Last month Gavin Escobar of the Dallas Cowboys had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Escobar had suffered the injury during the Cowboys game against the New York Jets. A long rehabilitation lies ahead for Escobar. The Cowboys athlete went into 2016 on his final year of his contract and has yet to play on the offense for the team. Escobar’s career currently is in flux, but Cowboys coach Jason Garrett believes “[Escobar] did a good job blocking in training camp and showed he could run routes and catch the ball.”

Achilles tendon injuries need immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What is the Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the lower leg muscles and calf to the heel bone of the foot. It is the strongest tendon in the human body and is essential for making movement possible. Because this tendon is such an integral part of the body, any injuries to it can cause severe difficulties and should immediately be presented to a doctor.

What are the symptoms of an Achilles Tendon Injury?

There are various types of injuries that can affect the Achilles tendon. The two most common are Achilles tendinitis and ruptures of the tendon.

Achilles Tendinitis Symptoms

- Inflammation

- Dull to Severe Pain

- Increased blood flow to the tendon

- Thickening of the tendon

Rupture Symptoms

- Extreme pain and swelling in the foot

- Snapping sensation

- Total immobility

Treatment and Prevention

Achilles tendon injuries are diagnosed by a thorough physical evaluation, which can include an MRI. Treatment involves rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. However, various preventative measures can be taken to avoid these injuries, such as:

- Thorough stretching of the tendon before and after exercise

- Strengthening exercises like calf raises, squats, leg curls, leg extensions, leg raises, lunges, and leg presses

If unable to immediately see your podiatrist, remember to Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate until then.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Basking Ridge, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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Adrian Peterson of the Vikings has suffered an ankle sprain in the game against the Bears. Although he had hurt his ankle, Peterson continued in the game, running for 63 yards. Following the conclusion of the game, Peterson was analyzed by doctors, who began evaluating Peterson. Peterson was “initially worried that he wouldn’t be able to come back after he felt the ankle tighten up while he was being evaluated.” However, Peterson feels confident that he’ll be able to recover, although he will end up missing the Giants game.

Ankle sprains are common, but need immediate attention. If you are having discomfort in your feet, contact Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How Does an Ankle Sprain Occur?

Ankle sprains take place when the ligaments in your ankle are torn or stretched beyond their limits. There are multiple ways that the ankle can become injured, including twisting or rolling over onto your ankle, putting undue stress on it, or causing trauma to the ankle itself.

What are the Symptoms?

• Mild to moderate bruising
• Limited mobility
• Swelling
• Discoloration of the skin (depending on severity)

Preventing a Sprain

• Wearing appropriate shoes for the occasion
• Stretching before exercises and sports
• Knowing your limits can aid in prevention

Treatment of a Sprain

Treatment of a sprain depends on the severity. Many times, people are told to rest and remain off their feet completely, while others are given an air cast. If the sprain is very severe, surgery may be required.

If you have suffered an ankle sprain previously, you may want to consider additional support such as a brace and regular exercises to strengthen the ankle.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Basking Ridge, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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While anyone can contract a nail fungus infection, certain people are more at risk. Older adults are at greater risk for developing nail fungus because of the reduced blood flow to the lower extremities. The elderly are also prone to slow-growing nails. Other people at risk include people who perspire heavily, such as athletes or construction workers. For unknown reasons, males seem to develop nail fungus more often than females do. Individuals with weakened immune systems or circulation troubles are also at greater risk.

While toenail fungus is troublesome to eradicate, doing so is not impossible. If you are having discomfort in your feet, contact Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a problem which affects many people and is hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several methods to go about treating toenail fungus.

Antibiotics & Treatments

Lamisil – is the most commonly effective treatment for toenail fungus. It is available as an antibiotic Terbinafine tablet and cream. Terbinafine is a chemical component which kills fungal growth on the body. Applying regular doses will gradually kill the fungal growth. It is important to keep the area clean and air free.

Talcum powder – applying powder on the feet and shoes helps keep the feet free of moisture and sweat.

Sandals or open toed shoes – wearing these will allow air movement and help keep feet dry. They also expose your feet to light, which fungus cannot tolerate. Socks with moisture wicking material also help as well

Alternative Treatments

There are always surgical procedures that are available for toenail fungus. Some people would like immediate quick removal of toenail fungus. Surgeons will be able to cut through and remove the growth using laser surgery. It is important not to try and remove it yourself. Once removed, your old shoes will need to be replaced to avoid reinfection.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Basking Ridge, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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The Angels first baseman Albert Pujols had to undergo foot surgery early November. Pujols had to have his plantar plate in his right foot corrected, which had been causing pain for Pujols in previous games. After having surgery on his weight-bearing injury, Pujols is in recovery on crutches, and will be off the bench for the next 4 and a half months. In the previous year of 2013, Pujols had a bad case of plantar fasciitis, which affected his performance that season.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to fix a foot ailment. If you are having discomfort in your feet and would like to try orthotics, contact Dr. Christine Quinn of New Jersey. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:

• Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Basking Ridge, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technologies to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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