The Ohio orthopaedic physicians at OAZ treat may patients for foot pain. With over 26 bones, 33 joints, and 5 ligaments, it’s easy to understand how susceptible feet are to injury.
Here are four common causes:
• Plantar Fasciitis: This is one of the most common causes of foot pain. It results from irritation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of your foot connecting your heel bone to your toes. Discomfort is more common in the morning after wakening.
• Metatarsalgia: This is a painful foot condition in the area just before the toes, or the ball-of-the-foot, or metatarsals. With prolonged jumping or running activities, an increased stress load is placed on this region. Over time the metatarsal bones become swollen and pain results.
• Turf Toe: A sprain at the base of the great toe can occur when the big toe bends back beyond its normal range of motion. This causes a tear in the ligaments that support it. Pain with turf toe is experienced during walking and running activities.
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the main nerve that goes to the foot is compressed by bone or tissue. Symptoms are typically felt on the inside of the foot region and are burning, tingling, and shooting in nature.
Physical therapy is often one of the main ways to treat the symptoms of foot pain. Contact the Ohio orthopaedic physicians at OAZ for an appointment if you experience any of these symptoms.
Dr. Steven Kimberly of Orthopaedic Associates in Zanesville recently shared with WHIZ-TV the benefits of partial knee replacement over total knee replacement.
Read the story and see great photos at www.whiznews.com/content/news/local/2010/03/04/partial-knee-replacement.
To learn more about partial knee replacement from Dr. Kimberly, Genesis is holding a presentation Monday, March 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Genesis-Bethesda Meeting Rooms 1,2 and 3. It is free to the public and there will a representative from Orthopaedic Associates on hand if residents would like to make an appointment to see Dr. Kimberly. To register, call (740) 455-4949.
Be sure to check out Dr. Karl Saunders and his staff discuss the modern diagnostic equipment including digital X-ray.
Becky Tilton, registered radiologic technologist at Orthopaedic Associates is quoted: “We are very fortunate that we have this updated technology. Patients feel that it is a faster procedure and doesn’t take as long. I love it because you can see much more on the digital radiology versus film.”
Don’t become a victim of back injury while shoveling snow this winter. Ohio orthopaedic experts at OAZ provide the following tips to prevent back strain.
First, choose the right shovel for you.
• Ergonomically correct: Many retailers stock ergonomically designed snow shovels with a curved handle. These shovels help keep your back straighter, reducing spinal stress.
• Small, plastic blade: To reduce weight, choose a small, plastic blade, which puts less strain on the spine.
Next, watch your technique.
• Warm up: Warm muscles work better. So take some time to stretch to prepare your body for activity.
• Get the right grip: When gripping the shovel handle, don’t put your hands close to one another. Create some distance between the hands. This will give you more leverage and make it easier to lift snow.
• Watch your posture and stance: Think about good posture and maintaining the natural curve of your spine. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart to maintain balance. Try to keep the shovel close to your body. Bend at the knees—not the waist or back. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Lift with your legs—not your back. Do not twist your body. Dump the snow in front of you. If you need to move the snow to the side, move your feet—do not twist!
• Pace yourself: Take frequent breaks to stretch your back and extremities.
Often times caregivers do not realize that taking care of a spouse or family member at home can increase their risk of injury. In fact, certain activities put you at a greater risk for back pain, including:
Pulling a patient in bed up into a sitting position
Transferring a person from a bed to a chair
Leaning over a patient for long periods of time
Lifting or moving a person
The physicians at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville offer their patient caregivers the following lifting techniques to be sure that they, too, don’t suffer injury.
Maintain the proper alignment of your head and neck with your spine
Maintain the natural curve of your spine
Don’t bend at your waist
Avoid twisting your body when carrying a person
Keep the person who is being moved close to your body
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, which will help maintain your balance
Use the muscles in your legs to lift, not your back
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Patient caregivers can avoid back pain by keeping these simple tips in mind.
Orthopaedic surgeons in Ohio at OAZ support U.S. National Bone and Joint Awareness Week from October 12-20, started by the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade to significantly raise awareness of bone and joint diseases, which affect more than one billion individuals worldwide.
In support of National Bone and Joint Awareness Week, Shriner’s Hospital has posted these tips for parents:
Before kids go outside to play, be sure they:
Have appropriate, properly fitting, sports-specific equipment and protection for games and practices, and know how to use it.
Do conditioning, strengthening and stretching exercises appropriate to the sport or recreational activity.
Learn the proper technique for the movements of the game (pitching, swinging a bat, protecting a goal, etc.).
Know to take a break at reasonable intervals.
Agree to play by the rules.
Will stop playing if they experience pain or feel very tired.
Drink plenty of fluids, and know to stay hydrated during and after activity.
Tips to help your child avoid overuse or repetitive motion injuries:
Encourage involvement in more than one sport or activity.
Choose age-appropriate sports.
Make sure children are in the necessary physical condition for a sport or activity.
Be sure games and practices include warm-up and cool-down routines.
Provide appropriate shoes.
Stress the importance of staying hydrated.
More tips parents can use to help keep kids safe:
Be sure playing fields are properly maintained and appropriate to the activity.
Determine whether there is appropriate adult supervision in place for the program or activity. If supervision appears to be insufficient, especially in an organized activity or sport, ask questions.
Be sure equipment is in good condition before allowing your child to use it.
When on a playground:
Observe the 5-foot rule: Children under age 5 should not use playground equipment that is taller than 5 feet.
Be sure equipment meets applicable safety standards.
If you are suffering from bone and joint diseases and need an orthopaedic surgeon in Ohio, call the Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville at 740-454-3273.
Back-to-school time means fall sports! The Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is ready to help athletes in southeast Ohio with our caring sports medicine team. We have board-certified physicians and physical therapists to treat the top ten sports injuries in Ohio.
Ankle Sprains: The most common of all ankle injuries, an ankle sprain occurs when there is a stretching and tearing of ligaments surrounding the ankle joint.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries: ACL partial or complete tears can occur when an athlete changes direction rapidly, twists without moving the feet, slows down abruptly, or misses a landing from a jump
Broken Shoulder: A shoulder fracture typically refers to a total or partial break to either the clavicle (collar bone) or the neck of the humerus (arm bone). It generally is from an impact injury, such as a fall or blow to the shoulder
Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: Muscle pain, stiffness or soreness that occurs 24-48 hours after unaccustomed, or particularly intense exercise.
Hamstring Pull, Tear, or Strain: Hamstring injuries are common among runners. The hamstring muscles run down the back of the leg from the pelvis to the lower leg bones, and an injury can range from minor strains to total rupture of the muscle.
Knee Pain: Knee pain is extremely common in athletes. In order to treat the cause of the pain, it is important to have an evaluation and proper diagnosis.
Shoulder Tendonitis, Bursitis, and Impingement Syndrome: These conditions are similar and often occur together. If the rotator cuff and bursa are irritated, inflamed, and swollen, they may become squeezed between the head of the humerus and the acromion.
Stress Fracture: Stress fractures in the leg are often the result of overuse or repeated impacts on a hard surface
Tendonitis: Tendonitis is a common sports injury that often occurs from overuse. Tendonitis can cause deep, nagging pain that is caused by inflammation of tendons. Treating tendonitis consists of rest, medication, physical therapy or changes to equipment or technique
Tennis Elbow: The number one reason people see their doctor is for elbow pain. It is considered a cumulative trauma injury that occurs over time from repeated use of the muscles of the arm and forearm that lead to small tears of the tendons.
If you’re suffering from any of these sports injuries in Ohio, contact Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville at 740-454-3273.
Dr. Steven Kimberly, who specializes in general orthopaedics and total joint replacements at OAZ, was recently featured on WHIZ-TV. In the story related to National Arthritis Month, Dr. Kimberly provides tips for arthritis prevention.
Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is a proud sponsor of American Cancer Society’s Muskingum County Pink Ribbon Golf Classic, June 15, raising funds for breast cancer. Participants were able to make the OAZ shot at the 18th hole!
OAZ also is sponsoring the American Cancer Society’s Muskingum County JAM fundraiser on August 15, 2009.
From friends and family of our staff to our patients, cancer affects us all, and we are committed to finding a cure, while keeping the bones and joints of southeast Ohio healthy!
