Injuries and Running Mechanics

Several months ago I had Plantar Warts removed from my left foot. I have recently resumed running and I'm experiencing difficulty not favoring the foot. After my last few runs my hips and right knee have been hurting. Should I stop running or will this go away as I work myself back into condition? If I continue to run, will this create long-term hip or knee problems?

Dr. Jeffrey M. Mjaanes:

This all depends on the extent of your favoring or alteration of your running mechanics. Since it's been several months since your plantar wart excision, I would hope you were not still having pain or discomfort. Foot pain can have adverse effects on all of the body's mechanics. A more famous example was the broken toe that baseball's Dizzy Dean suffered in the 1937 All-Star Game. Dean tried to come back before the toe fully healed, altering his pitching motion to favor the injured foot, but the change brought on bursitis in his valuable right arm and effectively ended his career.

Treatment Options:

I recommend that you have your foot examined again to see if the area of the plantar wart excision has healed properly. If it has, it may be a simple solution such as a little extra padding or cushioning with an over-the-counter insert or possibly a customized orthotic. Additionally, I often find that intermediate to high mileage runners sometimes do well with a short course of physical therapy. These sessions will help to improve your running mechanics and stride to avoid these alternative secondary issues.

For more information about Dr. Mjaanes and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES or contact us through this Web site.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.