Five Items Every Runner Should Have On Their Holiday Wish List
The holiday season is here yet again. With only a few weeks left before all the holiday madness begins it is time to start thinking about what to put on your holiday wish list for this year. If you are a runner or maybe just someone who will want to run off the extra holiday pounds below are 5 items that everyone will want to have on their list this year.1) A new pair of running shoes - Let’s face it, running shoes tend to be one of those things many people push off replacing. Whether you are busy preparing for the holidays or if you are just really partial to one pair of running shoes, a new pair of shoes can really help to keep your feet and body injury free. Although expert

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. Stress fractures commonly occur in runners when they have too many miles on their shoes, change the surface they run on, or change the intensity level of their workout. The symptoms of a stress fracture are tenderness over a localized area, pain when you put weight on the affected limb, and slight swelling around the area. Runners who are most p

What You Need To Know About the Female Athlete Triad
At one time, not too long in the past, it was considered social unacceptable for women to participate in sports. Society use to view women as weak and fragile beings that were discourage from participation in sports because the female athlete simply did not fit their view of a typical women. Although in some areas of the world women's participation in sports is still frowned upon, most modern countries now encourage and celebrate women in sports. The problem with women in sports today is that, although it is now acceptable for women to participate in sports, there are also expectations as to what a female athlete should look like. For example, gymnastics, ballet, cross country,

How Many Pair of Orthotics are Necessary?
I occasionally have new patients come into the office after visiting an "orthotic store" with three or four pair of off-the-shelf insoles. These unscrupulous stores prey on the emotions of people who are in pain. These victims drop over $1000 on insoles that may provide temporary relief, but ultimately don't help them. What's worse, they could buy similar products from a late-night infomercial for $39.99...and they'll DOUBLE your order!When that patient comes in to see me, they're dismayed that they can get a biomechanically corrective custom orthotic for LESS than what they already shelled out...with better results. They were told that they needed a differe

It's Getting Cold...Protect Your Feet When You Run!
The weather is starting to get cold. Even here in Houston, TX, we have days with cold weather and, yes, some freezing conditions. Don't just assume it is business as usual! Although this weather forces many runners indoors onto tracks and treadmills, some prefer to remain outdoors.There is nothing wrong with running in cold conditions but if you do you must make sure you take the proper precautions to take care of your feet. Her