In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom explore foot pain and injury through Dom's personal experience with a Lisfranc ligament tear and two surgeries. Dom shares how a recent pickleball injury during a session triggered sharp midfoot pain, prompting him to self-assess and begin conservative treatment. They discuss potential diagnoses, footwear adjustments, and rehabilitation strategies including mobility work, strengthening exercises, and balance training. The episode highlights the value of physical therapy, direct access care, and structured programs like Gen Health's foot and ankle roadmap for achieving safe, effective long-term recovery after a pickleball injury.
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For full show notes and resources visit https://jen.health/podcast/466
What You'll Learn:
3:23 Doctor Dom begins to share his personal experience with his pickleball injury, a recurring foot injury, starting with his history of surgeries.
4:15 Dom details his high school Lisfranc ligament tear, the two surgeries he had, and the hardware placed in his foot.
5:59 Dom describes how a long session of pickleball likely triggered his recent foot pain, causing a sharp mid-arch pain.
7:23 Dom discusses ruling out plantar fasciitis and considering other potential diagnoses like a Lisfranc injury or arthritic flare-up.
9:46 Dom explains his reasoning for not immediately seeking a formal diagnosis, anticipating the likely conservative recommendations he would receive.
11:16 The speakers discuss how switching to more cushioned shoes for high-impact activities might have contributed to their recent foot issues.
13:34 Dom shares the first steps he took for relief, including toe spreading, manual mobilizations, and big toe mobility exercises.
16:06 Dom describes progressing his exercises to include short foot activations, isometric toe flexion, and single-leg stance work to normalize gait.
18:51 Dom explains why his rigid foot needs both mobility work and strengthening through its new ranges to prevent future injury.
20:45 A week after the injury, Dom details his current exercises, including heel raises, single-leg reaches, and what still causes pain.
24:52 The hosts advocate for seeing a physical therapist first for conservative treatment to potentially avoid costly and unnecessary medical procedures.
26:49 Dom outlines his plan to...
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