The Foot in Running.
Injuries to the foot and ankle are often encountered in runners, be they highlevel competitors or recreational joggers. Many of these injuries are due to overuse syndromes and training errors; others are related to the running surface or the athlete's footwear. Only with a rational approach to diagnosis can the primary underlying cause be identified so that appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Conservative measures, which include rest, cross-training, orthotic changes, and altering training methods, are often curative. Surgery is usually indicated only after conservative measures have been exhausted. Careful preoperative planning is needed to minimize dissection, thereby optimizing the chance of a return to the preinjury activity level. Preoperative counseling of the patient is also important, so that expectations about the outcome and the rehabilitation requirements are realistic.
Baxter
DE
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.
Zingas
C