New Study Affects Design Of Running Shoes

Scientists in a new study published in the Journal of Royal Society Interface have found how foot muscles support the arch of the foot, findings that can drastically change how running shoes are designed.

The study was led by The University of Queensland and the findings can also impact treatment of foot conditions, design of prosthetics and robot limbs, and improve understanding how humans were able to walk and run efficiently on two feet. 

Dr. Glen Lichtwark at UQ's School of Human Movement Studies said the importance of muscles moving in a person's leg was well-known, but muscles in the foot had not been as well studied.

"Ligaments in the foot have generally been regarded as the main support for the foot arch, which helps us walk and run by acting as a spring," Lichtwark said. 

"As you compress the arch it stretches the bottom of the arch and that causes some tension in the ligaments that store elastic energy, which can be released when you push off.

"Anatomical research suggests that muscles in the feet may also be important in supporting the arch of the foot as well and we were really interested in whether or not these muscles have any capacity to assist this function of the foot," he said. 

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the how muscles in the foot work. The first experiment required seated participants to have a weight applied to their knee while the researchers used needle electrodes to study activation of foot muscles. 

"We found that after a certain amount of force was applied, these muscles started to activate and the more weight we applied, the more the muscles turned on," said Lichtwark. 

In the second experiment, the researchers electrically stimulated foot muscles under different loads. 

"We found that as the muscles were stimulated, they caused the arch of the foot to rise, actively supporting the arch," Lichtwark said. "The muscles were basically acting as a parallel support to the ligaments, effectively stiffening the foot."

Researchers believe their findings have large implications for the design of running shoes.
"Running shoes should be designed to complement the function of the muscles rather than work against them," Lichtwark said. 

"Because we think these muscles respond to how much load you put on them, if you put in some kind of cushioning effect on one side of the foot for instance, then that might slow the response of these muscles in being able to adjust to different surfaces or uneven terrain," he added. 

Reference: Z News
If you are a runner with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Paula Radcliffe Hoping To Defy All

Paula Radcliffe hopes to run one more top-level marathon in a defiant act over the foot injury that she believed ended her career. 
Radcliffe spoke with tears in her eyes about wanting to finish her career as the world's greatest female distance runner on her own terms. 
This foot injury has been problematic at large races, as we've blogged about in the past. She conceded defeat at the 2012 London Olympics and was so uncomfortable in a 2011 marathon in Berlin she thought it would be her last. 
Radcliffe has been advising Mo Farrah and the UK Athletics distance group as well as running on the same dusty trails that are essential to Farrah's preparation for the Virgin Money London Marathon in April.
"Ideally I would love to come back and run a marathon and just be able to finish my career on my terms," Radcliffe said. "I would never say retire, because I am never going to finish running. I am still going to be getting out for a run and I don't want to jeopardize that because it's important. 
"I don't want to break down because of my foot. I have to listen to it. But I want to ask it to run one more marathon.
"I'd love it to be New York or London. One of those two. This London is too soon. But London would probably be my first choice, for sentimental reasons. It's where I started my career, everything growing up (as a kid she watched her father run London), and missing out on the Olympics at London 2012."
Radcliffe does concede that at 40, she's not likely to be close to her former record-breaking world pace. But she still wants to be competitive. 
"I'm not being unrealistic," she said. "I'm not thinking I can get back up and run 2 hours 15 minutes. But if I could come back and run sub 2:30 then I'd like to do it. Really, though, it's just about coming back and running on my terms. That would be nice but very few people actually get to do that."
Radcliffe has clearly been frustrated, however, with how things ended.
"There was a time from July 2012 until last April that I couldn't run at all and I thought I would never be able to run again," she said. "That means I can't do anything silly. I have to be grateful that I can just get up and go on a nice run now. 
"I might just have a little race somewhere just to see how close I can get to where I want to be. It's not a question of fitness. It's not about my age. It's not even the pain. It's a question of the efficiency of my foot. 
"This morning it was quite good but I was limping and favoring it for the first couple of miles until the joint began to warm up. 
"But then, when it gets tired, it becomes a case of me picking up the other leg rather than toeing off. So I'm not getting the same return on effort that I'm putting in. I'm running slower than I would have. 
"The doctors really don't know if I can come back. If they scan me it does not look like a normal foot because the bone that had a stress fracture is not the same shape as it should be. If I run every day I might keep wearing away at the cartilage and make it more painful than in 2012. 
"I can look back on my career and I am very happy that it went so well. I'm proud of the things that I did. You get philosophical as you get older. I think of things like the kids, that are way more important than anything I did running. I just think, yes, some things didn't come off but I worked hard and sometimes it did come off."
Reference: Daily Mail
If you are a runner with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Tim Hudson Will Be Ready For the 2014 Season

The San Francisco Giants's 2014 season hopes rest heavily with pitcher Tim Hudson and his surgically repaired ankle. 
Last Friday pitchers and catchers reported to Scottsdale Stadium for the first time and Hudson showed up with a positive outlook.
"I feel like I'm right on schedule to be healthy for the start of the year," Hudson said. "The ankle feels really good. It's definitely pretty close to 100 percent. It's not quite there yet but we still have a few more weeks to get it there. I don't suspect it's going to be a problem."
Hudson's right ankle was fractured last July when New York Mets outfielder Eric Young Jr. stepped on the back of his leg during a close play at first base. Manager Bruce Bochy said at FanFest that he expected to take it slow with Hudson, but the 38 year old was able to run last week. Hudson felt no limitations on Thursday while running and threw his third bullpen session, putting him on normal track for the year. 
"It's responding really well," he said. "I don't think about it at all when I'm out there throwing and running around."
Hudson was part of the rotation this part weekend and threw off the mound on Sunday. It's expected he will be part of the rotation when games begin later this month. 
"He took a bullpen and looked good," Bochy said. "We think he'll be ready."
Hudson threw 30 pitches on Sunday and appeared to have no difficulties while on the mound, saying he felt good.
"I feel like I'm the same as far as throwing goes. It's all a process," he said. "I didn't think about the ankle. The only time I really notice it on occasion during the side to side (movements during conditioning)."
Bochy said that he believes Hudson will continue to make progress towards his first Cactus League start.
"If we have to delay it, we will,' Bochy said. "We will do what we can to help him avoid having a setback."
References: ESPN and Mercury News. 
If you are a baseball player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

New Running Shoe To Cut Injuries

Researchers have developed new athletic shoes that can detect a jogger's running form and technique and can warn them of exhaustion or overload to prevent injuries like pulled ligaments or torn muscles. 
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute of Photonic Miscrosystems IPMS, Germany, with five partners have developed a prototype of this high-tech running shoe.
Sensors and microelectronics were inserted in the sole of the shoe to measure the biomechanical data of the athlete and evaluate the runner's form.
"Pulse-rate watches and chest straps record only viral signs like breathing and heart rate. In contrast, our running shoe medical evaluates and monitors training while jogging," said. Dr. Andreas Heinig, a scientist at IPMS.
"It informs the runner for example of incorrect foot position, asymmetric loading, or warns of exhaustion or overload. There has never been a comparable device before," Heinig said. 
The measurement system is something that can be removed and replaced from the soles of the shoes. The system is charged by placing the shoes on a charger. 
This new system also includes accelerometers and GPS sensors that capture the biomechanical signals from the body as well as the runner's speed. All of this information is sent via Bluetooth to the runner's smartphone. 
The associated smartphone app takes the information and evaluates it in seconds with the help of algorithms and gives the runner feedback on training performance. The app can also give suggestions about running form or training routine. 
"The app could recommend running more slowly, for example, or rolling off the foot differently, suggest seeking a different running surface if necessary," Heinig said.
This shoe is expected to be available to consumers at the beginning of 2015.
Reference: Financial Express. 
If you are a runner with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

US Snowboarder Competes In Sochi With Possible Broken Ankle

American snowboarder Trevor Jacobs believes he raced two full runs on the snowboard cross course this morning at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on a broken ankle. 
As Jacobs landed off the first jump in his semifinal heat, he heard a pop in his right ankle. He was already aware the ligaments around his cuboid bone were damaged, and the pop told him things were not looking good for his ankle. 
Jacobs hadn't even taken off his boot yet and had his foot and ankle examined by a doctor when he commented, "Now it's officially broken. I can tell."
Jacobs was able to finish fourth in that semifinal, which was a photo finish. Teammate Alex Deibold narrowly slid right by him at the finish line and proceeded to the Olympic final. Judges had to look at the photographic evidence to see who placed third. Deibold went on to win the bronze medal. 
Despite the pain Jacobs was experiencing, he went back to the top of the mountain to compete in the small final that places 6-12. He finished third in the heat, and ninth overall.
After the race Jacobs visited with his parents and did some interviews. He said that he was currently managing the pain OK, but knew the pain would escalate soon. 
"I'd say it was about a 1. Now at about a five. And in 15 minutes, it'll be at a 10," Jacobs said. "That's alright, I'll be fine."
Reference: KSDK
If you are a snowboarder with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Dwyane Wade May Not Play In All-Star Game

Dwyane Wade was scratched from the Miami Heat's lineup Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors because of nerve irritation in his left foot. His status for the All-Star game is up in the air. 
Wade sat out of Tuesday night's win against the Phoenix Suns with a migraine, but was in good spirits before the game against the Warriors, talking with reporters for 10 minutes in the locker room. He had been listed at his usual shooting guard spot and was announced during pregame introductions, but moments before tipoff, the Heat said he would not play. 
Wade said he would travel to New Orleans for Sunday's All-Star game, but is unsure if he will play or not. 
"I'm not optimistic. I'm not pessimistic. I just want to get better," said Wade, a 10-time All-Star who was elected a starter for the Eastern Conference this year. 
Wade said that during warm-ups his foot began to give him problems and he went to the locker room. Trainers diagnosed him with foot drop, which is a weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the foot. 
"I started feeling a little something in my foot, getting a little numbness," Wade said. "But you don't think nothing of it. As time went on it started going up my leg a little bit, so the nerve going up my leg kind of shut down. Weirdest thing I've ever (felt). When I was out there and moved around and warmed up, I felt I couldn't feel my foot. So I didn't want to do anything."
Toney Douglas, who was traded from the Warriors to the Heat this season,  made his second straight start for Miami. It was the final game before the All-Star game for both teams. 
Wade has missed 15 games this season, mostly for his problematic knees. This season he's averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 36 games. 
Reference: USA Today
If you are a basketball player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

McShane's Ankle Not Broken

Hull City defender Paul McShane did not sustain a broken ankle in Tuesday's loss to Southampton, manager Steve Bruce confirmed.
The Republic of Ireland defender was carried off the field just 12 minutes into their 1-0 defeat at KC Stadium. He was injured in a collision between himself, Rickie Lambert, and Allan McGregor. 
While there is no visible break in McShane's ankle, Bruce did say that the defender would be out for some time, which according to the latest reports is six months with ankle ligament damage. 
"We have seen the X-rays and they revealed that there is no break, but I don't know if you have seen it like I have," Bruce said. 
"The video evidence doesn't look great, his ankle was in a horrible position so we fear ligament damage. Until we see the scans tomorrow we are unsure but it doesn't look good.
"We now have to just dust ourselves off and get ready for our cup game this weekend."
McShane told the Irish Daily Star, "I am out for six months with ankle ligament injury and micro fracture of the bone. I am going for an operation next Monday and I have to get myself right as quickly as I can. It's very frustrating to be honest as I was feeling very good. Now I must battle back as quickly as I can." 
Bruce described opponent Southampton as an "excellent" side after seeing his team drop to number 13, just three points above relegation zone. Bruce conceded that Southampton was the better team in a game where his men rarely threatened to score. 
References: Hull Daily Mail and SoccerWay.
If you are a soccer player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Does Cushioning In Shoes Prevent Injuries?

A study published last year shows that soft cushioning in shoes that had been marketed to runners as extra shock-absorbing to prevent injuries, makes no difference in injury prevention.
Researchers took 250 regular runners and conducted a blind trial with identical looking shoes with varying levels of cushioning. They found that body weight and overall fitness made a difference in injury rates, but shoe-softness did not. 
"The results do not support the common argument from the running shoe industry that runners with higher body mass should be recommended shoes with great shock-absorption characteristics," said lead author Daniel Theisen of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory of the Department of Public Health in Luxembourg.
Previous research had suggested that cushioning can reduce certain mechanical stresses on the body, and Theisen, who has a PhD. in sports science and is a runner himself, decided to test that theory. 
However, past tests of extra cushioning in real world situations, such as with the US Air Force recruits in basic training, did not show any benefit. Theisen's team set up the first randomized, double blind controlled trial to see if shoe-softness affected running injuries in leisure runners. 
Participants were recruited through newspaper articles and Internet sites and randomly split the 247 participants into two groups. The men and women were between the ages of 30 and 50, had body mass indexes that were normal or slightly overweight, and ran an average of 10 miles per week.
Shoes were provided by "a renowned sports equipment manufacturer" and were customized versions of a model sold in stores. The shoes were stripped of decorations and appeared identical, except that half of the shoes had a soft midsole. The difference in shock absorbing qualities was found to be 15%. Theisen said that no larger difference could be produced as it participants would have noticed the differences. 
The runners were instructed to train at least once a week and to wear their shoes just for running. The shoes were worn for five months and all training data and injuries were reported on an Internet platform. An injury was defined as pain from running that caused the runner to stop for at least one day. 
Of the 69 runners who had injuries, 32 had hard soled shoes, and 37 had soft soled shoes. The majority of the injuries were chronic overload injuries of tendons, joints, and muscles. 
"We evaluated the severity of the injury by looking at how many days people were not able to do their normal running training and or whether they stopped running altogether, " Theisen told Reuters Health.
The differences between shoe models may have been too small to detect a noticeable difference, but Theisen thinks the study results "make good sense because our ancestors were great runners but they never wore running shoes."
Dr. Mark P. Kelly, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise and a veteran runner himself, believes that cushioning "takes away from the tactile sensation that tends to protect a runner. In other words, if something hurts our feet when we are jogging, we will naturally change things up so it doesn't hurt. If anything, a harder midsole offers more protection, because it may induce more stability on the plantar surface of the foot and thus spread the impact out more evenly."
Kelly is currently working on studying the effects of minimalist shoes on running injuries and running gait, and added, "The more we learn about running the more we are learning that more cushion and support is not only better but may actually be worse."
Reference: Baltimore Sun. 
If you are a runner with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Foot Injuries In Cheerleading

Cheerleading today is a lot more competitive, gymnastic, and dangerous than it used to be, when coming up with the perfect cheer was the most difficult task faced. If you've ever watched a cheerleading competition, you can see the level of athleticism and skill it takes to be a successful, safe, and healthy cheerleader. 
However, all of those stunts can cause a multitude of foot and ankle injuries. In high school sports, cheerleading ranks second in injuries, after football. The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina says that 65.2% of all injuries in youth sports occur in cheerleading.
Unfortunately, many school districts still consider cheerleading an activity, and not a sport, and that means the type of insurance they carry to cover injuries sustained may not include cheerleading. 
Some foot and ankle injuries a cheerleader may experience are:

• Ankle sprains and fractures
• Various foot bone fractures (toes)
• Heel fractures
• Bruises
• Stress fractures
• Shin splints
• Calf strains
• Blisters

If you're a cheerleader, there are some things you can do to prevent injuries. First, when your team practices its most difficult moves, ensure that every member involved knows what they are doing. If you feel uncomfortable about the trick, tell your coach. If anyone is feeling tired, stop for the day. Accidents happen when people are exhausted and overworked.
Stay healthy by eating right and getting enough sleep. If you feel like you're not eating the right things to maintain your weight and energy levels, speak with a nutritionist.
The floor you're practicing on should have some give, like a sprung floor. Hard concrete floors should be avoided as injuries as they are unforgiving with all the pounding and jumping required for this sport.
If you find that your feet or ankles consistently hurt after practice, speak with a podiatrist about getting orthotics for your shoes, or switching to a different shoe for practice. You may need extra support in your shoes.
Remember: any foot or ankle pain is not normal and should not be ignored. Your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong. Pushing through the pain will not make it go away; the pain will only get worse and you will have to be out longer. Take care of problems immediately so you can get back to your love of cheerleading!
If you are a cheerleader with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Kain Colter Eager To Have Ankle Repaired

Northwestern's Kain Colter is not discouraged by the ankle surgery he had recently. 
The former quarterback, now receiver, played admirably in the first three practices during Senior Bowl week and had surgery last week to fix a lingering ankle issue. He will miss 8-12 weeks and his agent said he is excited to have this injury taken care of. 
Colter hurt his ankle during the first quarter of NU's loss to Wisconsin on October 12th and was able to return later in the game. 
Colter will miss NU's pro day, set for March 4th, but the university will likely schedule an additional pro day when he's healthy. The team has a history of doing that for potential NFL players; in 2010 they scheduled an additional day for Bears defensive end Corey Wootton and special teamer Sherrick McManis.
Colter will already have likely made his impression with NFL scouts, general managers, coaches, and executives during the first three days of Senior Week. 
Colter, who had 5,023 yards and 50 touchdowns in his four years with the Wildcats, said that he was honored to get an invitation to Senior Bowl, saying, "they saw something in me that they felt was worthwhile."
"I definitely think I can play receiver," said Colter, who was interviewed by a Bears scout last week. "I'm going to try to get on where I can."
Colter also made news last week in a different manner. Colter addressed national media in a press conference as the spokesman for the College Athletes Players Association (CAPA), an organization founded to help college basketball and football players be represented by a labor union. 
He emphasized that his goal in this organization is not to pay a college athlete, but to divert some of the capital made from revenue, TV, retail, and ticket back to the athlete for their needs. 
"There needs to be a guarantee that players aren't stuck with medical bills after they leave with long-lasting injuries that they suffer from football," he said. "Essentially, they're hurt on the job and then they're stuck with the medical bills if they do need a surgery down the line. That's one of the biggest things. With the TV revenue being generated, they could use a portion of that to help out the players in some way. I feel there needs to (be) a trust fund generated. I don't feel like there needs to be a direct compensation, but there needs to (be) a trust fund generated somehow that players can access after they graduate. I feel like that would put incentive for graduation rates to rise."
References: Sun Times and The Post Game. 
If you are a football player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Matt Kemp Not Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers player Matt Kemp is hoping to be recovered from offseason ankle and shoulder surgery in time for the season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia. However, Kemp's agent is advising him to take it easy and not rush getting back too soon.
Dave Stewart said that Kemp has not suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and is telling Kemp to postpone his debut as a precaution.
"His biggest issue with injuries has been trying to get back too soon," said Stewart. "I'm urging him to make sure he's totally healthy."
When asked how much Kemp has listened to his advice, Stewart laughed, and replied, "Not very."
Stewart continued, saying, "He's really, really biting at the bit."
Kemp was limited to just 73 games last season because of a severe ankle sprain.
The Dodgers' season starts March 22nd in Sydney, Australia, with a two game set against the Diamondbacks. Their next regular season game will be on March 30th against San Diego. 
Even without Kemp in the outfield, the team has three other high performing players in Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, and Carl Crawford. 
Kemp was cleared to run on the anti-gravity treadmill about two weeks ago. He has had no problems with his shoulder and has been able to lift weights regularly, something he couldn't do last winter when he had the surgery on the same shoulder. 
"I'd like to take the same approach the Dodgers are taking: Be sure of yourself, don't push yourself," Stewart said. "I think the team and I are on the same page."
But getting Kemp to listen to his agent may prove to be a "difficult task." 
"It's not going to be easy," said Stewart. "How we get that done, I have no idea."
Reference: LA Times. 
If you are a baseball player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Jordan Spieth Limps Off Course

Jordan Spieth limped off the gold course after a disappointing finish at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend. 
He finished 75-75, which dropped him from a share of second place all the way to joint 19th. He had a good second round, going 63 alongside Tiger Woods. 
The 29 year old Spieth told the Golf Channel that his ankle troubled him all weekend, and that it was "pretty messed up."
"I felt it on the second day on the back nine and I guess from there I just stopped loading as well on it and started missing fairways," Spieth said. 
"I don't remember where; it just started hurting, stepped wrong somewhere. I couldn't hit balls after the round. Obviously it didn't affect the round on Friday, but I just didn't hit any fairways from there. I didn't feel pain at all, so I don't blame it on that whatsoever, but whatever it was, I wasn't loading correctly and therefore I started hitting them left going left, really, with every club."
Over the weekend, Spieth hit just 12 of 28 fairways, managing just four birdies. 
Spieth will skip the Phoenix Open and is next scheduled to play at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am the week after. 
References: CBS Sports and The Golf Channel. 
If you are a golf player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook

Manti Te'o Has Foot Surgery

San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o had surgery on a broken foot he sustained in the beginning of the season.
Te'o missed the first three games of his rookie year and many thought the problem went away. A team spokesman said Tuesday that the linebacker had surgery earlier this month. The official spoke in response to an Instagram account that leaked a picture of the foot surgery last week and the spokesman said he could not confirm the account's authenticity. 
The social media page appears to be Te'o's. A picture of an X-ray of a right foot that shows a surgically repaired stress fracture of the third metatarsal was posted to the account, as well as a second photo, which has a right foot in a cast, resting in a hospital bed. 
"Surgery went well," read one caption. "Can't wait to heal up and get on my grind. #blessed." 
Another caption read, "Broke my foot at the beginning of the season and finally got it fixed. Thank you Heavenly Father for these doctors."
Te'o sustained a right foot injury in the Charger's exhibition opener against the Seattle Seahawks on August 8th. At the time, coach Mike McCoy said the injury was a sprain, declining to specify the exact nature of the injury. 
Te'o, a 2013 second-round draft pick, spent several weeks in a walking boot. After just nine preseason defensive snaps, he returned to the field on September 29th against the Dallas Cowboys. 
It's unclear how the injury limited Te'o during the season. He started in all 15 of the final games, including two in the postseason, making 71 tackles with four passes defended. He left the January 12th playoff game against the Denver Broncos with a concussion, sustained when a teammate collided with him. 
Reference: U-T San Diego. 
If you are a football player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
Visit our website, follow my tweets on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook