Doc On The Run Podcast

Is it a big deal if I run with a partially torn plantar fascia?

One of the problems with the plantar fascia is that you may think you have plantar fasciitis, but eventually you find out that it was not really fasciitis at all.

It's actually a partially torn plantar fascia ligament. That can be a problem since it is the largest ligament in your foot.

When somebody says:

“Can I run with a small tear in the plantar fascia?”

I say that depends.

Is it a big deal if I run with a torn plantar fascia? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Every run is test run after healing an injury (DAY 2)

When you have a running injury and you know what your goal is you are halfway there. But if you're trying to get back to running, you've really got to do three things.

You have to start moving, not make the injury anything worse, and you've got to get fit as fast as possible.

Every day is a test run after you've healed a running injury.

That's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

How can gout lead to hallux rigidus?

One of the problems with being a runner is that you have a higher pain threshold. 

If you have a minor attack of gout, it may not bother you as much as it would other people and what Gout is, is that you get painful crystals forming within a joint like the big toe joint.

If you have what we call sub-acute gout, meaning it's not really killing you, it's just kind of a minor thing that's building up gradually, then the condition might actually sort of fly under the radar. 

You might be gradually building up crystals in the joint that you're not really aware of at all. 

How can gout lead to hallux rigidus? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Find the gaps between you and running (DAY 1)

A runner called me to follow up and asked:

"I've been doing the routine that we discussed during our first call and I've got no pain, I’ve got no tenderness. How can I tell if I'm really ready to run now without hurting it?”

You have to realize that if you run and you are weak and unstable, you are at higher risk. Those gaps in recovery create unnecessary risk.

You have to figure the pieces you haven't really considered that could put you at risk of re-injury.

Find the gaps between where you are and your running. 

That's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

When does a pregnant runner need orthotics?

Your doctor might recommend custom orthotics if you're an athlete, and you happen to be pregnant. 

When you get pregnant, you have lots of hormones going through your systems that can cause ligamentous laxity. 

The reason that's a problem if you're a runner is that you have rapid weight gain during pregnancy. That weight combined with additional relaxation in your feet can accentuate mild foot problems and even cause deformities that persist later after the pregnancy is over with. 

When does a pregnant runner need custom orthotics? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

How to use Yasso 800s to test marathon readiness after injury

Today we're talking about the Yasso 800's developed by a guy named Bart Yasso. 

I was lucky enough to meet him after he gave a talk before the Salt Lake City marathon back when I was in residency about 20 years ago.

In any event, this workout is a useful way to analyze your fitness and determine your marathon pace. Yasso 800's can be really helpful to an injured runner who's returning to running when trying to figure out how fast you should run your post-injury marathon. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we're talking about how to use the Yasso 800s to test your marathon fitness after you've recovered from a running injury.

Can my doctor tell if I need peroneal tendon surgery by looking at my ankle?

Today's episode comes from one of the YouTube viewers who was watching a video called "Can I run with a split peroneal tendon?"

I was trying to explain the circumstances when you can run with a split tendon, and when you really shouldn't. 

He wanted to know if his doctor could tell whether or not he needed surgery just by looking at his ankle. 

“The MRI tells me I have a split tear. So, presumably as a tear in the peroneal tendon, but I don't know which one."

Can my doctor tell me if I need surgery on my peroneal tendon just by looking at my ankle? 

Well, that's a great question and that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

How big toe position can help sesamoid stress fracture or bipartite sprain

This episode comes from a consultation call on webcam with a runner with a sesamoid stress fracture. 

Interestingly, his doctor wasn't even sure what it was, if it was really a crack in the bone that wasn't healing, or if it was what I call a "sprain" of the bipartite sesamoid. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we're talking about how big toe positioning can actually help a medial tibial sesamoid stress fracture or bipartite sesamoid disruption. 

Injured 5 weeks out from half marathon. Is there hope?

Today's episode comes from Benda, who was watching a video called "12 steps to healing and running with a metatarsal stress fracture" on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel. 

She asked a question, 

“I'm so confused. I don't have a stress fracture. It was an acute injury. I have a half marathon in early December. Is there hope for me?”

I got injured five weeks out from my half marathon. Is there hope? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

What does a fracture walking boot do?

I recently got a comment from Michael on a video on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel which was about how fracture walking boots are one of the worst treatments for an injured runner. 

He posted an interesting comment which is really a valid question. He said, 

“What is the boot for? Is it for protection? Is it for immobilization? Is it to keep weight off?"

What does a fracture walking boot actually do? 

Well, that's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.