AF&A Blog

It was game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals in May 2009 that Yao twisted his ankle. That year was one of his healthiest since a long list of injuries that began in 2005. That year, osteomyelitis infected his big toe; the 06-07 season brought a break to the right leg and 07-08 required foot surgery for a stress related fracture of the left foot. After coming back from all that, Yao was a significant factor in the 08-09 Rockets march to the NBA semifinals. He told reporters after game 3 that he played through a ‘twist’ in his ankle each quarter. Doctors took subsequent CT scans of the injured ankle and noted another fracture. After spending the year recovering from that surgery, Yao has spent the preseason slowly working up to his old self.

So, why are basketball players, especially the tallest ones, so susceptible to injury? There are several factors that play into this. One factor that we have talked about before is the compounding pressure and weight applied to your feet when you run. Many of the tallest players in the NBA are also the heaviest. When one foot takes the impact of a 300+ pound athlete sprinting down the hardwood floor, their bones and ligaments are put under a stress many of us will never experience. Add to that, a second factor. Quick changes in direct, pivots and cuts all subject the foot to ligamentous strain that can easily turn into injury. For these reasons, footwear and orthotic inserts are of the utmost importance to basketball players be they professionals or high school players.

Let’s get back to Yao. Is there hope for our center? Can we expect a productive season out of this international star? Only time will tell. For now, his doctors have limited him to playing only 24 minutes per game. This will provide time for him to work back to performance condition, but will provide challenges for the Rockets team. We can hope that Yao follows in the footsteps of Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Miami Heat who has fully recovered from a similar surgery. Unfortunately, there is the old adage ‘the bigger they are the harder they fall’ and there are many big players who have never recovered. Here’s hoping some medical expertise, the proper physical therapy, and a little luck make Yao Ming the strong center that has helped the Rockets out in the past.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and 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!