Running

Pes Anserine Bursitis; What Is It?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

The term “pes anserine” is Latin for goose’s foot, and describes the appearance of three tendons that converge and insert on the inner portion of your knee. The pes anserine bursa is a fluid-filled, friction-reducing cushion, sandwiched between these tendons and your leg bone.

Injuries or irritation can cause the lining of the bursa to produce too much fluid, resulting in painful swelling. Patients with knee osteoarthritis are likely to have chronic irritation of the pes anserine bursa. The condition is more common in overweight patients, diabetics, and females. Runners and athletes in sports that require rapid side-to-side movements (i.e. football, soccer, tennis, etc.) are more likely suffer from the condition. Swimmers who do the breast stroke commonly suffer from pes anserine bursitis.
Symptoms include pain on the inner side of your knee, just below the joint. Your pain is probably worse when you stand up or walk stairs. Discomfort increases during activities that require side-to-side movements (i.e. tennis, dancing). Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice clicking, popping, or locking of your knee, excessive thirst, excessive urination, fever, or pain & swelling in your calf.

In addition to the treatment provided by our office, you may find relief by applying home ice or ice massage for 8-10 minutes. Having flat feet places additional stress on the inside of your knee, so patients with fallen arches will benefit from arch supports or orthotics. Overweight patients will benefit from a diet and exercise program.

I have Plantar Fasciitis; now what?

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The “Plantar fascia” is a fibrous band running from the under surface of your heel to the ball of your foot. “Plantar fasciitis” is a painful inflammation of this tissue caused by chronic over stretching and mild tearing.

Plantar fasciitis is commonly associated with fallen arches of the foot. To understand how this happens, cup your hand to make a “C” shape. This represents a foot with a high arch. Imagine a band running from your fingertips to your wrist. This represents the plantar fascia. Now, straighten your fingers to simulate what happens when the arch “falls.” When this happens in your foot, the plantar fascia is stretched and can begin to tear away from your heel.


Plantar fasciitis affects 10% of the population and is more common in women. Approximately one fourth of patients have the problem in both feet at the same time. People who place excessive stress on their feet by being overweight, standing for long periods, or participating in endurance sports are more likely to develop the condition as well. Shoes without adequate arch supports, including sandals or going barefoot, increase your chances of developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing high-heeled shoes or boots may contribute to the problem.

The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in the heel or arch when standing up after a period of inactivity, particularly first thing in the morning. When you are sleeping, the arch is in a relaxed or shortened state, and the plantar fascia is able to heal. When you stand up first thing in the morning, you stretch the fascia, once again tearing it away from its attachment on the heel. The condition may progress to the point that you experience pain throughout the day, even while resting. The pain often eases after you walk for a period of time, only to redevelop. You may notice some tenderness when you touch your heel, and you probably have tight calf and hamstring muscles as well.

Plantar fasciitis can be a frustrating condition, often lasting 18 months or more if left untreated. Fortunately, you may recover more quickly with proper treatment. One of the most important things that you can do is to make sure that you are wearing shoes with good arch supports on a consistent basis. A period of rest may be necessary to help you recover. Runners may need to temporarily decrease mileage or switch to less stressful activities like swimming, cycling, or using an elliptical machine. A splint or “Strassburg sock” worn at night will help to keep your plantar fascia in a stretched position while it is healing.

Trigger points in the iliopsoas muscle

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This muscle originates on the bodies and disks of T12-L5 and the inner ilium. It inserts on the lesser trochanter of the femur. The psoas flexes the hip when the spine is fixed. When the leg is fixed it extends the lumbar spine increasing lumbar lordosis. This Muscle is often chronically shortened due to inactivity and sitting posture. When trigger points are present they will refer pain primarily to the lower lumbar area and the sacrum as well as into the anterior thigh. Trigger points in the iliopsoas muscle can mimic appendicitis.

My abductors are weak, what does that mean?

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One very important job of your hip muscles is to maintain the alignment of your leg when you move. One of the primary hip muscles, the gluteus medius, plays an especially important stabilizing role when you walk, run, or squat. The gluteus medius attaches your thigh bone to the crest of your hip. When you lift your left leg, your right gluteus medius must contract in order to keep your body from tipping toward the left. And when you are standing on a bent leg, your gluteus medius prevents that knee from diving into a “knock knee” or “valgus” position.
Weakness of the gluteus medius allows your pelvis to drop and your knee to dive inward when you walk or run. This places tremendous strain on your hip and knee and may cause other problems too. When your knee dives inward, your kneecap is forced outward, causing it to rub harder against your thigh bone- creating a painful irritation and eventually arthritis. Walking and running with a relative “knock knee” position places tremendous stress on the ligaments around your knee and is a known cause of “sprains”. Downstream, a “knock knee” position puts additional stress on the arch of your foot, leading to other painful problems, like plantar fasciitis. Upstream, weak hips allow your pelvis to roll forward which forces your spine into a “sway back” posture. This is a known cause of lower back pain. Hip muscle weakness seems to be more common in females, especially athletes.

You should avoid activities that cause prolonged stretching of the hip abductors, like “hanging on one hip” while standing, sitting crossed legged, and sleeping in a side-lying position with your top knee flexed and touching the bed. Patients with fallen arches may benefit from arch supports or orthotics. Obesity causes more stress to the hip muscles, so overweight patients may benefit from a diet and exercise program. The most important treatment for hip abductor weakness is strength training. Hip strengthening is directly linked to symptom improvement. Moreover, people with stronger hip muscles are less likely to become injured in the first place. The exercises listed below are critical for your recovery.

Meet the Hip Cycle. You can thank me later.

1. Side lying with back and shoulders against a wall so you can’t roll back.

2. Bend your bottom leg and put the sole of your foot against the wall to be more stable.

3. Start position is with your foot directly in line with your hip. Do not let it get any lower than that. The highest point of your foot needs to be the bump on the outside of your ankle.

Do 5-10 reps of each of the following without rest between exercises twice a day. The goal is 20 reps each.

a. 6″ leg raises in abduction
b. Knee up to chest (90* knee and hip)
c. 12″ leg raises into abduction
d. Bicycling (knee up to chest, extend knee and sweep back to start with leg straight)
e. Clockwise circles
f. Counterclockwise circles
Good luck.

Trigger points in the piriformis muscle

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The piriformis muscle is a small muscle deep to glute max and lies over top of the sciatic nerve. It originates on the anterior sacrum, and inserts on the greater trochanter of the femur. It’s main action is to laterally rotate the femur. When trigger points developed in this muscle they will refer pain into the sacro-iliac region, across the posterior hip and down the leg. This muscle can also be a cause of sciatic nerve irritation if it gets tight, causing “sciatica” symptoms.

Trigger points in the gluteus minimus

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The gluteus minimus is a small but important muscle that lies deep to the gluteus medius. It originates on the gluteal surface of the ilium, and attaches on the greater trochanter of the femur. It’s main actions are to abduct and medically rotate the hip. Trigger points in this muscle refer pain into the buttock and down the lateral and posterior leg, mimicking sciatica. This muscle should be the first to be examined if a straight leg test turns out negative.

Osgood Schlatter’s Disease

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Children and adolescents have soft “growth plates,” which are areas where their bone is still growing. In children, this growth plate is much weaker than in adults. This means that children are more likely to suffer growth plate injuries than adults, especially during periods of rapid growth.

Osgood Schlatter’s disease, also called tibial epiphysitis, is a painful irritation of the growth plate near the insertion of your quadriceps muscle on your knee. The powerful thigh muscles attach onto your knee through the patellar tendon. When your thigh muscle contracts- like during running or jumping, they place a sheer force on the growth plate of your knee.
Osgood Schlatter’s disease is more common in athletes, particularly those who participate in soccer, gymnastics, basketball, running or track. It is most common between the ages of 10 and 15 and is relatively equally common between boys and girls. Excessively tight thigh or calf muscles may contribute to this problem.

You may experience pain with activity that requires running or jumping. You will often feel tenderness or even bony enlargement of your “tibial tuberosity”, just below your knee. Kneeling or prolonged squatting may be painful.

Some athletes with mild cases may continue activity as long as it does not increase your symptoms. Most cases may require a period of rest to allow the condition to heal. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may need to limit activities that require running and jumping for a while, usually two to eight weeks. You can often cross train in the pool or on a stationary bike.

You should avoid running with a narrow stride “on a line,” as this may increase your symptoms. Our office may recommend use of a patellar tendon strap to assist with your healing. Osgood Schlatter’s disease can temporarily limit your activity, but most of the time, it can be successfully managed, allowing your return to pain-free activity in a relatively short period of time.

Trigger points in the gluteus medius muscle

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The gluteus medius muscle plays an important role in hip and pelvic stability. It originates on the gluteal surface of the ilium, deep to the gluteus Maximus. It inserts on the greater trochanter of the femur. It’s main actions are to abduct the hip and to assist in internal rotation of the hip. It also maintains pelvic stability during walking and running. Trigger points in this muscle will refer pain into the sacrum, the iliac crest, and down the lateral hip and into the thigh. This muscle is often a cause of lower pack pain.

The High Ankle Sprain (Don’t Let This Happen To You. These SUCK.)

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Your lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) are held together at the ankle by a group of soft tissues and ligaments called the “syndesmosis”. This connection prevents excessive spreading of these bones during normal activity, but injuries can cause these ligaments to be stretched or torn. This problem is called a “syndesmotic ankle sprain” or “high ankle sprain”. High ankle sprains often occur during contact sports (like football, hockey, and soccer) when your foot is planted while the rest of your body shifts forward and turns inward. High ankle sprains are much less common than other types of ankle sprains.

The pain of a high ankle sprain starts just above your ankle and runs up your shin. Interestingly, the “length” of pain correlates very closely to your severity of injury. Standing and walking is usually uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable. Bringing your toes toward your shin or rotating your foot outward will likely increase your pain. Significant bruising or swelling is possible. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice numbness, tingling, or coldness in your foot.

Ankles that have suffered a complete separation usually require surgery, since they will have lost the ability to push off, propel, and cut. Most other stable sprains will respond to conservative care, like the type provided in this office. It is important to recognize that high ankle sprains heal more slowly than other types of ankle sprains. The average recovery time for a syndesmotic sprain is between two and seven weeks but some injuries may require up to four months away from your sport. You may need to wear a boot or avoid weight bearing for a period of time. Ice may help to limit swelling initially, and the home exercises described below are an important part of your recovery.

Achilles Tendonitis: The Details

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Your Achilles tendon is the strong fibrous band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel. The tendon is named after “Achilles” who was a powerful, yet vulnerable warrior in Greek mythology. Likewise, our Achilles tendon, being the largest and strongest tendon in the body, is susceptible to injury from the high demands placed on it. (Running can generate forces over 12 times your bo

dy weight on the Achilles tendon.)

The tendon may be strained or even ruptured from excessive stretch or forceful contraction of the calf muscles. More commonly, the tendon is repeatedly overloaded and suffers tiny “micro tears.” Damage usually occurs either directly behind the heel, or near the weakest area of the tendon- one to two inches above the heel.

Achilles tendon injuries affect between 250,000 and 1 million people per year. Most are middle-aged males, between the age of 30 and 50. Interestingly, Achilles tendon injuries occur more frequently on the left side. If you have suffered a prior Achilles tendon injury, you are at greater risk of injuring the opposite side. Two-thirds of all Achilles tendon injuries involve athletes. Runners are up to 10 times more likely to suffer Achilles tendon problems. You may at increased risk if the arch of your foot is too high or too flat.

Symptoms may begin abruptly following a strain but more commonly develop slowly from repeated irritation. Morning pain and stiffness are common. Your symptoms will likely increase with activity, especially walking or running. You may notice pain when you rise up on your toes. Walking down stairs stretches the tendon and usually increases symptoms. Some patients notice that the irritated area becomes firmly swollen. Ongoing irritation to the spot on your heel where the tendon inserts can cause a painfully elevated “pump bump.”

Research has shown that conservative care, like the type provided in this office, can produce “excellent results” in over 85% of patients. Initially, you may need to limit or stop activities that cause pain. Runners may need to switch to swimming or cycling for a short period of time. Be sure to introduce new activities slowly and avoid increasing your activity by more than 10% per week. Runners should begin on a smooth, shock-absorbent surface and start at a low intensity – first increasing distance, then pace. Avoid training on hard or unlevel surfaces like hills. Make sure you warm up properly and avoid over training. Avoid wearing high heels or shoes with an excessively rigid heel tab. One of the most important and effective treatments for Achilles tendinopathy is performing “heel drop exercises” as outlined below.

Eccentric Achilles Strengthening
Begin standing up on your toes with the affected foot on the edge of a step. Do not place weight on your good leg, but you may use it for stability. Slowly lower your affected heel, at a count of 4 seconds, until you reach a fully stretched position and can drop no further. Use your good leg to return to your toes. Repeat 3 sets of 15 repetitions with your knee straight and 3 more sets of 15 repetitions with your knee slightly bent, twice daily or as directed. Moderate pain during this exercise is acceptable but if pain is excessive, you should assist downward motion with the non-injured leg.
Here is a brief description of the treatments we may use to help manage your problem.

Joint Manipulation
Your chiropractor has found joints in your body that are not moving freely. This can cause tightness and discomfort and can accelerate unwanted degeneration i.e. arthritis. Your chiropractor will apply a gentle force with their hands, or with hand held instruments, in order to restore motion to any “restricted” joints. Sometimes a specialized table will be used to assist with these safe and effective “adjustments”. Joint manipulation improves flexibility, relieves pain and helps maintain healthy joints.
Therapy Modalities
We may apply electrotherapy modalities that produce light electrical pulses transmitted through electrodes placed over your specific sites of concern. These comfortable modalities work to decrease your pain, limit inflammation and ease muscle spasm. Hot or cold packs are often used in conjunction, to enhance the effect of these modalities. Another available option is therapeutic ultrasound. Ultrasound pushes sound vibrations into tissues. When these vibrations reach your deep tissues, heat develops and unwanted waste products are dispersed.
Myofascial Release
Overworked muscles often become tight and develop knots or “trigger points”. Chronic tightness produces inflammation and swelling that ultimately leads to the formation of “adhesions” between tissues. Your chiropractor will apply pressure with their hands, or with specialized tools, in order to release muscle tightness and soft-tissue adhesions. This will help to improve your circulation, relieve pain and restore flexibility.
Therapeutic Exercise
Muscle tightness or weakness causes discomfort and alters normal joint function, leading to additional problems. Your chiropractor will target tight or weak muscles with specific therapeutic stretching and strengthening to help increase tissue flexibility, build strength, and ease pain. Healthy, strong, and flexible muscles may help prevent re-injury.
Elastic Therapeutic Tape
Your chiropractor may apply a special elastic therapeutic tape in order to support injured areas or encourage better movement. This tape is thought to decrease pain and swelling, improve circulation and limit muscle soreness.
Foot Evaluation
Fallen arches and faulty foot mechanics are common problems that can perpetuate your condition. Our office will carefully evaluate your feet and consider the need for a change in shoe style, arch supports or even custom orthotics.
Ankle Brace
Our office may recommend using a support brace to protect your ankle from further injury. Your doctor will discuss the specific type of brace and provide instructions for use.
After this initial course of treatment we will reassess your progress. We will determine the need for any additional care after your reassessment.