Often
times golf isn’t thought of as a sport that puts a substantial amount
of stress on the feet. Golf experts and medical clinicians alike
generally will agree that back and elbow injuries are much more common
in golfers. However, according to a Podiatry Today article
foot injuries may be more common than we realize. Often times golfers
will discredit golf as being the source of their heel or forefoot pain,
however, Dr. Phillip Ward breaks down the phases of the golf swing in
his article on Podiatry Today, and illustrates how substantial the feet
are in a proper golf swing. Upon his review of the proper swing it’s
evident how stress is evenly distributed throughout the body, and how
important the feet are in serving as a functioning platform providing
balance and power throughout the swing. In one study performed,
researchers found that orthotics have the potential to improve a golfers
balance, and actually allow them to drive the ball further.
If you are an avid golfer experiencing foot pain of any kind consider contacting one of Dr. Michael Garvin’s offices in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area. Dr. Garvin
is a golfer and understands the desire of his patients to get back to
feeling healthy so they can participate in the sport they love. Even if
pain isn’t overwhelming your golf game, Dr. Garvin may be able to add an advantage to your game by prescribing a pair of custom orthotics to balance out your swing and provide a more comfortable stance, and therefore swing.
Physical
Therapy (PT) may be one of the most underrated modalities in all of
medicine depending on the perspective taken. It focuses primarily on
quality of life and movement. This is an aspect of medicine that has
been addressed by many different professions, but never been made the
mainstay of their practice like it is for a physical therapist (PT).
Patients suffering from almost every disease can greatly benefit from
the treatment of a PT. Unlike doctors of other sorts (Physical
therapists now receive a doctoral degree), a physical therapist’s goal
is more than treating a disease when it manifests. Their goal is to
restore a patient's quality of life after and during their sickness. They
work with their patients on a daily basis to restore function and life
back to the areas that have been damaged or compromised due to disease
and injury. There is a role for a PT in almost every disease prevention
and management case that exists. Dr. Michael Garvin understands and utilizes this ideal in his daily practice. Dr. Garvin
as a practitioner not only wants to treat patients suffering from foot
and ankle conditions, but he wants to restore quality of life and
prevent further complications.
Peripheral Neuropathy
is a diseased state of the nerves in the peripheral nervous system; as
commonly seen in the extremities of patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus types 1 and 2. Peripheral neuropathy is not always caused by diabetes,
and in fact can be caused by a variety of other factors such as
autoimmune disorders (Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus), chronic kidney
disease, HIV infections, low levels of vitamin B12, an underactive
thyroid gland, and many different pharmaceutical drug classes. Peripheral neuropathy is often associated with diabetics though due to the rapidly increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the United States. Diabetes
is a blood sugar disorder that can compromise the vascular health of
the body, and predominantly in the feet, eyes and kidneys. Over time if
the disease is not properly treated and monitored, one of the ways it
manifests is through peripheral neuropathy.
Just like all tissues of the body, the nerves also need adequate blood
supply. When the peripheral nerves blood supply becomes poor due to diabetes, the nerves become damage and diseased.
The signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy often start with a tingling, itching and burning sensation in the feet and legs. If left untreated peripheral neuropathy
progresses and eventually will result in total loss of feeling in the
areas affected. This loss of sensation in the feet and legs can cause
abnormalities in an individuals gait, muscle weakness, dermatological
issues, and a whole host of other serious issues. If any of these
symptoms describe something you’re currently experiencing, or would like
to know more about please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for more information. He is a practicing Podiatrist in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area.
**This graphic illustrates the differences in vascularity of a treated diabetic foot, and a non-treated diabetic foot
