
Q - When I begin distance running of any length I develop bruises on my toes. It is a chronic situation and quite painful. I also will lose my toe nail on my large toe. Is there a way to prevent this from occurring?
Christine: One sure fired way is to prevent the foot from slipping forward while in the shoe. A smaller toe box can do it and/or a less slippery sock may help.If that doesn’t work try toe gel caps and Vaseline petroleum jelly as a start. Lastly, visit your podiatrist to check to see if there is anything else going on that causes bruising due to your biomechanics when running. (Thanks Dr. Kaplan!)
Christine: One sure fired way is to prevent the foot from slipping forward while in the shoe. A smaller toe box can do it and/or a less slippery sock may help.If that doesn’t work try toe gel caps and Vaseline petroleum jelly as a start. Lastly, visit your podiatrist to check to see if there is anything else going on that causes bruising due to your biomechanics when running. (Thanks Dr. Kaplan!)
Q - Do you put your running shoes in the washing chine?
Christy NO. it wears the EVA...rubber parts off, takes away the resilient material that gives you cushion, and in a heartbeat; subtracts the quality of the structure of the shoe. Rather, scrub top of shoe with a brush; if wet, put newspaper inside and a fan on it. Let it dry. Do not put into the sun at any time; sun is a weathering experience for rubber; oil based materials and fabric.
Q – The area of my glute, specifically the piriformis continues to hurt despite stretching and continual massage. What is the cause and the solution?
Lew A – The piriformis syndrome as it becomes to be called is also known as the wallet
syndrome because of the location of where it hurts. The continuous overtraining overworks the gluteus maximus muscles of the buttocks. This muscle rotates the leg outwards and if it is overused the muscle shortens and weakens to a point of putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing eventual pain or numbness down the leg or in the hip.
Stretch and strengthen the piriformis muscle by lying on your back, bending both knees and cross one leg, the right, over the left leg so that your right ankle rests of your left knee….gently bring the right leg toward the chest by hugging the knee and bringing toward the chest. Repeat with the other leg/side. This should be repeated 3 x per day. Further, strengthening the hip flexor area will greatly reduce this common athletic injury.
Christy NO. it wears the EVA...rubber parts off, takes away the resilient material that gives you cushion, and in a heartbeat; subtracts the quality of the structure of the shoe. Rather, scrub top of shoe with a brush; if wet, put newspaper inside and a fan on it. Let it dry. Do not put into the sun at any time; sun is a weathering experience for rubber; oil based materials and fabric.
Q – The area of my glute, specifically the piriformis continues to hurt despite stretching and continual massage. What is the cause and the solution?
Lew A – The piriformis syndrome as it becomes to be called is also known as the wallet
syndrome because of the location of where it hurts. The continuous overtraining overworks the gluteus maximus muscles of the buttocks. This muscle rotates the leg outwards and if it is overused the muscle shortens and weakens to a point of putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing eventual pain or numbness down the leg or in the hip.
Stretch and strengthen the piriformis muscle by lying on your back, bending both knees and cross one leg, the right, over the left leg so that your right ankle rests of your left knee….gently bring the right leg toward the chest by hugging the knee and bringing toward the chest. Repeat with the other leg/side. This should be repeated 3 x per day. Further, strengthening the hip flexor area will greatly reduce this common athletic injury.