Athletes - Educate Yourself On Sports Podiatry And Athletic Foot Injuries

As active individuals, whether you are participating in sports or are a weekend warrior

, we place a lot of stress and tension on our feet and ankles. With baseball season beginning, you may be outside more often than in the winter months. Sports podiatry allows you to participate in your favorite sport this spring. Whether you are in tune with the baseball season, or you simply enjoy recreational sports such as basketball and football, or even cycling, you can protect your feet and ankles from injury with help from your podiatrist in Scottsdale.

What is Sports Podiatry?

Sports podiatry treats injuries of the foot, ankle and leg by altering lower limb function. Different methods are used to obtain this, including orthotics, footwear recommendations and exercises. A sports podiatrist will also analyze the way the foot strikes the ground and the chain of motion from the foot, knee, hip and back - from the ground up. By doing this, your sports podiatrist in Scottsdale will determine whether there are any mechanical imbalances that may be contributing to your injury.

Maintaining correct alignment within the lower limb is important to limit the stress placed on your body, as well as maintaining good posture. Any problems with the position of your feet during stance are exaggerated during walking and are further increased during sport activity. A sports podiatrist is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of foot problems. However, because of the foot's unique interaction with the lower limb sports podiatrists are often involved in the treatment of injuries affecting the ankle, shins, knees, hips and lower back.

Common Athletic Foot Injuries

In many sports, the foot absorbs tremendous shearing and loading forces, sometimes reaching over 20 times the person's body weight. Injuries are part of the game with any sport, with some injuries more common than others. Some common athletic foot injuries include ankle sprains, Achilles tendon rupture, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures.

Characterized by pain in the bottom of the foot, plantar fasciitis, or heel pain, is one of the most common complaints seen by podiatrists today. The degenerative tearing of the tissue on the bottom of the heel hurts when weight is applied, and generally hurts with the first steps you take in the morning and after getting out of a chair during the day.

A stress fracture is an overuse injury to the bone, and is caused by repeated physical activity in an abnormally shaped foot, abnormal muscle/tendon length, or in abnormal bone biology. Sometimes it is from too much forced activity, which is found in athletic programs without adequate rest and in the military.

Unlike a stress fracture, an ankle sprain is by far the most common sports related injury with approximately 25,000 occurring every day. Stretching and/or tearing of the ligaments around the ankle joints cause sprains. While you can accommodate for the ankle injury, activity levels are affected, especially cutting and twisting motions required for most sports. If treatment is not sought, ankle sprains can become a recurring injury.

Find Relief and Support with Orthotics

Also known as orthoses, orthotics refers to any device inserted into a shoe, ranging from felt pads to custom-made shoe inserts that correct an abnormal or irregular, walking pattern. Your sports podiatrist might recommend a custom orthotic to better protect and support your feet while participating in various sports or other athletic events. Orthotics come in all shapes, sizes, and materials to change foot function, protect your feet, and to combine function with protection.

By visiting your podiatrist in Scottsdale you can better protect your feet from common injuries while participating in various sports this season. Whether you are a baseball all-star, or a weekend warrior, your podiatrist specializes in the ability to protect and treat your feet.

by: Gen Wright

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