Category Archives: Lower Body

Raising Early Awareness of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

If the soles of your shoes show unusual wear patterns, one of the culprits might be the common condition of flat feet. Flat feet are normal in babies whose arches have not yet developed. The arch develops in childhood, and by the time you reach adulthood, a normal arch should be present. But what about […]

High Ankle Sprain: Treatment Guide

Rehabbing a High Ankle Sprain What is a high ankle sprain? A high ankle sprain, also known as a syndesmotic ankle sprain, happens when the ligaments connecting the tibia (shinbone) and fibula (outside leg bones) are stretched or torn. Because the ankle offers the stability you need to walk or run, injury to this ligament [...]

Get Hip (and Knee) to Total Joint Replacement Surgery

Does it seem as though everyone is having a total joint replacement? Well, not only are older Americans taking advantage of total knee or hip replacement but younger patients—especially the athletically driven baby-boomer generation—are opting to have the surgery as well. Total joint replacement involves surgically removing parts of an arthritic or damaged joint and […]

Can You Still Walk with a Torn MCL?

Answering: Can You Still Walk with a Torn MCL? Rehabbing a Torn Medial Collateral Ligament If you’ve recently suffered a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), you may be wondering if you’ll still be able to walk. It’s a common concern, especially for active individuals who enjoy sports, or anyone looking to avoid long periods of […]

Walking on a Brand New Ankle

While knee and hip replacements have become more common, orthopedists are now performing an increasing number of ankle replacements as well. Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) treats ankle arthritis that may result from the normal wear and tear of aging, or from an injury such as a dislocation or a broken ankle—arthritis that can eventually lead […]

Taking an Arch Look at Foot Pain

If you look at your foot from the side, you should notice an upward curve in the middle. Called an arch, this curve is formed by tight bands of tissue that attach at the heel and foot bones. Generally speaking, there are three types of arches: low (present in 20% of the population), high (present […]

Giving Your Knee a Lube Job

A thick, naturally occurring liquid that lubricates the joints, hyaluronan (also called hyaluronate) becomes thinner in people with osteoarthritis of the knee. If you are one of the millions of adults living with osteoarthritis of the knee, your physician may prescribe hyaluronic acid injections to ease pain and stiffness. An injection of hyaluronic acid may […]

When IT Causes Knee Pain

IT band syndrome is a nickname for iliotibial band syndrome, a condition affecting the thick, fibrous band of tissue that runs from the pelvis to the top of the shin and keeps the knee stable and functioning when you walk or run. When the IT band becomes irritated or inflamed, patients feel knee pain that […]

Don’t Get Apoplectic Over Apophysitis

Your preteen soccer player comes home from practice complaining of knee pain, and there is a tender swelling at the top of his shin. Your 8-year-old starts limping and talking about a gradually increasing ache in his heel. In both cases, the culprit may be apophysitis, a relatively common condition where an apophysis—a type of […]

The Recipe To Relieve A Baker Cyst: Treatments & Physical Therapy

Understanding a Baker’s Cyst Knee pain can disrupt your life, making everyday activities uncomfortable. If you suffer from knee pain, the culprit might be a Baker’s cyst, an accumulation of joint fluid that creates a bulge at the back of the knee. The bulge is noticeable, and a physician can usually diagnose it accurately by […]