Los Gatos Foot and Ankle

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During yesterday's semi-final match at the US Open, Serena Williams sustained a strain to her achilles tendon. Due to the sudden stopping and pivoting involved in playing tennis, the achilles tendon and calf muscles are vulnerable for injury. Here is a nice overview of what may be called "Tennis Calf" Strained Tendon Acute Tendonitis Chronic Tendonitis Achilles Tendonosis Achilles Tenosynovitis Achilles Tendon Rupture Midpoint and Insertional Achilles Tendonitis Achilles Bursitis Haglunds Syndrome Tennis Leg - Calf Muscle Injury/Strain Plantaris strain or rupture More Facts About Achilles Tendonitis: The Achilles tendon does not have a rich blood supply. Blood supply is weakest at a point between 2 and 6 cm above its insertion into the calcaneus (heel bone). Ignoring pain in the Achilles tendon (ie. "running through the pain") is the biggest cause of chronic Achilles tendonitis. For cyclists, initial Achilles tendon stress is often caused by having a low saddle height. This low saddle height can result in excessive dorsiflexion of the foot, which stresses the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the connection between the heel and the most powerful muscle group in the body. Tennis and soccer players over 40 are the most frequent sufferers of tennis leg (calf muscle strain). Sudden increases in running and or active sprinting sports can cause Achilles tendonitis. Excessive running up and down hills can aggravate the Achilles tendon. Stiff shoe soles at the ball of the foot will increase Achilles tendon strain. Excessive heel shock absorption can overstretch the Achilles tendon. Tight hamstrings and/or tight calf muscles create excess strain on the Achilles tendon. For triatheletes, the most common cause of injuries to the Achilles tendon is overpronation, inflexibility, or lack of strength. Immobility, due to an Achilles injury, may result in a contracted Achilles tendon and an increased amount of scar tissue. Tennis Leg - Calf Muscle Injury Tennis Leg injury is most often assoicated with running sports. 'Tennis Leg' is a term used to describe stretches, tears, or incomplete ruptures of the large calf muscles (gastrocnemius) in the back of the lower leg, just under the knee. Tennis leg happens when lunging or pushing off one leg to get to a wide ball or serve. This may also happen with daily activities such as running to catch a bus or climbing stairs. It feels like being kicked in the leg from behind. The tennis leg sufferer feels an quick severe sharp pain, turns around to see who kicked them, only to discover that no one is there. This type of injury usually occurs in middle-age athletes, as we age muscle flexibility decreases, experience early stages of muscle loss and degeneration due to the aging and/or inactivity. Signs and symptoms of the injury can be obvious - sudden, sharp or burning pain (sometimes along with a popping sound), swelling to the area, a bruise often develops and area very tender to the touch. You can walk but by altering your walking pattern, often walking on the toes to prevent upward bending of the ankle. Tennis Leg and the calf muscles the gastrocenemius and soleus muscles. There are three grades to a Tennis Leg injury. Grade 1 - a minor tear of the muscle (10% of the muscle fibers). You may be able to continue your activity because the pain is minor twinge in your calf. The calf muscle feels achy and tightness for two to five days after the injury, recovery for healing is 7 to 10 days. Grade 2 - partial tearing of the calf muscle (90% of the muscle fibers). You will feel sharp pain and minor to moderate swelling of your calf. Walking and flexing your foot down (pressing the gas pedal) will cause pain. The calf muscle feels achy and tightness for a least a week after the injury, recovery for healing within about 4 to 6 weeks Grade 3 - complete tearing of over 90% of the calf muscle or rupture. This is the most painful of all the grades of Tennis Leg, causing immediate severe pain, considerable bruising and swelling in the calf. Walking will be aided with crutches, achy, tightness for about 30 to 35 days, recovery for healing within about three to four months. IMPORTANT! As the pain may appear high up in the back of the calf, it can be confused with deep venous thrombosis, acute compartment syndrome, and cellulitis - all of which are serious life-threatening conditions. If you are experiencing similar symptoms, seek medical attention. The doctor should perform an MRI for correct diagnosis between the two conditions. How Do You Treat Tennis Leg? What You Can Do! We Have Home Treatment Tools to Help You With Your Tennis Leg! After proper diagnosis of tennis leg syndrome, your doctor will assess your particular case and determine a course of action. In most cases, a conservative treatment protocol will be enough to heal the injury, though in cases such as significant tearing or a fully ruptured calf muscle, surgery is pretty much a guarantee. It is generally understood by doctors and surgeons, that surgery will introduce more scar tissue into the any already damaged tissue. This added scar tissue will be problematic, requiring more physical therapy and conservative treatment options post-surgery. If not dealt with properly, your calf muscle injury could end up in worse condition than before the surgery! This is why surgery is only performed as a last resort. Some conservative treatment examples include: Rest - This is important for initial healing because without proper rest you're at risk for increased pain, inflammation. This can make your calf injury even worse and turn an acute injury into a chronic one. This can be difficult when you have to carry on with daily activities, but resting and elevating your leg whenever you can is recommended as part of a standard conservative treatment protocol. During your recovery you will probably have to modify or avoid the activities that put stress on your calf muscle until your pain and inflammation settles. Avoid Activities that Caused Your Injury - While resting your leg it's also important to avoid all activities that may have caused your calf muscle damage (especially any strenuous or repetitive movement). Continuing on with regular activities will not only make your injury worse. Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack - Cold is very effective at reducing pain and inflammation - use at the onset of the injury and during flareups

Many people have reached out regarding the safety of coming into the office. I want to reassure you that we have put in place the highest of standards in protecting our patients. We have expanded our hours to limit how many patients are in the office at one time. Everyone is screened and temp checked prior to being allowed into the office. Masks are mandatory. We place each patient directly into their own private treatment room. We ask for drivers or other family members to remain in their cars, rather than the office. We do allow caretakers to assist you, when necessary.We also allow for telemedicine visit, both by video and by telephone, if you prefer. I am seeing too many patients in the hospital, because they were afraid to come into the office. It is so much better for you to be seen in the office, rather than wait for a problem to become so bad that a hospitalization is required or the treatment program is more prolonged. We want to get you healthy and active as soon as possible! We ask you for your understanding as we need to keep everyone safe! My staff and I are always here for you! xo, Dr. Joan Oloff 408-356-2774

Join me as I learn discuss fashion, feet and so many more topics with Aubree! She is a fashion model and broadway dancer who I've had the pleasure of working with! Joan Oloff Shoes July 12 at 3:00 PM · Next in our #badasswoman series...A Conversation With Aubree Brown! We love highlighting badass, influential, strong women. That's why Aubree was a no-brainer choice for our next IG Live interview! A phenomenal dancer and gorgeous model (especially for JO Shoes), Aubree does it all. We can't wait to learn more about her and hope you can stop by! Join us this Tuesday, July 14th at 3:30EDT/12:30PDT as we go LIVE on Instagram!

I created these shoes because women deserve them! Joan Oloff Shoes July 8 at 10:42 AM · "Women are tired of being uncomfortable!" Stop sacrificing your comfort for luxury fashion.🙅‍♀️ Feel how you can have both with Joan Oloff Shoes!💗

Recently, I shared with you a phenomenon that has been called "Covid Toes." Here is a follow up: COVID toe” lesions are not caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection but by quarantine conditions, reports Dermatology Daily (June 26, 2020), a newsletter of the American Academy of Dermatology. It also indicates that Spanish researchers found that none of the patients affected by the condition tested positive for the virus, and the researchers suggested that the lesions were instead caused by people “walking around barefoot at home” for weeks while under lockdown. A Belgian study reached a similar conclusion, adding that the condition appeared to be most common in younger children.

Nothing calms, relaxes, refreshes, and reinvigorates me like mother nature. So grateful to begin my weekend with a naked eye’s view of the moon and Mars, looking so close. @kathleenharrisonphoto , I can only imagine what your skills could do to with this spectacular image.

Long week! Excited to recharge for a few days!😊☀️

It is customary tonight, on the eve of Yom Kippur,to light a memorial candle to meditate about a parent who had died. I light the 1st in memory of my dad. This year, I added a 2nd in memory of #rbg and everyone who has lost their life to COVID-19. G’Mar Chatima Tova- May you be inscribed for a good year!

Do you have problems with an unstable ankle? We have new technology that allows you to become active quickly! Come in and learn more!

Bunions are one of my favorite problems to correct! I do everything from minimal incision bunion corrections to complicated fusions. Every bunion is unique and you should avoid any cookie cutter approach. Here is a before and after I did last week. She is walking and experienced only mild discomfort!

Grisel and I are celebrating 17 years of working together. She remains a valuable member of our team! #workfamily #grateful

The world of regenerative is one of the most exciting treatment protocols I have to offer my patients. Some people nickname this the "liquid gold." It is actually autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) prepared with a centrifuge from a small sample of your own blood. It helps take non-healing, degenerative tissue and converts this into healing tissue. I do this in the office, as well as an adjunct to many traditional surgeries. Come learn more!!!

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