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.

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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!!

Sports Injuries & Children

English: Child Soccer player. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If your children are playing sports this fall, pay attention to six tips that could protect them from serious ankle injuries.

Every fall season, foot and ankle surgeons see an increase in ankle injuries among young athletes. Football, soccer and basketball are the sports most likely to lead to sprains, broken bones and other problems, says Roanoke and New River Valley area podiatrist Jennifer Feeny, DPM.

"What seems like a sprain is not always a sprain; in addition to cartilage injuries, your son or daughter might have injured other bones in the foot without knowing it. Have a qualified doctor examine the injury," says Dr. Feeny. "The sooner rehabilitation starts, the sooner we can prevent long-term problems like instability or arthritis, and the sooner your child can get back into competition." Dr. Feeny, who is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), offers these additional tips for parents:

--Have old sprains checked by a doctor before the season starts. A medical check-up can reveal whether your child's previously injured ankle might be vulnerable to sprains, and could possibly benefit from wearing a supportive ankle brace during competition.

--Buy the right shoe for the sport. Different sports require different shoe gear. Players shouldn't mix baseball cleats with football shoes.

--Children should start the season with new shoes. Old shoes can wear down like a car tire and become uneven on the bottom, causing the ankle to tilt because the foot can't lie flat.

--Check playing fields for dips, divots and holes. Most sports-related ankle sprains are caused by jumping and running on uneven surfaces. That's why some surgeons recommend parents walk the field, especially when children compete in non-professional settings like public parks, for spots that could catch a player's foot and throw them to the ground. Alert coaching officials to any irregularities.

--Encourage stretching and warm-up exercises. Calf stretches and light jogging before competition helps warm up ligaments and blood vessels, reducing the risk for ankle injuries.

For more information on treating ankle sprains, visit ShenandoahPodiatry.com

Foot Care Myths



Dr Henri Lelièvre (Hallux valgus, Bunion) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



Old wives' tales and myths like that example are fun to laugh at. We believed them growing up. "Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back." But there are other myths that are no laughing matter, especially when they involve your health. Here are four myths about foot care and the realities behind them.

Myth: My foot or ankle can't be broken if I can walk on it.
Reality: It's entirely possible to walk on a foot or ankle with a broken bone. But it's not a smart idea. Walking with a broken bone can cause further damage.  It is crucial to stay off an injured foot until diagnosis by a podiatrist. Until then, apply ice and elevate the foot to reduce pain.

Myth: Shoes cause bunions.
Reality: Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types make a person prone to developing a bunion. While wearing shoes that crowd the toes together can, over time, make bunions more painful, shoes themselves do not cause bunions. Although some treatments can ease the pain of bunions, only surgery can correct the deformity.

Myth: A doctor can't fix a broken toe.
Reality: Nineteen of the 26 bones in the foot are toe bones. There are things that can be done to make a broken toe heal better and prevent problems later on, like arthritis or toe deformities. Broken toes that aren't treated correctly can also make walking and wearing shoes difficult. A foot and ankle surgeon will x-ray the toe to learn more about the fracture. If the broken toe is out of alignment, the surgeon may have to insert a pin, screw or plate to reposition the bone.

Myth: Corns have roots.
Reality: A corn is a small build-up of skin caused by pressure or friction. Many corns result from a hammertoe deformity, where the toe knuckle rubs against the shoe. The only way to eliminate these corns is to surgically correct the hammertoe condition or wear extra depth orthopedic shoes that eliminate the pressure. Unlike a callus, a corn has a central core of hard material. But corns do not have roots. Attempting to cut off a corn or applying medicated corn pads can lead to serious infection or even amputation. A podiatrist can safely evaluate and treat corns and the conditions contributing to them.

For more foot care myths, visit http://www.shenandoahpodiatry.com/

Fact or Fiction: There Is Nothing You Can Do For a Broken Toe?

Your alarm clock, conveniently located on the other side of your room, starts buzzing bright and early. No need to turn on the light…you know the way, BAM! You walk, barefoot, right into the dresser! Just like a cartoon character, you see stars. As your day continues, you can’t get past the throbbing pain. You know you have broken your toe.

Throughout the day your toe begins to bruise and swell. Wearing a shoe, or even walking, is excruciating, maybe even impossible. You know you need to call a doctor, but what did your mom always tell you? “There’s nothing you can do for a broken toe.” Will it be a waste of everyone’s time if you make an appointment with your podiatrist? Should you simply deal with the pain? But the pain is so bad…was your mom really right? Is the rumor true? When people tell you nothing can be done for a broken toe they normally mean that a cast is not applied. A cast, made of plaster or fiberglass, is the most recognizable treatment for a broken bone. Does that mean if you don’t cast it, you’re not treating the broken bone? No!

Image via Wikipedia

The great toe has two bones in it, with all others having three. Although small, they are classified as long bones, just like an arm or leg. When any bone, especially a long bone, breaks, it is very important to make sure that it is not displaced; otherwise it will not heal properly. During your appointment with us, we will take an X-ray and then be able to advise treatment. If the bone is not displaced, treatment can be as simple as applying a “buddy splint.” This is a splint that simply attaches the broken bone to an adjacent digit. This provides compression and stability.

If you have displaced the bone, most of the time we can realign the bone right here in the office. It involves numbing the toe and using traction to get the toe in a good position. In most severe cases, surgery may be necessary. I know you may find it hard to believe but sometimes broken toes can become a medical emergency! Anyone who has poor circulation, such as a person with diabetes or peripheral artery disease, can end up with a spasm of the small arteries caused by the trauma, which can shut down the blood supply to the toes.

If immediate care is sought, this can be reversed. If left untreated for even one day, however, amputation may be required. So next time someone tries to argue that there is nothing you can do for a broken toe, let them know that the doctors at Shenandoah Podiatry informed you otherwise. The sooner you receive care, the quicker the pain and swelling will be reduced. Don’t be fooled by the popular rumor, call us right away!

Remember your feet when sledding!

Are you tired of the cold and snow yet? If so, then that makes at least two of us. I can't wait to drive my car without having to clear the windshield and to be able to comfortably walk around without being bundled up. Unfortunately, springtime is still a couple months away and there's more snow in the forecast.
There is, however, one thing I enjoy about snow season. Whether it's the first snow of the year or the 20th, a fresh snow always seems to awaken us from our indoor hibernation. I always see the young and the young at heart out enjoying snow right after it's fallen. In my neighborhood, that usually means that most of us are sledding. I've often seen sledders and thought to myself how unsafe they're being. I must admit that I too have done some risky sledding. The problem with this is that we see far too many preventable, snow-related injuries. If you plan on sledding in the predicted snow, please follow these tips:

1. Choose proper equipment. I've seen people use anything from laundry baskets to pizza boxes. These devices can send you down the hill going backwards which can be dangerous for everyone. Instead of using whatever you have laying around, always use a store-bought sled designed for the snow because these are less likely to spin around. Also, be sure to read and adhere to the capacity guidelines of the sled. Putting more people on it than it can hold is unsafe.
2. Dress for success. When bundling up, be sure to protect your feet. Wear moisture-wicking, wool socks and insulated, weather-proof shoes to shield your feet from the elements.
3. Use hills! We're in the mountains which means mother nature has provided us with tons of natural sledding ground - take advantage of it. The use of ATVs or even golf carts when sledding is dangerous because it makes you more likely to be thrown off of the sled. Chances are that you'll land wrong and injury your ankle.
4. Clear the area. Find a place that is both free of dangers such as trees, fences, and roads and that gives you plenty of space to stop. It is a natural instinct to stop ourselves with our feet if we're about to sled into something. Clearing the area prevents this and any foot injuries that it may cause.

I know that fresh snow is exciting and that even those who know the precautions just get caught up in the fun of it all. With that being said, I can't stress to you enough how important it is to sled carefully or not at all. Please enjoy the snow but do so safely.

Inspired by http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Lifestyle/Family-Fun/Winter-Sledding-Safety-Tips.html