Foot Injury Ends Andrew Miller's Season

Lefthander Andrew Miller has been a surprise member of the Boston Red Sox's bullpen this season.

Unfortunately, he was told Monday that his season is over because he needs surgery on his left foot.
Dr. George Theodore, a foot specialist, diagnosed Miller with the dreaded Lisfranc injury. It was determined that Miller has a torn ligament between bones in the middle of his foot. Miller has decided to get a second opinion before scheduling surgery, but the Red Sox do not believe the diagnosis will change.
Miller sustained the injury when he replaced Ryan Dempster in the seventh inning of Saturday's game and faced just one batter before going down with the injury. He came in to pitch with one out in the seventh and threw a wild pitch to J. B. Shuck at the plate, which allowed Chris Iannetta to take second base. Shuck then singled to center field and Miller jumped off the mound and headed to home to play a potential play. Miller fell to the ground in pain and grabbed his foot.
Miller was helped off the field by John Farrell and the team's trainer and looked like he couldn't put any weight on his left foot. After the game Farrell said Miller sustained a foot injury and was having X-rays done at the hospital, but that was the only information available.
When asked the significance of the loss, Farrell said, "Very. Given the way he's pitched and the importance of that power lefthander in the bullpen, it is."
Miller is currently third on the team with 37 appearances with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Over 30 innings he has struck out 48.
Miller was once a first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers but struggled with command early in his career and was traded twice. The Red Sox however showed patience with the 6 foot 7 inch lefty by first starting him and then placing him in the bullpen, changing his mechanics.
This season has been Miller's best in the Majors, with him proving reliable in late innings.
"Obviously on a personal level, it's disappointing and from a team perspective we'll miss him," said Craig Breslow, now the only left handed pitcher in the bullpen. "This team has shown we're pretty resilient and we've had to overcome some key injuries. This is another one. We have no option but to keep on moving forward.
"Andrew been trending upward the last couple of years at a pretty rapid pace. His potential has been documented and he was finally realizing. It's got to be a tough blow for him."
Farrell agrees: "He was well on his way to becoming a dominant lefthanded reliever."
References: Boston Globe and NESN.
If you are a baseball player and have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Core Workouts For Runners

Having a strong core is just as important as having strong legs or endurance for distance running.
Your core muscles are comprised of the postural muscles, which are the muscles of the hips, back, and stomach. These are the muscles that help us stand upright, distribute the stress of bearing weight on two legs, and transfer energy. Core muscles are especially important in distance running when fatigue sets in during the latter stages of a race. The stronger we are, the longer we can hold our running form.
Here are some simple exercises to help strengthen your core.

1. Basic Plank. Hold for 30 seconds, relax, and repeat. Gradually increase the number of repetitions and how long you hold the pose.
2. Side Plank. Hold for 30 seconds, relax, and repeat. Gradually increase the number of repetitions and how long you hold the pose. 
3. Superman Pose. Lie face down and raise one arm off the ground and hold for 20 to 30 seconds. Release and raise the other arm. Now move to your legs, raising one leg off at a time. Next, raise one arm and the alternate leg off the ground. Then raise both arms off the ground at the same time and then both legs at the same time. The advanced pose is holding both arms and legs off the ground at the same time. Hold each pose for 20-30 seconds, relax, and repeat.
4. Abdominal Crunches. Lie on your back with your knees bent and bring your chest to your knees. Keep your shoulders and chin raise. Repeat for desired amount of crunches.
5. Abdominal Crunches With Twist and/or Bicycle Legs. Do the abdominal crunches from step 4 but add a twist to engage your oblique muscles. Keep your knees bent with feet on the ground. Bring one shoulder to the opposite knee. Bicycle legs are when the knees are bent and the feet are off the ground and bring the opposite shoulder to knee at the same time, alternating legs to elbows. 

Reference: Runner's World
If you are a runner and have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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St. Kilda Defender Fisher To Have Surgery

St. Kilda defender Sam Fisher will have surgery on his foot and will not play again this season.
Fisher sustained the injury before the premiership season began and was a late withdrawal before last Saturday evening's 35 point win over Melbourne at the MGG.
Coach Scott Watters congratulated Fisher on being able to make it through the season, saying, "(Fisher) managed that throughout the course of the year and at times has been unbelievably courageous in actually just getting to a game."
Ruckman Ben McEvoy will play for Fisher against Richmond on Sunday.
Fisher is a two-time Trevor Barker medalist and will have surgery on the degenerative toe injury next week.
"I'm disappointed that my season has come to an end but I intend to spend the rest of the year working with the club's younger players and getting myself ready for a full pre-season," Fisher said.
The 30 year old backman has played just nine games this season, bringing his career total to 191 games. Fisher is expected to be recovered in time for the 2014 preseason training.
Reference: Herald Sun
If you are a rugby player and you have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
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Virgina's Harris To Miss World University Games

Virginia senior guard Joe Harris will miss next week's training camp for United States' World University

Games men's basketball team due to a stress reaction in his left foot.
Harris was set to compete for one of twelve spots on the University Games Team, but he will be out three to six weeks. Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett announced the injury last Friday.
"Obviously, we are disappointed for Joe because he was really looking forward to this opportunity with USA Basketball," Bennett said in a statement. "Joe has worked really hard and he was excited about competing and measuring his game against some great players. His senior season and future professional career are the main priorities moving forward. We'll ensure he gets the proper rest and rehabilitation, so he'll be ready for the 2013-14 season."
Harris was seen wearing a walking boot last Friday in Charlottesville. Training camp for the U.S. team began this Monday, with the Games starting July 7th in Kazan, Russia.
Harris was an All ACC First Team Selection and led the Cavaliers with 16.3 points per game last season.
Reference: Sporting News and NBC 29.
If you are a basketball player and you have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Young Athletes Should Play More Than One Sport

Young athletes who play just one sport and train intensively have an increased risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries, says a new clinical study, the largest of its kind.

Young athletes who spend more hours per week than their age playing one sport are 70 percent more likely to experience overuse injuries than other athletes. Take for example a 12 year old gymnast who spends 15 hours a week training. They would be a prime example of someone with an increased risk for stress fractures.
Loyola University Medical Center sports medicine physician Dr. Neeru Jayanthi presented the findings on April 19th at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) meeting in San Diego. The study is called "Risks of Specialized Training and Growth in Young Athletes: A Prospective Clinical Cohort Study."
Jayanthi said at the meeting, "We should be cautious about intense specialization in one sport before and during adolescence. Among the recommendations we can make, based on our findings, is that young athletes should not spend more hours per week in organized sports than their ages."
Jayanthi and colleagues at Loyola and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago enrolled 1,206 athletes ages 8 to 18 between 2010 and 2013 who came in for sports physicals and treatment for injuries. The research follows each athlete for the three years of the study.
Overall, there were 859 total injuries, with 564 of them overuse injuries. Of the 564 overuse injuries, 139 were serious injuries, such as stress fractures in the back or limbs, elbow ligament injuries, and injuries to cartilage and underlying bone. Injuries like these can sideline an athlete for up for six months, depending on the severity.
The study confirmed the preliminary findings, which stated that playing one sport increases the risk for overall injury. Other findings from the study include:

• Young athletes who spent twice as much playing organized sports as they did in unorganized free play were more likely to be injured. 
• Those who had serious injuries spent more than 21 hours per week in physical activity, including 13 hours of organized sports. Athletes who were not injured spent 17.6 hours per week in total physical activity, including just 9.4 hours of organized play. 

Jayanthi and colleagues have the following recommendations for young athletes:

• Do not spend more hours a week in your sport than your age. If you are 11, do not spend more than 11 hours per week in that sport. 
• Do not spend more than twice the hours playing organized sports as you do in the gym and in unorganized play.
• Do not specialize in one sport until you are in later adolescence. 
• Do not play sports competitively year round. Take a break of at least one to three months per year from sports. 
• Have one day a week when you do not play your sport. 

Jayanthi and colleagues are planning a follow-up study to see if their recommendations reduce the risk of overuse injuries. The study is called TRACK: Training, Risk Assessment and Counseling in Kids.
"We will test our hypothesis that many of these serious injuries are potentially preventable," Jayanthi said.
Reference: Science Daily.
If you are the parent of a young athlete and they have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Nets' Brooks Has Surgery Once Again

Brook Lopez just can't seem to get a break.
Lopez underwent surgery on his right foot recently for the third time since 2011. The need for surgery was discovered after an MRI revealed a bent screw in his right foot. Lopez had been experiencing no pain in his foot before the MRI, and the decision to have surgery was described by GM Billy King as "proactive." The screw was intended to support his fifth metatarsal and had bent over time.
Lopez is now in a walking boot following the minor procedure to replace the screw, which was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The Brooklyn Nets center's bent screw was replaced with a new one. He is expected to return to basketball related activities by August.
Should Nets fans and coaches be worried about Lopez's recurring foot problems? It's tough to say, but this same foot was fractured twice during the 2011-12 season and the screw was implanted to prevent further injuries. Many 7 foot tall basketball players fall victim to foot injuries because their feet can't support the weight of their frame, hence why Lopez's screw bent.
Lopez is the Nets' best player and in the 2012-13 season, he led all NBA centers in scoring with 19.4 points per game. He needs to concentrate on getting stronger in his foot this summer so he doesn't get the dreaded "injury-prone" label.
References: Sports Illustrated and Sports Illustrated.
If you are a basketball player and you have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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Alex Ovechkin's Foot Healing

After playing on a broken left foot for three games last month, Alex Ovechkin says it's finally healing (uh,

duh? Could it be because you're not playing on it?).
The Washington Capitals' captain sustained a hairline fracture in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Rangers. Ovechkin chose to play Game 7 the very next night on the fractured foot and at the world championship a couple of days later.
Ovechkin said during a conference call last Sunday, "Right now, I'm walking fine. I'm going to start playing tennis soon so I'm going to be in good shape... It's kind of getting better. I feel pretty good about my foot." Well, your foot isn't going to feel any better unless you stay off it, so give up that tennis for right now, Alex!
Ovechkin, who won his third Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP, said the puck broke his foot when he blocked a shot and failed to talk with the team's trainer or doctor about getting an MRI.
"I just played the game because it's the playoffs," he said. "It doesn't matter what happens. You have to be there and you have to play the best that you can."
Ovechkin waited until after playing for Russia in Stockholm to have an MRI, even though he knew something was wrong with his foot. This playing through the injury behavior was common for Ovechkin throughout the season and it was likely he was playing through other injuries as well, none as serious as the broken foot.
The 27 year old says he'll be back for training camp, saying, "I'm never going to say I'm not going to play. It's not my style."
Reference: ESPN.
If you are a hockey player and have a foot problem, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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