Have you heard about Shockwave Therapy before or is this the first time? Do you know what to use? Is it a safe method? Want to know the answers to these questions? We will get to know the answers to these questions together. What is Shockwave Therapy? Doctors resort to this treatment when symptoms persist for at least 3-6 months and other treatment methods, such as physical therapy, ice therapy and orthotics, have failed. It is safer than surgical procedures and injections, helps heal wounds, relieves pain and treats a wide range of chronic tendon diseases and problems, such as: Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) Patellar tendinitis Achilles tendinopathy Great rotator pain syndrome (lateral hip pain) Facts you should know The session takes approximately 30 minutes. You will often need 3 treatment sessions, one each week, but if you do not get the required results, the number of sessions may be increased to 6. You can resume your usual daily activities following the session, but avoid violent activities for up to 48 hours after treatment, even if you do not experience pain in the injured region. If you have used corticosteroid injections, you will need to wait six weeks before starting shockwave therapy. The success rate of this method is up to 70%, and it has not shown any long-term complications so far. Is it safe? Shockwave therapy is very safe and has minimal side effects, for example, it may cause pain and skin redness! You can then use over-the-counter pain relievers, but do not apply ice to the treated area and do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Although it is a safe method, it should never be used in the following cases: If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant For those under 18 years old For heart patients or when using a pacemaker The presence of a tumor or infection at the treatment site Acute inflammation in the treatment area When taking some antibiotics You should consult a specialist doctor because he is always best able to determine if shockwave therapy is the most appropriate choice for you or not.

Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions, not just one! This is prevalent and causes joint pain and inflammation. Further, it can strike at any age, even in childhood! Fortunately, there are many ways to alleviate pain without using medication. Types of arthritis The most common types are: Rheumatoid arthritis: an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s cells, resulting in painful swelling in the affected area. Osteoarthritis: the most common type of arthritis often associated with aging or injury. Gout! Can you believe it is one of the painful types of arthritis? It is caused by the accumulation of uric acid in the body. What are the most frequent symptoms? Though there are many different types of arthritis and symptoms vary depending on your condition, you should consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis if you experience any of the following symptoms: Joint pain and stiffness. Inflammation in or around the joints. Difficulty with movement. Redness of the skin over the affected joint. Muscle weakness. Prevention tips Making some lifestyle modifications can help you lower your risk of developing some types of arthritis. These prevention tips include: Maintaining a healthy weight and losing excess weight to reduce stress on joints. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. Excess weight can also increase the severity of the injury. Protect your joints from injury or overuse because they may damage the joint and cause osteoarthritis. Ensure that you wear protective equipment when cycling or at work if you are at risk of falling. Quit Smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing arthritis and can make the disease worse. Tips to control arthritis The following tips will help relieve many of the symptoms including pain: Take some OTC pain relievers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Go to physical therapy Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Engage in physical activities or sports. Does physical activity actually have a positive effect? Indeed, regular physical activity can help relieve pain just as effectively as some over-the-counter medications. You can participate in any of the following sports: walking, cycling, swimming, or water aerobics. Physical activity will also give you several added benefits, such as enhanced physical function and mood, as well as reduced anxiety.

Before talking about plantar fasciitis treatment let’s discuss facts, plantar fasciitis, which causes swelling and pain, accounts for around 11% to 15% of common foot disorders! At first, you may think the numbers aren’t that significant, but the pain is, and it generally causes stabbing pain! Fortunately, several treatment options are effective in relieving pain and allowing you to return to your daily activities. Find out more info about Plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis Treatment There are several therapy alternatives available, but combining many options is more beneficial than using just one. Home remedies There are various ways you may do at home that are helpful and can help relieve the symptoms. These techniques include: Ball/ice bottle Put a ball or round iced bottle under your foot and roll it up from heel to toe. It helps reduce local inflammation and massage the plantar fascia. Be careful not to put ice for a long time or directly on the skin to avoid getting an ice burn! Calf muscle tightening It helps in preventing recurrence. To do this exercise Stand on a thick book and then do the stretching exercise Stand with your toes straight while you are barefoot Make sure your knees are straight, you can use a smaller book if you can’t stand straight and then slowly increase the height of the book as you become more flexible Continue to stretch for 2-5 minutes It is necessary to do these exercises twice a day. Shoes Make sure you’re wearing supportive shoes that are appropriate for the activity you’re doing. Choose shoes with short heels to help relieve symptoms. Remember that non-supportive or flat shoes are not appropriate during the treatment. For more tips on how to choose footwear. The medical treatment The treatment plan that your doctor has prescribed for you may include some other treatment methods such as Corticosteroid injections that have a strong effect in reducing heel pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs. It is critical to follow your doctor’s treatment plan or your symptoms will probably worsen. Also, if you are overweight, losing some weight may assist alleviate stress on the plantar fascia. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy if your symptoms are slowly improving!

Heel spur affect around 15% of the world’s population! They are bony growths that emerge from the bottom of the heel bone inside the foot as a result of strain on the foot ligaments. Is it a heel spur or plantar fasciitis? It is true that heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are related problems, but they are not the same. Because: Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is overly torn or stretched, resulting in severe heel pain that comes and goes throughout the day. It differs in that it eases while walking, then returns when sitting, and then increases to move for a longer time. As for the heel spur, it occurs as a response to plantar fasciitis for a long time, so that the body builds additional bone tissue that turns into a spur in the heel! Heel spur treatment A heel spur is treated in the same way as plantar fasciitis is. Because plantar fasciitis causes heel pain that indicates a heel spur. So, treating the symptoms of plantar fasciitis aids in the relief of the associated pain. Treatment includes: Resting your heels after running. Using cold compresses or ice. Taking anti-inflammatory medications, if needed. Stretching before activity Wearing shoes or using shoe inserts that protect the plantar fascia. Your doctor will help you choose what is right for you. A few cases may need surgery to remove the heel spur as part of plantar fasciitis surgery. Tips you can take to prevent There are several factors that increase the risk of infection. Fortunately, some factors can be changed, but some factors cannot be changed. The following tips can help you: Choose soft surfaces such as grass and paths over hard surfaces when running. Wear shoes that fit and support your foot. Do not walk barefoot on any hardwood or tile floors. Walk properly to alleviate strain on your heels. You may get advice from Health and Style Medical Center and have a walking gait assessment. Maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on your heels. Change your daily routine to avoid standing on your feet for long periods as much as possible. Non-modifiable factors Age; some natural changes occur as we get older such as: The plantar fascia becomes less flexible and more susceptible to plantar fasciitis. Lose the natural fat pads under your feet gradually. You have high arches.

Muscle strain is a common injury that can be treated most of the time at home and often affects the knees, feet, legs, or back. Do I have muscle strain? You probably have muscle strain if you can’t put weight on the injury or even use the injured area normally and you feel: Pain Muscle weakness and inability to use the injured area. Swelling or bruising of the affected area muscle spasms What should I do if I have muscle strain? For the first two days, follow these steps to reduce swelling and support injury: Rest and stop doing any exercise, but be sure to move the affected area constantly. The physiotherapist may put you on a program of some light exercises appropriate for your condition. Avoid putting any weight on the injury, but try to walk as naturally as possible. Apply ice or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel on the injury for 20 minutes and repeat this step every 2 to 3 hours. Wrap a bandage around the injury to support it. Elevate the place of injury on the pillow as much as possible. Also, avoid hot baths or exposing the affected area to heat, alcohol, and massage for the first two days to help prevent swelling. How long does it take to recover? You may gradually return to normal life if the pain settles. Some severe cases take months to recover again, while most cases improve after two weeks. However, you should avoid strenuous exercise such as running for up to 8 weeks to avoid the risk of further damage. It is best to refer to the doctor to determine when you can return to sports based on the speed of your recovery, not in days or weeks because the recovery rate varies from person to person. Often you will be able to exercise again when the injured area regains its strength compared to the uninjured area, such as: Flex the injury site without pain. Jogging without limping. Jump on the affected area without feeling any pain. Factors affecting healing Recovery usually takes six to eight weeks. However, you may experience discomfort and swelling for a longer time. Following these tips will give your ankle a better chance of healing: Use meditation and deep breathing techniques to relieve stress. Sleep from 6 to 9 hours Ensure that you have a balanced diet and take vitamin D, as it helps reduce joint pain. Quit smoking because it causes musculoskeletal pain and delayed recovery.

Your kid enjoys exercising, but recently the pain in his heels has prevented him from doing so? Sever’s disease might be the cause, especially if your kid is nearing puberty! Let’s look more closely into Sever’s disease. This illness is characterized by swelling and irritation in the heel, particularly in the growth plate because it is weaker and more sensitive than the rest of the bones, but there is no need to worry; following the doctor’s instructions will usually help the disease disappear within a few months without causing permanent problems. Is your child vulnerable to Sever’s disease? Sever’s disease most often affects kids who play sports that involve running or jumping, especially on hard surfaces such as basketball and gymnastics and occurs between the ages of 9 and 14 years old. Sever’s disease occurs during the growth spurt of puberty because the bones, muscles, and tendons grow at a different rate, making the muscles and tendons more likely to stretch, causing the growth plate in the heel to stretch. However, Sever’s disease can often occur as a result of prolonged standing due to constant pressure on the heel. Furthermore, several factors may cause Sever disease, such as: Flat feet injury Being overweight High body mass index So, what are the symptoms of Sever’s disease? If your kid is at high risk, check if he/she has these symptoms: Pain in one or both ankles Swelling and redness in the heels Foot stiffness when waking up Limping or walking on tiptoes Pain when pressing the heel on both sides Symptoms may also worsen during or after exercise and then the condition improves with rest. Treatment for Sever’s disease If your kid has Sever’s disease, the doctor may recommend some or all of the following: Rest which includes reducing or even avoiding all activities that cause pain, simple exercises such as walking and swimming can be recommended. Put ice in a washcloth on the heels every 1-2 hours for 15 minutes each time. Use an analgesic/pain reliever such as Ibuprofen. Use shoe inserts to reduce pressure on the heel. Wear open shoes from the back so as not to irritate the heel. Wrap a medical bandage or wear a compression stocking. Physical therapy or a home exercise program to help stretch and strengthen. Your doctor may use a leg cast for about a week if: Symptoms are severe. Symptoms do not improve after a few weeks of rest and treatment. What happens after the recovery? When the activity is not causing any pain, kids can return to all of the sports and activities they used to do following recovery, which can take two weeks to two months. Some steps can also help your kid prevent re-occurrence of Sever disease, such as: Wear appropriate athletic shoes that have a cushioned sole Avoid heavy or high-heeled shoes Stretching before and after activity and sports Placing a towel with ice on the heels for 15 minutes after exercising Use of special shoe inserts Lose weight if he is overweight Usually, after age 15, your kid will not have Sever’s disease again.

The toes, especially the big toe, help us move and maintain balance, so pain, no matter how little, affects our mobility, making the hallux rigidus a source of severe discomfort due to the pain and joint stiffness it causes as a result of the erosion of the joint surfaces. Sometimes only the upper part of the joint is affected and the rest of the joint is intact, while other times it causes the entire joint to erode. Causes of Hallux Rigidus When walking, the major joint of the big toe is subjected to enormous stress; with each step, it bears a force equal to double the body’s weight! Hallux rigidus might also be the result of a previous injury or another medical condition, such as gout. Symptoms Pain in the big toe when walking or even while at rest. Stiffness and loss of the ability to turn the big toe upwards, sometimes so hard that it cannot be laid flat on the floor. A bony protrusion (bone growth) that may appear above the joint to rub against the shoe. Pain in the ball of the foot or in its outer edges as a result of walking on the side of the foot to avoid the pain of the big toe. Deformation of the toes. Treatment The severity of the case determines treatment. For example, simple treatment methods will help ease the symptoms in the early cases, such as: Wear suitable shoes with a wide toe room and a harder sole to minimize friction across the joint. Use medical insoles which can help improve foot function and reduce pain. Take pain relievers such as Paracetamol. Weight loss If you are overweight, this will reduce the pressure on the foot. A healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Other treatment methods may include: Treatment by injection (steroid) into the joint to help reduce pain and inflammation Surgery- if other treatments fail. After Hallux Rigidus surgery? The surgery normally takes approximately an hour, and you should avoid moving it as much as possible for two weeks. If you feel pain, the doctor will prescribe some painkillers for you To avoid foot swelling, rest with your foot lifted on a chair or the end of a sofa at first. About two weeks after the surgery, you will return to the clinic to remove the stitches. Your doctor may ask you to wear a surgical shoe so that the bones can heal safely You will frequently require rehabilitation treatment before returning to your favorite activities.