Page 20 - Leisure Living Spring 2016

Spring Is So Near
Spring is so near I can hear it..........
The chirping tree frogs and the songs of the birds;
Music too sweet to put into words
Spring is so near I can feel it..........
The warmth of the sun as it touches my face.
The soft, Southern breeze; a loving embrace.
Spring is so near I can see it..........
The first sign of buds bursting forth on the trees,
And the flowers that bow to the soft, Southern breeze.
Spring is so near I can smell it..........
ThThe smell of cut grass and the scent of the
earth.
Refreshing, renewing, reviving, rebirth!
Yes, spring is so near and our senses awaken.
The long, cold winter is now overtaken
By all the wonders that are gifts from above, Reminding us Spring is a sign of God’s love.
Pam Schraidt January 5, 2016
Tendonitis
Continued from page 19
Achilles tendon. If the Achilles tendon is too tight, the ankle will not flex past a 90 degree angle with the leg. Often this tightness is painful and simple squeezing of the calf muscle can cause a lot of pain. Over time, if untreated, Achilles inflamma- tion, or swelling, actually causes a wearing of the tendon covering and later begins to weaken the tendon fibers much like a shoe string wears thin and before it breaks. This causes weakness, pain and difficulty walking. Left untreated this condi- tion slowly worsens over time until one day the tendon may just snap.
You can avoid Achilles tendonitis by warming up your calf muscles by stretching before and af- ter heavy weight bearing or athletic activity. An aggressive stretching program is the best defense against injury and muscle strain. For those who already suffer from Achilles tendonitis, using over-the-counter anti inflammatory agents the day before and a couple days after athletics can be of good benefit. Ankle wraps can help prevent swelling and support the tendon and are especial- ly useful when on uneven surfaces such as grass or sand.
People who suffer from Achilles tendonitis of- ten have other deformities within the leg, foot and ankle such as flat foot, an abnormal position of the heel (which causes tension in the Achilles ten- don), ankle joint arthritis, and heel spurs. In many patients, correcting these conditions with the ben- efit of supportive athletic shoes or prescription or- thotic devices (shoe inserts) will reduce pressure and irritation within the Achilles tendon.
For specifics on stretching programs and other therapy, talk to your foot and ankle specialist. One visit to a specialist can be the ounce of prevention that gives you a pound of cure.
Molly S. Judge DPM, FACFAS completed a three year surgical residency program in major recon- structive surgery for the leg, foot and ankle. She is a Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon with offices in Toledo and Port Clinton. Her practice fo- cuses on hard-to-manage cases of pain and defor- mity of the legs, ankles and feet and consultations for reconstructive surgery. She is the Official Foot and Ankle Physician for The Marathon LPGA in Toledo,Ohio.
20 |LeisureLiving Spring 2016
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