Dr. Dana Waters a podiatrist in Hillsborough and Piscataway, NJ explains how to treat ankle sprains at home. There are different treatments you can do at home, but if the pain persists you need to see a podiatrist.

Peroneal Tendonitis: A Common Missed Problem in an Ankle Sprain

Below the outside ankle bone there are two tendons that can be easily injured during an ankle sprain.  These tendons are called the peroneals.  The longer tendon is called the peroneus longus and the shorter one, the peroneus brevis.

The function of these tendons is to turn the foot outward.  Most anklesprains occur when the foot and ankle roll inward causing an excessive amountof tension on these tendons.  The brevis tendon attaches to a bone on the outside of the foot, called the fifth metatarsal.  Due to this, it is very common to have the tendon pull off a piece of bone during a sprain.  When one sprains his ankle, most emergency room physicians will order only an ankle x-ray.  A foot x-ray is also needed to diagnose this fracture.

Ankle sprains are not the only cause of peroneal tendon injuries.  Feet with severe high arches will cause excessive strain on thetendon.  This is because the foot is naturally severely inverted (turned in).  Another culprit of peroneal tendonitis is direct trauma, so anything that hits or rubs against the tendon.  Besides the above causes, improper or abnormal shoe wear is a huge reason people get pain along these tendons.  Flip-flops allow the foot to move in all directions without any support and can cause a myriad of problems.  In addition, shoes with worn out sides cannot support the foot or ankle. 

When you have pain in this region, the doctor will first get an x-ray to rule-out a fracture. The next step is to treat this problem with the RICE method.  This is rest, ice, compression and elevation.  Depending on the severity of the pain or injury, you will either have a removable compression sleeve or a soft cast and a walking boot for a week or two.  If there is a fracture, then a hard cast and crutches might be necessary for 4-6weeks.  In really severe fractures, where the bone is displaced, surgical intervention is required.

Once the initial inflammation calms down, an injection of a steroid (anti-inflammatory) might be needed, as well as physical therapy to strengthen the area as well as to increase mobility and decrease swelling.  The final treatment would be a custom orthotic, which is an insert, made specifically for your foot, which will control the foot’s poor function. Family Foot & Ankle Specialists in Piscataway and Hillsborough NJ also offers a painless FDA approved laser to not only treat the pain but to help in the healing process of the tendon.   In very rare instances, the tendon is bogged down with scar tissue, and surgical intervention is needed to clean it out. 

As you can see, peroneal tendonitis is not something you want to ignore.  If you are suffering with this condition, go see your local podiatrist as soon as possible.  Remember, the faster you treat this, the quicker it will heal and get you back into the game. 

Wendy Williams Loses Because of her Feet!

I am not a Dancing with the Stars nut but I did get a chance to see Wendy Williams’ feet and I must say they do not look good. With bunions, blisters, and swelling I am not sure how she managed to put her feet in stilettos and put on a show. That in itself is talent. Still, she was voted off and her dancing didn’t make the cut.

I haven’t done any professional dancing but I can respect the intense work it does on your entire body and on your feet. Spinning, stepping, dipping, swaying all push your body to use it in ways you are not used to and it also puts increased stress and strain on your feet. It is no secret that podiatrist do not promote heel wearing. Surely we wouldn’t promote heel wearing while spinning, stepping, dipping, and swaying across a glossy dance floor right? Well entertainment is entertainment. No one is going to line up to see a beautiful ballroom dance with sweeping elegant gown and well supportive athletic shoes. Seriously!!!!

I’ve worked with ballerinas and other professional dancers and it is just devastating what happens to a professional dancer’s feet. What they endure is unbelievable. There are things to keep your feet healthy if you are a dancer or are pursing to take up dancing as a new hobby. First, you have to know your feet. Are you prone to ankle sprains? Do you have a flat foot or a foot with a high arch? There are general precautions and taping techniques to prevent you from injuries depending on your foot type. Second, know your shoes. Not all heels are created equal. Most importantly, flip them over and take a look at the bottom. Dance floors are made slightly slick to help the dancer glide along the floor. Paired with the wrong shoe, the dancer may be gliding across the floor on their bum. Lastly, know when to stop. Your feet are a part of your body. You can push them too hard and do too much damage. They hurt for a reason! Your body is trying to tell you something.

When you are a non-dancer who goes to dancing 7 days week like Wendy Williams, there is no way you will make it without blisters, bleeding, and stiffness. The biggest mistake is going to long too soon. Dancing is like running. You have to take baby steps and work yourself up to the long hours and the advanced moves. Blisters go away with time, but some injuries will change how your foot functions.

Is Brett Favre’s Ankle Serious

The reason Favre is so enjoyable to watch is because you never know what is coming next. No one could have predicted the scene at Lambeau as the Green Bay Packers defeated their rival and hero, the Vikings with Bret Favre. Are you really a Hero when you play through injuries and avoid medical attention during a game?
I have read many articles trying to decipher this ankle injury, but the reports are vague only stating Favre suffers from two minor ankle fractures including a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture. I have also read a report that discusses a so called “heel” problems or injury. The reports say neither injury is severe and surgery is not necessary and the Vikings star is not practicing and resting in a controlled ankle motion boot (CAM Walker). Whether Favre will play on Sunday is still unknown.

I cannot predict or diagnose an injury without seeing them physically but here is what I know about Favre’s recovery time. Bone takes about 6 weeks to regain adequate strength after it breaks. Stress fractures heal faster since they are only hairline defects but still require a significant time of rest and decreased activity. Most stress fractures are secondary to overuse over time and not the result of a blunt trauma. Avulsion fractures result when ligaments or tendons pull off a piece of bone during a traumatic event. This injury most certainly happened after Favre was tackled. These injuries do not always need surgery, but they do require time to heal.

I find it interesting we nearly praise someone for playing through pain and injury when infarct they are only hurting themselves and their team. Ignoring an injury that is visibly impairing you can be very dangerous. I worry that many young men athletes think Favre’s actions are heroic. High school football injuries are getting a lot of attention this year. Many are suffering from damaging concussions and few have even died during a high school football game. Favre may be sending the wrong message to these young athletes. Your body does have a limit and ignoring a painful limp does not make you superhuman. It is after all just a game.

The future hall of famer, the Green Bay legend and the greatest quarterback of all time will always be remembered as a man who redefined the odds of the game and was at times above the game.

Today, we wonder if Childress and Favre are reading comic books or pretending to be Superman. You can’t play football with a broken ankle, a heel problem and tendonitis in your throwing arm. Well, Favre probably can but will he be any good? Favre has proven everything he possibly could on the field, now it is time to prove he can sit the bench. Not even Favre can go beyond his body’s limits.

Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre: The Foot Comparison!

You cannot watch football this season without hearing about Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. They have been over analyzed in every way possible. So much attention surrounds the legend and the rising star who replaced him. They have faced each other twice already this season, both with a Favre victory, yet the discussions don't seem to subside for a moment. So, to add on to this intense analysis, let us explore the foot injuries of the two athletes!

Prior to the Viking and Packer game, Favre had his first report on the Viking's injury list with foot pain. Nothing more was said about the issue other than that he had a sore foot. The irony of the situation is that after the game, Rodgers suffered from a foot and a toe sprain. Is this the beginning of the end? Did Favre get the last word through foot injuries?

A sprain describes an injury in which a ligament between two bones is stretched, damaged or torn. A Grade 1 injury is fairly mild with only minor damage to the ligament. A Grade 2 injury is a partially torn ligament and a Grade 3 is a ligament that is completely torn. With a grade 1 injury, the recovery time is short with very few possible complications.

On the other hand, a grade 3 can takes months to heal and is often extremely painful. Foot sprains are rare in the general population, but are common in sports that put the foot in abnormal twisting positions. Such injuries usually result in a grade 1 or grade 2 damage and complete recovery can be seen within the season with much improvement in only weeks.

Treatment consists of rest, icing, strapping, and anti-inflammatory drugs. A sprained big toe is better known as turf toe. This usually results when the big toe is abnormally hyper-extended. This injury can often be more debilitating than a foot sprain because of the important role the big toe plays in pushing off the ground when running. The grading system is the same as a foot sprain with Grade 1 being a minor injury and grade 3 being more severe.

To prevent further damage with the ability to continue activities, taping techniques have been proven quite effective. The severity of the foot injuries of Favre and Rodgers has been downplayed and seeing their continued performance on the field allows us to assume they are minor.

Still, these injuries can be very painful and increases the risk for a more severe injury. To prevent further injuries, both players should be undergoing physical therapy and switch to a more stable shoe gear. The cleats and the flexibility of football shoes increase the chance that the foot will be twisted in a position that could worsen the injury.

Rodgers' first line of treatment should be to have more protection on the field. It is likely that the injury resulted after one of his many sacks this season. Favre, has age working against him. Younger athletes tend to recover better and faster than older athletes, but Favre has proven that age does not define his ability to play football. Only time will tell if these injuries will advance to a more serious problem that will take them off the field.

The likelihood of these injuries progressing is unlikely since they seem to be only presenting with minor symptoms. Thus, the live football drama series of Favre versus Rodgers will continue.