Elite Foot & Ankle

My experience with the Channel 9 Health Fair

I would like to talk about my experience as a volunteer at the Channel 9 Health fair. Not to long ago I was lucky enough to be a volunteer physician for channel 9. The health fair for those of you that do not know is put on by our local television station. The fair is a place where people who have and do not have health insurance, can come and get their blood drawn. This blood work is then sent to the lab and a multitude of tests are performed. The patients can then get their results and share them with their family doctor and any other specialist that they see.  Also, there typically are other ancillary services available as well, such as physical therapy, message, and education on insurance.

I was able to provide many people with free foot screenings and simple evaluations. Most of the patients did not have any issues, but the few that did I was able to either help them or be sure they got to the correct people that could. During my time a saw quite a large number of people, these people would not have likely seen a foot and ankle specialist if it were not for the health fair.

logoI felt truly blessed to be able to help and educate those that attended the health fair.

Stress Fractures in Runners

stress fracture, foot, xray, denver, lone tree, podiatrist, foot surgeon. ankle surgeryCommon Runners’ Injury: Stress Fractures of the Foot

Repetitive impact on feet can increase risk of damage

  Stress fractures of the foot are becoming more common in runners, especially first-time marathoners, according to Denver / Lone Tree, CO foot and ankle surgeon Chad Simmons DPM, FACFAS.

 The growing popularity of marathons among Denver’s beginning runners has contributed to the increase in repetitive stress injuries, including stress fractures of the foot, seen by Dr. Simmons, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Often, first-time marathoners enter a race with little or improper long-distance training. The lack of experience coupled with the repetitive impact placed on the feet during the run can produce enough stress to cause hairline breaks in the bones of the foot.

“Runners who increase their mileage too quickly or change to a more intense phase of training may be more susceptible to a stress fracture due to the increased force placed on the bones,” says Dr. Simmons. “A general rule of thumb for runners is to increase the mileage by no more than 10 percent each week. Runners who are training also need to have adequate rest time in between runs to help decrease the risk of a fracture.”

Runners at all levels of experience are also at higher risk for stress fractures if they wear improper shoes while running or training, suffer from flatfoot or other foot deformities, or have osteoporosis. Signs of a stress fracture can include pain, swelling, redness and possibly bruising of the area.

“Stress fractures can occur anywhere in the foot and can eventually lead to a complete break of the bone if left untreated,” Dr. Simmons explained.  “Early diagnosis and treatment are important to ensure proper healing.”

If a break is suspected, Dr. Simmons advises runners to immediately follow the RICE protocol—Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. If pain and swelling last longer than a few days, an appointment for an x-ray and diagnosis is in order.

In most cases, treatment includes rest and immobilization with casting of the foot. Surgery may be required in certain instances to repair and stabilize a stress fracture that has progressed into a full fracture.

Runners can take action to prevent repetitive stress injuries in their feet by wearing supportive athletic shoes and slowly building up their activity levels according to their abilities. “If a runner suffers from abnormal mechanics in the foot, such as over pronation or hypermobility, custom orthotics can also be helpful to prevent these injuries,” Dr. Simmons, adds.

For additional information on stress fractures and other foot injuries, visit FootHealthFacts.org.

If you suspect you have a foot injury or fracture, call Dr. Chad Simmons’ office at (720)-638-6081 for an evaluation.

 

 

Dr Simmons is board certified in both Foot Surgery and Rearfoot/ Ankle Reconstruction

Why is board certification important to patients?

American Board of Podiatric Surgery protects patients by advancing the art and science of podiatric surgery. Our certification ensures that ABPS-certified surgeons have completed appropriate training, successfully performed a diverse range of podiatric surgical procedures, and passed our extensive written and oral examinations.

What kind of training is required to become board certified by American Board of Podiatric Surgery today?

Certified surgeons must graduate from an accredited four year podiatric medical school and complete residency training at a program approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. They must also have four years of post-doctoral clinical experience and present a diverse mix of documented surgical cases for review by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery Credentials Committee.

ABPS,board certified, foot surgeon, ankle, heel

 

 

 

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