Up Your Game Without Harming Your Feet
If you’ve established a regular sports or fitness regimen, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle applaud you. There are many benefits to your feet and the rest of your body that come from consistent and ongoing exercise. These include: maintaining a healthy weight, improving circulation, keeping flexibility and range of motion in your feet and ankles. After a while, you may start to think about kicking your sports activity up a notch. This can be helpful if done correctly, and disastrous for your podiatric health if done poorly. Below are some do’s and don’ts for increasing your fitness workout without hurting your feet and ankles.
Do: make changes gradually. Intensifying your workout too much in too short a period is likely to result in an overuse injury such as Achilles tendonitis, shin splints or an ankle sprain. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Do: get old injuries and chronic podiatric conditions checked. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, will want to give you a podiatric checkup before you increase the duration and difficulty level of your sport or exercise program. The podiatrist can advise you about stretches to help reduce the risk of injury and warning signs to be alert to that will let you know you’re overdoing it. If you have an orthotic device, the foot doctor will also be sure that it still fits properly.
Don’t: use shoes from one sport to play another. Today’s sports shoes are designed to accommodate the specific movements to your feet. If you are starting a new sport, visit a sports shoe store and get your feet professionally measured.
Don’t: forget to stretch before and after exercise. Wait until your muscles are warmed up to stretch. This can significantly reduce the risk of injuries.
Don’t: continue to exercise or play a sport if you are experiencing foot or ankle pain. Contact our Spring Hill (352 683-5799) or Hudson (727-868-2128) office to find out the source of the discomfort and what to do to prevent an injury or chronic foot problem from developing.