Learning to Spot Some Common Sports Injuries
If you’re an athlete, you might think that your most valued gear is a racquet, or a stick, or a pair of shoes…but you’d be wrong. Any athlete’s most important piece of equipment is a strong, flexible, healthy body. When something goes wrong with your body, you can’t play. Your feet and ankles are particularly vulnerable to injuries.
Common problems include:
Stress fractures: Unlike a break caused by an accident or another trauma, a stress fracture is the result of prolonged low-intensity injury to a bone. It begins as a hairline fracture. Initially you might notice discomfort that intensifies with activity and abates with rest but, eventually the pain won’t go away and may interfere with your ability to walk, run, or play.
Sprained ankles: These can result from a fall or a sudden movement that over stretches or even tears the ligaments in the ankle. Be alert to tenderness or pain that makes it hard to bear weight on the affected leg. You might need to take time off from sports or use crutches for a few weeks while you recover.
Small illnesses and injuries such as toenail fungus, ingrown toenails or blisters can cause pain and make it hard to play at your best. Take steps to stay safe. Wear inexpensive sandals in locker rooms and showers and on pool desks. Trim toenails with a clipper, rather than scissors, and trim straight across. Do not round the corners. Replace running shoes every six months or 500 miles, whichever comes first.
Of course, the best thing that you can do for your feet is to maintain an ongoing relationship with your podiatrist. With years of specialized training and experience, a board-certified podiatrist like Dr. James M. McKee is a medical specialist and the best-qualified professional to diagnose and treat any illness or injury of your feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Schedule a convenient appointment in Podiatry Group of Annapolis, P.A.’s modern, comfortable office on Solomons Island Road. Call our friendly staff at 410-224-4448 or click here to get started today.