Pregnancy casues many changes throughout the body including worsening of flat feet. The natural pregnancy hormones can cause the foot and ankle ligaments and tendons (such as the spring ligament and posterior tibial tendon that help support the arch) to stretch out and become weak. Without support, the arch can start to collapse and become more painful, For the most part this is preventable. By using a custom orthotics to realign the bones and stabilize the foot, a custom orthotics can decrease the stress in the foot. This can help to relieve pain and prevent problems from becoming worse. In this video exerpt from an interview with Chattanooga's Award-Winning Foot and Ankle Surgeon, he explains how this can happen.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, award-winning podiatrist and biomechanics expert with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He speializes in the most advanced non-surgical treatments for foot pain. Even though he is a highly qualified foot surgeon, he says that most patients with foot pain will never need surgery to relieve their pain. If you are pregnant and suffer from foot pain, relief is available. You can request a FREE copy of Dr. Segler's book "My Fit Feet: A User's Guide to Foot and Ankle Health" at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pregnancy Heel Pain Stretching Video
If you pregnant and have noticed pain in the bottom of the heel when you wake up and step out of bed, it might be plantar fasciitis. The good news is that you don't generally have to take any medicine and won't have to have heel surgery to get your heel pain to go away. Nearly 40% of all visits to podiatrists are because of heel pain. Whether plantar fiasciits, heel spur syndrome, bone spur, or heel spur, the treatment is the same. About 85% of patients with plantar fasceitis can improve with stretching exercises alone. The following video demonstrates the stretches we recommend to our podiatry practice patients once they have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, marathon runner, and award heel pain specialist with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He speializes in the most advanced non-surgical treatments for chonic heel pain. Even though he is a foot surgeon, he says that most patients with heel pain will never need surgery to relieve their heel pain. If you are pregnant and suffer from morning heel, you can request a FREE copy of Dr. Segler's book "No More Heel Pain; A Guide to Understanding Heel Pain Causes and Treatments" at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, marathon runner, and award heel pain specialist with a podiatry practice in Chattanooga. He speializes in the most advanced non-surgical treatments for chonic heel pain. Even though he is a foot surgeon, he says that most patients with heel pain will never need surgery to relieve their heel pain. If you are pregnant and suffer from morning heel, you can request a FREE copy of Dr. Segler's book "No More Heel Pain; A Guide to Understanding Heel Pain Causes and Treatments" at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Foot Pain When Running After Pregnancy
I recently got a question from a twenty-something you mother who was starting to run again. She had her baby about a year ago. Shortly after taking up running again, she started having pain on the outside of the foot. She explains, "I started back at the gym again. But recently my right foot hurts when I run. It practically leaves me crippled for a day or so afterwards. The pain is at the outside middle area of the foot where it ridges out." She wants to know if this is normal.
First of all, foot pain is never normal. Not before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or after pregnancy. The area of the foot that she is describing is most likely the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. This can be concerning for several injuries. The first concern would be a fracture or broken bone. This could have begun as a stress fracture during pregnancy. It is important to make sure that a stress fracture doesn't get worse. Stress fractures can usually be treated with rest and immobilization or support. If it gets worse and progresses to a more complicated type of break, they sometimes will need surgery.
Another possibility is a different type of foot fracture known as an avulsion fracture. This is where the tendon (peroneus brevis tendon) that attaches to that bone actually pulls so hard that it yanks a small piece of bone off. This injury is common among people who sprain their ankles. In effect, the peronues brevis muscle causes the injury during a failed attemept to stabilize the foot and ankle as it starts to roll. Unfortunately, it causes a fracture instead.
Still another possibility would be a torn peroneal tendon. If the peroneus brevis tendon was stretched out and weakened from the hormones related to pregnancy, it could have become torn. Most of these tears are really splits along the course of the tendon. If your run on them, they will usually get worse.
All of these conditions can easily be diagnosed by your local podiatrist, or podiatric foot surgeon. Under no circumstances would it be a good idea to run and just hope the pain will just go away. The more serious conditions can be diagnosed with and exam, x-rays, and if necessary, and MRI.
Although pregnancy is often related to many different types of foot pain, it is best to seek treatment early. The earlier treatment can begin, the better the outcome.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an Ironman Triathlon Finisher and award winning foot doctor specializing in elite athletes. He also specializes in the unique needs of pregnant women with foot pain. His podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
First of all, foot pain is never normal. Not before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or after pregnancy. The area of the foot that she is describing is most likely the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. This can be concerning for several injuries. The first concern would be a fracture or broken bone. This could have begun as a stress fracture during pregnancy. It is important to make sure that a stress fracture doesn't get worse. Stress fractures can usually be treated with rest and immobilization or support. If it gets worse and progresses to a more complicated type of break, they sometimes will need surgery.
Another possibility is a different type of foot fracture known as an avulsion fracture. This is where the tendon (peroneus brevis tendon) that attaches to that bone actually pulls so hard that it yanks a small piece of bone off. This injury is common among people who sprain their ankles. In effect, the peronues brevis muscle causes the injury during a failed attemept to stabilize the foot and ankle as it starts to roll. Unfortunately, it causes a fracture instead.
Still another possibility would be a torn peroneal tendon. If the peroneus brevis tendon was stretched out and weakened from the hormones related to pregnancy, it could have become torn. Most of these tears are really splits along the course of the tendon. If your run on them, they will usually get worse.
All of these conditions can easily be diagnosed by your local podiatrist, or podiatric foot surgeon. Under no circumstances would it be a good idea to run and just hope the pain will just go away. The more serious conditions can be diagnosed with and exam, x-rays, and if necessary, and MRI.
Although pregnancy is often related to many different types of foot pain, it is best to seek treatment early. The earlier treatment can begin, the better the outcome.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an Ironman Triathlon Finisher and award winning foot doctor specializing in elite athletes. He also specializes in the unique needs of pregnant women with foot pain. His podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. You can order a FREE copy of his informative book about common causes of foot pain at http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
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