Treatment Options for Bunions
A bunion--that's what your grandmother had on her foot.
Follow tips from our foot care specialists to prevent sports-related foot and ankle problems.
You wouldn’t believe the number of ankle and foot injuries we see in athletes each and every year. Many of them could have been avoided if the right measures had been taken. When it comes to athleticism, Dr. Robert Anderson and Dr. Erik Thelander's goal as your Aurora, CO, podiatrists is to make sure that you are doing everything you can both on and off the field, court or running trail to keep yourself healthy and injury-free. Here are just some ways to prevent foot and ankle issues,
Regular Training is Essential
Regular exercise is important for your health; however, those who might be a bit eager to begin a new activity may suddenly find themselves pushing their bodies to the extreme too quickly. It’s important that during the off-season you are still keeping yourself fit and healthy with regular exercise as well as keeping your skill sets sharp. Remember that it takes time to progress, so avoid suddenly increasing the duration or intensity of a workout (which can lead to overuse injuries).
Always Warm-Up
Dynamic stretching helps keep muscles, ligaments, and other parts of the body limber and warm. Going out onto the field completely cold could increase your chances for strains, sprains, and other injuries. All it takes is about 5-7 minutes of running in place and moving through different stretches to get the blood flowing and to get your body pumped and ready for activity.
Wear the Proper Footwear
The shoes you wear should be designed to support your specific activity. This includes everything from shoes designed for the basketball court, the soccer field or long-distance running. Shoes should provide ample support, stabilization, and cushioning to reduce shock absorption.
Know When to Get New Shoes
Shoes aren’t meant to last forever and it’s important to know when to throw in the towel and get a new pair. If you are a runner a good rule of thumb is to toss out those shoes about every 6 months or every 300-450 miles. Weightlifters can get away with replacing their athletic shoes about once a year. If you are training the same rule applies as it does for runners: get a new pair of shoes every six months.
Consider Custom Orthotics
Even with the ideal footwear, you may still need to turn to our Aurora foot doctors for custom shoe inserts, which can provide additional support and protection for your feet while also improving certain structural imbalances to reduce your chances for injury. Ask us if orthotics are right for you.
Here at Centennial Foot and Ankle Specialists, we are dedicated to providing only the highest quality podiatry services to our Aurora, CO, patients. No matter whether you are dealing with a sports-related injury or you just want to discuss the other services we have to offer, don’t hesitate to call us today.