Foot Health For Athletes: Insights From Sports Medicine Experts In NY
Foot Injuries Are Common These Days. If It Gets Injured, You Will Find Yourself In A Dangerous Situation. Athletes Are Particularly Prone To Such Injuries Because They Train Vigorously To Compete In Sports Like Marathons, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Etc. They May Not Injure Themselves During Training, But Once They Are On The Field Or Court, They Become Vulnerable.
New York Produces Athletes On An Everyday Basis. They Undergo Herculean Training Sessions And Compete Against The Best Opponents Worldwide. As Time Goes By, These Athletes Elicit Dangerous Foot Health Issues.
Here, Sports Podiatry Comes Into Play. It Is A Branch Of Medicine Concerned With The Feet. All The Athletes Around The World Are Somewhat Under Duress. It Is Natural To Feel Anxious; However, If Athletes Feel Something In Their Feet, The Sports Podiatrists Must Check Them For Potential Injuries.
Foot Problems And Relevant Treatments
Sports Medicine Podiatrists Preach About Foot Care In Their Line Of Work. First And Foremost, Athletes Are Inclined To Work On Their Mobility To Ensure Better Performance. If They Don’t, They Will Face Long-Term Complications, Including The Major Ones: Bunions, Fasciitis, Metatarsalgia, And Heel Spurs.
Bunions
A Bunion Is A Painful Swelling Of The Bursa Of The First Joint Of The Big Toe. Bunions Are Caused By Repeated Pressure On The Feet, Squeezing The Big Toe So Intensely That It Gets Diverted To The Second Toe. This Pressure Occurs When Athletes Wear Tight Sneakers. When You Wear Such Narrow Sneakers, Every Movement Of Athletes Will Invite The Risks Of Bumps, Callus, And Tenderness.
Treatment
Sports Injury Doctors In NY Are Just Around The Corner To Help You Out. The Treatment Plan For Bunions Is Usually Nonsurgical. It Involves Conservative Treatment, Meaning That Preventive Measures Are Enough To Heal An Athlete.
What Your Podiatrist Will Do:
Prescribe Customized Shoes.
Insert A Splint In The Shoes. It Is An Orthopedic Mechanical Device Used To Immobilize And Protect Your Overall Leg.
Perform Surgery If The Measures Don’t Suffice.
What You Will Do:
Wear Shoes That Are The Right Fit.
Reduce Your Movements.
Do Rehabilitative Exercises.
Put A Pillow Below Your Feet While Asleep.
Manage Your Body Weight.
Fasciitis
It Is The Inflammation Of The Fascia. Fascia Is A Band Of Fibrous Connective Tissue Separating Or Binding Together Muscles And Organs. In This Case, The Heel Bones Are Connected To Your Toe’s Base. Its Inflammation Is What We Call “Plantar Fasciitis” Which Is Caused By Working Out On Hard Surfaces And Overloading Your Sole.
Treatment
The Cure For Fasciitis Also Includes Conservative Treatment Or At-Home Treatment Which Athletes Can Opt For. Fasciitis Does Not Necessarily Stop You From Exercising, But Sports Medicine Podiatrists Recommend Taking Precautionary Measures.
What Your Podiatrist Will Do:
Prescribe NSAIDs Or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.
Conduct Physical Therapy If The Situation Calls.
Give Steroid Injections To Bring Down Inflammation.
What You Will Do:
Properly Stretch Your Foot Before Exercising.
Wear Supportive Or Custom-Made Shoes.
Put Ice On The Inflamed Area.
Metatarsalgia
The Metatarsus Is The Skeleton Of The Foot Between The Toes And The Tarsus. If It Gets Injured, It Is Either Called Metatarsalgia Or Painful Metatarsal. It Is Caused By Extreme Physical Training, And Possibly By Thickening Of The Tissue In The Nerve That Is Directed Towards Your Toe. This Thickening Of The Nerve Refers To Morton’s Neuroma Which, In All Seriousness, Causes A Burning Sensation In A Portion Between Your Arch And Toes Called A “Ball”.
Treatment
Painful Metatarsal Can Be Made Healthy With The Combination Of Conservative Treatment And Your Sports Podiatrist’s Recommendations.
What Your Podiatrist Will Do:
Provide Orthosis In Modified Shoes. Orthosis Is A Type Of Brace That Either Prevents Or Assists Movement Of A Limb Or The Spine.
Realign Metatarsal Bones Through Surgery.
What You Will Do:
Avoid Standing And Walking For Too Long.
Raise Your Foot After Standing And Walking To Readjust Circulation.
Wear Custom-Fit Insoles.
Heel Spurs
A Heel Spur Is A Heel Pain Is A Bony Outgrowth Caused By Natural Prolongation Of Calcium. The Bone’s Lengthening Under Your Heel, Resulting In Sharp Discomfort. Many Athletes Wonder How They Developed This Pain Under Their Heels. Well, The Answer Is The Injuries That Have Extended Over A Long Time Of Their Sports Careers. Athletes May Have Jogged Or Ran Beyond Their Capacities.
Treatment
The Spurs Can Be Quite Painful. Not Many Athletes Face Heel Spurs, But Those Who Have Been Playing For So Many Years Are Likely To Experience Them.
What Your Podiatrist Will Do:
Suggest OTC Or Over-The-Counter Medications.
Carry Out Physical Therapy.
Surgically Remove The Spur If Needed.
What You Will Do:
Start Losing Excess Body Weight.
Compress With Ice,
Take Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Prescribed By Your Sports Injury Podiatrist In NY.
Bottom Line
Foot Health For Athletes Is Essential To Their General Health, Happiness, And Career. The Quality Of Moving Freely Is The Core Of All Athletes Who Play Competitive Sports.
Injuries Have Ways To Find You. Therefore, It Is Vital For You To Be Aware Of The Pros And Cons Of Your Sports And Remain Steadfast Throughout Your Career.
In Sports Podiatry, Doctors Advise You To Regularly Visit The Health Facility And Get Examined. These Regulations Are There To Save You From Life-Threatening Conditions That Can Cost You Your Career As An Athlete. Even If You’re Not In Your Athletic Pursuit, It’s In Your Best Interest To Take Care Of Your Foot Health.
