Foot doc tells how to treat Runners with Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a ligament-like band that runs from the ball of your feet to your heel.  This band pulls on your foot’s heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as it pushes off the ground.  When your foot moves improperly, due to overextending circumstances, such as strenuous exercise like running, the plantar fascia can swell and its tiny fibers can strain–causing plantar fasciitis.

A major factor that should be checked for runners with plantar fasciitis is the length of their second toes.  Dr. Burton S. Schuler, a podiatrist in Panama City, Florida who has practiced for 36 years, writes that a short first metatarsal bone–also known as Morton’s Toe–can be the cause of incorrect pronation leading to plantar fasciitis . He asserts that our bodies were not designed to take the abuse that can be caused by a Morton’s Toe when you are a runner or jogger, and prescribes a Toe Pad or Shoe Insert for runners (and non-runners) with Morton’s Toe.   By doing so, Schuler argues that you can delay such problems as shin splints, Anterior Compartment Syndrome, Overuse Syndrome, Chondromalacia (Runner’s Knee) and other problems caused by the constant abuse and pounding on the body brought on by running.

According to a recent article in Podiatry Today, it is difficult to find the correct treatment for plantar fasciitis patients, and even more difficult to treat runners who have it since they are so reluctant to take time off from their running to rest their feet (http://www.podiatrytoday.com/keys-to-treating-plantar-fasciitis-in-runners).  The good news is that runners with the condition can continue to train during treatment if they are diagnosed early enough.  For runners, the first thing to check is the shoes they are wearing.  They need stability and motion control to ensure proper pronation of the foot.  They also run less, get massages, and take corticosteroid injections.  These injections are effective yet risky, as ruptures have accompanied the injections, and injections at the same site can cause fat pad atrophy ((http://www.podiatrytoday.com/keys-to-treating-plantar-fasciitis-in-runners).

If you are a runner who endures heel pain due to plantar fasciitis then you should ensure that Morton’s Toe treatment is included in your plantar fasciitis treatment options if your first toe is shorter than your second one.

Dr. Burton S. Schuler foot doctor, foot specialist, podiatrist  of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center  and is a leading authority on the Morton’s Toe,  Long Second Toe and it associated problems. He is the author of the newly published book about The Morton’s Toe, Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In the Foot. The book is published by the La Luz Press, Inc and is disturbed national by the Cardinal Publishing Group.  Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, is the story of how one bone in your foot could be the real reason for pains thru out your whole body. It is important because it offer the public new information about why millions of people suffer everyday with aches and pains, and offers new hope to get rid of problems they believed they would have to live with forever. It literally can be the “medical missing link”

Panama City Podiatrist tells of Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis

This article about plantar fasciitis appeared international several months ago

The plantar fascia is a fibrous, thick cord-like tissue that originates off the calcaneus or heel bone and fans out to attach to the surfaces of the foot bones (otherwise known as the arch of the foot).  Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, and it is stubbornly resistant to traditional treatments, including corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, orthotics, and surgery.  One podiatrist, Dr. Burton Schuler of Panama City, Florida, argues that it is difficult to treat since one major cause is frequently overlooked: a short first metatarsal bone (or Morton’s Toe) . This is the subject of his recent book, Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot, which details how a short first metatarsal bone can cause a range of physical ailments.

Morton’s Toe throws off the foot’s normal pronation, and this can result in inflammation of the plantar fascia ).  A Morton’s Toe can cause Plantar Fasciitis because the foot will be unstable when it needs to be stable, compensating for the instability by abnormally pronating.  Dr. Schuler’s commonly prescribed treatment, after 36 years of diagnosing Morton’s Toe and plantar fasciitis, is a common toe pad under the first big toe of each affected foot.  This pad realigns the foot from  abnormal pronation 

Schuler warns that a toe pad should be tried if one has Morton’s Toe and plantar fasciitis before one tries more complicated treatments such as injections or even surgery.  A recent study by Stephen Barrett, DPM and Susan Erredge, DPM, looked at various plantar fasciitis treatments.  They observed that injections of platelet concentrations (platelet-rich plasma) effective in the treatment of the disorder known as plantar fasciitis (http://www.prlog.org/11178891-chronic-plantar-fasciitis-treated-with-platelet-rich-plasma.html).

About the Author:  Dr. Burton S. Schuler foot doctor, foot specialist, podiatrist  of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center. He , graduated from the N. Y. College of Podiatric Medicine in 1975 at the age of twenty-four, and has been in private practice ever since; and   is a leading authority on the Morton’s Toe,  Long Second Toe and it associated problems. He is the author of the newly published book about The Morton’s Toe, Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In the Foot and is the story of how one bone in your foot could be the real reason for pains thru out your whole body. It is important because it offer the public new information about why millions of people suffer everyday with aches and pains, and offers new hope to get rid of problems they believed they would have to live with forever. It literally can be the “medical missing link”

Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Spurs are Very Common says Podiatrist

Heel and arch pain are one of the most common complaints heard by American podiatrists, and there are many causes for these foot pain.   Heel pain symptoms occur in the back or the bottom of the heel, and it usually occurs upon awakening and it intensifies throughout the day, causing difficulty walking.  The two most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. http://www.footcare4u.com/category/plantar-fasciitis/

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain on the foot bottom. It is an inflammation in the plantar fascia, which is the tissue band that connects the heel to the ball of the foot. Plantar fasciitis can best be characterized as a sharp pain on the inside bottom of the heel. It is reported to be worse after restful periods–such as in the morning.  Stress and degeneration of the plantar fascia are exacerbated by standing on the feet Heel spurs, or bones that grow on the heel’s bottom, are related to plantar fasciitis.  They are another common cause of heel pain and are formed in response to the tension caused by tight plantar fascia.

Stating that plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are linked to tension in the plantar fascia is not explaining potential causes.  Simply standing for lengthy periods on your feet is not an adequate explanation for why heel pain exists because not everyone experiences the same amount of pain if they stand on their feet.  One explanation is offered by Dr. Burton S. Schuler, who is a practicing podiatrist in Panama City, Florida, and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, a Diplomate of the National Board of Podiatric Examiners, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ambulatory Foot Surgery .  Research on the impact of a short first metatarsal bone, also known as Morton’s Toe, that dates back more than 80 years, reveals that this is a major cause in heel pain.

In Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot, Schuler ties Morton’s Toe to plantar fasciitis and heel spurs through the phenomenon of pronation.  Normal pronation is described as occurring when the outside part of the heel makes initial contact with the ground. The foot “rolls” inward about fifteen percent, comes in complete contact with the ground, and can support your body weight without any problem. The rolling in of the foot optimally distributes the forces of impact. This movement is called “pronation,” and it’s critical to proper shock absorption. At the end of the gait cycle, you push off evenly from the front of the foot (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-327-7727-0,00.html).

When your first toe is shorter than your first, your foot undergoes abnormal pronation; that is, the force of the impact when the foot hits the ground is not evenly distributed, causing improper shock absorption.  The uneven distribution of pressure on the foot includes pressure on the heel–causing heel spurs–and the plantar fascia .    Diagnosing and treating your Morton’s Toe is the first step in treating your chronic heel pain 

Plantar Fascia’s Importance Explained by Panama City Podiatrist

Did you know that your feet contain twenty five percent of your body’s bones, so when they become misaligned it can affect your entire body and its? Feet are an important part of our body because they are our foundation. Thus, damage to our feet can reduce our quality of life and our daily activities. Foot problems can cause knee, hip or low- back, shoulder, neck and even headache and stomachache problems. Emotional stress can also be a result of these problems; these may be in the form of adrenal stress, blood sugar, fatigue and a lot more. Our feet are of vital importance.

The centrality of the foot in overall health is the subject of Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot by Dr. Burton S. Schuler.  Schuler graduated from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 1975 at the age of twenty-four, and is a leading expert on Morton’s Toe –or short first metatarsal bone. He has practiced Podiatric Medicine, Pain Management and Foot Surgery in Panama City, Florida for 36 years.

There are numerous symptoms of sore feet, and Schuler argues that many of these symptoms can be caused by Morton’s Toe. These include: Achilles tendonitis, arthritis feet and toes, athlete’s foot, bunions, burning feet, cold feet, corns, diabetic feet, flat feet, foot bursitis, foot calluses, foot circulation, foot injuries, foot fractures, gout, hammertoes, heel fissures, heel pain, heel spurs, mallet toes, metatarsalgia, numb toes, peripheral neuropathy, plantar warts, , tingling toes, toenail problems, turf toe, and plantar fasciitis. Among all these foot conditions that cause sore feet, plantar fasciitis is the most common problem). http://www.FootCare4U.com

Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the tissue that runs the length of the foot and holds it together. Morton’s Toe can be a cause of this condition since a shorter first toe bone results in the foot hitting and rolling improperly (pronation) when walking. In his book, Schuler provides a detailed explanation of the relationship between Morton’s toe and other foot problems; he prescribes a simple $2 toe pad under each big toe to correct pronation. This is a good remedy that is both convenient and can have wide ranging impact on twenty five percent of your body’s bones!

A foot doctor, foot specialist (Podiatrist), of Panama City Fl, Dr. Burton S. Schuler is a leading expert on the medical condition known as the Morton’s Toe. He is the author of the new book about the Morton’s Toe (Long Second Toe), Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot. He feels that knee pain is often caused by the Morton’s Toe. In fact, Schuler feel that the Morton’s Toe, (Long Second Toe) is among the most overlooked reasons for why one gets pain in and around the knee joint

An Epidemic of Plantar Fasciitis in Athletes, asks Fla Podiatrist?

In just one day, December 1, 2010, sports media reported the performance of several athletes is affected by a condition called “plantar fasciitis.”

Plantar fasciitis is a swelling of the heel and or arch, and the most common type of pain on the bottom of the heel. It is caused by an ongoing injury at the place the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone. This spot on the bone is called the medial tuberosity of the heel. If there is an abnormal pulling or tugging at this spot, because of the Morton’s Toe it can resulting in pain and inflammation occur at the plantar fascia. This pain and swelling of the feet is known as plantar fasciitis.

In the sports world, this condition is getting quite a bit of publicity among basketball players.  For example, on December 13, 2010, it was announced that Tyreke Evans, basketball player for the Sacramento Kings, has plantar fasciitis (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32179465/ns/sports-player_news/).  Sources also believe plantar fasciitis could keep Al Nolen out of the team’s Big Ten opener at Wisconsin on December 28th (http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/blogs/111815499.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU6:iPhD_oD3aPc:i_kchO7DU).

It is also reported that Milwaukee Bucks’  Drew Gooden is ready to return Monday night against Dallas after missing six of the last seven games due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/111799344.html).   And Celtic Rajon Rondo has fans begging his coaches to give him a break so he can recover from plantar fasciitis (http://gallery.live.com/Error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/default.aspx).

The condition is so common among basketball players that here is even a blog called “Plantar Fasciitis: A Basketball Blog as Volatile as the Injury Itself” (http://plantarfasciitis.eatstheuniverse.com/).  But basketball players are not the only ones with the condition.  The Press-Enterprise reports that San Diego Charger’s Antonio Gates has the same problem: “By Saturday, realized it was no use. He couldn’t run, he couldn’t cut, and trying to bluff his way through plantar fasciitis just wasn’t worth the drop-off in performance, regardless of the importance of Sunday’s game against Kansas City”  (http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_chargers_notes_13.4042d02.html).

Team doctors may be scrambling to find quick fixes for plantar fasciitis, so that the athletes can get back on the court or field as soon as possible.  At least one podiatrist, Dr. Burton S. Schuler of Panama City, Florida, would encourage team docs to find out if these athletes have a second toe that is longer than the first (also known as “Morton’s Toe”).  His reasoning?  In his 36 years as a podiatrist, plantar fasciitis is usually caused by abnormal pronation of the foot due to Morton’s Toe

Here is a video about  plantar fasciitis made by Dr. Burton S. Schuler on YouTube

<iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/UPPxrgvPLVw” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sports fans everywhere, take note:  if your favorite athlete is sitting on the bench due to heel pain, and he has a longer second toe, he needs to correct the pronation of his foot with a simple toe pad 

WHAT IS A MORTON’S TOE OR LONG SECOND TOE

In the 1920’s and 1930”s Dr. Dudley J. Morton of Yale Medical School and Columbia Medical School wrote that a problem with the 1^st metatarsal bone, known as a Morton’s Toe could be the reason for most foot problems. Dr. Janet Travel, White House physician to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at George Washington University took this concept further by writing and teaching that the Morton’s Toe could cause pain all over your body. She wrote and taught for four decades that a Morton’s Toe could cause back, hip, knee, leg foot and ankles problems. She felt that the Morton’s Toe, was so important that at the age of 89 she made a video tape to teach other physicians about how to recognize it and how to treat it.

Dr. Burton S. Schuler   http://www.footcare4u.com/category/about-dr-schuler/ is a foot doctor, foot specialist (Podiatrist), of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center. He is also the author of the new book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot

Why you get Heel or Arch pain in Morning, Panama City Fl Foot Doctor

Dr. Burton S. Schuler is a foot care specialist, foot doctor, foot specialist (Podiatrist), of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center. He is also the author of the new book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot He is also a leading expert about the Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe.

Since 1975 when he first started in practice, he has seen more heel pain and  plantar fasciitis than any other problems. Moreover, the single most common complaint of the people who have heel or arch pain (plantar fasciitis) is pain after getting out of bed in the morning. It iis  one reason people go to a podiatrist for foot care

Dr. Schuler says :

“Like most foot doctor treating people for pains of the heels or the arches (plantar fasciitis) is a big part of my daily podiatric practice. You can have heel pain anytime during the day, but the most common times are absolutely in the morning upon getting out of bed. These pains also occur anytime after resting or sitting for 10-15 minutes then standing. Some patients also get these pains upon getting out of their car after driving for a while.

These pains upon getting up after resting have the medical name of Poststatic Dyskinesia.

Schuler also says

“I can determine how bad a heel or arch condition is by asking the patient if they also have to hold on to something just to get out of bed or to stand up. If they do I know that I am dealing with a very bad case of heel or arch pain”

These problems are caused by pronation of the foot, which is caused by a Morton’s Toe Long Second Toe. The good news is that these problems can be treated many times with a simple $2.00 pad.

About the Author: Dr. Burton S. Schuler foot doctor, foot specialist, podiatrist of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center and is a leading authority on the Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe and it associated problems. He is the author of the newly published book about The Morton’s Toe, Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In the Foot The book is published by the La Luz Press, Inc and is disturbed national by the Cardinal Publishing Group. Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, is the story of how one bone in your foot could be the real reason for pains thru out your whole body. It is important because it offer the public new information about why millions of people suffer everyday with aches and pains, and offers new hope to get rid of problems they believed they would have to live with forever. It literally can be the “medical missing link”

Dr. Schuler, graduated from the N. Y. College of Podiatric Medicine in 1975 at the age of twenty-four, and has been in private practice ever since. In 1982, he published his first book, The Agony of De-Feet: A Podiatrist Guide to Foot Care. During his thirty-five year professional career, he has written for Collier’s Encyclopedia and various podiatric journals and publications. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, First in Women, and other publications. Dr. Schuler has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs both here and aboard. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, and the National Board of Podiatric Examiners. Dr. Schuler is certified as a wound specialist from the American Board of Wound Management. His professional and civic accomplishments have earned his inclusion in the 1999-2002 Who’s Who in America (Marquis).

Bookmark & Share

Arch Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)

Plantar Fasciitis is a straining and or stressing of the Plantar Fascia (Plantar Arch) resulting in inflammation, swelling and pain in the arch of the foot. The Plantar Fascia (Plantar Arch) is like a rubber band that runs from the heel to the bones in the front part of your foot. The function of the Plantar Fascia is to form a bridge between the front and the back part of the foot. The pains caused by Plantar Fasciitis is a first cousin to the pains of Heel Spurs and/or other Heel Problems. When the arch is strained it normally hurts in the morning when you first get out of bed or after getting up after 20 minutes or so after sitting.

The bones,ligaments and tendons in the arch are subjected to considerable stress throughout the day. And,if your foot does not work properly because of Abnormal Pronation that is due to a Morton’s Toe or other reasons, it will quickly result in arch pain which is a sign that this part of the foot is being overworked and is suffering from fatigue. The pains caused by Plantar Fasciitis is a first cousin to the pains of Heel Spurs and/or other Heel Problems.

People with arch problems should find out if they do have a Morton’s Toe . If they do many times they can easily treat their Plantar Fasciitis themselves. I believe shoes really have very little to do with heel or arch problems. In the end it all depends on the fact if your parents gave you a foot that worked right. Read the section on Inheritance to learn more about this.

If your arch pain does not subside within a reasonable time, it is best to look further in attempting to treat this very painful problem. A podiatrist will determine, through a careful examination and x-ray evaluation, what areas of your foot are under the greatest amount of stress. He may perform an additional lab test to determine if Arthritis is a factor. Plantar Fasciiti can be treated in a variety of ways through anti-inflammatory medications, or injections; by padding & taping of the arch, or by using various combinations of Physical Therapy methods. In some cases, a nerve is injured in the arch area, and a injection is needed to reduce the inflamed nerves. If the problems is due to Abnormal Pronation then an Orthotic device placed inside the shoes will help the arch (Plantar Fascia) from re-injuring itself.