ing the surgery, the ankle is protected with a splint until the swelling goes down and then with a cast.
Ankle fractures can take a long time to heal and are required to be held at a natural right angle in casts and immobilization boots. If you are unfortunately healing from an ankle injury, get a Kangapoda. Your cast or immobilization boot will fit in the ergonomic canopy. And even when you are all healed, you will so appreciate having room for your feet to rest naturally.
The Metatarsals Hold You Up & Propel You
Functionally, the ankle and foot have two principle functions: propulsion and support. The Metatarsal bones play a major role in these functions. For propulsion, they act like rigid levers and for support they act like flexible structures that aid balance and hold up the entire body.
Metatarsal fractures are the most common traumatic foot injuries. There are five metatarsal bones in each foot. They are the relatively long bones which are located between the 'Tarsal' bones of the hind-foot (the tarsal bones are 7 in number: calcaneus, talus, cuboid, navicular, and the medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms) and the 'Phalanges' bones that form the toes. Metatarsal fractures occur in all professional sports although they occur most often in professional soccer.
Fractures to the Metatarsal bones can be caused by direct trauma, excessive rotational forces, or overuse. During soccer, direct trauma is usually caused by a player accidentally kicking the sole of an opponent's shoe, or by an opponent stepping on a player's foot. As there is very little soft tissue to protect the top of the foot, bone injuries are common. Fractures can also occur due to sudden twisting, as when a ballet dancer lands awkwardly on a jump or from progressive overuse and stress like what is common among army recruits (e.g., ‘march’ fractures).
Metatarsal fractures typically take from eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks for the bone fracture to fully heal, with a gradual return to normal activity within four months. If you are unfortunately healing from a metatarsal fracture, get a Kangapoda. Your cast or immobilization boot will fit in the ergonomic canopy. And even when you are all healed, you will so appreciate having room for your feet to rest naturally.
Toes Are Important
Our toes provide balance and support when we walk, as they maintain contact with the ground approximately 75% of the time during a stride. Of all your toes, the big toes are the most important. They play the most critical role in maintaining your balance. They also bear the most weight when standing. The front section of the foot has five toes (phalanges), which are connected to the five longer metatarsal bones. There are many health conditions that can affect the toes, including skin, bone, soft tissue and circulatory problems.
In older people, toe pain most often comes from corns, calluses, and toe deformities, of which 75% are bunions. As much as one third of older people have a bunion or painful calluses. About 15% have corns on their toes. Hammer toe is another common ailment.
There are many different types of surgeries to remove or realign compromised soft tissues and bone in the toes, including fusions and implants.
Painful Toes do not want to feel the pressure of a plain flat top sheet. But untucking the covers creates a messy, less-comfortable bed that, not surprisingly, leads to a less good night’s sleep. Kangapoda allows your feet to naturally lie and relax at a right angle under the covers without irritating and debilitating pressure on your toes.