Lacing Patterns!

The average athletic shoe has 6 pairs of eyelets (12 of those little holes that allow laces to pass through) and with over 2 trillion different ways to run laces through them, you are bound to run into a pattern that accommodates your foot in the shoe! The majority of foot problems that people face stem from shoes – either the shoe is too narrow or too wide, the shoe length is too small so your toes have no room in the toe box, or the toe box is oddly shaped where your toes must scrunch up against each other.

There are instances where the shoe is actually a good a fit, but the top of the shoe is exerting too much pressure on the top of your foot. Or you may find that exercise activities such as running or jogging start to cause pain around your foot as a result of the shoes. Sometimes, all that is required to alleviate the pain is a little adjustment in your lacing pattern. There are a variety of patterns that will allow a decrease in the pressure that the top of the shoe exerts onto your foot, increase ankle stability within the shoe, and even prevent pronation (the excessive inward rolling and flattening of the foot)! And since all that is being changed is way the shoelaces are being threaded through the eyelets, it’s an easy, inexpensive way to gauge whether the pain in your foot is really caused by your shoe or not!

To help with excessive pronation during exercise you may want to lace your shoes higher and tighter (not too tight where you are uncomfortable!). The higher lacing will also help your ankle stay in place and give that joint a little extra stability. Or if you find you have irritation on the top (dorsum) of your foot, there are specific ways that lacing methods can address that problem. For instance, say you have cut on the top of your foot that you’d like to take pressure off of, just rethread your laces off of that site. So instead of your laces crisscrossing at that level of the injury, they’ll be a gap there.

Make an appointment with your podiatrist and have your pain evaluated by them. If your pain is footwear-induced or exercise-induced, make sure to tell your podiatrist that information; and ask them for lacing recommendations. They will be able to show you in person the best technique for you!

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC.
101 6TH St. NW.
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Eli Manning has Plantar Fasciitis

After leaving the game during the fourth quarter on Sunday, Eli Manning was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis on Monday. This news comes after Giants fans held there breath while watching the star quarterback leave the game complaining of heel pain.

This will not likely keep Manning from playing this coming Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, though it may be painful. He will treat the plantar fasciitis conservatively over the next week, most likely with rest, ice, and massage. The Giants have put him down as a “maybe” for the upcoming game against Oakland.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the soft tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. This soft tissue is known as the plantar aponeurosis, and plays a key role in adding stability to the foot. It helps the toes flex during gait, and adds a great amount of integrity to the foot.

The inflammation often comes as a result of improper biomechanics. If the foot is allowed to flatten out while walking or running, this can put stress on the plantar aponeurosis. Repeated stress, such as from running in football cleats, can cause pain, particularly at the bottom of the heel.

This is exactly where Eli Manning reported pain after leaving the game. An MRI was performed to rule out other possible causes, and to assess the amount of inflammation.

Manning said that he felt the pain when he dropped back to throw a pass in the fourth quarter. He stayed in for one more play, where he launched a 54-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks before coming out fro back up David Carr.

Manning has been a key element to the Giants’ 4-0 start this season. He has thrown for 1,039 yards so far, with 8 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. He has a 62.3 percent completion percentage, and is the third ranked quarterback in the league. Only his brother, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees are ranked higher.

Giants fans hope to see Eli Manning at full strength this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Oakland is off to a 1-3 start this season following a blowout loss to Houston this past Sunday.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC.
101 6TH St. NW.
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com