Do you have questions about foot care? We have answers.

Most running injuries, such as Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, and Morton's neuroma, are an inflammation of the musculoskeletal system. In many cases, it is inflammation of the tendon or ligament where it attaches to the bone. This inflammation is the source of the pain from these injuries.

You can treat a Houston running injury naturally with ice. Icing your injury will constrict the blood flow to the area. Apply ice for up to 20 minutes at a time and take a break between applications. Icing an injury, such as a sprained ankle, as soon as it occurs is the best way to minimize the swelling.

Anti-inflammatory medication, or NSAIDs, are another good way to treat inflammation. Advil, Motrin, and Aleve all fall into this category. They work  to inhibit a chemical pathway that causes inflammation to occur. One pifall many fall into, however, is using an anti-inflammatory medication like they treat a headache: taking it when the pain occurs only. Running injuries respond much better to taking medication consistantly, the recommended daily dose for 1-2 weeks. This will not only treat the pain, but allow the injury to heal by eliminating the inflammation.

If you have a running injury that is causing pain in your foot and ankle, the sooner you treat it, the faster you will be able to return to running. Contact Houston running podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider for a comprhensive examination and detailed treatment plan to get you back on the road.

Every so often I catch an article in a prominent running magazine that discounts the usefulness and efficacy of custom orthotics. Since I see how custom orthotics help runners increase their speed and endurance first-hand, I'll admit that I get a bit annoyed. On the other hand, I can understand their position.

A custom orthotic is an insole made from a model of your foot. It is called a custom orthotic whether it is made by a Houston podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, or orthotist. The resulting device, however, varies depending on how it is made...and there are many different philosophies when it comes to custom orthotics. Because some work better than others, those on the outside looking in can notice inconsistent results.

Where my Houston podiatry practice I perform a comprehensive biomechanical examination when I evaluate you for custom orthotics. I check range of motion from your hip to your feet, watch you walk and perform a gait analysis, and ultimately take a mold of your foot in plaster. I believe that this is the most accurate way to capture the foot in the most stable position.

The results speak for themselves...not to mention that I guarantee that the orthotics will feel great and work perfectly. If you have not had success with custom orthotics in the past, contact Dr. Andrew Schneider in Houston to see how much difference a properly made device will make.

Runners have one desire...to keep running. In fact most runners delay coming to our Houston podiatry office because they are afraid that I'll tell them to stop running. The problem with that reasoning is that if they came sooner, before the problem became unbearable, I probably wouldn't have told them to stop running...but now I have to.

There are of course some circumstances where you do absolutely have to take a break from running. These include stress fractures, fractures, tendon ruptures, and severe sprains. Continuing to run on these injuries is a recipe for disaster! The injury will worsen, possibly requiring surgery to repair and correct

When it comes to overuse running injuries, such as shin splints, heel pain, and Achilles tendonitis, I don't often have you stop running. It is very important, however, that you come in as soon as possible. If the injury becomes worse, there is a greater chance that you'll have to take a break from running.

If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain that is worse when you are running, call Tanglewood Foot Specialists in Houston. Dr. Andrew Schneider will perform a comprehensive evaluation and recommend the best treatment to get you running pain-free.

Humans are not symmetrical. We have a tendency to use one limb in a more dominant way than the other. Just as you may be right or left handed, you also have a dominant foot that will be used more and takes more pressure through your daily activity, and especially during running.

 

There are other factors that can cause pain, and even problems like bunions and hammertoes, occur on one foot and not the other. The most common issue that causes this is when one leg is longer than the other. It happens more often than you'd think! Because of the leg length difference, your feet work differently to compensate for the discrepancy. We often use a custom orthotic to correct for the difference in length and stabilize the compensation. This managed the foot pain and also will address the knee, hip, and back pain that also can result from the leg length difference.

 

Another cause of unilateral pain is related to the running surface. Many streets, and especially theses in Houston, are banked to allow for drainage. When you run on the side of the road, you end up with one foot higher than another, essentially creating a leg length difference. A simple fix for this is a couple of steps to the center of the road....but don't get hit by a car!!

 

If you are unsure what is causing the pain or problem in your foot or ankle, contact Tanglewood Foot Specialists for a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Andrew Schneider will evaluate your mechanics, determine where there is instability, and discuss the best solution with you.

Most of us never really learned how to run. We started walking as a child and running came naturally soon after. In fact, that's the appeal for most people who take up running for exercise: you lace up your shoes and go!

 

If running was so natural, why do injuries occur? Even though we know how to run does not mean we do it efficiently. That said, many people take advice from friends, books, and running magazines, about the right way to run. Such advice is often problematic, since everyone runs a bit differently. For instance, one runner used a heel strike and another with a midfoot strike. Neither is wrong, per se, but depends on many factors, including foot type and the associated biomechanics.

 

If you are determined to make significant changes in your running gait, you should consider doing so with an experienced running coach. A coach will be able to objectively watch you run an offer appropriate recommendations.

 

There are also times where your running is impacted by mechanical instability. This causes the muscles to work harder and leads to overuse injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints, and also results in getting fatigued quickly. These cases are well managed with custom foot orthotics.

 

If you are noticing that you can't run as far or as long as you like, contact Dr. Andrew Schneider in Houston, TX. Dr. Schneider will perform a comprehensive biomechanical examination to identify where you are not efficient and will recommend the best treatment to improve your running.

Stretching is one of those things that many runners don't like to do. In fact participants in all sports, all who would benefit from stretching, don't take enough time to do so. Stretching accomplishes several things. It provides gradual "warm up" to the muscle fibers prior to putting additional stress on them during exercise. Stretching also helps to eliminate lactic acid buildup from muscles after a workout. Stretching is indeed an important element to help increase your fitness level and to prevent running injuries.

 

There are different philosophies as to when is the best time to stretch. Some feel they stretching is best prior to a run. Others recommend stretching after a brief warmup. Still others stress stretching after a run. None of these philosophies are wrong and you should choose a stretching regimen that works for you.

 

One pitfall many runners encounter is developing a stretching regimen that is too long. We often take an "all or none" approach to stretching. We either do the whole stretching routine, or none. Time gets in the way and "none" often wins out. Focus on key stretches for the major muscle groups and get it done first. If you have time, stretch more.

 

Not stretching enough can make overuse injuries, such as heel pain, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints, more likely. If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, contact Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider for an immediate appointment and comprehensive evaluation.

Every step you run results in two forces: the force of your foot hitting the ground and the force the ground exerts back into your foot. This results in a large amount of pressure coming into your foot. This is the reason that the surface that you run on makes a significant difference.

 

The harder the surface you run on, the greater the force coming back into your lower extremity. The harder surface materials are concrete and asphalt. More moderate surfaces include gravel, grass, and a rubberized track. In Houston, we consider a surface similar to the track at Memorial Park a perfect surface to run on.

 

Surfaces can be too soft and irregular, though. Running on a beach causes your foot and ankle to work harder as you try to stabilize yourself in the loose sand. Our Houston roads also pose a problem, since they are banked for drainage. This causes those running on the side of the road to run on a slant, causing a significant differential in the running surface.

 

Regardless of the surface you are running on, you should never have pain. If you find that your feet or ankles are painful when you run, contact Dr. Andrew Schneider at Tanglewood Foot Specialists. We will eliminate your pain quickly and take measures to ensure it won't return. Most importantly, you'll get back to what you love...running!

"No pain, no gain" used to be the battle cry of athletes of all levels. As more and more athletes suffered injuries, a much more zen "let your body be your guide" has prevailed. There is a difference from soreness from conditioning and pain that effects your running.

 

Pain is your body's alarm system alerting you that something is wrong. Continuing to run through pain can put you at further risk of an overuse injury, such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. These conditions will become worse and force you to limit, or even stop, your running. The longer you wait to get your pain diagnosed and treated, the longer it will take for you to recover.

 

Listen to your body and contact Tanglewood Foot Specialists at the earliest signs of pain. The sooner you call and come in, the greater the likelihood that you will not have to stop running at all!

There are a wide variety of off-the-shelf insoles available for running shoes. There are some better then others, of course. There are some that are not supportive enough and others that claim to be more than they are and are as expensive as a custom orthotic.

 

The typical drug store insoles, such as Dr. Scholl's, are too flexible to provide you any amount of control when you are running. They will offer some cushioning but don't rely on them of you are looking for support.

 

On the other side of the coin you'll find expensive hard rubber, leather, or plastic insoles. These are often sold at specialty stores such as the Good Feet Store and Foot Solutions for $250 or more. Ironically these are similar to insoles sold on late night infomercials for $29.99! Be careful, once you walk out of the store they will not accept them for returns.

 

You should expect to pay $30-$60 for an off-the-shelf insole. You can find these at athletic shoe stores and running stores with brands such as Superfeet, Spenco, and SofSole. We conveniently offer Redithotics insoles at our Houston podiatry office.

The thing I enjoy least as a Houston podiatrist is to tell my patients that they need to stop running for a period of time. I don't take this recommendation lightly, however it is sometimes necessary. There are many types of foot pain that can be managed while you continue running. If I don't feel running during recovery is right, I will discuss other forms of exercise that you can safely engage in.

 

There are some injuries where you absolutely must stop running and exercising. These are times where continuing to run will make your foot injury worse. For instance, I worked with an Ironman triathlete who had a stress fracture in her foot. I put her in a fracture boot and advised her to not to run for the 8 week treatment period. She couldn't stomach the idea of taking time off...she continued to run, causing a worse fracture that required foot surgery to repair. This ended up taking much more time to heal and a longer time away from running.

 

If you have foot pain when you run, don't wait to have it evaluated. Don't be afraid that I will tell you not to run! Even if I do, it will take you away from running for a shorter time than if your injury becomes worse. Contact Dr. Schneider for an immediate appointment.