Metatarsal Fractures

In the US, there are approximately 206,000 metatarsal (toe) fractures every year! 5th metatarsal fractures represent 68% if all metatarsal fractures.

For the Jones Fracture, a common type of 5th metatarsal fracture, the non-union* rate may be as high as 28%! (*Non-union means the fracture doesn't heal)

There are many fractures that lead to 5th metatarsal non-unions:

• Lack of blood supply
• Nutrient artery disruption
• Muscle/tendon overdistraction

If you believe you might've fractured your metatarsal (toe), please make an appointment to be examined! There are many treatment options we can offer to ease the pain.

- Dr. Kate



compliments of Exogen

"He Got Cold Feet"

Ever heard the saying, "He/She got cold feet," usually referring to backing out before a wedding ceremony? Well, where did it come from? How does "cold feet" have anything to do with having apprehensions about making a commitment?

After a little research, it seems there are a couple tales of where this phrase originated, which are pretty interesting!

• The wartime usage of "cold feet" has led some to claim that the phrase originally referred to soldiers whose frost-bitten toes prevented them from entering a battle.
• Hotfoot is used for someone keen to get somewhere - perhaps cold feet are the opposite

Have you heard of any other origins of the phrase "cold feet"? Share with us below!

Why Danskos?

Red Danskos

I wear my Danskos everyday in the office, call me a loyal customer! Every once in a while I get asked why I like them so much so here's why:

1) They're deep & wide to accomodate most foot types
2) I can fit extra padding in them if necessary including my orthotics
3) No they're not the most fashionable shoes, but they're certainly not the ugliest!

One thing I do want to point out if you're researching them is while they are perfect for work, they're not great for uneven terrain so I don't recommend them for unstable ankles!

Click here if you're interested in purchasing them and if you're already a Dansko fan let us know what you like about them!

-Dr. Kate

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Billy Gilman and Soles4Souls

Last year Billy Gilman co-wrote the single, "The Choice," with Dan Murph and Philip Douglas in order to help the charity provide shoes to the world. 

The single was released in April and has already had 35,000 downloads! All proceeds of the single are given directly to Soles4Souls to purchase shoes. 

"The kids looked like they had won the lottery," Gilman, 24, said, after handing out shoes to kids in Jacksonville, Florida, this week. 'You ask them for their size, you wash and dry their feet and then you put on their new pair of shoes.'" 

source

Gilman recorded the song with top artists such as, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, Randy Travis, Craig Morgan, Rodney Atkins, Steve Holy, Kellie Pickler, Wynonna Judd, Amy Grant, Montgomery Gentry, Diamond Rio, Ronnie Milsap, Richie McDonald of Lonestar and Josh Turner.

Click here to purchase and download the song so you can provide shoes to someone in need!

Virginia Tech is Going Green

After VT's wide receiver, D.J. Coles, PCL ligament heeled the team had their hopes up. Soon after however, linebacker, Tariq Edwards, suffered a stress fracture in his shin which hasn't been healing well after the mishap earlier this year. The hopes for an injury-free season starter diminished even more after left guard, David Wang, sprained his left ankle.

source

Wang received surgery and was placed in a green jersey (no contact) for a recent closed mini-scrimmage. Last season Wang was named most improved offensive player only to break his foot in the second game of the season!

Although Wang seems to be doing better, a number of other players were in green jerseys which several are suffering from a hamstring injury.

Good luck, Hokies! We hope your injuries heal correctly and quickly!!

What Do Podiatrists and Pedometers Have In Common?



They both involve FEET!

Health experts- myself included- say 10,000 steps a day is the magic number to get (or stay) on the healthy track. Side effects include increase in energy, weight loss and less frequent sickness (<- I’d take those side effects any day!)

One tip to obtain these “side effects” is to keep track! Make sure you record your total number of steps per day to keep yourself accountable. You might be expecting these results when you assume you’ve walked that amount each day when in reality it’s only been 7,500 or 8,000 steps. If you’re really looking for weight loss, go ahead and write down your food intake daily and you might see double digits lost on the scale sooner rather than later!

If you find any pain after your daily walks, make sure to see a podiatrist as soon as possible so you can get back on your feet!

- Dr. Kate Steklachich

Outrun Injuries

Zurich Marathon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If a nagging ache is keeping you off the treadmill, track, or trail, the fix may be in your feet. Research recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that runners who land on the ball of their foot are 40% less likely to have repetitive stress injuries than those who touch down heel-first.



"I don't recommend minimalist shoes if you have a history of chronic injuries or if you run extreme mileage. Runners can still run in adequate running form in regular running shoes, minimalist shoes aren't always necessary," Dr. Kate Steklachich, D.P.M.

Following the strategies listed to (slowly) switch up your strike:

• Touching down with a stiff leg ups the force of impact, so keep a slight bend in your knee
• Bend your back knee more than usual, and don't let your rear leg lag behind. This will help you take short, fast strides (aim for 165 steps a minute), lessening your injury risk.
• When your foot hits the ground, it should be aligned with your hip.
• Angle your foot slightly down and land on the outer ball of your foot, behind the second-to-last pinkie toes. After the front of the foot hits, let your heel naturally touch down, then push off your toes again to begin the next step.

source: Shape Magazine August 2012 Issue