Sports Injuries

Here in Soldotna, AK, our podiatrist office sees many injuries of the feet and ankles, including sports injuries. Sports injuries can occur in many people, including students during practice or games, professional athletes during sporting events, or people who participate in fitness or sports as recreation.

 

Injuries of the feet and ankles are more common among athletes because they use these parts of their bodies so much, requiring the use of them for stability and movement and subjecting them to an overuse injury. It also makes it more important that they see us as soon as they notice signs of an injury.

 

Some of the more common sports injuries we see here in our podiatrist office include:

 

1. Hip stress fractures

2. Pulled hamstring

3. Shin splints

4. Achilles tendonitis

5. Sprains and strains

6. Arch pain

7. Plantar Fasciitis

8. Knee injuries

9. Swollen muscles

10. Shin bone pain

11. Fractures

12. Dislocations

 

As soon as our patients get an injury, we first encourage them to stop their sport or running activity, get rest, and schedule an appointment to be seen in our Soldotna, AK podiatrist office. The faster we can diagnose the problem, the sooner we treat it and enable our patients to get back to physical activities.

 

Contact podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler today to get help with your sports injuries.

Fun Facts/Common Foot Disorders

Did you know that there are a quarter of all the body bones just in your feet? There are 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 muscles in both of your feet alone. When you compare that to the rest of your body, it’s kind of astounding. Think about how all of those parts work together to just take one step, in fact, every time your heel lifts off the ground it forces the toes to carry one half of your body weight.

 

The Institute for Preventative Foot Health did a study that showed nearly 80 percent of people ages 21 and older have had at least one foot related problem in their life. The study was conducted in 2012 and surveyed 1,456 people. Here are the top-5 biggest foot problems of the participants:

1. Athlete’s foot – nearly 25% of the people in the study said they have experienced athlete’s foot at least once in their life
2. Achy feet – 26% of those surveyed said they have trouble with sore, achy feet. This usually occurs with age and is treatable through Podiatry
3. Calluses – 27% reported issues with calluses. Calluses occur on the sole of the feet and is usually caused by friction
4. Blisters – 28% noted problems with blisters. Blisters also form from friction but often occur more frequently and are more like a wound
5. Ankle sprain – 31% of participants reported problems with sprained ankles. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported that 25,000 Americans sprain an ankle every day

If you would like to read more about common foot problems, you can visit our website here. We have provided extensive information about common foot problems that are treated at Affiliated Ankle and Foot Care with Dr. Harry Cotler in Soldotna, AK.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s foot is one of the most common foot funguses in America. It is a very contagious condition that is often spread through walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces, it is mostly found in gym locker rooms. Some people are more likely than others to get athlete’s foot and there is really no explanation for this. It can be compared to the flu in that you can be a carrier of the fungus but not actually have symptoms. In these situations, the carrier can easily spread the fungus with no knowledge at all.

 

Traditionally, if you have athlete’s foot, the skin between your toes will burn and itch, the skin may peel and crack as well. There are three different types of athlete’s foot:

1. Toe-web infection – usually occurring between the fourth and fifth toes, the skin in this area will become scaly; it will also peel and crack.
2. Moccasin- type infection – your feet will become sore and the skin on the bottom of your foot can become thick and crack. In bad cases, the fungus will spread to the toenails, causing them to thicken, crumble or even fall out.
3. Vesicular type infection –a sudden outburst of fluid-filled blisters will break out under the skin. The blisters can appear anywhere on the feet. If it goes untreated, it can cause a bacterial infection.

Athlete’s foot is very treatable. Dr. Harry Cotler recommends treating the condition when you first see symptoms because the body can become vulnerable to other bacterial infections when large cracks occur in the skin. If you are experiencing any signs of athlete’s foot, schedule an appointment with Dr. Cotler today for effective treatment options. 

Common Foot Disorders

Did you know that there are a quarter of all the body bones just in your feet? There are 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 muscles in both of your feet alone. When you compare that to the rest of your body, it’s kind of astounding. Think about how all of those parts work together to just take one step, in fact, every time your heel lifts off the ground it forces the toes to carry one half of your body weight.

The Institute for Preventative Foot Health did a study that showed nearly 80 percent of people ages 21 and older have had at least one foot related problem in their life. The study was conducted in 2012 and surveyed 1,456 people. Here are the top-5 biggest foot problems of the participants:

1. Athlete’s foot – nearly 25% of the people in the study said they have experienced athlete’s foot at least once in their life
2. chy feet – 26% of those surveyed said they have trouble with sore, achy feet. This usually occurs with age and is treatable through Podiatry
3. Calluses – 27% reported issues with calluses. Calluses occur on the sole of the feet and is usually caused by friction
4. Blisters – 28% noted problems with blisters. Blisters also form from friction but often occur more frequently and are more like a wound
5. Ankle sprain – 31% of participants reported problems with sprained ankles. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported that 25,000 Americans sprain an ankle every day

If you would like to read more about common foot problems, you can visit our website here. We have provided extensive information about common foot problems that are treated at Affiliated Ankle and Foot Care with Dr. Harry Cotler in Soldotna, AK.

Soft tissue masses and tumors

Soft tissue masses and tumors

Soft tissue masses and tumors are diagnosed and treated here in our Affiliated Ankle and Foot Care office by our podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler. These masses or tumors are identified as thickening and hardening of one part of skin, typically found under the ball of the foot.

 

Soft tissue masses and tumors can be caused by friction and pressure on that particular area. Many people find that they get these types of tissue masses from the shoes they wear, or because they have hammertoes or bunions. While complications from soft tissue masses and tumors aren’t entirely common, they can occur without proper treatment.

 

Before treating these masses, we must first diagnose them. If you show any of the following symptoms, now is a good time to visit us for an examination:

• Rough, thick and hardening of the skin
• Soreness, pain or tenderness in the area
• Redness around the lump
• A raised, hardened lump on the foot or toes
• Flaky and dry skin

The type of mass and how long the patient has had it determines the best treatment plan. We offer custom orthotics and shoe inserts if these soft tissue masses are caused by lack of shoe support, and we can also tape the foot if there is too much pain and pressure.

 

Visit our podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler in Soldotna, AK to get started on your treatment for soft tissue masses and tumors.

Ankle Injuries

Ankle Injuries

Our Soldotna, AK podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler sees patients for a variety of reasons, but all having to do with skin conditions, injuries, or pain pertaining to the feet or ankles. As it is a very common type of injury, he often sees patients who have suffered ankle injuries. The ankles and feet support the entire body, so it is no surprise that they are so easily injured. The recommended type of treatment for ankle injuries often depends on the cause and severity of the injury, which can be assessed right here in our podiatrist office.

 

Ankle injuries can be caused by athletic sports or recreational activities, running and other fitness, or from labor-intensive jobs. Tripping or falling over can also cause an ankle injury.

Symptoms of ankle injuries include a red, warm ankle, swelling, bruising, limited range of motion, and/or pain. If you have any of these symptoms we recommend visiting our Soldotna, AK Affiliated Ankle and Foot Care office for an examination.

 

Some common treatment options for ankle injuries include icing and applying heat, putting on a cast or brace, or providing stretching exercises to help improve the range of motion of the ankle. We look for non-surgical treatments first, before recommending surgery. Surgery is usually only needed for severe ankle injuries.

 

Call us at 907-260-3668 to schedule a consultation with our podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler for your ankle injury. 

Soft tissue masses and tumors

Soft tissue masses and tumors

Soft tissue masses and tumors are diagnosed and treated here in our Affiliated Ankle and Foot Care office by our podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler. These masses or tumors are identified as thickening and hardening of one part of skin, typically found under the ball of the foot.

 

Soft tissue masses and tumors can be caused by friction and pressure on that particular area. Many people find that they get these types of tissue masses from the shoes they wear, or because they have hammertoes or bunions. While complications from soft tissue masses and tumors aren’t entirely common, they can occur without proper treatment.

 

Before treating these masses, we must first diagnose them. If you show any of the following symptoms, now is a good time to visit us for an examination:

• Rough, thick and hardening of the skin
• Soreness, pain or tenderness in the area
• Redness around the lump
• A raised, hardened lump on the foot or toes
• Flaky and dry skin

The type of mass and how long the patient has had it determines the best treatment plan. We offer custom orthotics and shoe inserts if these soft tissue masses are caused by lack of shoe support, and we can also tape the foot if there is too much pain and pressure.

 

Visit our podiatrist Dr. Harry Cotler in Soldotna, AK to get started on your treatment for soft tissue masses and tumors.