"With this problem, the heel kind of goes out to the side and foot collapses down," said Elizabeth A. Cody, MD, foot and ankle surgeon at HSS. Hutchings explained that high-speed driving and intense pain do not mix on a racetrack."There's a technique we call heal and toe. You put the ball of your foot on the brake pedal, and you roll your foot to touch the gas pedal to raise the revs to match when we downshift and I actually go to do it and my foot won't move," he said.

Dr. Cody proposed that Hutchings have reconstruction surgery."His deformity was so bad, I had to fuse some of the bones together. It's such a big surgery, it's totally changing the shape of the foot and the primary goal of this surgery is to get you walking and standing pain free again, but I can't promise that you'll go back to racing cars," she said.

Watch the full segment at longisland.news12.com.

“Low-profile total ankle replacements have proliferated in recent years, for good reasons. They have less bone resection than earlier implants, they're generally simpler and easier techniques and most of them have patient-specific cutting guides, which can make the procedure even simpler,” said Dr. Cody. 

Read the full article at healio.com.

AOFAS member Dr. Cody is the recipient of the Career Development Award, which recognizes the professional aspirations and commitment of early- and mid-career female foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons.

“Dr. Cody is already a leader in our field only five years into practice,” wrote Scott J. Ellis, MD, Dr. Cody's colleague at HSS, in his nomination letter. “In any setting, I have found her to always provide a rational voice, stand up for what she believes, but also work well with others.”

Dr. Cody has authored more than 40 publications, including peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters. In the AOFAS, she serves as Vice Chair for the Public Education Committee and as an Assistant Editor for Contemporary Reviews, Managerial Board Member, and Reviewer for Foot & Ankle International.

“While awards like this are a means of recognition, they have the effect of inspiring excellence,” Dr. Cody said. “I have continued to be inspired by past recipients of the Women's Leadership Awards, who make me want to do more and be better. I hope to do the same for others following in my footsteps.”

Read the full article at aofas.org. 

Whether you're an avid weight lifter, runner, or HIIT enthusiast, some level of muscle soreness is probably inevitable. And if you’re training for a marathon, a few (or a lot of) aches is pretty much par for the (literal) course. That said, there are research- and expert-backed ways to help sore muscles, even if they won't spare you the discomfort altogether.

Your feet work very hard when you run, and you place a lot of stress on the multiple small joints in the foot,” said Dr. Cody. “And just like the other muscles in your legs, the little muscles in your feet can get overworked and sore.” In addition to massage (again!), here are four other strategies Dr. Cody recommends:

• Recovery sandals: “These have very thick, cushioned soles to take stress off the foot,” Dr. Cody said. 
• Foot exercises: “Working on strengthening the little intrinsic muscles of the foot is very important for runners,” advised Dr. Cody. Try to push your toes down to the ground without curling them or use your toes to pick up marbles.
• Stiffer sneaks: “The more flexible the sole of the shoe, the harder your little foot muscles will have to work,” Dr. Cody explained. 

Read the full article at womenshealthmag.com. 

According to Dr. Cody, the key is to look for a “thicker, stiffer sole.” How to identify that? “You can test the stiffness of the shoe by trying to bend it from heel to toe,” she said. “A stiff shoe will be very difficult to bend.”

Then look for breathable fabrics like light wool and canvas rather than, say, leather, and a cut that dips cleanly below the ankle bone. 

And finally, as with all shoes, wear them before you pack them. It’s the only real way to know if you can walk that way. 

Read the full article at nytimes.com. 

Dr. Cody noted an uptick in foot problems during the pandemic, given people have been spending more time at home barefoot, which puts added strain on the ligaments and tendons that support the arch and ankle, or going for long walks and runs after months of limited activity. She is also seeing rising numbers of foot and ankle injuries among young athletes who train more intensely for sports.

The most common foot and ankle conditions she encounters are flatfoot deformities, foot/ankle arthritis, ankle replacement surgery and bunions, which require various types of treatment options.

Read the full article at Greenwichsentinel.com.

According to Dr. Cody, “A lot of people think walking barefoot shouldn't be a problem, but actually walking barefoot can exacerbate a number of foot problems.” Examples could include plantar fasciitis, foot arthritis, tendinitis, a collapsed arch, a bunion, or hammer toe.

Dr. Cody explained that upon aging, it's normal for foot ligaments to stretch out and tendons to degenerate based on the stress put on the feet.

“Generally, a shoe that feels comfortable, is supportive, and doesn't bend too easily tends to be the better type of shoe for a majority of people,” noted Dr. Cody on the type of shoe to wear at home.

Read the full article at Health.com. Additional coverage: Womansworld.com.

Dr. Cody explained, “We found that the MIS procedures used less OR time, but there were no significant differences in radiographic outcomes – contrary to our hypothesis. There were no significant differences in PROMIS outcomes or satisfaction.”

Read the full article at Healio.com/news/orthopedics.

Dr. Cody explained, “A lightweight running shoe can mean either that it’s actually light in terms of weight and how it feels on your foot and body, or that it is on trend with the ‘minimalist’ style for running shoes.”

Dr. Cody does not recommend a minimalist (low cushion) shoe for people with foot pain, plantar fasciitis, arthritis or a foot injury, but generally speaking, “lightweight” running shoes are good for most people because less weight on the feet means less energy spent when running.

“People with foot pain or other foot issues just need to make sure they pick a lightweight running shoe that also has a good, thick, stiff sole with lots of cushion,” she added.

Read the full article at Womenshealth.com.

"A bunion is the result of your first metatarsal bone gradually shifting out of alignment," explained Dr. Cody. "As the first metatarsal shifts, the big toe in turn starts shifting the opposite direction, towards your other toes." She continued, "If left unaddressed, a bunion can lead to other problems such as hammertoes, other second toe deformities like a 'crossover' toe, and mid-foot arthritis," adding, "You may also get more pain under the ball of your foot."

According to Dr. Cody, "If you notice that you have a bump over the side of your big toe that is painful and rubs in shoes, you probably have a bunion.” She cited, “Your big toe rubbing against your second toe, even when you don't have shoes on, is another sign."

To prevent them from ever forming in the first place, Dr. Cody advised, "Wearing shoes that give your toes space and don't squeeze your feet is probably the best thing you can do!"

Read the full article at Allure.com.

Dr. Cody wrote most bunions do not cause people pain, suggesting the best way to avoid pain (and surgery) is to wear comfortable footwear. However, for some patients, when their bunions cause pain on a daily basis, and comfortable shoe options are limited, discussions of surgery is warranted.

Dr. Cody concludes by saying bunion correction surgery is not a “one size fits all” approach, and advises those who are considering surgery to get evaluation from an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon trained in multiple techniques.

Read the full article at DailyVoice.com.