Jumper’s Knee

Patellar tendonitis, also known as “Jumper’s Knee,” is often suffered by volleyball or tennis players. As the nickname suggests, sports that involve a lot of jumping can cause microscopic tears and degeneration of a player’s knees. We at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates take pride in educating our athletic patients about the many ways they can prevent injury. Your Lorain Podiatrist can help if you suffer from Jumper’s Knee by assessing the severity and starting you on an effective treatment plan. It’s best, however, to practice prevention now so that you can keep playing the sport you love!

An athlete can prevent Jumper’s Knee by wearing a knee brace during practices and games. A knee brace assists in stabilizing the joint, supporting the kneecap, and offers the knee added strength. This all decreases the amount of strain the knee goes through to withstand a player’s weight as they land on their feet from a serving position.

You can also prevent Jumper’s Knee by:

- Taking breaks

- Practicing and improving your technique

- Making sure you have all the right gear

- Warming up your body with stretches

- Incorporating strength-building exercises in your routine

- Not playing through the pain, as this will only worsen your condition

Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates is located on 1740 Cooper Foster Park Rd, #B, in Lorain, OH 44053. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, visit integrityfootandankle.com or call 440-282-1221.

 

Stress Fractures

Are you a soccer or basketball player? Did you know that stress fractures are common in sports with constant running? The repetitive activity can cause a small crack or bruise on the bone. Stress fractures can also occur when someone changes their activity, such as running on a treadmill to running outdoors. We at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates realize that things happen, no matter how much you prepare your body for physical activity. We are dedicated to treating your sports injury as quickly as we can, so that you can get back on the court. 

The sudden increase or change in physical activity are causes of stress fractures and include poor conditioning, improper technique, change in surface, and using improper equipment. Certain medications and pre-existing conditions can make individuals more susceptible to stress fractures, such as the bone insufficiency that comes with osteoporosis. Stress fractures are also more common during the winter, since the body is deprived of the sun’s vitamin D. 

Prevention is key. You can help prevent the development of stress fractures by:

- Cross-training in different types of exercise

- Adding strength training to your workout routine

- Gradually increasing the time and intensity of a new activity

- Using the proper equipment

- Stopping all activity if a recently healed injury flares up

- Eating a balanced and healthy diet

Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates is located on 1740 Cooper Foster Park Rd, #B, in Lorain, OH 44053. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, visit integrityfootandankle.com or call 440-282-1221.

 

Prevent Running Injuries

Prevent any possibility of injuring yourself during training, so that you can still run that marathon you’ve been planning! We at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates understand that even with efficient training, accidents happen. We are here for you when or if those accidents do happen, so that we can get you back to doing what you love. 

One way to prevent running injuries is to train smarter. You need to prioritize safety over anything else, which includes proper equipment utilization and performing exercises correctly. Before any major physical activity, you need to also warm-up your muscles and ligaments. It’s important to prepare your body for physical activity, as this is a proven way to limit your chances of injury. Improving your strength can also decrease the risk of running injuries. Many runners lack the skills for basic movement and functional strength. Working on core exercises, such as the plank, can significantly help with this!

Some common running injuries include:

- Arch pain: Inflammation and a burning sensation under the arch of the foot.

- Shin splints: Associated with any pain in the bone between the knee and ankle.

- Pulled hamstring: An injury to the hamstring muscle that causes mild to severe pain.

- Hip stress fracture: Common in long-distance runners because of repetitive motion in the hips. 

- Plantar fasciitis: Pain in the heel caused by inflammation of the ligament in the base of the foot.

- Achilles tendonitis: Pain in the back of the ankle that left untreated can rupture.

Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates is located on 1740 Cooper Foster Park Rd, #B, in Lorain, OH 44053. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, visit integrityfootandankle.com or call 440-282-1221.