Useful Tips to Prevent Sports Injuries of the Feet
Playing sports and strenuous exercise can lead to additional pressure and unusual forces on your feet and ankles. In fact, anyone who plays a sport will be familiar with the risk of physical injuries of the feet and ankles, including the significant risk of the injury reoccurring if not treated and managed properly.
Minor injuries of the feet can lead to more serious foot and heal pain and will impede in your ability to participate during training and reduce your performance. It is vitally important to prioritise sports injury management to increase performance levels and ensure overall well-being.
The Essendon Podiatry Clinic has a long association in helping sports people with foot related injury treatment. You’ll be glad to know that Essendon Podiatry has specialist training and equipment to help athletes get back to their optimal performance levels.
As the adage goes, prevention is the best cure. An athlete might be fortunate enough to remain injury free throughout their career, but certain steps need to be taken to prevent injuries from occurring. The following are tips on decreasing the chances of sports-related injuries of the feet:
- Warm Up
Do not forget to set aside time for warm-ups. Looking after your feet consists of a wholistic approach and athletes need to include upper leg, feet and ankle stretches before starting any physical activity or sport. Stretching should have a permanent position in any athlete’s routine. A combination of both dynamic and static stretching will loosen the muscles sufficiently and subsequently prepare them for the upcoming activity. Static stretching involves staying in the same position for a considerable amount of time. Meanwhile, dynamic motions require constant body movement.
2. Hydrate
This can be seen as a common health advice, but athletes are often at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses. It is imperative that they consume adequate water every single day. It will also be useful to replenish lost electrolytes by drinking a sports drink after a workout. This is especially true during days when the weather is hot and humid. Heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration are all valid concerns when the training is done under the sun.
3. Be familiar with the rules
Rules have been put in place to ensure fairness, as well as to keep players, umpires, and spectators safe during games. This piece of advice is geared towards beginners, but sometimes even veterans need to be reminded of the rules. Doping can cause serious health risks, for one thing. Disregard for the rules might lead to unfortunate incidents, such as disqualification, accidents, and negative performance.
4. Acquire proper equipment
Having foot and heal pain will dramatically impact on your sporting performance. This rings true for all kinds of sports. It is important to get quality advice and ensure that your feet are getting the care you deserve. Customised podiatry solutions that offer the best protection may be pricier than the other products in the market, but the benefits will eventually offset the financial investment
5. Rest!
A lot of professional athletes emphasizse hard work, but it is important to distinguish diligence from stubbornness. One can only reap the rewards of the former when they are in a healthy condition. A lack of sleep, muscle fatigue, and stress can be a dangerous combination. These conditions often lead to an impaired sense of judgement. Rest is a vital component of a good training regimen.
These tips will prove to be useful if one has the foresight to conduct independent research. While the items on the list will definitely lessen the likelihood of injury, it is impossible to foresee the future. When accidents happen, the best thing to do is to recognise the early signs of trouble and seek help as soon as possible.
If you have ongoing problems with foot and heal pain, please contact our friendly staff at the Essendon Podiatry Clinic to arrange an appointment or simple book an appointment online.
