May
12
Spring is sports season for many amateur athletes and weekend warriors in the New England area. It’s also ankle sprain season for one area foot and ankle surgeon.
Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon with offices in Chelmsford and Newburyport Massachusetts, says ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries he treats this time of year.
“As people emerge from their winter hibernation and start to get active again, they can injure their ankles playing sports such as basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer,” Dr. Downs says.
Anyone who injures an ankle requires prompt medical treatment, whether it’s their first sprain or their fifth. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (R.I.C.E.) can reduce swelling and pain until the ankle can be evaluated and treated by a foot and ankle surgeon. A sprain may not always be a sprain; the ankle could be fractured.
Dr. Downs notes that many athletes develop chronic ankle instability from repeated ankle sprains, causing their ankle to frequently “give way.” In some cases these players may require surgery. Proper rehabilitation of an ankle sprain reduces the likelihood of developing chronic ankle instability.
Dr. Downs shares three spring ankle sprain prevention tips:
- Perform warm-up stretches and exercises before playing sports.
- Wear the right shoes for the sport. For example, don’t wear running shoes for sports that involve a lot of side-to-side movement, such as tennis and basketball.
- Wear an ankle brace if you’re recovering from an injury or have repeatedly sprained your ankle.
Dr. Downs is a member of the ACFAS and board certified in foot surgery. He and his colleagues, Dr. Jerold Fleishman and Dr. Victor Quijano provide podiatric foot and ankle care at New England Foot and Ankle.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
May
2
Mow the lawn, not your foot
Filed Under Foot Health
The thousands of lawnmower-related foot injuries every year can be prevented
Springtime is here and a local foot and ankle surgeon cautions weekend gardeners that their yards could become “toe-away” zones if they’re not careful when operating rotary-blade lawn mowers.
Each year, some 25,000 Americans sustain injuries from power mowers, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.
“Although the number of accidents has steadily declined since the 1982 adoption of federal safety standards, we still see too many foot injuries from power lawnmowers,” say Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “The blades whirl at 3,000 revolutions per minute and produce three times the kinetic energy of a .357 handgun. Yet we see patients who have been hurt while operating a mower barefoot! Foot injuries range from dirty, infection-prone lacerations to severed tendons to amputated toes.”
If a mower accident occurs – with just a minor injury – Dr. Downs says immediate treatment is necessary to flush the wound thoroughly and apply antibiotics to prevent infection. Superficial wounds can be treated on an outpatient basis, but more serious injuries usually require surgical intervention to repair tendon damage, deep clean the wound and suture it. Tendons severed in lawnmower accidents generally can be re-attached surgically unless toes have been amputated.
Dr. Downs says children under the age of 14 and adults over age 44 are more likely to be injured from mowers than others. He says anyone who operates a power mower should follow a few simple precautions:
- Don’t mow a wet lawn. Losing control from slipping on rain-soaked grass is the leading cause of foot injuries caused by power mowers.
- Wear heavy shoes or work boots when mowing – no sneakers or sandals.
- Mow slowly across slopes, never go up and down.
- Never pull a running mower backward.
- Keep the clip bag attached when operating a power mower to prevent projectile injuries.
- Use a mower with a release mechanism on the handle that automatically shuts it off when the hands let go.
- Always keep children away from the lawn when mowing it.
For further information about foot and ankle problems, contact the New England Foot & Ankle Podiatry office at (Chelmsford) (978) 441-9241 or (Newburyport) (978) 463-0086, or visit the web site at www.NEFootAnkle.com.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
Apr
30
Foot and ankle surgeon shares advice
As millions of avid golfers get ready for another season of pars and bogeys, they should be aware of potentially serious foot problems that can result from years of playing the game.
Although golf is not considered a rigorous sport, the physical act of repeatedly swinging a golf club in practice and on the links can lead to a condition known as hallux limitus, a jamming and deterioration of the big toe joint.
According to Timothy M. Downs, DPM, FACFAS, the movement and weight transfer that occur during the swing’s follow through can cause this problem and other chronic foot ailments. Dr. Downs is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with podiatry offices in Chelmsford and Newburyport MA.
“When golfers follow through on their swing, they can overextend the big toe joint on the back foot,” says Dr. Downs. “Those who have played the game avidly for several years eventually can wear out the cartilage or jam the big toe joint. The likely outcome, if left untreated, is painful arthritis in the big toe, which would make it very difficult to continue playing golf.”
Golfers who have pain and swelling around the big toe joint or have less mobility in this area than other parts of the foot should visit a foot and ankle surgeon for an examination and appropriate treatment. A history of trauma to the big toe area and bone structure also can precipitate the condition. Individuals with a long first metatarsal bone (big toe), for example, are more susceptible to joint compression and hallux limitus.
“If golfers experience pain in the big toe area when playing, they should consider it a warning sign that intervention is necessary before the joint becomes arthritic,” says Dr. Downs. “In most situations, orthotics can be prescribed to provide relief, but others with advanced cases may require surgery.”
Another foot problem that is common in golfers is a neuroma or pinched nerve at the bottom of the foot. The weight transfer to the front foot that occurs in the follow through applies pressure that, over time, can cause a pinched nerve.
Dr. Downs also advises golfers not to wear shoes that have a spike located directly beneath the ball of the foot. “The pressure from that single spike, magnified by the several thousand steps taken during an average round, can cause intense pain and swelling in the ball of the foot,” he says.
Dr. Downs says any pair of golf shoes can be made more foot friendly without sacrificing traction by removing the poorly located spikes.
For more information on foot conditions that affect athletes, contact the New England Foot & Ankle podiatry offices at (978) 441-9241 (Chelmsford) or (978) 463-0086, or visit their web site at www.NEFootAnkle.com.
Contact Us:Chelmsford Podiatry Office: (978) 441-9241
or Newburyport Podiatry Office: (978) 463-0086
