Preventing Foot and Ankle Injuries

Are you ever concerned about causing injuries to your lower extremities? Here are some helpful tips that will help with preventing injury. 

  1. Make sure to warm up before all sports: Lightly stretch or better yet, do a slow jog for two to three minutes to warm up the muscles. But make sure you’re not forcing the stretch with a "bouncing motion."
  2. Choose athletic shoes specifically for your foot type: Consult your Podiatrist for a list of shoes that are doctor recommended. Also make sure to replace your shoes when the tread is starting to wear. Typically, a regular runner should be replacing their shoes every six months or so.
  3. Avoid running or stepping on uneven surfaces: Try to be careful on rocky terrain or hills with loose gravel. Holes, tree stumps and roots are problems if you are trail running, this also includes to make sure you’re not running too many hills.
  4. Prevent recurrent injuries: Athletes who have experienced ankle injuries previously may benefit from using a brace or tape to prevent recurrent ankle injuries.
  5. Listen to your body: If you experience foot and ankle pain during a sport, stop the activity or modify the activity until the pain subsides. Also, if you have been injured, you should go through a period of rehabilitation and training before returning to the sport to prevent recurrent injuries.

If you are experiencing any type of foot or ankle pain, make sure to schedule an appointment at our office.

Author
Associated Podiatrists PC

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