Sports Medicine

Foot and ankle athletic injuries are very common. Diagnosis can be complicated and treatment options vary depending on the extent of your injury. I'm sure you have lots of questions about your particular injury, so click on your diagnosis (or best guess) below and explore the myriad of foot and ankle sports related injuries and their treatment plans. If your questions still haven't been answered, contact us or make an appointment for an evaluation. The sooner you treat your athetic injury, the faster you will return to the sports you love!

How Do I Know If I Need Orthotics?

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

Achilles Tendonitis

Peroneal Tendonitis

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis

Anterior Tibial Tendonitis

Ankle Sprains and Chronic Ankle Instability

Stress Fractures

Metatarsalgia (Ball of Foot Pain)

Morton's Neuroma (Pinched Nerve)

Shin Splints (Medial Stress Syndrome)

Knee Pain From Running

Back Pain From Running

Piriformis Syndrome (Pain in Butt)

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Blog for Sports Medicine

• NFL Having Record Injuries of Achilles Tendons Already!
• Buster Posey Busted His Ankle!
• Six Simple Exercises For Stronger Strides
• Should You Embrace Minimalist Shoes?
• Step Slowly into Minimalism
• Why Pool Running Doesn't Suck!
• Add a Night Splint to Alleviate Heel Pain
• New Innovation Rocks Chronic Heel Pain! EPAT is Here to Save Your Sole!
• To Stretch or Not To Stretch?

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Library for Sports Medicine:

• Sarcopenia, the Progressive Loss of Muscle Mass Due to Aging, is Preventable and Reversible!   
  Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass due to aging, is preventable and reversible with simple life-style changes.
• EPAT is a new technology available for chronic heel pain   
  Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) is a new technology for chronic heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and plantar fasciosis.
• Anterior Tibial Tendonitis: Front of My Ankle Pain   
  Anterior Tibial tendonitis is pain along the front of the ankle that travels down towards the top of the arch is often attributed to inflammation of the the anterior tibial tendon. This tendon’s main function is to help stabilize and pull your foot up off the ground when you walk. It is often easily seen if you pull your foot up towards your ankle then turn it towards your other foot.
• Got Tendonitis?   
  Tendonitis can be annoying and linger if not treated early. It can progress from a mere swelling to a full tear of the tendon which often requires surgery. Don’t let tendonitis keep you from doing what you want, come see us!
• Achilles Tendonitis and Tendonosis   
  Tendonitis results from overuse. Long-standing tendonitis becomes tendonosis (degeneration of the tendon) which is much harder to treat. With chronic, long term, sustained use, this tendon becomes strained. It also can become just as strained with whom we fondly refer to as the “weekend warriors”. Chronic Achilles tendonitis (tendonosis) results in degeneration and breakdown within the tendon and this, in turn, can lead to a partial tear or full rupture. Now that will put you out for more than a couple months! If you are experiencing a nagging pain or swelling to the Achilles tendon or the back of the heel, call or contact the office to have it evaluated. It is that simple.
• Running Shoe Recommendation List [PDF]   
  Runing shoe recommendation list by category. Help us help you pick the best running shoes for you. Choose your category, then brand, then shoe. Ask your podiatrist which shoe is right for you!
• Walking Program to Kick Start New Year's Resolution   
  Many of our patients, much like their estimated 75 million obese neighbors, are stuck in a never-ending, life-threatening cycle: Obesity aggravates the pain in their feet; sore feet make it almost impossible to exercise for weight loss; and without exercise, their weight continues to increase which puts them at risk for worsening of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other life threatening diseases.
• Running Really Does Lengthen Your Life!   
  A 20-year study has shown that running has profound health benefits, cutting the rate of early death by more than half. Researchers found that running slowed cardiovascular disease, cancer deaths, cognitive decline, and poor immunity. The runners experienced no more wear and tear to their joints than non-runners.
• Are You Wearing the Correct Shoe When Exercising?   
  Commonly I find myself having the same conversation with my patients and even my friends and family. We will be talking about exercising, or maybe sports that we play and someone will complain of their foot hurting. It might be arch pain, ball of foot pain, toe pain, tightness, or even just tired feet.
• Baby It's Cold Outside!   
  Yep – winter is upon most of the nation just in time for the holidays! Being in Texas, we tend to adjust for a day in the 20’s and back to 70 degrees the very next day. Just this morning, I elected(note the word elected) to run outside. The temperature was 19 degrees with a wind chill of four degrees. Taking deep breaths of air and smiling, I soon noticed I was the only person in my neighborhood that was outside.
• Marathoners and Their Feet   
  I am one of them and perhaps you are as well. Whether you have completed one or 100 marathons, it’s the one thing no one can ever take away from you – the title of a Marathoner. Marathoners know the work, dedication, sweat and sometimes blood spared in order to meet the challenge of completing a 26.2 mile race.
• Common Running Pains & Injuries   
  Even with the best preparation, aches and pains are an inevitable result of a new jogging regimen. If the pain subsides with slow easy exercise, you may continue, but if it gets worse, stop the activity and rest. If it persists, see your podiatrist.
• The Nike Free Running Shoe   
  Nike has developed a line of shoes called the Nike Free that has become very popular among long distance runners, track and field athletes, and football and basketball players. Nike Free is unique because it has a special design incorporating new technology that simulates barefoot running mechanics while still wearing shoes.
• Should You Change The Way You Run For Greater Speed?   
  In one study quoted all over the internet, it was found that long-distance runners were faster if they used forefoot or midfoot strike patterns. People were encouraged to speed up their running by changing the pattern of running. Newer studies have made these findings less clear...
• Dancing With The Stars: Another Foot Injury?   
  What doe this have to do with running? A lot, if the training before a race or before a dance performance is not done properly.
• Stress Fractures In Runners   
  A stress fracture is a small incomplete crack in a bone that is due to repeated stress in an area in the body. 95% of stress fractures develop in the lower extremity and account for 10% of all running injuries. Stress fractures are a common injury in runners because of the repeated motion that runners go through over thousands of steps.
• How Do I Begin to Train For My First Marathon?   
  Running a marathon requires both physical and mental strength, focus, commitment, and time. If you do take this step and make the commitment, you will find that completing a marathon could be one of the most satisfying experiences of your life.
• Sports Injuries   
  Sports injuries are not fun. Here are some common warning signs that you dont want to ignore.
• Here Comes Summer... Runners Beware   
  As the Houston summer quickly approaches, so do those long summer days with the scorching hot sun and humid conditions. If you are a runner this means that you are going to have to prepare yourself to bear the heat if you want to keep up the pace during the summer months. One of the most important aspects of running, no matter what time of year it is, is staying hydrated.
• Running Uphill Correctly   
  I was talking on Sunday with a runner who is training for the Wasatch Back Relay and has been running without difficulty for months. Recently she has been runnning hills and is trying a new hill running technique taught at the local Rec Center and has started having leg pain (shin splints). To help others avoid overuse injury while running hills, I will give my recommendations.

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Frequent Questions for Sports Medicine:

• What is the most common foot problem?
• Is carb loading before a marathon a good idea?
• Why do I get blisters from running and how do I prevent them?
• What is the "All-You-Can-Eat" diet?
• Why Retul Your Bike?
• I like to run for exercise. How often should I replace my running shoes?
• I sprained my ankle, how should I treat this?
• How Do I Know If I Need Orthotics?

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Videos about Sports Medicine:

• First Aid For Tendonitis
• Dr Crane speaks at "Step into Minimalism" Seminar at the Boston Marathon Part One
• Dr Marybeth Crane at the Boston Marathon Discusses Stepping into Minimalist Shoes Part Two
• Six Simple Exercise For Stronger Feet
• Top Ten Tips To Run Injury Free
• Ankle Sprains
• Got Heel Pain?
• Got Heel Pain?
• The Benefits of Functional Foot Orthotics
• Grapevine Podiatrist Explains Why You Need to Rest & Rehab