May is Arthritis Awareness Month and a time for us to share some statistics about Arthritis to help raise awareness, as well as shed some light on the most common form of arthritis Osteoarthritis (OA), which affects millions of people globally. Some folks call it "wear and tear" arthritis or degenerative joint disease. With OA, the cartilage in a joint starts to break down, and the underlying bone begins to change. These changes usually happen slowly and get worse over time.

If your child is not participating in sports or other physical activities, the reason could be that they are suffering from pain due to a foot, ankle, or secondary condition. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month designed to promote the importance of physical activity, physical fitness, and sports participation.

May is Posture Awareness Month and a great reminder of the importance of good posture when it comes to having a balanced structure. Conversely, poor posture can result in misalignment which can cause lower body pain, starting at your feet.

It is because your feet are the foundation of your body, that they take a literal pounding……. day in and day out. What most people don’t realize is that of the 206 bones that make up the human body, 52 of them are found in the feet (26 in each foot). And, to support all of those bones, did you know that there are also over one hundred ligaments and approximately thirty muscles and tendons involved in the movement of your feet?

Growing pains are a myth. Although some pediatricians may say that they will go away, the truth is that “growing pains” are the result of real conditions that need to be treated. The most common conditions that are mislabeled as “growing pains” are shin splints or flatfeet, both of which can easily be corrected and treated with custom orthotics.

Pickleball has increased in popularity, and because of that, injuries related to this sport are on the rise. Pickleball is played on a small court with paddles and a perforated plastic ball. It calls for a lot of stop-and-start motions and bursts of energy. This increases the risk of injuries like ankle sprains, falls, and Achilles tendon strains.

After you warm up, your muscles are pliable and ready to be stretched. Since flexible muscles can withstand the strain of vigorous exercise better than tight ones, stretching before running or exercising can prevent muscle fatigue and spasms and help to reduce the risk of injuries.

Dr. Lee S Cohen, Dr. Lee S. Cohen and Associates was recently recognized as Top Podiatrist and Top Sports Medicine Specialist for his meaningful contributions to his profession and his patients by Find a Top Doc, Inc. and is looking forward to being featured in the corresponding print magazine hitting the streets this coming June.

Achilles tendonitis occurs in nearly 8-10% of all athletes. Although it is most associated with runners or running, Achilles tendonitis is common among participants and players across many sports and activities including dancing, tennis, racquetball, basketball, soccer, and many more.

Our signature custom-made orthotics, aka Every Foot and Ankle’s Secret Weapon, are medical shoe inserts that support and gently reposition the heel, arch, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones in the feet. Orthotics enable the structures in the foot to work together as nature intended, making each step pain-free.