Earlier this week, Victoria Beckham, otherwise known as “Posh Spice”, gave birth to her fourth child.  After having three boys and one girl with husband David Beckham, Posh has been reported to be saying that her family is now complete and that she will not be having any more children.  Victoria also developed some painful bunions and back pain in this last pregnancy, making the thought of going through another 9 months of being with-child even less enticing.

Many women may not be aware of the possibility of developing a bunion or other foot problems during pregnancy.  Bunions are typically related to hallux abducto valgus, which is a condition where the top of the 1^stmetatarsal, which forms the base of the big toe, angles towards the other toes.  This causes the first metatarsal to protrude out towards the middle of the foot at the joint at the base of the big toe, often resulting in an inflamed bony or soft tissue outgrowth that is called a bunion.  Pain and irritation then occur when the bunion is under pressure and friction from a shoe.  Being flat footed, or overpronating often increases the likelihood that an individual will develop a bunion. 

In pregnant women, ligaments and soft tissues need to become more relaxed so that the baby will be able to fit out during birth.  The body naturally takes care of this by beginning to secrete a hormone called Relaxin that has proteases and collegenases to loosen up proteins and collagen fibers that would normally be taught.  It is believed that this hormone also contributes to the relaxation of foot ligaments and structures.  So while the foot ligaments are looser, more support may be required to maintain the normal anatomical position of foot bones and ligaments.  Wearing a stable, supportive type of shoe is best to maintain balance and foot health to avoid deformities when additional pressures are being placed on the feet during pregnancy.  Victoria Beckham may have caused her bunions to become more painful by continuing to wear the sky-high stilettos that she is known for during her pregnancy.  Along with wearing sensible shoes or athletic sneakers, taking time to elevate the feet and legs can help decrease swelling in pregnant feet.   

While conservative methods are available to lessen the pain associated with a bunion, surgery is the only way to truly cure the problem.  Now that Victoria Beckham is done having children, perhaps she will talk to her podiatrist about her foot pain, and choose what the best treatment route will be for her!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is now providing podiatry in Dublin near Tuttle Crossing Mall.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Ohio’s Major League Baseball team, the Cleveland Indians, will not be facing the Yankees until July, but many fans staying updated on the future opponent may have heard about an interesting injury of Eric Chavez, the team’s backup third baseman.

On May 5^thwhile running the bases, Chavez began limping and was helped off the field to get x-rays.  The initial diagnosis by the Yankee’s team doctor was a small fracture of the 5^thmetatarsal of the left foot.  However, this week, it was discovered that Chavez’s bone was not broken, but he had suffered a less severe injury called a bone bruise. 

People may not be aware that you can bruise the outer lining of bone, the periosteum, resulting in a periosteal bruise.  A bone bruise can also be called a stone bruise, because patients will often describe it feeling as if they are stepping on a pebble or small stone every time they put pressure on the affected area of the foot.  A bone bruise, periosteal bruise & stone bruiseare all describing the same injury in which there is a trauma that damages this superficial bone layer and the blood vessels coursing through it that supply nutrients to the bone cells.  In many cases, including Chavez’s, the trauma is simply an excess of pressure hitting the bone while running.  Underlying causes of this excess pressure on the foot can be from overtraining, underlying bony deformities such as metatarsalgia, or flat foot, the wrong type of athletic shoes, or shoes that are worn out. 

Bone bruises should be treated to reduce the inflammation of the area which can often be swollen, tender, and painful.  Resting the affected area, icing it and possibly taking anti-inflammatory medication are all recommended as part of a successful treatment regimen.  Patients should consult with their podiatrist to ensure the most appropriate route of treatment depending on the severity of the bruise.  It is also important to eliminate the cause of the excess pressure before returning to activities.  This may be done by getting custom athletic orthotics, new shoes, or surgery in cases with severe underlying foot deformities. 

Luckily for Chavez, it seems as though the Yankees had him consult with a podiatrist and the team physician to obtain an accurate diagnosis.  It is always great news for any athlete to discover that an injury is less severe than initially believed, and that their shorter recovery period will allow them to get back in the game at an earlier date!

Please visit http://www.columbusfoot.com/ for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the long, dense band of connective tissue (the plantar fascia) that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot.

Repeated strain on the plantar fascia can cause tiny tears in the ligament. As tension and tearing increases, so does inflammation and irritation of the affected area. Risk factors of plantar fasciitis include foot arch problems (flat foot and high arches); excess weight; running; and a tight Achilles tendon.
The most common complaint of plantar fasciitis is pain in the bottom of the heel that develops gradually. The pain is usually worse in the morning and after sitting or standing for a long period of time. For some, the pain subsides after walking or stretching.
To reduce pain associated with plantar fasciitis:

• Rest. Limit and/or avoid activities that make your heel hurt.
• Ice. Reduce pain and swelling by icing the affected area each day.
• Stretch. Stretch your heel throughout the day, especially when you first wake up in the morning.
• Footwear modifications. Wear shoes that provide good arch support and a cushioned sole. Ask your podiatrist about pads and shoe inserts to relieve your heel pain.

When conservative treatments aren't effective or your pain persists for more than a few weeks, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. A podiatrist can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs. This may include, stretching exercises, shoe padding, orthotic devices, night splints or therapy. Most patients respond to non-surgical treatments, but for pain that won't go away, surgery may be considered.

With proper rest and treatment, recovering from plantar fasciitis can take just a few months. Visit Columbus Podiatry & Surgery on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Worthington, Westerville and Powell when you first experience pain for a proper diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Treating an array of problems of the foot and ankle at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we put the best of technology to work in diagnosing many biomechanical injuries and abnormalities that cause pain and discomfort when walking or running.

After extensive research and new advances in podiatric technology, there are now faster and more accurate ways to asses a patient's feet and administer the most appropriate treatment. In fact, many foot problems can be treated most effectively by addressing their mechanical function, and at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery, we offer our new Computerized Gait Analysis technology that helps us identify biomechanical faults faster and more accurately than ever.

Assessing Your Gait

Our Computerized Gait Analysis is an advanced method used to assess the way an individual walks or runs to highlight biomechanical abnormalities. While many of these common problems are treatable with modern medicine, assessing motion, and more specifically how you walk, has always been limited until the recent development of the Computerized Gait Analysis.

The Procedure

A Computerized Gait Analysis uses pressure mapping technology to identify pressure points in the feet as a patient walks or runs. Dr. Animesh Bhatia and Dr. Sarah Newby can observe and analyze the way an individual moves, looking in particular at the feet, ankles, knees and hips to determine the problem. This can then be relayed to a computer screen where slow motion and freeze frames can be used to carefully assess your running or walking style. By assessing the condition in the actual environment that causes that particular problem, we can actually identify what is happening while you walk and give you the best treatment for your condition based on this data.

By analyzing the mechanics of a patient's stance, postural alignment, and flexibility of the hips and back, recommendations can be made for orthotics, shoe modifications or a course of physical therapy designed to strengthen core muscles. Many times, with the right treatment, surgery can be avoided, thus diminishing the recovery time from a variety of injuries or disorders. With the new foot pressure measurement technology, our Columbus office can identify foot abnormalities more accurately than ever before.

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia