Dr. Jeffrey Niccoli of Alameda Family Podiatry Group Reminds Runners to Be Wary of Obscure Injuries

Runners today bear many responsibilities when they take to the streets and sidewalks with their running shoes on. Most important amongst those responsibilities is the one they bear for themselves, and their own well-being. Considering the obstacles and hazards they will encounter while out on their run, the two feet that carry them to and from their destination are depended upon for much more than running once that run is over.

As structurally complex as the foot is, each small bone requires only a few pounds of pressure per square inch to either fracture, sprain or break. Common athletic foot injuries amongst today’s runners include blisters, ankle sprains, stress fractures, tendonitis and plantar fasciitis (heel pain).

It’s important in the event of any kind of sports foot injury that your doctor is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and willing to help you fully understand the best course of action to take in your foot injury recovery.

Each year, one million runners will develop heel pain, and the common cause of their heel pain will most likely be plantar fasciitis, which is the result of excess stress through a long ligament type structure (the plantar fascia) in the bottom of the foot. The excess stress causes micro-tearing, and results in inflammation and pain near the lower heel area. The classic symptoms are pain in the heel at the first step in the morning, or upon rising after long periods of rest.

Typically, runners may only experience the pain at the beginning of a run. Some runners ascertain that the recurring pain works itself out after about 1 mile, only to return by the end of a long run, or at the end of the day. Runners develop plantar fasciitis and tendonitis for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons for the development of plantar fasciitis is wearing poor quality or worn out shoes.
It is common to grab old “mud” shoes to run in bad weather, or to start a spring training regimen in shoes that were used the entire previous season. The older shoes may have a worn out midsole and may have lost all aspects of support and stability, which could potentially injure your foot via a simple misstep. Improper fit of a new running shoe can also cause fasciitis.

Overtraining is another cause of plantar fasciitis. Adding too many miles too quickly, or adding too many hills too quickly can overstress the foot. Abnormal mechanics in the foot is another contributing factor to the development of plantar fasciitis in runners.

Your foot injury recovery is an important process, and the foot injury doctor you choose could be the difference between months worth of redundant recovery efforts, and weeks worth of quality time spent recovering cautiously and methodically.

Dr. Jeffrey Niccoli of Alameda Family Podiatry Group works in the field of healing injuries to the feet of children and adults of all ages, and looks forward to treating you and your family in the event of this unfortunate and inconvenient injury. As a qualified and professional sports injury doctor specializing in the feet, Dr. Niccoli has the know-how and touch to see you through your injury effectively, to help you with your process of full recovery.