Inversion ankle sprains, or sprains that involve the ankle turning inwards, are a very common injury both with athletes and with sedentary people. This type of injury often needs physical therapy, and there is much published research and data in relation to why these injuries occur, how to rehabilitate sprains, and how to prevent repeat […]
Post-Surgical Ankle Boot? Please Get a Lift For Your Other Shoe!
Many of us know someone who has suffered trauma to the ankle or foot (fractures, surgeries etc.) that requires the usage of a giant, cumbersome immobilization boot. Ankle boots are a necessary evil: They protect the joints and bones of the lower leg and allow for bones and soft tissues to heal. The problem that […]
Two Long-Term Effects of Ankle Sprains
Most athletes, high-heel shoe addicts, and the chronically clumsy have encountered ankle sprains. The swelling and pain that result from turning one’s ankle can last for months and be very limiting in the short term. What most people do not address, however, are the long-term effects of ankle sprains. I have seen patients with lower […]
Getting en Pointe: For the Progressing Dancer
The art of dancing en pointe is something that many little girls in ballet class work towards. It is a typical sign that you are now one of the “big girls.” However, the excitement of getting to this milestone can sometimes cause premature entry into the world of pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are a much […]
Compression Socks for Everyday Use and Travel
In the past, compression socks or stockings were only seen in the hospital setting or amongst the older population with lymphatic or circulatory problems. They have been known to be white or beige ugly stockings that usually end just below or above the knee. However, due to the practical everyday use of these garments, compression […]
Ankle Stability and Trail Running
I don’t get trail running. It is needlessly dangerous. I was walking my dog on a trail in Rock Creek Park the other day and played witness to a poor chap falling on his ass and sustaining one heck of an inversion ankle sprain. I had to help him get back to the street. Thank […]
Shoes Make Your Feet Weak!
We are a culture that worships shoes. Companies have reaped untold billions from our insatiable desire to wear cool kicks. There is indeed a shoe for all occasions. There are shoes marketed specifically for nightlife, formal work settings, soccer, hiking, swimming, and one hundred other activities that I cannot think of. I am not immune. […]
How Obesity Affects Your Joints
Most of us have heard the warning about obesity as it pertains to general health. Diabetes, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal issues, and osteoarthritis are all common health concerns that are all associated with overweight patients. Here is one additional reason to lose weight that you may not have considered: Obesity, particularly as it pertains to […]
Can You Balance on One Leg?
Take your shoes and socks off. Stand on a flat surface and try to balance on one leg with the stance knee slightly unlocked. Can you do this ON EACH LEG for ten seconds without losing your balance or having to use your other foot to touch the floor? If you cannot, you need to […]
Turf Toe: A Therapist’s Personal Experience with Injury
Believe it or not, physical therapists are not immune to injury. At PhysioDC, the therapists have all been through some orthopaedic injury or surgery at some point in their lives. PTs tend to live fairly active lifestyles. The fact of the matter is, while living an active lifestyle is healthy for you in a cardiovascular […]
