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Foot and Ankle Center of Northern Colorado
1931 65th Ave. #A
Greeley, CO 80634
970-351-0900 |
Dr Vaardahl
will be taking over the directorship of residency training in podiatry at
North Colorado Medical Center in February. This program was started by Dr
Hatch and his colleagues six years ago. The program has achieved national
recognition as one of the finest training programs in the country.
Dr Hatch
will become president of the American College of Foot and Ankle
Surgeons(ACFAS) in March. He will officially assume the position during the
college’s annual meeting in Orlando. ACFAS is a professional organization
representing over 6000 board certified foot and ankle surgeons for the
purpose of scientific advancement.
Danyelle McCannon is the Foot and Ankle Center’s new office manager after
Betty Bothel’s retirement in December. Many thanks and congratulations to
Betty for her years of service.
Welcome to Cheri, Dr Vaardhal’s new medical assistant.
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Click on the “OurDoctorStore”
icon. This site features many competitively priced products that can be
shipped conveniently to your home. |
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Balancing Act: The Wrong Winter Boot
Could Lead to Ankle, Foot Injuries |
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Ladies, listen up! This winter’s fashionable high-heeled
boots put you at risk for slips, falls, and injuries on ice and snow.
The season’s popular women’s boots typically feature tall, spiked heels
and narrow, pointed toes. These boots can make your feet unstable on
snow- and ice-covered surfaces.
A stylish low-heeled winter boot is a lot more fashionable than a cast
and crutches. We recommend women scuff-up the soles of new boots, or
purchase adhesive rubber soles, to provide greater traction.
Falls from high-heeled winter boots can lead to a number of injuries,
depending on how you lose your balance. If your ankles roll inward or
outward, you can break your ankles. If your ankle twists, ligaments can
be stretched or torn, causing an ankle
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sprain. Broken and sprained ankles can be present at the
same time. Slipping or falling in these boots can also cause broken toe,
metatarsal and heel bones.
If you do get hurt, call our office for prompt evaluation and treatment.
In the meantime, the “R.I.C.E.” method should be followed. This
involves:
Rest. It is crucial to stay off the injured foot,
since walking can cause further damage.
Ice. To reduce swelling and pain, apply a bag of ice over a thin
towel to the affected area for 20 minutes of each waking hour. Do not
put ice directly against the skin.
Compression. Wrap the ankle in an elastic bandage or wear a
compression stocking to prevent further swelling. |
Elevation. Keep the foot elevated to reduce the
swelling. It should be even with or slightly above the hip level.
Delaying treatment can result in long-term complications such as chronic
ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity. Even if you’re able
to walk on the injured foot, the pain, swelling, or bruising may
indicate a serious injury.
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Athletes: Beware of Winter
Tendon Injuries |
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During the winter months, many athletes move indoors to
play basketball, volleyball, and even tennis and soccer. But sports that
involve repetitive ankle motion could put you at risk for peroneal
tendon injuries.
What’s a peroneal tendon? Each foot has two. They run side-by-side
behind the outer ankle bone. Their main function is to stabilize the
foot and ankle and protect them from sprains. If you’re noticing pain,
swelling, weakness or instability in your ankles after playing indoor
sports, call our office. |
There are three basic types of peroneal tendon injuries:
Tendonitis is an inflammation of one or both tendons
Acute tears are caused by repetitive activity or trauma.
Degenerative tears (tendonosis) are usually due to overuse
and occur over long periods of time—often years.
Treatment depends on the type of injury and can include immobilization,
medications, physical therapy, bracing, and surgery.
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Seniors: Painful Feet Contribute to Falls |
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Painful foot conditions put senior citizens at risk for
dangerous, even deadly falls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recently announced that falls have become the leading cause of injury deaths
for seniors. The latest statistics reveal more than 13,700 older adults a
year die from falls.
You are vulnerable to falls if you have lower body weakness or problems with
walking and balance. Arthritis, corns, bunions, hammertoes and other painful
foot ailments can be contributing factors.
Just one fall can permanently rob an older adult of his or her independence
and quality of life. If you’re an older adult |
who suffers from foot pain or other conditions that affect
your balance and stability, call our office for an examination. Many times,
simple, effective measures such as stretching exercises or padding for
painful corns and hammertoes can reduce or eliminate your foot pain. When
surgery is the most appropriate treatment for a senior’s painful feet,
advances in modern surgical techniques often allow treatment to be performed
on an outpatient basis.
Research shows that seniors who have fallen before or who stumble frequently
are two to three times more likely to fall within the next year. Don’t let
your painful feet put you at risk for a fall!
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Tips to Avoid Winter Ankle Injuries |
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• Keep areas around outside doorways well-lit so icy
patches are visible
• Wear shoes or boots with a traction sole that can prevent slipping |
• Check for slippery spots before getting out of a car
or walking on stairs
• Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes outdoors |
• Stretch and warm up before outdoor and indoor
physical activities |
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