Foot Pain Ruining Your Golf Swing?

[Guest guest]

Foot Pain Ruining Your Golf Swing?

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63511

The barrier to a perfect golf swing could lie in your big toe. Or

your heel. Or on the ball of your foot. Experts with the American

College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) say these are the three

areas of your feet most likely to cause pain that can ruin your golf

swing.

Behind these pain-prone spots can lie stiff joints, stretched-out

tissues and even nerve damage. But pain relief is possible and

frequently does not require surgery.

The three most common painful foot conditions that can ruin your

golf swing are heel pain, arthritis and pinched nerves.

-- Arthritis can cause pain in the joint of your big toe that makes

it difficult to follow-through on your golf swing.

-- Heel pain typically results from an inflammation of the band of

tissue that extends from your heel to the ball of your foot. People

with this condition compare the pain to someone jabbing a knife in

their heel. Heel pain can make it uncomfortable for golfers to

maintain a solid stance during crucial portions of their golf swing.

-- Neuromas, according to FootPhysicians.com, are nerves that become

thickened, enlarged and painful because they've been compressed or

irritated. A neuroma in the ball of your foot can cause significant

pain as your body transfers its weight from one foot to the other in

a golf swing.

Several other painful conditions can also make the perfect swing

difficult. Ankle arthritis or ankle instability can affect the

proper weight shift during the golf swing. Some athletes and former

athletes develop chronic ankle instability from previous ankle

sprains that failed to heal properly. Achilles tendonitis can also

contribute to balance-threatening instability during your golf

swing. Ill-fitting golf shoes may cause corns and calluses that make

standing uncomfortable.

For the majority of golfers and other patients, treatments are

simple and involve custom orthotic devices (shoe inserts),

stretching exercises, changes to your shoes, medications, braces or

steroid injections and physical therapy, depending on the condition

and its severity. However, if these conservative measures fail to

provide adequate relief, surgery may be required.

" Foot pain is not normal. With the treatment options available to

your foot and ankle surgeon, a pain-free golf swing is clearly in

view, " says J. Hatch, DPM, FACFAS, president-elect of the

ACFAS. " When your feet aren't in top condition, your golf swing

won't be either. "

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a

professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons.

Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and

provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical

specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and

conditions of the foot and ankle through its consumer website,

http://www.footphysicians.com.

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

http://www.footphysicians.com