Most sporting activities place considerable stress on the feet. They are hence at the highest risk of various kinds of injuries. Whether you are a professional or an amateur athlete, foot injuries will significantly affect your ability to engage in active sports and reduce your enjoyment of life due to the associated pain. Although there are different management options for foot-related injuries, some are inefficient and will, in fact, lead to other foot-related issues in the future.
The best solutions for foot injuries are available at a podiatry clinic in Singapore. A podiatrist will extensively examine your foot to assess the extent of an injury and use different imaging tests to generate a precise diagnosis of the issue. The following are the common types of ankle and foot injuries from sporting activities treated by podiatrists:
Ankle Sprains
Medial, lateral, and syndesmotic or high-ankle sprains are the most common ones in sporting activities. The severity of these sprains varies from mild discomfort to severe pain, which makes it virtually impossible to stand. Although mild ankle sprains can be managed using elevation, the application of ice and rest, it is essential to see a podiatrist first to assess if these conservative care approaches will work for you. Rehabilitation of your ankle’s functioning using balance training and muscle strengthening exercise is at times essential. Severe ankle sprains can be treated by immobilization with lace-up braces, taping, or air-stirrup ankle braces.
Stress Fractures
Because of the continued use of your feet when running or engaging in your sport, your feet are at higher risk of fractures from the repeated stress placed on them. These fractures are usually tiny, and pain might be the only sign of trouble with your feet or ankle. The podiatrist will diagnose a stress fracture with the presence of a small crack in your bone on X-ray. The fracture can be managed by immobilization for a short period followed by physiotherapy.
Plantar Fasciitis
Your plantar fascia is the group of tissue that supports the foot’s arch. With the continued absorption of the stress placed on it with various sports, this tissue develops a condition known as plantar fasciitis. The condition is quite common, and it affects over two million people annually. Physiotherapy is the management option used for most cases of plantar fasciitis. The common exercises that relieve pain in this condition include foot and calf stretches. These should be handled by a qualified podiatrist to avert further harm to your plantar fascia.
Heel Spurs
Athletes with high foot arches or flat feet are prone to the formation of heel spurs. These develop when the deposition of excess calcium in the heel bone results in the development of a bony protrusion. Improper footwear or gaits and running on hard surfaces are the common risk factors for heel spurs. Their management includes anti-inflammatory medications, stretching exercises, and physiotherapy.
Most athletes assume that ankle and foot pain is normal and can subside over time. The sports injuries mentioned above will, however, significantly affect your musculoskeletal health and sporting abilities when left unaddressed. As such, routine podiatrist visits are essential to managing any problems before they spiral out of control.
