AF&A Blog

Tonight’s game aside, the second week of NFL football is complete and along with it some players season. Only two weeks into the season the injury list for the NFL is quite long. With the hard hits on the run, it is no surprise that most of these injuries occur in the knees, ankle and feet.

With ‘deep sadness’, tennis pro Serena Williams has decided to listen to her doctor and not play in the US Open. This is obviously a difficult decision for her as friends have noted this is one of her favorite tournaments to play in.

This is also a big headline as she is the number one ranked player in the world. Her absence also prevents her sister Venus and her from defending their doubles title. Though not a happy decision, we here at AFAS feel she is making the best decision. Returning to any activity before allowing proper time for healing will only increase the risk or re-injuring, cause more extensive damage, or leave one with permanent deficits.

The injury that will prevent Serena from competing occurred in early July. While dining at a restaurant, her foot was injured by a broken glass. This type of injury involves a sharp, foreign body. Any foreign body carries inherent risk of infection and your Podiatric physician will clean the wound clean promptly. Depending on factors such as the type of object and the depth of the wound, you may be prescribed antibiotics. A sharp object, like broken glass, can cut tendons, blood vessels, or nerves. The recoveries for injuries such as these are varied. Tendon injuries typically require 6 weeks to heal, with additional time to be toned back to their original strength. It is important to follow your doctor’s instruction when you are recovering from any type of surgery. If Serena Williams can sit out the US Open, you can surely keep yourself off you feet long enough to heal properly. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

Fashion? Podiatry blog? No, you didn’t click on the wrong link. You may be thinking this is a far cry from the sort of topics you find on the 

^{Austin Foot & Ankle Specialists blog} , but think again. We talk about the right kind of foot wear fairly often but very few of us wear the type of shoe that is best for your feet on every day. In fact, more often than not your ‘dress’ shoes are not going to accommodate orthotics and probably are not the best fit for your foot. This may be especially true for many women’s shoes which may often put fashion before function.

We know that you are never going to wear a pair of tennis shoes with your slacks. There may even be a few of you reading this thinking ‘you can have my high heels, when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers’. Well, maybe you are not that extreme, but we want to offer you a little bit of advice when selecting and wearing those stylish shoes. First off you should always make sure they are a good fit. Your toes should not be crammed into the front, but rather have about a finger’s width of space between the tip of your toes and the tip of the shoe. This is important because as you walk, your foot slides forward in your shoe. Your toes need somewhere to go or they will take the brunt of this motion getting smashed to the front with every step. Secondly, since we mentioned high heels earlier, a quick suggestion: use them sparingly. Walking on your toes or the ball of your foot frequently, can be painful and lead to a variety of problems later on. Remember Austin, you should never ignore your feet hurting. Making sure you have a good fit and visiting Dr. Thomajan should help to keep your feet pain free!

No, no, we are not talking about some crazy college ritual, but rather the bare foot running movement that seems to be popping up in the media now a days. Obviously, man walked around barefoot long before shoes were even an idea and this ‘theory’ of running without shoes is not a new one. The theory behind this movement, in short, is that shoes weaken the muscles that support your foot and ankle allowing runners to increase their performance by running without shoes. Scientific studies to support these claims are quite limited and often originate in other countries. Because of these short falls, yet the continued interest, we at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists want to point out a few things that you should be conscious of if this is something you are considering.

The protection value of foot ware should be the first thing to think of. While you may think the area or machine that you are running on is free of foreign objects that could damage your feet, how many have us a swept up all of a broken glass only to find a small shard weeks later? Secondly, many factors, such as hydration, can affect the amount of padding on the bottom of your feet and in high impact activities, like running, it may prove to be inadequate. A good pair of running shoes provides proper protection and padding to allow for safe running. Good shoes are designed to complement your foot and ankle while you are running. As was mentioned in previous blogs, the ankle is an area of great force benefiting from proper support.

While you always hear that you should ‘consult your doctor before beginning or changing any exercise program’, embarking on this type of running program should definitely involve a consultation with your podiatrist. Until next time stay healthy Austin!

If you’ve been able to spend some time on the slopes this season, you may have found a plethora of ways to spend your time other than skiing. Snowboarding is one option that has become extremely popular. This sport is quite different from skiing in many aspects and it is important to obtain quality instruction before you begin. Assuming you’ve done this and have all the proper equipment, you are well on your way to enjoying a day on the slopes. Planning ahead and taking proper precaution should keep you safe, but there are often unexpected injuries. While the knees and ankles are of prime concern in skiing, snowboarding is easier on the knees but still problematic for the ankle. Actually, one of the most common lower extremity injuries seen in this sport is the ‘Snowboarder’s Ankle”.

This injury is more likely to occur if you have sprained the ‘outside’ of you ankle before. Weakening of these ligaments may contribute to this injury, so it is important to allow yourself ample time to recover from any injury and to keep those muscled toned and strong. What actually occurs in a ‘Snowboarder’s Ankle’ is a fracture of the talus. The talus is the bone that unites the foot and the leg. If you feel along the outside of the bottom of your leg, from the top down, that big bump is the end of your fibula. Just below that is the lateral process of the talus or the part that is fractured during snowboarding. Bruising, swelling or pain in this area is a sign of damage to the structures in this area and a prompt visit to Austin Foot & Ankle Specialists should be on the top of your list. This type of fracture is often hard to detect and may be overlooked by other medical specialists. The key to minimizing any damage or continued trauma to this injury is early detection and treatment.

Remember to stay safe on the slopes and call Dr. Thomajan’s office should problems arise!

While the temperature in Austin doesn’t fall below freezing too often, this is the time of year when we should all take extra care to watch our steps. Those unseen patches of ice, especially ‘black’ ice, can catch us off guard. While it might be more embarrassing to tumble to the ground, twisting or turning your ankle while staying upright may prove just as perilous.

Twisting your ankle can happen in an instant. You are probably quick to regain your footing but the pain and tenderness that remain alert you that something may be wrong. The worst thing you can do is to ‘walk it off.’ An easy acronym to remember, RICE, is your first line of defense for limiting ankle damage. Used by a variety of healthcare professionals, RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. These steps will help to limit any further damage to the ligaments that hold your foot and leg together at the ankle. Follow this initial treatment with a visit to Austin Foot & Ankle Specialists. A physical evaluation, along with x-rays, will be done to assess the extent of the damage that occurred. Based on these finds, your podiatrist will use special taping and compression as initial treatment though more advanced treatments may be necessary for more problematic injuries.

Ankle injuries can occur at any time, but icy winters increase your chances. Rubber bottom shoes or boots with good ankle support are a few footwear choices that can help you avoid these problems, but a little extra caution and care can go a long way. Until next time, stay safe and keep your feet and ankles healthy!