By Nancy Dickenson

Aching feet are a source of complaint for many of us: We expect our feet to get us where we need to go and often abuse them in the process. Runners, in particular, subject their feet to a pounding that leads to a high rate of pain and injury.

A new video, “The Runner’s Foot: Common Foot Injuries, Diagnosis and Treatment,” features Dr. James Ratcliff, a podiatrist at the Menlo Medical Clinic and an avid runner himself, speaking about common injuries and ailments that challenge those who run for sport and fitness. Ratcliff also discusses treatment options and answers audience questions.

While focused on exercise-related injury, the foot disorders Ratcliff discusses are common to many non-runners, too. The complaints addressed include: plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, Morton’s neuroma, black toes and metatarsal stress fractures and bursitis.

In the video, Ratcliff recommends treatment modalities for each condition, ranging from stretching and massage to icing, orthotic inserts and surgery. He stresses the importance of appropriate footwear and discusses desirable features people should look for when buying shoes and socks. Since many of the treatments are similar for a number of the disorders, portions of the talk may seem repetitive. However, the information Ratcliff provides is so practical, easily understood and valuable, it’s worth paying attention to the entire talk. He provides people with tools to help themselves resolve simple foot problems and gives guidance about knowing when to seek professional care.

Runners looking for more in-depth information about broader medical issues will be interested in the “Textbook of Running Medicine,” edited by Francis G. O’Connor, Robert P. Wilder and Robert Nirschl (McGraw-Hill, 2001). This book provides in-depth clinical information about the medical needs of runners, including injury management, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, surgery, and prevention regimens.

“The Runner’s Foot” in either DVD or VHS format, the “Textbook of Running Medicine” and a number of other sports medicine books and videos are available on loan from the Stanford Health Library. The library has three branches: in the Stanford Shopping Center, on the third floor of Stanford Hospital and on the main floor of Stanford’s new outpatient Cancer Center.

Ratcliff recently presented a talk titled “The Runner’s Foot” as part of Stanford University Hospital’s community education program.

It was part of an ongoing series of lectures, open to the public, that feature Stanford-affiliated physicians and health care professionals discussing the latest information on a variety of medical issues.

A number of community education programs have been taped and are available to the public as part of the Stanford Health Video Library. Videos in the series are available for purchase, in either DVD or VHS format, for $29.95 each, from the Stanford Health Library.

For more information or to purchase a video, call (888) 232-0439 or logon to healthlibrary.stanford.edu/videolibrary.

Nancy Dickenson is the manager of library services at Stanford Health Library. She can be reached at 736-1713.