Shin splints is a bad term for a problem that is common in athletes, especially runners. The term just means ‘sore leg’ so it could be due to any one of many different problems, so as a term it should no longer be used. When the term is used, it is probably most often referring to the condition of medial tibial stress syndrome.
This problem is one of a stress reaction along the edge of the shin bone or tibia in the leg. Running is the most common cause of medial tibial stress syndrome. The symptoms can usually be palpated along the edge of the bone. Initially its typically not painful when running, but eventually it progresses to the stage that it i painful when running.
Typically the problem is one of the running technique and the runner can often benefit from a gait analysis and a running retraining program to change the way they run. Typically this will involve running with a wider base of gait.
Plantar fasciitis is a common clinical problem of the heel in athlete. This press release is about a new treatment that is undergoing testing:
MiMedx Concludes Enrollment for Phase 3 Plantar Fasciitis Trial
MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiMedx Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: MDXG) (“MiMedx” or “the Company”), an industry leader in advanced wound care and an emerging therapeutic biologics company, today announced the conclusion of enrollment for a Phase 3 study of plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the bottom of the foot that results in intense pain. This key clinical trial explores how placental science may address and treat musculoskeletal pain and function disorders. The study has met its timelines.
“Plantar fasciitis is an all-too-common, debilitating and painful foot condition that challenges both patients and clinicians. Several months to years of treatment may be required with conservative therapies before symptoms subside, and I believe plantar fasciitis represents a significant unmet patient need,” said Stuart Miller, M.D., Principal Investigator, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. “This is a landmark study that will help us advance the science and elevate the standard of care for millions of patients; I look forward to analyzing and publishing the data regarding treatment efficacy for this musculoskeletal condition. Our progress to date is all the more gratifying given the dampening effect of the pandemic on patient enrollment. This study is designed to provide statistically significant evidence of efficacy for this biologic treatment to reduce pain and improve function.”
More than two million people are treated for plantar fasciitis inflammation in the United States annually. In 10% of patients treated with traditional measures, the condition progresses to chronic plantar fasciitis-related pain – recovery from which is lengthy and recurrence of which is very common, with an estimated $284 million annual national economic burden. The current treatment algorithm aims to maintain arch shape, modify foot loading and/or improve shock absorbency of the heel through night splints and orthotics. While they may assist in reducing pain associated with plantar fasciitis, these treatments do not address the root cause of the condition, which is thought to be both degenerative and inflammatory.
Timothy R. Wright, MiMedx Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Given the variability of efficacy, cost, and potential side effects of available plantar fasciitis treatment options, additional evidence-based alternatives are needed urgently. As a pioneer in the development of placental tissue technology, following through on clinical research is part of our mission to improve patient outcomes. Using our placental science platform to address the unmet need posed by plantar fasciitis is just one of the critical ways that we are exploring its application to improve people’s lives. We look forward to sharing the results of this trial in 2021.”
About the MiMedx Plantar Fasciitis Trial This study is a Phase 3, prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of the micronized dehydrated Human Amnion Chorion Membrane (dHACM) injection as compared to saline placebo injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. The trial enrolled 276 patients between the ages of 21 and 79 years, with an investigator-confirmed diagnosis of plantar fasciitis for ≥ 1 month (30 days) and ≤ 18 months. Patients were required to have a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain scale of ≥ 45 mm at randomization and be receiving conservative treatment for ≥ 1 month (30 days), including any of the following modalities: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE); stretching exercises; NSAIDs or orthotics. The primary endpoints are change in VAS for Pain at 90 Days and incidence of related adverse events at 180 days, serious adverse events and unanticipated events during the first 12 months post-injection. Secondary endpoints include self-reported responses to the Foot Function Index – Revised (FFI-R) at 90 days.
[PRESSWIRE] 29 January, 2020 – UK — New research released today reveals that the average football fan in the United States, will eat a staggering 10,821 calories and 180 grams of saturated fat this Super Bowl Sunday.
7 in 10 football fans will overindulge this Super Bowl Sunday, with the average fan planning to eat food totaling 10,821 calories and 180 grams of saturated fat
Football fans are more likely to know the number of touchdowns or yards their quarterback has thrown this year, than their cholesterol figures
Less than half know that high cholesterol has no symptoms
New website reveals and ranks the healthiest States
The mind-boggling quantity is more than four and half times the recommended daily calorie intake – and equates to the same level of saturated fat a person should consume in a week.
The research comes from LetsGetChecked, a leading direct-to-consumer at-home health testing and insights company, which polled 1,000 Americans who plan to watch this Sunday’s Super Bowl. The average fan said that on game day, they plan to eat:
2.7 portions of hot wings
3.2 slices of pizza
2.1 portions of fries
3.4 bags of chips
1.9 portions of chilli
2.4 burgers
1.7 sliders
2 hot dogs
2.7 portions of nachos
3 pieces of fried chicken
1.8 ribs
1.7 sausages
1.6 slices of cake
1.8 brownies
1.8 bowls of ice cream
2.3 portions of salad
2.1 subs
1.7 bags of sweets
1.9 bars of chocolate
The huge amount of food can be partly accounted for by seven in ten (69 per cent) football fans saying they plan to overindulge on game day.
The figures are concerning, with health experts calling the consumption of food at this level, on any kind of regular basis, dangerous.
Dr Robert Mordkin, Chief Medical Officer for LetsGetChecked said: “Binge eating to this extent for any prolonged period of time can lead to a variety of health related issues such as weight gain and hypertension. Both of these diagnoses are often seen in patients who have high cholesterol levels.”
The startling statistics show that many football fans have a far better knowledge of their team’s playing statistics than their own health statistics.
Some 40 per cent of those who consider themselves to be football fans can accurately recall how many yards their quarter back has thrown this year; 45 per cent know how many touchdowns they have thrown, and 38 per cent know how many yards their running back has rushed on average.
In contrast, just 36 per cent of Americans know what their own cholesterol level is.
The survey also revealed that most Americans do not have a grasp on the amount of saturated fat that exists within classic Super Bowl snacks.
Highlighting the lack of insight, the average football fan believes there are 6.4 grams of saturated fat in a burger, when in fact, there is on average 15. Additionally, respondents believe there to be 6.5 grams of saturated fat in a sausage, when the actual amount is 10.
In total, a quarter (25 per cent) of football fans, have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. However, the figures could be far higher, as more than a fifth (21 per cent) have never been tested. This may be due to widespread misconceptions around symptoms of high cholesterol.
For example, a quarter of respondents (25 per cent) think that gaining weight is a symptom of high cholesterol, whilst 18 per cent believe shortness of breath is.
In addition, 15 per cent believe light-headedness and chest pain could be symptoms of a high-cholesterol. However, the reality is that there are no symptoms – something just 43 per cent of Americans know.
The advice from the National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute stipulates that men aged 45-65 and women aged 55-65, should have their cholesterol checked every one to two years. Both bodies recommend adults aged between 20 and 45 years of age should have their cholesterol checked every five years, while screening for children should start between nine and 11 repeated every five years – more frequent if there is a family history of the condition.
Dr Robert Mordkin, Chief Medical Officer for LetsGetChecked said: “First things first; we don’t want to make footballs fans feel guilty about a little overindulgence on Super Bowl Sunday. But the amount of food many fans plan to put away, is quite staggering and I would ask people to question if they need to be eating quite so much. It becomes a problem when the occasional overindulgence becomes a regular occurrence.
He continued: “The research shows that there are Americans that are currently in the dark about their cholesterol levels – in fact, more can recall complex player and team stats, than they can their own cholesterol level. High cholesterol is linked to various serious, sometimes fatal conditions such as heart attack and stroke. I encourage those that don’t know their cholesterol numbers to take control of their health and get screened. Knowledge is power and it’s only through knowing that we can really hope to take control of our health.”
The data forms part of an ongoing study that LetsGetChecked has been conducting into the way health varies from state-to-state. A new website launched today, allows users to compare, based on eight different health factors, which States are the healthiest.
Corns and calluses are due to too much pressure on an area of the foot. They are common in the general population and can be more common in those who play sports as the pressures on the feet are higher. If the pressure is more diffuse, then that typically causes a callus. If the pressure is more focused on a smaller area, then that typically causes a corn.
The too much pressure might come from the shoes if there is a foot deformity present. That deformity may be a bunion, hallux valgus or a hammer toe. If the pressure is higher under the ball of the foot, then that may be due to a prominent metatarsal head and result in a callus.
The only way to get rid of a corn or callus permanently is to remove the causes. A good podiatrist can easily remove the thickened skin of the corn and callus and this will give pain relief. However, they will come back unless the cause is removed.
There is a popular my that corns have roots that they grow back from if that root is not properly removed. They do not have roots. If a corn is removed properly by a podiatrist it will come back becasue the cause of the corn (the high pressure) is still there, not becasue there was a root that was left there by the podiatrist.
It may be that surgery, for example to fix something like a hammer toe, may be needed to remove the cause. A callus under the foot could be treated with a insole that remove pressure of the areas of higher pressure.
If you have a problem with a corn or callus, then see a podiatrist as to the best options to remove the cause so that it is no longer a problem.
There is an abundance of good information on bunions online, so there is no point going over all that information again.
The running shoes that are best if you have bunions are those that are wider in the forefoot to accommodate the bunion. The most typical running shoes that are made on a wider last is often not wide enough. You could try on the wider last models of each of the brands to see how they feel on you in the store. There is really only one brand that is any good here and they are the Altra running shoes. They are very wide in the forefoot compared to other brands and they have the width to accommodate the enlarged joint that is associated with the bunion. If you have a bunion, then try a pair in a running shoe store to see if they are for you.
The Altra Footshape Toe box can accommodate bunions
What else could you do if you have bunions?
The only way to get rid of bunion is with surgery, however, there are other options to help with the symptoms. What is important is to keep the joint supple and flexible with exercises as it does have a tendency to become stiffer or more rigid. A bunion corrector can also be used to help with that somewhat. If you can not get the shoes right, then there are pads chapped like donuts that can be worn to keep the pressure off the joint.
