We are a full-service orthopaedic clinic. From surgery to therapy – our number one priority is your health, and our knowledgeable staff is here to assist in meeting all of your orthopaedic needs.
A comprehensive space provides you with everything you need as a patient. You can request an appointment, find paperwork, or pay your bill in one place.
Our physicians are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle all of your orthopaedic, pain management, and physical medicine and rehabilitation needs. Correspondence received via the online form is monitored during normal business hours – Monday through Friday, 8am until 5pm. If you have an urgent question after office hours, please call (251) 410-3600.
The human foot is a very complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 ligaments and muscles working together to achieve a combination of stability and flexibility. The ankle is the joint that connects the foot to the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg. Between the two, the foot and ankle bear our entire body weight that allowing us to stand, walk or run and can move and flex in a large variety of ways. When the foot and/or ankle is injured, it requires highly specialized treatment.
The AOC Foot and Ankle Team are orthopaedic surgeons who are trained in treating the mild to the most complex foot and ankle conditions. These complex fracture symptoms may be an indication of a foot fracture or ankle fracture:
• Severe pain which generally hinders the patient’s ability to walk
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Redness
Misdiagnosis or just trying to walk through the pain can cause sufferers more damage as well as a longer healing period.
For an appointment call 251-410-3600 or visit us on alortho.com.
Did you know that many NFL players risk their health by playing through injuries? Tough or not, their desire to stay on the field is so strong that it can sometimes overshadow their pain. The nature of this sport fosters high pain tolerance and quick recovery, but athletes shouldn’t always “suck it up,” as it increases their chances of re-injury or re-aggravation.
With playoffs approaching, it is important to look out for these four common football-related injuries and encourage players to seek proper treatment:
ACL/MCL/PCL/LCL tears – anterior cruciate, medial collateral, posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments are all located in the knee. Each serves a different purpose to the function of the knee. Depending on the area of impact, front, rear or side, these ligaments can be damaged or torn. These tears are dangerous because of their high pain level and long-term healing time. Tears can also affect a player’s long-term ability to play.
Concussions – Even though players wear helmets, concussions can still occur. Concussions are the result of a traumatic hit to the head and can have serious effects on the player. When in doubt, players should take the bench and seek medical attention.
Shoulder injuries – While shoulder pads are designed to absorb the shock of tackles, injury can still occur. Common shoulder injuries are: shoulder separation/ dislocation and shoulder tendonitis. If a player takes a direct blow below the shoulder, it can cause separation of the acromioclavicular joint. A shoulder dislocation occurs when the head of the humerus detaches from the scapula. Shoulder tendonitis occurs due to overuse from throwing.
Ankle/Foot injuries – The most common sports injury is a sprained ankle. Ankle sprains and strains are caused by soft tissue damage from pivoting, changing direction or applying pressure to the joint.
Reality check: the longer an injury is played on, the longer it takes to retrain the muscle. If you’re injured while playing a sport, please make an appointment with one of our sports medicine orthopedics – Call: 251-410-3600
Ladies your shoes are cute, but are they really worth the achy feet? Our shoes reflect our personal style, but more often than not, they aren’t good for your feet, legs and back. While shoes may show off your unique style, they can be the root cause of common discomfort in your feet, legs and back. Here are three types of shoes that could be causing you pain.
1. High Heels:
Ladies we know you love your pumps and how they make you feel, but the reality is that high heels have been found to have lasting negative effects on your feet and legs. Your favorite stilettos can cause shin splints, hair-line fractures, and even a sprained ankle. There are safer alternatives such as wearing lower 3/4 chunky heel or wearing a commuter shoe (a pair of sneakers or tennis shoes).
2. Flip Flops:
Flip flops are the go to shoe for comfort seekers but the truth is wearing flip flops can tear and inflame the plantar fascia, which is an important tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. If you just have to wear flip flops, buy a pair that are fitted and provide ample arch support to contour to the shape of your foot.
3. Flat shoes:
We all want to embody the effortless style of Audrey Hepburn’s ballet flats, but like high heels, flats can have negative effects on your feet. Flats are like their description; they have no arch support and have less cushioning than normal shoes. Wearing flats often can lead to the ligaments and tendons in your feet to overstretch and collapse, which is the cause of your achy feet.
The next time you buy shoes, keep this in mind: always buy shoes that provide ample support. You don’t have to substitute style, you can take simple steps like buying insoles for your flats and heels to give you the support those shoes lack.
