FIND US

Links

Archive:

Tags

Categories:

 

 

 

hi yes

Posts for tag: Hammertoes

May 01, 2012
Category: people and blogs


 

Hammertoes are one of the most common toe conditions, usually stemming from muscle imbalance in which the joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth toe are bent into a contracted, claw-like position. In the early stages, hammertoes are flexible and can be corrected with simple conservative measures, but if left untreated, they can become fixed and require surgery.
The most common cause of hammertoes is causes by balance issues. Tight-fitting and high-heeled shoes often aggravate the condition, crowding your toes forward. A hammertoe can also be the result of injury in which you break or jam the toe, or from conditions like arthritis or stroke that affect nerves and muscles. In some cases, hammertoes may even be inherited.
Because of their clenched, claw-like appearance, hammertoes will generally be visibly present. Other signs and symptoms include:

  • Difficult or painful motion of a toe joint                         
  • Redness or swelling at a toe joint
  • Development of calluses and corns
  • Open sores in severe cases

At Foot and Ankle Specialists of Utah we recommend the following for preventing and treating your hammertoe:

  • Wear comfortable, proper-fitting shoes that provide support and allow enough room for your toes
  • Avoid high-heeled or narrow-toed shoes
  • Stretch your toe muscles to relieve pressure and pain
  • Apply splints, cushions or pads to relieve pressure

Generally, a modification of footwear will reduce the symptoms associated with hammertoe. Other non-surgical treatment includes padding to shield corns and calluses and orthotic devices that are placed in the shoe to help control muscle imbalance. Dr. Perlstein can help you determine the best treatment for your symptoms. Severe cases that don't respond to conservative measures may require surgery to restore your toe's flexibility and eliminate the pressure.
Hammertoes are progressive - they don't go away by themselves and the condition usually gets worse over time.

Once we have evaluated your hammertoe, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.




 

0 Comment(s) Permalink
March 22, 2012
Category: people and blogs

The top three questions runners ask about custom foot orthotics are:
1. Should they use orthotics in their shoes while running if they don’t have an injury?
2. If they have fatigue in their legs while running or an abnormal gait, they often wonder if orthotics will help?
3. Should they wear orthotics forever after an overuse injury?

The answers are yes, yes and yes! A new study showed that orthotics have a significant benefit in reducing running injuries as prophylaxis. It makes common sense, that if you have an underlying biomechanical deficit, orthotics give you better alignment so therefore should reduce overall abnormal stressors and subsequently injuries. Now there is a new study that shows just that! Piggy-back that on years of biomechanics research and the answers get much more clear.

This study demonstrated that the subjects who wore orthotics had "a significantly reduced rate of exercise-related lower limb injury across the training period". The authors emphasized that participants were not treated for an injury with orthotics, but were prescribed orthotics to prospectively reduce the risk of injury. In addition, they believe that these "preventative results can be cautiously extrapolated to a recreational running setting and should be considered by sports and exercise medicine professionals."

Franklyn-Miller A, Wilson C, Bilzon J, et al. Foot orthoses in the prevention of injury in initial military training: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med 39(1):30-37, 2011

Mundermann A, Nigg BM, Humble RN, et al. Foot orthotics affect lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during running. Clin Biomech 18(3):254-262, 2003
 

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Podiatry, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Seagle & Dr. Christiansen
1551 S. Renaissance Towne Dr. Ste. 370 Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: (801) 292-4425
425 Medical Dr. Ste 215 Bountiful, UT 84010 (801)292-9222
11762 S. State Street Ste. 340 Draper, UT 84020 Phone: (801) 566-7297