“A wood or wood-like rigid sole can be excellent because of its intrinsic structure, creating a topographic map for your foot,” said Dr. David Levine. “Many clogs have a heel or a thickness in the back. That little elevation can help to relax the calf muscles.”

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According to Dr. Levine, who did not treat Holmgren, “A Lisfranc injury is a sprain (tear) of the ligaments that tightly hold the multiple Midfoot bones together. Normally, the Midfoot is a stable, immobile part of the foot when compared to the mobile/flexible Hindfoot (Ankle) or the Forefoot (ball of the foot/toes). If this injury is a minor/low-grade sprain, the Midfoot remains stable and surgery is not necessary. However, when the injury is a high-grade sprain, the stability of the Midfoot has been compromised. These injuries do not do well left alone and surgical treatment is necessary to restore the normal Midfoot stability.”

He explained, “While there are still those Lisfranc injuries that occur in car accidents and falls from a height, more and more these injuries are seen in sports. Classically, an athlete is running, jumping, leaping or landing and comes down ‘awkwardly’ (on someone else’s foot, for example). The Midfoot ‘buckles’ tearing the Lisfranc ligaments. The result in an ‘unstable’ Midfoot which is painful and unable to bear weight.”

Dr. Levine added, “The risk to future performance is the development of arthritis in the Midfoot. Midfoot arthritis causes pain and an inability to efficiently transmit power from the muscles of the leg to the ball of the foot for push-off.  This can manifest as a negative impact on quickness. The result could be less effectiveness on offense or defense or both.”

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He added that vigorous exercises activates muscles, stimulates brain activity, and causes the release of endorphins.

“Regular exercise, such as cycling, does have a positive impact on the immune system,” noted Dr. Levine.

Another benefit might be to rehabilitate an injury. “Depending on the nature of an injury, exercise such as cycling can be particularly helpful,” he said.

According to Dr. Levine, “As an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon, I often surgically repair broken ankles. While these patients are unable to walk early in their recovery, stationary bicycling promotes muscle function and avoids atrophy. It also maintains the motion of an injured or repaired ankle joint and is helpful for cartilage preservation and nutrition. Of course, one should check with their physician before beginning a vigorous exercise program. That said, responsible, progressive, low impact exercise is rarely contraindicated.”

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Raised hormone levels cause women to retain water while expecting, which leads to swelling and bloating (also known as edema). The body needs this extra fluid to carry nutrients and oxygen to your baby, explained Dr. Levine.

Typically, fluid retention is most pronounced in the feet, ankles, and calves because the uterus puts pressure on the veins that carry blood back from the lower body. This partially blocks blood flow, keeping fluid in the legs and feet. Blood vessels are also the smallest in the foot and ankle, added Dr. Levine, so the body has difficulty accommodating the extra fluid pouring in there.

Read the full article at Parents.com.