Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

If you feel pain along the inside of your foot and ankle, you may be at risk for arch collapse. At Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we take a particular interest in sports medicine, and one of the most frequent athletic injuries is Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. When this tendon breaks down, the arch of a patient’s foot is less supported, and without intervention, it may continue to degenerate and spread pain throughout the foot.

The posterior tibial tendon connects the calf muscles to the bones that make up the foot’s arch. It may be torn from an acute injury or from repeated stress, which is especially common among people who play sports that subject their feet to a lot of impacts, such as soccer and basketball. As the tendon weakens and the arch flattens out,  the foot will roll inwards. This will force the ankle inwards and the toes outward, so while pain begins on the inside of the foot, the outside of the foot will become sore, as well. A flat foot may become arthritic, and with a weakened posterior tibial tendon, a person would have a hard time standing up on their toes.

We can diagnose Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction with imaging tests and by having a patient demonstrate a range of motions and stretches. If the foot has not flattened out too much, a patient may be able to avoid wearing a brace, and will instead switch to exercises that don’t subject the feet to impacts, such as swimming and use of a stationary bicycle. They may also be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and be prescribed therapeutic stretches to rebuild the tendon’s strength. If more mild interventions fail, it may be necessary to surgically clean the tendon of inflamed synovial tissue. We can also provide customized orthotics so a patient can walk more comfortably.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Toe Walking

You may have noticed that small children sometimes walk on the balls of their feet. Toe walking, as it is called, is a normal part of learning to walk, but some children do it for an unusually long time. If you’re concerned that your child’s feet or legs aren’t developing normally, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain may be able to assist.

Most toe walking doesn’t have any identifiable cause, but it can occur when the Achilles tendon is too short. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel, so when it’s tight, a person might not lower their heel as they walk. Children with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy may have difficulty using their leg muscles, causing them to be underdeveloped. This is likelier to be the case when a child only toe walks on one side.

Children will usually walk with their heels when they are reminded to do so, and surgery isn’t recommended for children under five. A doctor may examine whether their calf muscles are overly tight; if so, they will be prescribed stretches that may be sufficient to loosen them. In some cases, we might use a therapy called serial casting, in which a series of casts is used to slowly stretch the calf muscles and Achilles tendon over several weeks. Botox injections may also be used to loosen the calf muscles.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Introduction to Foot Cramps

Foot cramps are terrible; there’s no doubt about it. But it may be within a person’s power to decrease their frequency. At the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain, our podiatrists are specially trained in sports medicine, and foot cramps are the most common foot problem among athletes. Therefore, we wanted to pass along some guidance on getting through a cramp and what may cause one.

A foot cramp is a muscle spasm in which the muscle suddenly tightens. When one happens, a person may be able to relieve their pain by putting pressure on the foot and stretching it out, using their hands to massage the muscles, if necessary. The cramps may be occurring because a person is overexercising, in which case they would need to change to a more balanced work-out routine. Another common cause is overly tight shoes, which compress muscles and restrict circulation. Shoes shouldn’t chafe the heels or be too tight for someone to wiggle their toes.

Muscles are also prone to cramping when they aren’t getting enough nutrition. People who are dehydrated or lacking in potassium tend to get a lot of foot cramps, so they need to make sure they’re replenishing their electrolytes. It’s also important to keep in mind that some problems, such as nerve damage, may feel similar to foot cramps, so it may be necessary to seek a professional opinion if self-management of foot cramps is unsuccessful.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

Plantar Fibromas

Do you suffer from soreness in the bottom of your foot? If so, it’s worth getting checked out. You may have heard of plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of connective tissue on the bottom side of the foot. But there is another, lesser known condition called a plantar fibroma. At Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain, we can assist patients suffering from this condition, but it might not get better on its own.

The plantar fascia is the connective tissue stretching from the heel to the beginning of the toes. It is unknown why thick nodules called fibromas sometimes develop in it, although it happens most frequently to middle-aged men. Although not all fibromas cause pain, they are sometimes responsible for soreness a person feels when they have been standing for a long time, and people who notice lumps developing in their feet may reasonably be concerned about them. Fibromas are not cancerous, but they can increase in size, and people with peripheral artery or nerve damage are always better off getting unusual changes in their feet examined.

If a patient is suffering from inflammation, we can inject them with a corticosteroid. We may also fit them for customized orthotics, which should allow them to stand more comfortably, and prescribe stretching exercises that will allow blood to circulate in their feet more freely. Surgical removal of the fibroma may be possible when more conservative interventions are unsuccessful. Recurrences of fibromas are rare, but can happen in people who had more than one fibroma at once.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.