Many dedicated runners will not allow cooler weather to prevent them from continuing their physical regimen. But rising temperatures will also increase the number of individuals who become involved with this form of exercise during the upcoming months.

There are multiple reports that discuss the number of active runners in the United States. That includes this estimation that almost 60 million people are involved with this activity. This ongoing commitment to running provides outstanding physical and mental benefits. Unfortunately, relentless dedication to running can also result in injuries.

The numerous advantages of maintaining a regular exercise program have been discussed multiple times in previous blogs. First, consistent physical activity supplies an excellent resource for retaining a healthy weight. An ongoing exercise program will also decrease the risk that you will experience serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain forms of cancer. Additional benefits of physical activity include bolstering the strength of your muscles and bones, along with enhancing your outlook on life.

While it is highly recommended that you maintain a regular exercise program, it is possible that your dedication toward consistent physical activity might compel you to push your body too hard. This unwanted scenario includes injuries that can emerge in the foot through repetitive running.

How Foot Injuries Develop From Running   

Runners can experience several forms of tendonitis that will cause discomfort in the foot or the ankle. This can occur due to an inflammation  which often stems from the repetitive use of a tendon. When this excess stress affects the Achilles’ tendon – which extends from the back of your heel to your calf – then the specific condition is referred to as Achilles tendonitis.

Any sudden increase in your running activity can also place you at a higher risk of encountering tendonitis. This is especially true if your calf muscles are already tight before you expand your exercise regimen.  

The plantar fascia ligament is located under your skin at the bottom of your foot. It joins the front of your foot to your heel, and is built to handle the movements that you make with various activities including running. But if the surrounding tissue that protects the arch becomes inflamed, then you will experience plantar fasciitis.

The risk of encountering this injury increases through repeated running, However, if  you are just beginning a regular regimen, or are expanding the amount of running that you do, then you are also at risk of contending with this condition.

Stress fractures are small cracks that emerge within the bone, and they normally develop as the result of frequent activity such as running. In addition to excessive wear and tear due to the ongoing force that is placed upon our foot, this condition can also occur if you raise the intensity of your workouts. Beginning a regimen of running regularly, or changing to this activity from a different form of exercise can also lead to a stress fracture. Any modification from running on a softer surface to the more demanding surface of an outdoor track can also increase the risk of incurring a stress fracture.

You can reduce the risk of experiencing any of these injuries by making sure that you warm up effectively, and stretch your muscles before any activity begins. Walking for several minutes before increasing the pace can enable you to stretch your muscles properly. It is also beneficial to make sure that your shoes fit correctly. This is particularly true for anyone with flat feet or high arches.

Symptoms Of Foot Injuries 

If you are encountering pain in your heel, then this is an indication that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. This condition can also be indicated by any discomfort that you might experience when you attempt your first steps after waking up in the morning. Pain from plantar fasciitis can also emerge if you have been sitting for an extended period of time and make your initial steps.

If you are dealing with a stress fracture, you will become aware of pain that steadily increases in intensity over time. Your discomfort might diminish when you rest. However, you could also encounter swelling that is accompanied by the discomfort. If tendonitis has developed due to running, then you will be contending with swelling and pain. The discomfort will also intensify if you engage in running or any other activity that places additional stress on the tendon. 

When To Visit A Doctor

If you believe that you are contending with a stress fracture, it is important that you consult with your physician. Disregarding your discomfort can create more chronic issues, and could even place you at risk of experiencing a broken bone.  

You should also visit your doctor if you are experiencing heel pain, as that is usually an indication of an issue that could result from plantar fascitis or tendonitis. If you attempting to rest your foot but the discomfort continues to linger, then it is recommended that you visit a physician. This is also the case if you are dealing with pain that prevents you from conducting your normal activities. 

What A Doctor Will Do

If you are concerned that you may have a stress fracture, and decide to visit a doctor, he or she will conduct an examination in order to provide you with a diagnosis. This will include a series of questions. that are designed for your physician to review your medical history and determine your degree of involvement in physical activities. Your doctor might also order several forms of imaging testing, including X-Rays, MRIs, and bone scans, that will contribute to the final diagnosis. Forms of treatment for foot injuries can include rest and ice. Surgery is unlikely, although it can become the recommended form of treatment in certain situations. 

At Orthopedic Associates We Are Ready To Help

If you are concerned that you have encountered a foot or ankle injury from running, or, if you have any questions or concerns about your foot or your ankle, the specialists at Orthopedic Associates have the expertise and commitment to help.  Our collection of board-certified doctors provide vast knowledge that can only result from their combined 183 years of experience. This is beneficial in their ability to design effective treatment plans that will guide you back to a pain-free existence. The conditions that we can treat include:

• Accessory Navicular
• Adult Acquired Flatfoot
• Bunion
• Bunionette Deformity (Tailor’s Bunion)
• Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
• Charcot’s Neuroarthropathy (CN)
• Claw Toe
• Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Corns
• Diabetic Foot
• Fracture of the Heel Bone (Calcaneus)
• Gout
• Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
• Hammer Toe
• Ingrown Toenails
• Jones Fractures
• LisFranc (Midfoot) Fracture-Dislocation
• Metatarsalgia
• Morton’s Neuroma
• MTP Synovitis (Capsulitis)
• Peroneal Tendon Tears
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Plantar Warts
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot
• Sesamoiditis
• Stress Fractures of the Foot
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (Posterior Tibial Neuralgia)

Treatments

Our orthopedic experts are also highly experienced in performing multiple types of treatments and surgeries for the foot including:

• Amniotic and Placental Graft Tissue for Surgery and Wound Care
• Anesthesia
• Bunion Correction with Scarf and Akin Osteotomy
• Bunionectomy
• Bunionette Deformity Correction
• Calcaneal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
• Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy (with Lateral Plate Fixation)
• Calcaneal Tongue-Type Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
• Cartilage Repair
• Charcot Foot Treatment Options
• Cheilectomy
• Cold Laser Therapy
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
• Cotton Osteotomy (Medial Cuneiform Opening Wedge Osteotomy)
• DuVries Arthroplasty
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (EPF)
• Excision of Mortons Neuromas
• First MTP Joint Fusion/Replacement
• Fixation for LisFranc Injury
• Hammertoe Correction (PIP Joint Arthroplasty)
• Jones Fracture Fixation
• Kidner Procedure
• Lapidus Arthrodesis (with Medial Plate Fixation)
• Lapidus Procedure for Bunion Correction
• Lateral Column Lengthening (Evans Osteotomy) for Adult Acquired Flatfoot
• LisFranc Ligament Repair (Suture Button Technique)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Mallet Toe Correction (DIP Joint Arthroplasty)
• Medial Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy
• Metatarsal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
• Metatarsal Head Resurfacing with Collagen Interpositional Grafting
• Midfoot Fusion
• Minimal Incision Toe Bone Spur Removal
• Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control
• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
• Partial Nail Removal (Matrixectomy)
• Plantar Fascia Release (Open Technique)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
• Pulse Dye Laser Wart Removal
• Radiofrequency Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
• Intramedullary Memory Implant
• Subtalar Implant/Fusion
• Tarsal Tunnel Decompression
• Tendon Transfer/Repair
• Triple Arthrodesis
• Weil Osteotomy for Claw Toe

Contact us today and begin your path to a pain-free life.