UFAI Sports Medicine Articles Archive

Professional and amateur athletes frequently suffer high ankle sprains. What are high ankle sprains? Why are they so common? How are they treated?

Many sports-related injuries can be prevented simply by doing a few warm-up exercises before a workout. Here are our expert recommendations.

Does your young athlete complain of heel pain? Should they be playing through the pain? What you need to know about youth sports and heel pain in children.

Okay, so the holidays are over, or sadly your trip to Italy (yum, Italy!). And the scale tells you that you’ve put way more effort into eating than exercising. What to do? Certainly, many of us try to lose the extra pounds by exercising more or perhaps by trying out new workout regimens. And that is when we learn that read more »

What’s an Os Trigonum? An os trigonum is a non-utilitarian piece of bone that usually rests peacefully at the back of some peoples’ feet. Ordinarily, an os trigonum is a harmless anomaly. However, if you punt a football, kick a soccer ball, swim using a butterfly kick, or go en pointe as a ballet dancer, that little hunk of bone read more »

While biking is one of the best low-impact sports, stress injuries, including plantar fasciitis, are rather common. Learn how to ride without heel pain!

Foot odor? No problem. Soak your feet in a solution of 1/2 cup sea salt and 4–6 cups warm water for 15 minutes. Pat your feet dry, and be free of smelly feet.

Imagine yourself trying out a new running trail, and you come to a crossroads. On the left, a paved sidewalk circling a park. On the right, a dirt path patted out around a pond. Which path would be easier on your body? The answer, it turns out, is not as easy as you might think. “Many runners believe that they’re read more »

Golf. Sure, it’s a sport. But you wouldn’t think that a sport in which you can ride around in a cart and drink beer would result in many foot injuries. This low-impact activity is often synonymous with a life of leisure, yet you might be surprised to find out that avid golfers frequently suffer from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is read more »

Warmer weather of course seems like the perfect time for people to become more active. Engaging in sports and working hard to get in shape for the summer season. In our Southern California foot and ankle clinics, we have seen a recent increase in stress and overuse injuries over the last month or so, likely attributed to this increase in read more »

Treating “Marathon Feet” A groggy good morning to you, Champ! It’s 4am the “morning” after your first marathon, and your feet are screaming bloody murder. You’ve been running long-distances for years and followed all your doctor’s instructions. What gives? Although you earned a good night’s sleep, if you’re suffering from a common post-marathon condition, then your feet may be keeping read more »

At UFAI, we know an ankle sprain when we see one. Ankle sprains account for about 3 out of every 4 ankle injuries, and on any given day, about 30,000 Americans will sprain their ankle! What happens when you sprain your ankle, exactly? A sprain is a tear in the ligamentous and/or muscular tissue that you use to keep yourself read more »

If you are suffering from Achilles tendinitis, here's a quick reference of important dos and don’ts to improve recovery and help prevent further damage.

Walking is pretty much universally considered the safest form of exercise, right? Well, yes, but it’s not completely without its risks. If your walking routine is interrupted by aches and pains, you should do what you can to address them early on. What seems like a minor pain could worsen and prevent you from exercising altogether. Here are some tips read more »

Hey tennis star, it’s us, your feet! We love hitting the tennis court with you, and it’s a relatively safe way to stay in shape, whether you’re a young whippersnapper or an old soul. Of course, no physical activity is without its risks. The constant lateral motion and quick stops and starts across the court can put a lot of read more »

Most long distance runners can agree that they are at the mercy of their feet.  You can mentally and physically prepare yourself for a marathon, but ignore your feet and you may find yourself sidelined at the next race.  While some foot-related injuries are bio-mechanical (and that’s just the way we were made), others may be the result of something read more »

Is your 10 year old is dying for a scooter or skateboard so he can “ride the rails” and “catch some air” like his friends? Before you make your purchase you may want to consider the possible injury risks. A new study published by Clinical Pediatrics states that “kick” scooters, much like the one your 10 year old needs to read more »

What's the best running shoe for your foot type? Los Angeles foot specialist discusses the best options for overpronation, underpronation, and normal arched feet.