Golfers: Don't be handicapped with foot pain Boston foot and ankle surgeon shares advice

KINGSTON, Mass. - June 11, 2013 - PRLog -- Although golf is not considered a rigorous sport, the physical act of repeatedly swinging a golf club in practice and on the links can lead to a condition known as hallux limitus, a jamming and deterioration of the big toe joint.

According to Jordana Szpiro, DPM, FACFAS, the movement and weight transfer that occur during the swing’s follow through can cause this problem and other chronic foot ailments. Dr. Szpiro is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with an office in Boston.

“When golfers follow through on their swing, they can overextend the big toe joint on the back foot,” says Szpiro. “Those who have played the game avidly for several years eventually can wear out the cartilage or jam the big toe joint. The likely outcome, if left untreated, is painful arthritis in the big toe, which would make it very difficult to continue playing golf.”

Golfers who have pain and swelling around the big toe joint or have less mobility in this area than other parts of the foot should visit a foot and ankle surgeon for an examination and appropriate treatment. A history of trauma to the big toe area and bone structure also can precipitate the condition. Individuals with a long first metatarsal bone (big toe), for example, are more susceptible to joint compression and hallux limitus.

“If golfers experience pain in the big toe area when playing, they should consider it a warning sign that intervention is necessary before the joint becomes arthritic,” says Dr. Szpiro. “In most situations, orthotics can be prescribed to provide relief, but others with advanced cases may require surgery.”

Another foot problem that is common in golfers is a neuroma or pinched nerve at the bottom of the foot. The weight transfer to the front foot that occurs in the follow through applies pressure that, over time, can cause a pinched nerve.

Dr. Szpiro also advises golfers not to wear shoes that have a spike located directly beneath the ball of the foot.

“The pressure from that single spike, magnified by the several thousand steps taken during an average round, can cause intense pain and swelling in the ball of the foot,” she says.

Dr. Szpiro says any pair of golf shoes can be made more foot friendly without sacrificing traction by removing the poorly located spikes.

For more information on foot conditions that affect athletes, contact Dr. Szpiro's office at 617-262-2266, or visit www.bostoncommonpodiatry.com or the ACFAS consumer Web site, FootHealthFacts.org.

About Boston Common Podiatry

Boston Common Podiatry specializes in the treatment of foot conditions including pain, fractures and sports-related injuries; complicated foot conditions caused by diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease; pediatric podiatry and molded orthotics. From athletes and dancers to marathon runners and high-heeled fashionistas to seniors and children, the renowned Boston Common Podiatry cares for patients from the greater Boston and Cape Cod areas.

The practice's physicians are affiliated with Partner’s Healthcare, Mt. Auburn Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Cambridge Health Alliance, and Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford. The office is handicapped accessible and they offer convenient, on-site x-ray services.

Boston Common Podiatry is one of the few practices in the area offering two of the newest, most advanced treatments: Keryflex, which is a new and innovative solution to fungal or dystrophic nails and the innovative GenesisPlus Nd:YAG laser by Cutera, the most powerful FDA-cleared laser for the treatment of warts, fungus, scars and thermal resurfacing. Boston Common Podiatry is located at 264 Beacon Street, Second Floor, Boston, MA. For more information contact 617-262-2266 or visit bostoncommonpodiatry.com.