall could result in broken bones.  

So the question arises, are toning shoes really worth it?  There isn’t any benefit to wearing toning shores rather than normal running shoes.  In fact, toning shoes have a higher risk of injury.  It doesn’t seem like they are worth the cost.  If you have additional comments that you would like me to consider when posting about the Toning Shoes – please post them and I will gladly respond.  

For more information regarding shoes and what we recommend, please visit our website at www.houstonfootspecialists.com