Unless you knew Boise State's Beau Martin, you would have never known he was suffering from a crippling case of plantar fasciitis last season.
Martin had offseason surgery to fix the painful condition in his left foot and he hopes to walk without pain during his senior year.
"It was like walking on a butter knife," Martin recalled. "It made things really difficult. At my position, you have to be able to explode with that first step. And I believe that my strength, my get off is big, and when you have an injury like that, it makes it hard with plantar fasciitis, even walking is hard."
Martin was somehow able to make it through the entire season, never mentioning a word of his malady to reporters. He had 21 tackles in 13 games and finished second on the team with seven tackles-for-loss.
Martin, 6-foot-2 and 254 pounds, also finished second on the team with four sacks, two pass breakups, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery. Not bad numbers for a player who was in terrible pain.
"Every step is hard, even waking up in the morning," Martin said. "It was hard during the season because I couldn't stay off my feet. I think the bye weeks helped me, but it was a battle all year long.
"The coaches knew, but the thing with plantar fasciitis, the only thing you can do to heal it is months on months of recovery and staying off it, and that wasn't an option for me. I could still play, but it was just dealing with the pain."
Martin missed the first few practices of spring training to finish his rehabilitation and is now back on the field, lined up for the No. 1 defense.
"It was an issue, but it's taken care of now and I feel 100 percent," Martin said. "I'm such a happy guy right now. I'm loving the game. It's tough playing with something like that, and I love it that much more now and I'm not taking anything for granted."
Martin knows that this is a big season for him and he's ready to play with a healthy and pain-free foot.
"It feels great to be healthy. I feel like my old self... I want to lead and be that guy out there that I know I can be and contribute and be the senior leader they want me to be and take it one day at a time."
Reference: Idaho Press
If you have heel pain, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Newington
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Albert Pujols Feeling 100% Better
It's too early in the season to tell how Albert Pujols' plantar fasciitis will hold up, but for right now, signs are pointing in the right direction.
"I feel awesome," said Pujols, who sustained a partial tear to the plantar fascia in his left foot last July. "To be able to do things with no pain or discomfort, to have my legs underneath me, to move around and have the load I want in my swing... that's the biggest difference."
During spring training thus far the Angels have been pacing Pujols in drill, but they have expected he will play first base regularly this season, his normal position. Pujols started 65 of 99 games at designated hitter last season.
They also believe Pujols will regain his form and hitting power, power that when healthy, makes him a threat. Pujols hit .257 with 17 home runs and 64 runs in 2013. In two seasons with Anaheim, Pujols carries a .275/.338/.485 average with 47 home runs and 169 RBIs.
"You use your legs to hit," Pujols said. "I'm not a guy who lunges at the ball. I have a unique stance and a lot of torque in my lower half. When your lower half is not working, you're not able to do the things you need to do to hit."
Pujols is looking to play 150-160 games this year. From what the Angels have seen thus far in spring training, it could be possible.
"Albert looks great taking ground balls, and he has a nice gait as far as moving around," manager Mike Scioscia said. "His legs look strong."
Let's hope for a plantar fasciitis free year, Albert.
Reference: LA Times.
If you have heel pain, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Newington
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.
"I feel awesome," said Pujols, who sustained a partial tear to the plantar fascia in his left foot last July. "To be able to do things with no pain or discomfort, to have my legs underneath me, to move around and have the load I want in my swing... that's the biggest difference."
During spring training thus far the Angels have been pacing Pujols in drill, but they have expected he will play first base regularly this season, his normal position. Pujols started 65 of 99 games at designated hitter last season.
They also believe Pujols will regain his form and hitting power, power that when healthy, makes him a threat. Pujols hit .257 with 17 home runs and 64 runs in 2013. In two seasons with Anaheim, Pujols carries a .275/.338/.485 average with 47 home runs and 169 RBIs.
"You use your legs to hit," Pujols said. "I'm not a guy who lunges at the ball. I have a unique stance and a lot of torque in my lower half. When your lower half is not working, you're not able to do the things you need to do to hit."
Pujols is looking to play 150-160 games this year. From what the Angels have seen thus far in spring training, it could be possible.
"Albert looks great taking ground balls, and he has a nice gait as far as moving around," manager Mike Scioscia said. "His legs look strong."
Let's hope for a plantar fasciitis free year, Albert.
Reference: LA Times.
If you have heel pain, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Newington
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Watford's Abdi Still Suffering From Plantar Fasciitis
There is still no timetable for return for English football player Almen Abdi from a severe bout of plantar fasciitis.
Abdi has not played since August 31st and had hoped to be back on the field in mid-September. As so often goes with plantar fasciitis cases, September turned into November with minor setbacks, and November has turned into the distant future.
Abdi has been training most days, but not usually with the Watford players.
Watford stressed in November that the setbacks Abdi suffered meant they would not issue a timeframe for the midfielder's return.
Last Thursday, Marco Cesarini, the Hornet's head of medical, said, "He hasn't had any setbacks, but it's the kind of injury where for two days you can have improvement and then on the third day you have pain again or soreness.
"We have to take it step by step. It's not easy because one day it can be good and the next day it can be worse. But there are some positives around him.
"We cannot predict when he will come back. We are still in the situation where we have to monitor the situation day by day. He can have small sessions but he cannot yet take part in a full session with the squad."
Returning to the team after an extended injury is Tommie Hoban. The Republic of Ireland Under-19 International star hurt his Achilles last January and played one game last year, but missed the rest of the season with the issue.
He made a splash last season, starting 18 consecutive games between late September and New Year's Day.
The Watford Academy graduate visited specialists across the world and decided to have surgery done last April by a physician in America.
Cesarini said of Hoban, "We are very happy about him. We are close and we think in the next two weeks he could join the squad for a full training session."
Reference: Watford Observer
If you have heel pain, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Newington
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.
Abdi has not played since August 31st and had hoped to be back on the field in mid-September. As so often goes with plantar fasciitis cases, September turned into November with minor setbacks, and November has turned into the distant future.
Abdi has been training most days, but not usually with the Watford players.
Watford stressed in November that the setbacks Abdi suffered meant they would not issue a timeframe for the midfielder's return.
Last Thursday, Marco Cesarini, the Hornet's head of medical, said, "He hasn't had any setbacks, but it's the kind of injury where for two days you can have improvement and then on the third day you have pain again or soreness.
"We have to take it step by step. It's not easy because one day it can be good and the next day it can be worse. But there are some positives around him.
"We cannot predict when he will come back. We are still in the situation where we have to monitor the situation day by day. He can have small sessions but he cannot yet take part in a full session with the squad."
Returning to the team after an extended injury is Tommie Hoban. The Republic of Ireland Under-19 International star hurt his Achilles last January and played one game last year, but missed the rest of the season with the issue.
He made a splash last season, starting 18 consecutive games between late September and New Year's Day.
The Watford Academy graduate visited specialists across the world and decided to have surgery done last April by a physician in America.
Cesarini said of Hoban, "We are very happy about him. We are close and we think in the next two weeks he could join the squad for a full training session."
Reference: Watford Observer
If you have heel pain, call our Newington, Kensington, or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Craig M. Kaufman, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Newington
Visit our website, like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.
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