May 13th, Friday, 2 p.m.
Visited Dr. Greg Bordiuk this morning for consultation regarding my sore foot. The doctor says that I have a strained muscle along the plantar facia on bottom of my foot. He made no mention of stress fracture at all. After feeling around the area he seemed pretty positive of his diagnosis. The doctor put a tape wrap on my instep. I have not had my foot wrapped since way back in college days. He says to leave the wrap on for two days, and if I need another one to come back. Since the tape has been on, I feel a constant dull ache in the area that has been hurting all along. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It didn’t ache constantly before it was taped. I will follow the doctor’s instructions for the next two days if the pain does not become too bothersome. Dr. Bordiuk says the usual time of healing for such an injury is two to four weeks.
When I asked him about causes for this injury, he responded that the usual cause is lack of support for the foot. He suggested maybe a pair of more supportive running shoes. I am considering buying another pair of Asics Kayano shoes. The doctor says he actually has a pair of Asics Kayano 21 and that there is a new 22 Model. My last pair were number 17. I don’t know if I mentioned the problem I had with my Kayanos. Asics was very helpful and very supportive when I told them of the deterioration of the material inside the heel of the shoe. I actually sent two pair back to them for which they sent me 2 new replacement pairs. But all three of the shoes on both feet suffered this breakdown of the material on the inside of the back of the shoe. For that reason I stopped buying them even though I loved the support they gave my feet. So, I may give it another shot now that they have introduced 5 new models since I last tried them.
My personal experiences with taping and distance running;
I experienced some lower leg injuries during my college running days. We had a very fine trainer at Seton Hall University who was an expert at taping. I can’t remember his name now, but I liked him a lot. He taped many people on many different sporting teams. He taped my foot many times. Each time the tape felt great for about 15 minutes and then started to ache. After running for more than 20 minutes the tape always came loose and I had to rip it off. It was completely ineffective. I have had the same experience with Runners who have received tape jobs from trainers while I was coaching. Perhaps for an explosive event like the high jump or pole vault these procedures have a positive affect. But for distance runners I’ve never seen any benefit of tape.
Regarding my current injury I have no intention of running while this tape is on. The doctor told me not to engage in any running or even long-term walking while the tape is in place. Its design and purpose is simply to support the area so that the muscle is not injured further while I am healing.
PS- I am very happy and excited to announce that the National Senior Games Association (NSGA ) has accepted and posted my blog their official site.
Stats –
I-Mad – 2
Weight – 153#
a.m HR- 54BPM
Sleep – 8 hours
Workout – none, healing
Bob, I hope that doctor is correct–no stress fracture in your foot–and that you’ll be back in action soon.
As for your Seton Hall trainer, I’m guessing his name was Ed Coppola–and if he’s the one, you were taped by my late uncle! Reckon he was a good one, since he is in the national hall of fame for trainers….
You are right John. That’s him. I once had a blown up left ankle from a severe twist. Coach Gibson told me go in and get it taped. Eddie walked around the room for half an hour grumbling,”How the hell am I supposed to tape a swollen ankle?” He threw up his hands. I said, Ed,put some tape on it or you tell Coach Gibson I can’t go out there.” He did. I did. Another workout ‘beat’…..
I also remember listening in his room with a bunch of guys as Eddie did the play-by-play to the 9th inning of the 1962 World Series,Giants vs Yanks game 7. Mays hit a double off the wall with two out in the ninth in a one-run game. The third base coach held up Felipe Aloe with the tying run. “Wisely!” said Eddie with bitter sarcasm. And Willie McCovey lined out to end the game and the series.
Uncle Eddie was a good guy. RIP