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.

 

Hangnails

Ingrown toenails are painful and have the potential to become infected. They’re a challenge for most people to treat on their own and can have serious implications for people with disorders such as diabetes. However, at the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associate of Lorain, we frequently help patients find a permanent solution to their discomfort.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin. It most often affects the big toe and is common in teenagers and people whose toes have incurred blunt-force trauma. If it is allowed to go untreated, it can become infected, resulting in the development of pus. If infection has not set in, people without complicating medical conditions may attempt at-home remedies such as soaking the foot in warm water three times a day and rubbing the overhanging skin. It is not advisable to repeatedly cut the nail, and objects such as paper used to lift the toenail out of the skin must be replaced daily.

If a hangnail persistently recurs, we can prescribe antibiotics and surgically remove parts of the nail or surrounding skin. Hangnails are one of the ailments people with peripheral nerve damage need to regularly examine themselves for. They can be avoided by cutting the nail straight across and wearing shoes with adequate room in the toe boxes. The feet should also be kept dry as much as possible.

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.

 

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

If you feel a sharp, shooting pain in the sole of your foot when you’re running, you may be suffering from tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS). Our podiatrists at Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain are trusted care providers to people who have suffered sports injuries. While not all instances of TTS are sports-related, it is an overuse injury that we can help people to manage and recover from.

Like the carpal tunnel in each wrist, the tarsal tunnel is a canal in each ankle through which a major nerve travels. The tibial nerve provides feeling to the bottom of the foot and allows us to move most of our toes. The tarsal tunnel is comprised of both bone and soft tissue, and when it is inflamed, the tibial nerve may be compressed. This will cause sharp pains, numbness, or tingling, especially when the patient has been active or standing for a long time. People who make repetitive motions with their legs are especially at risk, but so are people with flat feet, diabetes, or who have suffered injuries in that area before.

Testing for TTS involves imaging and tapping the nerve. Besides RICE, common treatments for TTS include anti-inflammatory injections and the use of a splint to immobilize the foot. Patients are also advised to wear customized orthotics to ensure their tibial nerve isn’t being stretched by fallen arches. In severe cases, we can surgically release the ligament binding the tarsal tunnel, taking pressure off the nerve.

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.

Ganglion Cysts

A lump on your ankle or foot is obviously concerning, but it might not be what you think. Sometimes, people develop pockets of liquid called ganglion cysts on the joints of their hands or feet. As podiatrists who offer a wide range of services, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates want to help people understand why these cysts develop and what we can do to help.

Our joints and tendons are lubricated by gel that sometimes becomes displaced. Ganglion cysts usually occur when a joint suffers trauma or a degenerative condition and the tendon sheath has become frayed enough for lubricating gel to seep through and gather in a pocket. The cyst may be painful and it may be bulbous or take the form of a network of small bubbles. It may also interfere with the tendon’s function, causing weakness.

 We can conduct tests to determine whether a lump is a ganglion cyst or something more serious. We may advise that a cyst be aspirated, which means we will draw out the fluid with a syringe. Patients should not attempt to do this on their own, or they will risk injury. If the cyst returns repeatedly, we may suggest removing the cyst surgically or injecting it with anti-inflammatory steroids, but tendon sheaths are usually able to heal on their own.

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.

Discolored Toenails

Nobody wants their toenails to look discolored, especially not during the summer months, when other people can see. But discolored toenails can indicate a bigger problem than just a bruise. Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain offers solutions for a wide variety of topical and internal problems, so if you have discolored toenails, we can help you figure out why and what to do.

The most common reason for discolored toenails is infection. Fungus commonly makes toenails thick and yellow-brown in color. They may be misshapen and hard to cut. In people with compromised immune systems, fungus can appear white. Bacteria may cause toenails to look green or bluish green.  Like infections of the skin, these ailments are likelier to happen if the feet are not kept dry and can become dangerous if they are able to enter the interior of the body through a lesion.

Black and brown toenails can be indicative of skin cancer. While they are likelier to be caused by blood pooling beneath the nail after an injury, patients should definitely seek a consultation with us if they don’t remember an injury that could cause discoloration. An injury may also cause white streaks on a nail, and while they can grow out, the patient might take toenail injuries as a sign they need to change shoes.

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.