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Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for tag: sesamoiditis

By Clark Podiatry Center
May 30, 2018
Category: Foot safety

It’s summertime! You might be going (or at least thinking of going) to the gym more often now to get your body beach-ready. But before you go too crazy exercising, consider the following tips for keeping your feet and ankles (and the rest of your body) safe at the gym:

Wear appropriate gym shoes. One of the most important ways you can protect your feet and ankles is to wear shoes that are right for the type of workout you are doing.

  • If you are primarily doing cardio, you’ll want to wear running shoes that have extra cushioning to reduce the impact on your joints.
  • If you are weight-lifting, you want stable shoes with a raised heel.
  • If you will be doing a variety of different exercises, including plyometrics, calisthenics, weight-training, etc., cross-training shoes will be best.

Use gym equipment safely and be wary of hidden dangers. Whether you will be working out at your home gym or fitness club, you can prevent injury if you use equipment safely.

  • If you don’t know how to use a machine, ask a staff member or look at a manual.
  • Do not alter equipment unless it is made to do so. For example, do not add or remove weights from the weight stack.
  • Make sure that your workout area is not wet from spilled water, pooled sweat, or recent mopping. If the floor seems to be a bit slippery, use a rubber mat or change your shoes to ones with more traction.

Use a spotter. If you will be lifting heavy weights, it’s best to have a spotter. You may accidentally misstep and tweak your foot or ankle.

Increase speed/intensity slowly. Whether you are sprinting, squatting, or spinning, make sure you increase the intensity of your workout slowly. Dramatic increases in speed or intensity can cause excessive strain on your soft tissues. It can aggravate overuse problems like sesamoiditis or Achilles tendonitis.

Wash feet and use flip-flops. It’s best to shower after a sweaty workout, but this is especially true for your feet if you did your work out barefoot. Additionally, if you are walking around barefoot in communal locker rooms, you should wash your feet as well to prevent contagious disease like Athlete’s Foot. In fact, it’s best to wear non-slip flip-flops when in the communal shower.

If you sustain an injury while working out, be sure to use the RICE method to find pain relief until you can make an appointment to see us at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your feet and ankles to find the best treatment. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
May 02, 2018
Category: Foot Pain

Did you know that you have 2 small pea-sized bones near your big toe joint that are not connected to any other bones? Don’t worry; it’s not as weird as it sounds. They are not just floating around in your feet, but rather, connected to the tendons. Yes, every time you move your big toe up and down and take a step, your tendons are sliding along the sesamoids, kind of like a pulley.

So why are they to blame for foot pain?

In the same way that your Achilles tendon in your ankle can become irritated and inflamed, the tendon in your feet can also experience tendonitis, called sesamoiditis. Either the tendons are overused and become irritated as they repeatedly pass over the sesamoids, or they have endured an injury to the tendon or bones, causing inflammation.

Ballet dancers, sprinters, golfers, and baseball players commonly experience this injury because of the position their feet are often in. A lot of weight and pressure goes onto the big toe joint, making it more vulnerable to overuse injury.

If your foot pain looks like this:

  • Swelling and possibly bruising under the big toe joint,
  • Big toe joint pain when moving the big toe,
  • Inability to bear weight on the front of the foot, then you might be able to blame Sesamoiditis for your foot pain.

How can you get relief from Sesamoiditis?

  • RICE method (not just for children!)
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like ibuprofen and naproxen
  • Tape the foot or use a brace to keep the toe bent downward to reduce tension on the affected tendon
  • Steroid injection near the site of pain

Remember, since sesamoids are also bones, they could become fractured in an injury (or stress fractured due to overuse). If the pain is very severe and does not subside, get medical attention from our podiatrist ASAP.  Come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy for an assessment. Make an appointment today to have your sesamoids treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!

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Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470