Running in the Winter Olympics is Called Cross Country Skiing

Houston runners don't have much to look forward to in the Winter Olympics. No track, no marathon, no relays. But don't miss the winter equivalent of running - Cross Country Skiing.

Cross Country Skiing is one of the original sports of the Winter Olympic Games. Unlike downhill, where gravity propels the skier down the mountain and they have to maintain speed and balance, cross country skiers need to use every muscle in the upper and lower bodies to propel themselves through the snow and hills.

Cross Country Skiing is one of the top three exercises for burning calories, because it uses many muscle groups at once (remember the NordicTrak? It was trying to capitalize on this!) There are two styles in the Olympics: Classic and Freestyle. Classic skis have the boot held into the ski at both the toe and heel. In the Freestyle method, only the toe is secured.

Events range from short sprint distances, to relays, to longer endurance events. Of course, you have some hybrid events, such as biathlon, which combines cross country skiing and rifle shooting. Do you think we'll see marathoners with rifles strapped to their back any time soon?

Injuries from cross country skiing will seem very familiar to a runner. Overuse injuries are most common: Shin splints, tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures. Of course the possibility always exists for more traumatic injury, such as sprains and fractures, when mishaps occur.

So keep watching the Winter Olympics and look for the similarities, not differences, in the sports. Except don't look for much in the skeleton...that's just crazy!!

Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn Wins Gold Despite Injury

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This past Wednesday at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Lindsay Vonn finally captured the Olympic gold, despite a serious shin contusion. Vonn had been forecasted to win the Alpine Skiing Ladies’ downhill event for months leading up to the Olympics until a disastrous injury on February 2nd in Austria left everyone wondering if she would even compete. Vonn reported that she suffered from a severe contusion to her right shin in practice that left her unable to even put on her tight ski boots for days. Being a downhill racer, the shin is one of the most devastating places a skier can get an injury due to the tightly fitting boots that puts pressure around the area.

Vonn took it easy for the weeks following the accident and decided to go to the Vancouver games to test out the course and decide if she would compete. Lucky for her nasty weather conditions pushed back her first event a couple of days leaving Lindsey more time to recover.

When the race finally took place, Lindsey felt healed enough to compete at full strength. Vonn was able to edge out fellow United States athlete Julia Mancuso for the gold. At the medal ceremony an uncharacteristic emotional Vonn was seen teary eyed as the US National Anthem played and the American flag rose. Vonn reported that emotions ran especially high for this event due to her injury that she thought might have cost her all the years of training leading up to the event.

Lindsey Vonn has won countless races throughout her career but has never been able to medal at the Olympics until now. With 4 more events to go for Lindsey at these Olympic games, including the Ladies’ Super Combined, Ladies’ Super G, Ladies’ Slalom, and Ladies’ Giant Slalom fans wait to see if she will continue to capture gold or if her injury will start to take its toll on her body. The refreshing news is, that after winning the gold, and asked about the upcoming events, she responded that she reached her goal – an Olympic gold medal and she was just going to enjoy her moment.

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Perseverance: Chinese Figure Skaters Win Gold after Achilles Tendon Injury

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This week the pairs figure skating competition took place at the Robson Square Arena at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. After a close competition Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China managed to capture the gold. Although the competition was close with silver going to Pang Qing and Tong Jian, also a Chinese pairs team, and the bronze medals going to the German pairs skaters Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, spectators could not help but cheer for Shen and Zhao due to their amazing history together.

Shen and Zhao have been to four Olympics together winning bronze in 2002 and 2006 but could never quite get the gold medals they always wanted. The pair got married in 2007 and retired after they won their third world title but shortly after this career move they decided they needed to try once more for the gold medals they could never quite reach.

Part of the reason that the pair has never been able to surpass their bronze medal status until this year is because Zhao’s ruptured his Achilles tendon right before the 2005 world championship. Zhao was forced to take the entire season off from skating to heal and could not return to the sport until weeks before the 2006 Olympics. Although Shen and Zhao were able to capture the bronze that year it still took years for Zhao to completely recover from the Achilles tendon rupture.

In the end Shen and Zhao finally got their gold after 18 years of competitive pairs figure skating. I’m sure Zhao questioned if he would ever skate again after his terrible injury but this story really shows that if you want something enough and really work for it anything is possible…..got to love the Olympics!

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Snowboarding: Winter Olympics Contest Day #7

The Snowboarding Halfpipe event became an Olympic event in 1998. It was the beginning of the traditional Olympics embracing the less traditional X-games. Derived from skateboarding, snowboarding was slow to be embraced by ski slopes. In fact, there was much animosity between skiers and snowboarders. Some ski areas actually banned snowboarders from their facilities.

Today, more than 97% of ski areas embrace snowboarding. Half of those have special areas specific for snowboarding, including rails, jumps, and halfpipes.

Injuries most commonly associated with snowboarding include fractures of the wrist and ankles. The best way to avoid injury is to use proper form and protective equipment. Snowboarding boots should be well-fitted, with toes snug in the end of the boot to minimize movement.

The Gilden Tree Exfoliating Foot Scrub is a creamy, deep-cleansing scrub that leaves skin sensuously soft and velvety. This scrub is wonderful to use - whipped, so it spreads easily, creamy enough to be moisturizing on its own, and with very even, gentle pumice to exfoliate dry skin on feet and body. It's made with with Certified Organic Aloe Vera, but with a cream base, not soap so it leaves skin softer and more moisturized.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Alpine Skiing: Winter Olympics Contest Day #6

Even with the increased popularity of snowboarding, Alpine Skiing continues to be the most popular snow sport. Although it is often criticized as being dangerous, in truth only 3 in 1000 skiers are injured participating in the sport. Fatalities are extremely rare, although are usually high profile when they occur.

About 50% of skiing injuries occur in the lower extremity, with the knee being the most common area of injury. The knee injuries most commonly occur due to faulty bindings that do not release properly. Newer bindings do help to protect the knee from injury better.

Most ski injuries are ligament sprains. Soft tissue bruising and joint injuries are the next most common injuries. Skiers have half the rate of fractures (broken bones) that skiboarders do - about 17% compared to 34%. "Boot top" fractures of the tibia and fibula at the top of the ankle where either the binding fails to release as it should, or the skier unexpectedly enters softer snow and the skis slow down but his momentum carries him forwards leading to the injury.

Today's prize for our Winter Olympics Facebook Contest is Orthogel Advanced Cold Therapy Pain Relief Gel. It is a topical pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that is perfect for any aches and pains that you may feel once you get off the slopes.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Luge: Winter Olympics Contest Day #6

To many of us, Luge may seem to be a silly sport. Growing up in the northeast, we would bring our sled to the school hill and sled down. Sometimes, we'd go on a toboggan run. But luge is something else entirely.

The luge sled is on sharp blades going down an ice track, approaching speeds of 100 mph. Small movements of the driver will shift the balance and steer the sled. 64% of injuries with the luge are crash related, resulting in fractures. The others are muscle strains, often in the neck. I, of course, want to recognize the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili on a training run in Vancouver. Our prayers go out to his family and teammates.

Today's prize for our Facebook giveaway contest is Barefoot Botanica Cracked Heel Repair Cream. It is a deep penetrating cream that actively soothes and repairs dry, cracked, damaged skin and heels.

It dissolves away dry and callused skin and moisturizes the underlying healthy skin. Feet and heels quickly feel and look good again! Cracked heels are a common foot problem that frequently causes pain, bleeding, and infections.If treatment is not initiated early, not only can the pain become intense, but the cracks and fissures may bleed. Once bleeding occurs, the skin is prone to bacterial infections and athletes foot.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

US Olympic Speed Skater Apolo Ohno is a Runner

Many people use running as their primary form of exercise, but many others use it for off season and cross training. Speed Skater Apolo Ohno from the United States, started off hating running. In fact, he would break off from his team during a run, grab a slice of pizza, and jump back in on the way back. When he first started training at the Olympic facility in Lake Placid, he was nicknamed "Chunky."

In an article in the March 2010 issue of Runner's World, also shares that he will sometimes run with a gait that simulates skating and people look at him running weird. He also finds that his best ideas often come during a run. When he starts his run with a problem in mind, Ohno frequently ends with a solution. He'll even run before an Olympic event to get his mind ready.

As runners, we think of running as a sport of its own or as a pure component of a sport, such as triathlon. However, we must remember that running can help in any sport, from tennis to table tennis, to help to increase cardiovascular health and promote strengthening of the lower extremity.

Cross Country Skiing: Winter Olympics Contest Day #4

Cross country skiing is the Winter Olympics equivalent of track. With different distances and uneven terrain, and of course long flat devices attached to the feet, the biomechanics is different from the running gait. Where in running, we strive to minimize the amount of time the foot is in contact with the ground, as we're faster in the air, cross country skiers look for a fast glide.

Because of the extra weightbearing and the increased amount of contact with the ground, we see overuse injuries most predominantly occur with cross country skiing. Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and shin splints are the most common. Again, like running, heel pain has to be dealt with both in the summer running season and the winter cross country season!

Of course the presentation of heel pain from cross country skiing is the same as in running, typically a sharp, stabbing pain in the back or bottom of the heel, most commonly occurring first thing in the morning.




One of the most popular items in our Houston office is today's prize for the Winter Olympics contest. The TheraBand Foot Roller is used to provide temporary relief from pain associated with plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and tired feet. Patients with plantar fasiciitis can use the roller as a device to stretch the plantar fascia and increase flexibility. Those experiencing soreness from tired feet will find the massaging benefits of the roller pleasant and therapeutic. In all applications, the Foot Roller can be chilled or frozen to help reduce inflammation.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Winter Olympics Contest Day #3: Biathlon

Some may think that the Biathlon is not so practical...cross country skiing along with rifle target shooting, but it's pretty entertaining to watch. Not only that, cross country skiing truly provides a full-body workout and the athletes must be in optimal condition. Plus they must stop and calm enough to be sharpshooters.

The most common injuries associated with the biathlon are similar to running injuries, namely medial-tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, and Achilles tendinitis.

Today's foot product for the winner of our Facebook fan contest is Corganics Topical Relief Analgesic Cream. Corganics Relief is a deep penetrating topical pain reliever that provides quick and effective relief!

Relief™ is formulated with a powerful blend of traditional medicines, each containing the purest herbal extracts such as L-Arginine, MSM, Eucalyptus Oil, Vitamin E, and Menthol.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Winter Olympics Contest Day #2: Short Track Speed Skating

Short Track Speed Skating became an event in the Winter Olympic Games in 1992. The events, for both men and women, include 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and a relay. Injuries most commonly associated with Short Track Speed Skating include lacerations below the knee, with skaters cut by their own skate blades or those of a competitor, and ankle fractures. Be sure to watch American superstar Apolo Anton Ohno!

Today's product is one of our most popular! Biofreeze (also known as "liquid crack" by patients) is a pair relief gel which provides an anti-inflammatory effect. It's perfect to rub on any area of pain, whether it be in your ankle after you take off the skates, or your neck, back, shoulder, knees...anywhere!

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Winter Olympics Contest Day #1: Opening Ceremonies

Today, over 5000 athletes and officials from over 80 countries are gathering in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Not as popular as the summer games, the winter games feature a multitude of sports played on ice and snow.

During the course of the winter games, I will highlight different sports and injuries related to the lower extremity. I'll also feature a product from my online doctor's store to give away. Because of the drying nature of cold weather, I think it's appropriate for our first featured product to be:

Gilden Tree Foot Creme which is a serious, but gentle foot cream that almost magically helps to heal and soften feet, Gilden Tree's Healing Foot Cream is extremely rich and gentle. Keep a jar on your bedside table and use it nightly for softer, healthier feet and legs. Made with a Certified Organic Aloe Vera base, instead of water. Thick, rich and very creamy, you'll love the way it feels and smells. It is remarkably healing - even on very dry, damaged skin, and always one of our best-selling products - try it and find out why.

To enter our contest, become a fan on Facebook!!! Drawing will be tonight at 9 pm Central

Do NOT Enter Our Winter Olympics Contest...

...you just might win!!

Each day of the Winter Olympics, beginning with Opening Ceremonies tonight through Closing Ceremonies on Sunday February 28, we will be choosing one of our Facebook fans to receive a FREE product from our online store. Become a fan by clicking the link at the bottom of this post, or visiting our Facebook page.

Tanglewood Foot Specialists

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2010 Winter Olympics and Athletes’ Foot Health

With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics quickly approaching, I start to think about all the amazing athletes that will be competing at these games. It is amazing the speed, agility and climate that these athletes perform under. I am not only amazed at the talent that the athletes at the winter Olympics possess but also how well they perform considering the impact they are putting on their feet.

When it comes to the winter Olympics the first thing that you have to remember is that these athletes are performing in cold conditions. Whenever it is cold outside your body attempts to keep itself warm by constricting the superficial blood vessels in the extremities to push more of that warm blood to your vital internal organs. This is why when it is cold outside you are more likely to get frostbite on your toes, fingers, ears and nose then any other area of your body.

Since winter sports are played in cold conditions athletes are forced to make sure they have thick socks on their feet to make sure that they stay as warm as possible. The problem is that many winter sports require athletes to wear shoes that are tight and awkward and do not always go well with thick bulky socks. For example, if you are a skier, then you know that you want to keep your feet warm in your ski boots but need to make sure that the socks will stay in place. All skiers know that if your socks develop a small wrinkle in them while you are skiing then you are in for some terrible blisters and even bruises on your feet and shins.

The last thing that amazes me about the winter Olympics is the way many of these sports put amazing amounts of pressure on athlete’s feet. Think about figure skating, downhill skiing or ski jumping. All of these winter sports take you from standing still to extremely high and dangerous speeds in just seconds. They also can thrust you into the air and require you to land on your feet in uncomfortable and unstable shoes. For this reason the winter games only allows the best of the best to compete because these games can be down right dangerous, leading to twisted ankles, broken feet, concussions and even death!

When you watch the winter Olympics this February keep in mind how much pressure and torque these athletes are putting on their feet while you are cheering them on and you will be even more amazed then ever before at how talented these athletes really are.

We are running a contest during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Beginning with the Opening Cereomony on Friday, February 12, we will be drawing one "fan" from our Facebook page to receive a high-quality foot health product from our online store. To enter, just become a fan on Facebook.

Join us now at www.facebook.com/HoustonPodiatrist

Are Your Legs the Same Length?

There are a few myths that seem to have become fact. One is that everyone has different length legs. True, it may not be exact to the fraction of inch (or millimeter), but from a "macro" perspective they should be pretty equal. Most people learn about a limb length difference when they get a pair of pants tailored. Either the tailor measures each leg and tells you about the discrepancy or, if you go to a bad tailor, they may measure one leg only and you notice the difference when you try the pants on.

Not every limb length difference is created equal. In my Houston, TX podiatry practice, I measure the limbs in two different ways. I take a measurement with my patient lying down. This measures the actual lengths of the bones, without any soft tissue involvement or input from such issues as scoliosis. This is known as the structural limb length. The second measurement is taken while standing and with input from all structures, called the functional limb length.

Pain and injury resulting from a limb length difference can present in a variety of ways. Most commonly, however, the pain is limited to one side. The location of the pain will differ. The pain can be experienced in the feet and ankles, knees, hips, or lower back. Because a difference in limb length will also affect the shoulders, symptoms can also be felt in the upper back and neck. No matter the location, the discomfort is an overuse of the muscles and soft tissue that are forced to work harder than usual. You see, when there is a limb length difference, the long limb will try and shorten itself by the foot pronating, while the short limb will try to make itself functionally longer by supinating. This causes an imbalance and the injury results.

Treating a limb length discrepancy is often simple as placing a lift under the short limb. This does not always completely resolve the issue. There are times where physical therapy is needed to rehabilitate the soft tissue. Other times, a custom orthotic may be needed to best control the abnormal motions.

Limb length issues are common and it never fails to surprise my patient when I inform them that they have the imbalance. If you have having any pain in your lower extremity, visit with your podiatrist to see just how quickly it can be resolved. We're here to keep you going!

Three Common Shoe Lacing Patterns For Runners

Running puts a lot of pressure on the feet that can really cause some wear and tear over time. Even if you think you have the perfect shoes for your feet you can still develop blisters and get sore feet after running long distances. The problem with many running shoe brands is that not all people with size 7 feet, for example, have feet that look alike. Many running shoes do not take into the account the width, girth and contour of the foot enough for a particular shoe size to fit an individual optimally. Although shoe manufactures have gotten better in the past decade with adding addition sizing options there are many runners out their who are wearing shoes that aren’t completely right for their foot type to allow them to reach maximal performance.

Since not all feet are born equal to fit a standard shoe size there are some ways to manipulate the lacing pattern to help correct for whatever your foot may need. Below are some common lacing patterns that can help make your feet more stable and comfortable while you run in order to help keep your feet pain-free during and after running.

1) Lock Lacing – This lacing technique is one of the most popular lacing methods used by runners. The top 2 holes on either side of the lace-box are used to make lopes with then the laces are threaded criss-cross over each other and thread underneath the loops (see picture below). This technique helps to prevent heel slippage in the shoe while running.


2) Pain on top of foot – If you have a specific area on the top of your foot that hurts or that gets irritated from rubbing on the top of your shoe while you run then considering the lacing pattern where you don’t criss-cross the lacing over the area that hurts. This will decrease pressure over this area while you run.


3) Narrow feet – If you have narrow feet and have a hard time finding shoes that don’t slip and feel to lose on you while you run then this lacing pattern is for you. The trick is to use eyelets that are set wider apart to allow you to pull the laces tighter together.


Using alternative lacing patterns to make the fit of your shoe more stable is a great trick to help keep your feet happy and healthy while you run. Although only 3 lacing patterns are noted here there are many other lacing patterns that can be used to help people with a wide variety of foot problems. You can always consult with a podiatrist who specializes in athletic patients because they usually will have further information, resources and even handouts to give to runners about lacing patterns.