Top Tips for Preventing Foot and Ankle Injuries



Top Tips for Preventing Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are very common among people of all ages. Young as well as old people can face ankle and foot injuries due to sports, sprains and strains that are not only uncomfortable and painful but also cause problems in walking.

Foot and ankle injuries take place when the ankle turns in more than it should. The ankle bones are connected with help of ligaments and when a ligament is stretched or torn, it results in a sprain. Ligaments are tough bands of tissues but due to excessive stress, they can tear and cause problem.

Of all the areas, foot and ankle are the most sensitive when it comes to movement and any sprain or injury to these parts can be most problematic. Even small injury can impair mobility and can take weeks to heal and in addition to this, also affect a number of daily activities. No injury can be entirely avoided but it can be prevented or its impact can be reduced with a little care and attention.

Here are some top tips on avoiding foot and ankle injuries that will help to maintain healthy and strong feet:

Flexibility, strength and good balance is important for preventing ankle sprains. In case, you suffer from weak bones or weak ankle, the best thing to do in case is to wear an ankle brace or put a tape over the ankle when running or exercising so that it does not take stress.

These injuries mostly take place during sports especially while running and playing tennis and soccer so it is significant to take care during sports. The best way to do this is to lightly stretch or jog for two to three minutes to warm up the muscles as stretching the muscles with a bouncing motion can result in injury.

It is important to realize and pay attention to the amount of time spent on the activity; any activity whether it is walking, running or stretching the time should be gradually increased over a period of weeks to strengthen the muscles and their mobility.  Sudden movements or jerks to the muscles result in injury and building muscle strength can help immensely in this regard.

The best means to support foot and ankle is by choosing shoes specifically meant for your foot type. It is because different people have different foot sizes and shapes. There are people with pronate or low arches who need shoes that provide support in both the front or the shoe and under the arch as the heel and heel counter should be very stable. Those with stiffer foot or high arches should go for shoes that have more cushion and soft platform and sport specific shoes should be used for utmost comfort and easy movement.

Another means of avoiding foot and ankle injury is to avoid running or stepping on uneven surfaces such as rocky terrain and hills with loose gravel. Holes, tree stumps and roots are also a big problem for people who run on such surfaces as they are a major hazard and lead to falls or sprains that can be very painful.

In the same manner, running uphill is one task that should be taken seriously as running carelessly can result in fall and lead to ankle and foot problem; running too fast downhill can also cause injuries in case you lose balance and fall down.

If you have already suffered any ankle or foot injury in the past, it is important to avoid further injuries by using a brace or tape because recurring injuries might become complications and lead to pain in the long run.

The best thing to do in order to prevent foot and ankle injury is by understanding the factors that can lead to these injuries and avoid them for safety.  It is only with help of foot and ankle treatment - foot and ankle clinic in NY that you can find out about the best means to avoid these problems and seek the best medical attention in case.

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