San Marcos Foot & Ankle Clinic
Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2006
N
e
w
s
l
e
t
t
e
r
www.SMFAC.com
OLD ANKLE SPRAINS INCREASE
INJURY RISK FOR NEWLY ACTIVE BABY
BOOMERS
www.SMFAC.com
Recurrent ankle
sprains can lead
to joint instability.
SMFAC
1305 Wonder World Drive
Suite #304
San Marcos, Texas 78666
512.396.0808
www.SMFAC.com
persistent pain and swelling.
The San Marcos Foot &
Ankle Clinic has a
For anyone hoping to regain past athletic fitness,
message for Baby
it’s recommended that you have that old ankle
Boomers now getting back
injury checked out before becoming active
into fitness and sports:
again.
Get your ankles checked
for chronic instability
Some sprains are severe enough to strain or
caused by sprains and
other injuries that might not tear the tendons on the outside of the ankle,
called the peroneal tendons. Research shows
have
that more than 85 percent of athletes
healed properly years
ago.
"It is estimated that who had surgery to repair a torn
peroneal tendon were able to return to
one in four sports
full sporting activity within three
Many who have suffered
ankle sprains in the past
injuries involves the months after the procedure.
could be at risk for more
foot or ankle."
Peroneal tendon tears are an
serious damage as they
overlooked cause of lateral ankle pain.
age and try to stay in
Although surgery for athletically active
good physical condition.
patients shouldn’t be taken lightly, surgical repair
It is estimated that one in four sports injuries
of the peroneal tendons is proving to be very
involves the foot or ankle, and a majority of
successful in helping athletes with serious ankle
them occur from incomplete rehabilitation of
problems return to full
earlier injuries.
activity.
Many older adult athletes who have had a
Finally, persistent
previous injury that wasn’t fully rehabilitated
pain and tenderness
may experience swelling and pain as they
after a sprain,
increase their physical activity. But pain isn’t
especially if the
normal in the ankle area, even if you’re
individual felt a ‘pop’
starting to get back in shape.
on the outside of the
ankle and couldn’t
In addition, both serious athletes and
stand tiptoe, might be
a
weekend sports participants often
a warning sign that
misunderstand how serious a sprain can be,
the tendon is torn or
and they rush back into action without taking
split. The injury is best diagnosed with an MRI
time to rehabilitate the injury properly. A
exam.
sprain that happened years ago can leave
Diagnostic Ultrasound
In an effort to more accurately diagnose soft tissue injuries, the
doctors of SMFAC are now utilizing in-office ultrasound as an
additional diagnostic tool. "Ultrasound is a very versatile tool in the
hands of the practitioner. It aids in the diagnosis of multiple
problems of the foot and ankle including foreign bodies,
inflammatory conditions, and tendon injuries" reports Dr. Phalen.
SMFAC is proud to announce the availability of this diagnostic tool
for in-office use for the convenience of our patients.
Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2006
Are Fallen Arches a Real Foot Problem?
Are “fallen arches” an
actual foot disorder, or
just a catch phrase used
to describe chronically
sore feet?
w
w
w
.
S
M
F
A
C
.
c
o
m
www.SMFAC.com
Pain in the foot and
ankle is often the
result of a flat foot.
Fallen arches—or flat
feet—is a legitimate
medical condition that
affects about 5 percent of
the US population. Flat
feet can be present at
birth, or develop over
decades of walking,
running and overall time
spent on the feet, especially on hard surfaces in
the workplace.
standing and returns to a normal arch in
non-weight-bearing positions. In adults,
flat feet can be very painful and limit your
ability to exercise and stay in good
cardiovascular health. It’s tough to be
active, shed excess pounds, and maintain
a healthy lifestyle if your feet hurt
constantly, so it’s important to seek
medical attention to identify the problem
early and intercede before it progresses to
a serious, activity-limiting foot problem.
Pain is the primary reason patients seek
medical treatment for flat feet and first-line
therapy may include activity modifications
or limitations, stretching exercises, custom
shoe orthotics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications. As the
condition worsens, pain
and tenderness in the arch
"Fallen arches are a becomes more severe and
legitimate medical some patients may not be
able to rise up on their
condition."
toes at all or without pain.
There are several types of flatfoot
conditions that occur in adults. The
most common type is adultacquired flat foot, which is caused
by overstretching a tendon that
supports the arch. This leads to a
partial or complete collapse of the
arch and produces the flattened appearance on the If the response to initial treatment is
bottom of the foot. Another common type is
unsatisfactory, there are a variety of
flexible flat foot in which the foot is flat when
surgical procedures that may be
considered to relieve pain and improve
Interested in A Free T-Shirt?
foot function.
SMFAC is interested in
YOUR feedback. Just fill out a
practice survey and turn yours in
today for your free shirt!
How to Treat an Acute
Foot & Ankle Injury
Before seeking treatment from
SMFAC for a foot or ankle
injury, you can decrease the
time needed for recovery by
following the acronym, RICE,
listed below:
Custom-molded orthotics aren't just
a fancy arch support, they are
prescribed to aid in controlling the
biomechanical motion of the foot.
1.Rest
2.Ice/Immobilization
4.Compression
5.Elevation
Then call 512.396.0808 to
schedule an appointment for
further evaluation.
Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2006