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Hitting the Pavement Without the Pain: How Runners Can Conquer Heel Pain

Carrolton Foot Center is all in favor of regular running! It’s an incredibly beneficial form of exercise that delivers consistent benefits, boosting both physical and mental well-being. However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and running is no exception.

Heel pain and Achilles tendonitis are among the common costs runners must confront, and like any podiatric problem, they create serious stumbling blocks when left untreated. The blog below should help you stay fit, flexible, and focused on your goals.

Preventing Heel Pain with a Strong Foundation

You can keep heel pain from starting with some of these preventative measures.

  • Supportive Shoes: Invest in well-fitting running shoes with proper arch support and cushioning specifically designed for your running style. Replace them every 300-500 miles to maintain optimal shock absorption.
  • Stretch It Out: Regularly performing calf stretches and foot mobilizations helps maintain flexibility and range of motion, reducing stress on the heel.
  • Gradual Progression: Don’t jump into high mileage or intense training too quickly. Gradually increase distance and intensity to allow your body to adapt and strengthen.
  • Cross-Training: Mix up your routine with low-impact activities like swimming or cycling to provide recovery periods for your heels.

Managing Heel Pain: When Prevention Isn’t Enough

Sometimes, you’ll need to handle pain that’s already present, and RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) isn’t always enough.

  • Custom Orthotics: Podiatrists can create custom orthotic inserts that address your specific biomechanical imbalances, providing targeted support and pressure relief to prevent conditions like plantar fasciitis and overpronation.
  • Pain Relief Options: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort.

Treating Persistent Heel Pain: Advanced Strategies

If pain persists despite conservative measures, your podiatrist may recommend:

  • Leneva® Fat Pad Injections: These injections replenish lost cushioning in the heel pad, promoting pain relief and tissue healing, which is particularly helpful for plantar fasciitis.

Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari is committed to helping patients in Carrollton, TX. With advanced treatment methods, she offers assistance with everything from ingrown toenails to sophisticated surgical solutions. Contact Carrollton Foot Center’s office at 469-998-3668 to schedule an appointment today!

Run Safely This Fall

The weather is cooling down and many of us are ready to hit the trails or track to enjoy the crisp air during our run. Running is a great way to move our bodies. But accidents do happen, particularly to those who aren’t taking precautions. Injuries are common to runners. For those lacing up their sneakers this month, here are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to safety.

Stretch Effectively

Before partaking in any form of exercise, it’s important to warm up your body and strengthen your muscles and tendons. Take some time out of your routine to stretch your entire body, paying close attention to your legs, ankles, and feet. Not stretching before or after a run is the easiest way to create an injury. For more information on which stretches are best for you, reach out to your podiatrist for some tips and tricks.

Ease Into It

For a lot of people, working out is about pushing your body to its limit and testing your strength. However, it’s important to not push yourself too far. Listen to your body and stop when you feel you need to. Always ease into your run. Start slow and steady and gradually build up your speed. Your feet will thank you.

Be On the Lookout

One of the most common ways to injure yourself is to not be aware of your surroundings and bump into something. This is especially true for those who run outside on trails. Watch out for rocks, twigs, wet leaves, animals, people, or anything else that you might come across on your run.

Support Your Feet

One of the best ways you can prevent an injury is to wear the right kind of footwear. There are plenty of sneakers on the market, making it easy to find the best one for you. The perfect pair will provide support, comfort, flexibility, and breathability. New shoes should also feel great during the first try-on. Never buy sneakers with the intention of “breaking them in,” as this can lead to pain and possible injury.

Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari is committed to helping her clients in Carrollton, TX. She offers a wide variety of treatments from ingrown toenails to advanced surgical solutions. Contact Carrollton Foot Center’s office at 469-998-3668 to schedule an appointment today!

Kick Off Spring with Kickball

Every year on April 17th, people around the world observe National Kickball Day. Kickball, depending on which part of the world you’re in, can either be the same as soccer (or football, in European countries) or it could be that game we all played in gym class during grade school. Ironically, the term ‘kickball’ is actually a shortened version of its original name, ‘kick baseball.’ As a sport, kickball originated in the early 1900s in Cincinnati, Ohio. Regardless of what kickball means to you or how you choose to play it, this fun activity is a very foot-heavy sport that relies on the endurance and resilience of our feet and ankles. Even when we’re all grown up and out of grade school, kickball can be a fun past time between a group of adults.

If you’re looking to start a kickball meet up, more power to you! It’s important, however, to keep your feet and ankles in mind when getting back into such an active pastime. What are some ways you can keep your feet and ankles in mind when looking to start playing kickball again?

Supportive shoes

Making sure that you have an appropriate pair of shoes for the standing and running around required for kickball is so important! Take some time to remember what issues you have had in the past, like heels that start to ache after standing for some time, or toes that cramp up. Be sure to consider these factors when choosing a pair of shoes for kickball!

Stretching it out

Before and after you plan to be active, be sure to get those stretches in. Dr. Lilly Khavari is a great resource for foot-friendly stretching exercises to make sure you’re warmed up and ready for the competition ahead. Take it a step farther by preparing ahead of time – if your first kickball visit is in one month, start doing exercises and training your feet and ankles to be ready for activity again today! Checking up – by far, one of the most beneficial things you can do to make sure you’re ready to get active on the field again is to check up on your foot and ankle health at Carrollton Foot Center in Carrollton, Texas. Take care of yourself by being proactive – call us today at (469) 998-3668 to schedule an appointment!

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