Podiatric
Sports Medicine & Surgery
Podiatric Sports Medicine is a sub-specialty that focuses on the understanding, management, and prevention of lower extremity sports and fitness injuries. We strive to promote a healthy approach to fitness with our knowledge and expertise of biomechanics, functional analysis, and field experience. As athletes ourselves, we can empathize and create a game plan for a return to sports with safety and prevention of future injuries in mind. The foot is a complex structure that controls impact and pressures of the lower extremity. We work with orthotics, shoe modifications, and core form and strength to achieve excellent results.
Custom Orthotics
for Specific Sports & Lifestyles
An orthotic for the foot is an podiatric device designed to adjust or accommodate for a variety of biomechanical foot disorders. Orthotics range from a temporary over-the-counter device to more permanent devices customized to your individual foot alignment. Orthotics can be used to treat a variety of conditions including but not limited to Achilles tendonitis, posterior tibialis tendonitis, plantar fascitis, metatarsalgia, iliotibial band syndrome, knee pain, hip pain, and lower back pain.
Temporary over-the-counter orthotics may be utilized to alleviate acute discomfort or in some cases determine the appropriateness of a more permanent custom device. There are two major types of custom orthotics, accommodative and biomechanical. Accommodative orthotics are typically composed of softer materials and function to provide cushioning and shock absorption to the lower extremities. Biomechancial orthotics are typically composed of slightly more rigid materials and function to correct faulty alignment of the foot. This type of orthotic may include posting (small wedges that correct the alignment of the front and back of the foot and control excessive movement) depending on your foot’s alignment. Biomechanical devices are often appropriate for individuals who have excessive pronation (rolling in of the foot) during functional activities such as walking and running.
Measuring for custom orthotics typically takes 10-15 minutes including fabrication of a mold of your feet. Additionally, evaluation for custom orthotics includes gait analysis during walking and when appropriate, running. Custom orthotics should take into account your lifestyle including sports participation and shoe wear.
Not everyone requires a custom foot orthotic and much of the time physical therapy is prescribed in conjunction with orthotics to improve muscular flexibility and strength, joint mobility, and core control. This typically results in improved outcomes in conjunction with a custom foot orthotic. You may be a candidate for orthotics if you experience any of the following:
Chronic foot, knee, hip, or back pain.
Pain associated with your feet rolling in when you run or walk (pronation).
Lower extremity pain when participating in athletic events.
Frequent, recurrent ankle sprains.
Persistent, recurrent tendonitis in the lower extremities.
MLS® Laser Therapy
Manage Pain.
Reduce Inflammation.
Speed Recovery.
MLS® Laser Therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to treat painful and debilitating conditions.
MLS® Laser Therapy effectively treats:
- Tendo & ligament injuries
- Sore muscles, muscle strains & tears
- Degenerative joint conditions
- Neurological & general pain & bruising
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Pre & post-surgical treatment
- Anti-inflammation applications
- Specific neurological conditions
Benefits of MLS® Laser Therapy:
- Rapid relief of pain
- Strong anti-inflammatory effect
- Timely healing of sprains & strains
- Rapid recovery of the structural integrity of injured region
- Rapid resolution of swollen areas
- Immediate improvement of local blood circulation
- Rapid repair of superficial injuries, such as wound and ulcers
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
+ How does it work?
Light energy enters the damaged cells and stimulates inter-cellular activity. This redices pain in the area and speeds recovery of the damaged cells. Once the cells recover, the healing process is completed.
+ What can I expect during a treatment?
You may experience a comfortable sensation at the point of application. Treatment lasts an average of 8 minutes.
+ What can I expect after the treatment?
Most people experience positive resilts in 1 to 3 treatments, with the average course of treatment being 7 to 10 sessions. Swelling is greatly reuced and there is a rapid relief of pain. Acute conditions usually subside quickly, typically withing one phase of treatments, while chronic conditions can be controlled with regular treatments.
The effects of MLS® Laser Therapy are cumulative; therefore, expect to see improvement as you proceed through your treatment plan. It is critical that once you start, you complete the course of treatments recommended by your doctor or symptoms are likely to occur.
3-D CT Scan
CurveBeam PedCAT Weight-bearing 3-D CT Scan, Digital X-Ray & Ultrasound
Step into Standing CT and get the most accurate diagnosis for your injury
Your doctor may determine your X-Ray does not provide enough information about your injury and may order a standing CT scan. CT scans provide a complete 3D picture of your bone alignment and joint spaces.
The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society recommends standing (weight bearing) imaging, when possible, to get the most accurate assessment of the functional bony anatomy of the foot and ankle.
Deformities of the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot have been shown to be more visible in standing position.
Standing CT is perfect for:
Preoperative planning
Postoperative planning
Diagnosis of fractures
Evaluation of arthritic joints
Evaluation of bunion deformity
Evaluation of ankle instability
Evaluation of foot alignment
Sesamoid position and condition
At The Running Institute, we have all the proper equipment in-house, eliminating the need for you to schedule another appointment at a different medical facility.
EPAT®
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment
The Storz Duolith® is the newest EPAT® technology to receive FDA approval. The Running Institute is proudly one of the first clinics to implement this treatment in the nation.
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment (EPAT®) (‘extracorporeal’ meaning ‘outside the body’) is a fast, safe and effective non-invasive treatment option that reduces the recovery period and eliminates the risks associated with traditional surgery.
This non-invasive (no incision) treatment involves the delivery of our unique acoustic pressure waves to the effected areas of the body which stimulates the body’s own natural repair mechanisms and fast-tracks the healing process.
EPAT® is an innovative step forward in non-invasive technology. Precisely controlled and released via a hand piece applicator, the unique sets of acoustic pressure waves transmit from the point of contact at the skin surface to the affected area. The pressure wave energy is propagated through a radial expansion, to the affected soft tissue.
Sports & Internal Medicine
Dr. Natarajan’s dual specialties uniquely qualifies him to treat the “whole patient”, including caring for athletes with diabetes, abdominal pains and asthma as well as treating the muscular and skeletal systems of the human body. Dr. Natarajan is focused on helping patients train safer, smarter, longer and better so they can reach their individual goals, no matter how high or deep these goals go.
Injections
Manual Therapy
Taping/Bracing
Compartment Pressure Testing
Home Exercise Programs
Aspirations
Finally an answer on warts
Say hello to Swift
Are you tired of dealing with pesky warts? We are very excited to announce that we have a brand new and effective treatment for surface based skin lesions, primarily warts.
Tap on the image to watch a video on how Swift works
Swift Therapy: Kills the Virus that causes Plantar Warts. Period.
Plantar warts; a common and stubborn Viral Infection
“Plantar” means “Of the sole” in Latin. Unlike other types of warts, plantar warts are typically quite painful as the pressure from walking and standing forces them to grow into your skin. Like all warts, Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, specifically types 1, 2, 4, 60, and 63. Underneath the skin, the wart can have finger-like roots that reach down and grow, making them very difficult to treat effectively from the surface.
What is Swift?
Swift is a cutting edge, FDA Cleared technology that has proven to be highly effective in the removal of plantar warts. It delivers low dose microwave energy through a specialized probe that targets and effectively treats the underlying HPV virus by stimulating a natural immune response in the body. We like to say that we’re addressing the root cause; not the symptom.
What to Expect?
Swift protocol involves between 3 and 4 treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart; aligning with the body’s natural immune cycle. Each treatment lasts only 5-10 minutes and is what we call a “sock off - sock on” treatment: Limited debridement, no breaking of the skin, no bandages. No home treatment is required between treatments and patients are able to resume daily activities immediately post treatment.
How effective is Swift?
The Swift technology treatment feels similar to the pain of a small scratch or injection, lasting only a few seconds before immediately subsiding. Some may experience some soreness after the treatment, but not anything strong enough to impair normal day-to-day activities.
Does it hurt?
While pain is variable and patient/lesion specific, most patients typically feel some level of discomfort as infected tissue temperatures are rapidly elevated over a 2 second dose of energy. The pain immediately subsides following cessation of energy delivery and there is very limited post procedural pain, in fact some report an immediate reduction in pain levels. All patients are about to continue on with day-to-day activities immediately following.
When you should come to see us
It’s important to visit a podiatrist if you suspect or feel that you have a plantar wart and are seeking removal. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely the wart is to persist. Here are some common symptoms to look out for:
You may get the feeling of “painful pebbles” in your shoes.
You may experience pain when you compress the sides of the wart.
You may see a circular flat spot on the skin with a depressed area in the middle.
They may appear “yellowed” with a crust; small black dots can be an easy give away.
The lesion on your foot is painful, bleeding, or has changed color.
Treatments you have tried do not work, and the wart reoccurs or multiplies.
Discomfort that prevents you from doing regular activities.
Poor sensation in your feet.
You are unsure if the lesion is a wart.
What to do next?
If you would like to (a) get rid of your warts and/or (b) explore Swift Treatment, please book a consultation with us either online below or by calling us on (866) 696-7988. One of our specialists will be happy to help.
Restorative
Biologic Injection
Therapy
Promote healing by activating adult stem cells within your own body through Biologic Injection Therapy.
The restorative properties are remarkable along with the natural anti-inflammatory effects and anti-scar tissue formation. This means less pain and restriction of the tissues that are injured during the repair process. Dr. Chin, says, “It is like performing surgery without performing surgery.”
At times, the Biologic Injection therapy is coupled with Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Therapy (EPAT) in cases where there are chronic on acute tissue injury. Dr. Chin created the protocols for this therapy and has lectured at medical education conferences. He has openly shared this protocol with his colleagues around the world to enhance patient outcomes.
Please contact us to see if you are a candidate for this therapeutic procedure.