A bunion (hallux abducto valgus) is a deformity characterized by the big toe which protrudes outwardly and is made up of bone and soft tissue. Heredity plays a small part in the cause of bunions with the most common cause being extended wear of poorly fitting shoes. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 88 percent of women wear shoes that don’t fit properly and 55 percent have bunions. Bunions are nine times more common in women than men. Follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00140) to ensure a proper shoe fit:
- Always judge how the shoe fits based on how it fits on the foot! Don’t always rely on your shoe size as sizes vary among brands and styles.
- Select a shoe that fits as closely as possible to the shape of your foot.
- Did you know your feet change as you grow older? Have your feet measured on a regular basis.
- Size your feet at the end of the day when the feet are the largest.
- Stand while fitting and verify that there is enough space (3/8” to ½”) for your longest toe at the end of each shoe.
- Make sure the ball of your foot fits perfectly into the widest part of the shoe.
- Don’t buy shoes under the belief they will stretch! Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a slight amount of slippage.
- Before purchasing, walk around to make sure the shoe fits and feels comfortable.
Foot pain can have a debilitating effect on your daily life. At Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center we offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical methods. We take great care to understand the root cause of a problem, not just its symptoms. This allows us to identify the most desirable treatment to achieve lasting recovery in the shortest time possible. For more information please contact one of our foot and ankle specialists at 540.347.9220 or visit www.broava.com.
Foot and Ankle Pain can have a debilitating effect on your daily life!
Many factors can lead to foot and ankle pain. At Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center, we treat foot and ankle injuries caused by work, sports-related injuries, fractures, deformities and disease using a variety of surgical and non-surgical methods.
Specialized treatments and surgical procedures –
- Ankle and foot trauma
- Tendonitis
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Achilles tendon
- Heel pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bunions, hammer toes, claw toes
- Ankle and foot arthritis
- Flat feet deformities
The Foot and Ankle Center at Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center brings together a highly qualified and experienced team to treat foot and ankle conditions caused from work and sports related injuries, fractures, deformities, congenital defects and disease. To schedule an appointment with one of foot specialists please call 540.347.9220 or visit www.broava.com for more information.
Running can be a very beneficial part of a workout routine. However, like most exercises, if not done correctly or with proper preparation, a good run can do more harm that good.
Many people associate running with putting stress on lower extremities, like knees and feet. While that’s true, running also puts a lot of stress on your back. Here are some tips from Spine-Health to help make sure a painful lower back doesn’t sidetrack your running.
- Warm up properly before you run. This post offers a few tips on stretching and preparing for a run.
- Stretch your hamstrings regularly—twice a day is good—to minimize stress across the low back
- Muscle toning and strength training will help your back—and your entire core—stay strong.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. This article from the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine offers guidance on proper running shoe selection.
- If possible, run on softer surfaces, like a rubber track or dirt/grass. Avoid running on cement if at all possible—it is harder than even asphalt, and the harder the surface, the more punishment your body must absorb.
Of course, you should always consult with your doctor before starting or making drastic changes to your workout regimen.
Are you experiencing pain from having pushed your workout routine a bit too much? Our team can help. Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk to you.
Joba Chamberlain’s career has veered from exhilarating to frustrating to a testament to sweat and hard work. Now, in its latest and perhaps last chapter, Chamberlain’s saga has become heart-wrenching as the Yankee reliever lies in a Tampa hospital bed with a possible career-ending ankle injury.
Chamberlain suffered a gruesome open dislocation of his right ankle while playing with his son Thursday and, according to a Yankee source, lost a potentially life-threatening amount of blood. He has already had surgery and will remain in the hospital for several more days, his inspiring comeback from Tommy John surgery put on hold, at the very least.
Read more at the New York Daily News.
To find out how to treat complicated ankle injuries, visit our Foot and Ankle Center.
A recently published study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine demonstrates that screening strategies vary widely in identifying women residing in nursing homes who are eligible for treatment of osteoporosis. However, the researchers concluded that a reasonable clinical approach would be to consider osteoporosis treatment for those with clinical fractures of the hip or spine, radiologic evidence for a vertebral fracture or osteoporosis by bone mineral density classification.
Led by Susan Greenspan, M.D., professor of medicine at Pitt, the study, published in this month’s Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, sought to identify nursing home patients who would benefit from pharmacologic treatment of osteoporosis, which could decrease their risk for bone fractures. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and break easily.
“Osteoporosis in the frail elderly can have devastating consequences, but we have yet to perfect a system for identifying those patients who would benefit most from the treatment,” Dr. Greenspan said in a news release issued about the study.
The researchers evaluated a variety of osteoporosis screening strategies in more than 200 women residing in 11 long-term care facilities in the Pittsburgh area. Screening measures included history of bone fracture, bone mineral density by standard Dexa scanning, the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) with body mass index (BMI), FRAX with femoral neck bone density, and heel ultrasound.
The study found that depending on the screening strategy used, identification of treatment eligibility varied from 17 percent for clinical fracture to 98 percent for FRAX with BMI. Also, three-quarters of vertebral fractures were “silent,” meaning they caused no symptoms, and were identified only through X-ray or special screening scans.
“This is worrisome because many physicians rely on bone density screening, but that approach missed half the women with vertebral fractures who would be candidates for osteoporosis treatment,” Dr. Greenspan said. “Still, some form of screening for vertebral fractures is appropriate because treatment could prevent more osteoporosis damage and future fractures.”
If you have suffered a fractures of the hip or spine, radiologic evidence for a vertebral fracture or osteoporosis by bone mineral density classification and are interested in being screened for osteoporosis, set up an appointment today by clicking here or calling our office at (540) 347 9220.