Are your favorite players sidelined, or is your fantasy team loosing players left and right from the infamous, seemingly common “high ankle sprain”  If so, you may be wondering what a “high” ankle sprain actually is, and how it is different than a “regular” or traditional ankle sprain?  Why can’t a high powered running back play through this injury?

The high ankle sprain is an injury to the syndesmotic ligament that connects the two bones in your lower leg (the tibia and fibula).  It is called a “high” ankle sprain due to its location above the level of the ankle joint itself.  The injury occurs with external rotation of the foot on the lower leg, which stresses the syndesmotic ligaments and can cause tears or even rupture.  With too much strain in this direction, a high ankle fracture can occur. 

Most traditional ankle sprains occur in the direction of inversion or internal rotation, opposite of the “high” ankle sprain.  Another notable difference between the types of injury is the lack of bruising and swelling in the high sprain, unlike traditional ankle sprain which often swells and bruises quite rapidly.

Both types of ankle injuries are common in sports that utilize cleats, and/or are performed on artificial turf.  Pain associated with this type of injury is located just above the ankle joint and can be exacerbated by squeezing the leg from side-to-side, or while performing sharp cutting motions while running which is why a running back could be sidelined for a couple of weeks from this injury.  Depending on the severity of injury, the high-powered athlete can be sidelined up to 6 months!!! 

“Toning shoes” were a huge hit last year, with estimates of nearly 10million pairs sold.  One of the recent “fads” in the shoegear industry, these shoes have been portrayed as another “quick fix” to obtain the perfect body. 

Research from the American Council on Exercise compared people walking in traditional athletic shoes and special toning shoes.  The study found that muscle activation in response to exercise were essentially the same for both the regular and toning shoes. SO….shoes alone will not tone your body.  The way to tone your body is EXERCISE!!

Recent allegations have resulted in Reebok refunding consumers who purchased the toning shoes under the impression they would make them look like the “fit” models on Reebok commercials.  Shame on the consumers for believing this quick fix and how dare Reebok put fit models in their commercials!

Other than modeling the toning shoes off of the “balance ball” theory for exercise, these shoes may actually create instability at the ankle joint due to muscles being required to fire more than usual to maintain stability.  The muscles involved are small and will not likely increase the person’s metabolism, or fat burning potential.  In the wrong person, these shoes may actually increase likelihood of ankle sprains, and/or joint and tendon inflammation. 

Although they may have some effect on the stabilizing muscles of the upper leg and core, it is very minimal.  Our very own, Dr. Cernak, used a pair of toning shoes for a week and stated “I was lucky I didn’t roll my ankle in the clinic!” 

In conclusion, BEWARE of quick fix weight loss advertisements.  As always, the key to any long term weight loss program is healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

High-heeled shoes have been a topic of continuous, heated discussions for decades.  They are designed to elevate the heel above the toe to give the illusion that one’s legs are longer and more slender in appearance.  Heels are also a marker of numerous social implications that range from fertility symbols to marking one’s “class” and level of sophistication. 

High-heels are designed to slant the foot forward, while forcing the toes together in an upward position.  With such an un-natural position of the foot, this increases the stress on the forefoot and toes – while putting our feet at risk for development of bunions, hammertoes, blisters, tight achille’s tendons and even neuroma’s over time.   Low back pain may also result.

Since Suri Cruise first was spotted in public in her child-sized kitten heels earlier this fall, a debate was sparked throughout the internet as well as in parent’s magazines over whether they could present a risk to the child’s growth.  

Growth plates in a child are fragile, and can be easily damaged.  When stressed, they are more amenable to injury than the tendons/ligaments surrounding them.  They can be damaged by falls, which you have increased risk for due to instability with use of high heeled shoes. Not only this, but the sheer stress of “squishing” the toes in a shoe may actually cause damage to the growth centers of the bones in the feet… On average, a female’s growth plates are usually open until age 13-15, and males typically close by age 17.

What do kids need on their feet??  Good, supportive shoes that allow them to run, jump and play…

Minnesota Vikings All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams missed the end of preseason, but is expected to be healthy enough to play in the regular-season opener in San Diego on Sept. 11.  According to Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, “Plantar fasciitis is what we're dealing with.  From everything they tell me, we have to rest him, but he should be fine for the season opener. So that's what we're crossing our fingers hoping." 

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel bone along the bottom of the foot to the toes. Williams had been playing through the pain in his left foot since training camp opened, but finally had to leave the field after he was unable to push off the foot in their preseason game at Seattle.  Heel pain is one of the most common foot ailments, and the “typical” patients are middle-aged individuals with inability to recall any specific traumatic injury or event.  Often times, increased body weight is a contributing factor.  Yes, Kevin Williams does have his size against him – although he needs this, in addition to his agility, to continue to successfully protect his quarterback! 

Additionally, plantar fasciitis is often related to a sudden change in activity, and even overuse. This makes us think - Could the injury to Kevin Williams be a direct result of the recent NFL Lock-out, if training was not adequately maintained prior to the official start of this year’s NFL season??  How many other NFL stars are dealing with similar pain, and related injuries because of a shorter pre-season??  

"It's nothing bad," Williams said. "It's just resting up”.  On a side note, his upcoming four game suspension may actually be a blessing in disguise at this point as plantar fasciitis is treated with rest. Williams laughed when asked if there were any doubts he'd be starting in San Diego. He still faces a four-game suspension stemming from his positive test for a banned diuretic in 2008.

Ref: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings

Flat feet can be very unsettling for a parent of a developing child. What most people don’t know is that most 2 year olds have flat feet.  Additionally, the majority of kids do develop an arch by the time they reach 10 years of age… When should you, as a parent, starting worrying about your child’s flat feet?  Many children who have flat feet have no pain or limitations, and go on to play sports without pain or instability.  This said, kids should NOT have pain.

Signs to watch for, that warrant further evaluation:

• If at any age your child starts complaining of pain in their feet and/or ankles
• Cramping, and fatigue of their feet and legs – often occurring at night
• Frequent tripping, falls
• Wearing shoes out abnormally fast
• Inability to “keep up” with their classmates, and friends of similar age

There are many conservative treatment options available to help your child with symptomatic flat feet - including physical therapy and over-the-counter or custom orthotics dispensed by a podiatric physician.  Can you buy inserts at the drug store?  Yes, you can always try the drug store inserts first, but the orthotics dispensed by foot and ankle specialists are often very different than the traditional “Dr. Scholl’s” insert. 

Very rarely is surgical correction necessary, and should only be considered when conservative treatments are fully exhausted, without improvement.