So I am a Chicago Bears fan, and I am devastated that they missed their chance this year to go to the Superbowl. I share this misery with New England Patriot fans, who saw their hero QB Tom Brady fail to take them to the Superbowl as well. The fans will have to settle with watching Brady (along with his controversial long hair and beautiful model wife Giselle) lose this year, and he (and the fans) can blame it on a stress fracture in his right foot.
What is a stress fracture? Stress fractures are small, hairline breaks that can occur in the bones of the foot. They do not look like true cracks in the bone, rather bursts of tiny cracks, like a starburst pattern, that may sometimes not be visible to the naked eye. Typically stress fractures can be caused by improper training habits, improper shoe gear, and even osteoporosis. Tom Brady's injury was more likely due to repetitive trauma from blunt force on his foot. According to reports, it has bothered him since 2008. However, the pain can be masked by anti-inflammatory medications or even local novacaine/lidocaine injections to the area to make the foot numb.
Pain, swelling, and sometimes simply discomfort can be signs of a stress fracture. Although X-rays are used to diagnose stress fractures, they may not be visible for 10 to 14 days on x-ray examination. If in doubt, then advanced testing such as an MRI can diagnose a true stress fracture. Possible treatments include rest and possible immobilization of the foot with a cam walker (walking boot) or even a below knee cast. Fractures can take between 6-8 weeks to heal.
So I guess Tom Brady's fans will hold their breath and hope that he takes the time to heal the fracture on the off season, and come back better than ever and ready to make another Superbowl run next season, controversial long hair and beautiful model wife to boot. I will hold my breath along with those fans... and hope the Chicago Bears do the same.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Those toning shoes in the news again... this time in trouble!
It seems that those toning shoes are in the news again... this time in trouble! I wrote in one of my previous blogs about how the toning shoes may do more harm than good. Plus, who really thinks they are very attractive? But people wear them because they think they are doing something good for their health.
Now, a class action law suit in Boston has been filed against one of the leading manufacturers of one of the toning shoes. I will spare that company any undo exposure because in fact it is a reputable shoe company that manufactures excellent running, walking, and cross training shoes. But this is an example of how making false claims can catch up to you.
This particular company touted that there would be a 10% increase in calorie burning and an increase in muscle activity by 27%. However, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) decided to test these toning shoes, and after their careful research, released a statement that the toning shoes do not live up to the claims and concluded that there was no statistically significant increase in exercise response or muscle activation. In fact, in altering your gait, they may do more harm than good. The members of the class action law suit are using the ACE evidence against false advertising and are seeking $5 million dollars in damages.
So athlete/walker/buyer beware. The toning shoes, which retail for $100 and up, may not be making any difference in your health... but may only make a difference in your wallet.
Dr. Saera Arain is a practicing podiatrist in Elmhurst and Schaumburg, IL. She is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric and Orthopedic and Primary Podiatric Medicine. She is a mother of 5 and keeps active by training... for something! She is currently training for the Soldier Field 10 miler coming up May 2011. Please contact her at elmhurstfootdoc.com or schaumburgfootdoc.com
Now, a class action law suit in Boston has been filed against one of the leading manufacturers of one of the toning shoes. I will spare that company any undo exposure because in fact it is a reputable shoe company that manufactures excellent running, walking, and cross training shoes. But this is an example of how making false claims can catch up to you.
This particular company touted that there would be a 10% increase in calorie burning and an increase in muscle activity by 27%. However, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) decided to test these toning shoes, and after their careful research, released a statement that the toning shoes do not live up to the claims and concluded that there was no statistically significant increase in exercise response or muscle activation. In fact, in altering your gait, they may do more harm than good. The members of the class action law suit are using the ACE evidence against false advertising and are seeking $5 million dollars in damages.
So athlete/walker/buyer beware. The toning shoes, which retail for $100 and up, may not be making any difference in your health... but may only make a difference in your wallet.
Dr. Saera Arain is a practicing podiatrist in Elmhurst and Schaumburg, IL. She is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric and Orthopedic and Primary Podiatric Medicine. She is a mother of 5 and keeps active by training... for something! She is currently training for the Soldier Field 10 miler coming up May 2011. Please contact her at elmhurstfootdoc.com or schaumburgfootdoc.com
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Foot pain from lifting weights?
My husband inquired about why his foot was hurting after he did his weights workout. He decided to do his weight training workout, without the proper shoes. He thought he could just go to the workout area in his recovery sandals. In theory, this should be fine... but in reality, it is not! It is always important to wear the proper shoe gear for whatever activity you may chose. In his case, he was simply "lifting weights" and did not think this would affect his feet. However, after his workout, he complained of pain on the ball of his feet and the outside of his ankles. After examining his feet and understanding which exercises he did, I can understand why his feet hurt.
It turns out some of the lower extremity exercises such as squats, which work on the quadriceps and gluteal muscles, put pressure on the ball of the foot, aggravating the metatarsal area. The lunges he performed strengthened his lower extremity muscles, however to balance on one foot, he needed to recruit the ankle muscles and ligaments in order to stabilize his foot, which in turn aggravated the outside ankle.
So yes, you can get foot pain from lifting weights or just about any activity... without the proper shoe gear. The lesson? Take the time to make sure you prepare for exercise or any activity with a proper warm up and hydration, but also take the time to make sure you have the proper equipment, the most important of which is the right shoes.
It turns out some of the lower extremity exercises such as squats, which work on the quadriceps and gluteal muscles, put pressure on the ball of the foot, aggravating the metatarsal area. The lunges he performed strengthened his lower extremity muscles, however to balance on one foot, he needed to recruit the ankle muscles and ligaments in order to stabilize his foot, which in turn aggravated the outside ankle.
So yes, you can get foot pain from lifting weights or just about any activity... without the proper shoe gear. The lesson? Take the time to make sure you prepare for exercise or any activity with a proper warm up and hydration, but also take the time to make sure you have the proper equipment, the most important of which is the right shoes.
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