Whether you’re a serious athlete or you just play sports for fun, you’re at risk of injuring yourself.
And whether you’re kicking a ball, running on pavement or dancing, your feet are always among the hardest working parts of your body. If you’re not careful, you risk an injury to your foot or ankle.
Here’s how to lower your risk of injury.
Warm up before you train. Stretching and warming up the muscles before exercise keeps them flexible and extends their range of motion. This means they’ll be less likely to be injured during physical activity. Start with a slow jog and then perform some dynamic stretching to wake your feet up and get them ready to train.
Wear the right shoes. The shoes you wear can make a huge difference in terms of performance and injury reduction. Choose a shoe that suits your foot type and was designed for your sport. Finally, be sure to get a new pair when the old ones look worn out. Old shoes won’t provide proper support, which can lead to injuries.
Stick to a routine. Exercising consistently allows you to build and maintain your strength while reducing the risk that you’ll hurt yourself. You should also be sure to work each muscle group equally to avoid being stronger in some areas than others.
Stretch after a workout. The cool-down stretch is even more important than warming up. Slowly taper the intensity of your training session until you come to a stop. Be sure to stretch each muscle for a few minutes, concentrating on your ankles and feet. This will help promote circulation and reduce lactic acid buildup.
Stop if you feel pain. Continuing to train while you’re in pain will only cause you to injure yourself more. Instead, stop or alter your training until you no longer feel the pain. If you have sprained or injured your foot or ankle, a trip to the podiatrist’s office can help determine the cause of the injury and the specialist can help you find the solution.
Visit our foot health centre in Calgary
If you’ve suffered an injury to your foot or ankle that’s stopping you from doing the things you love, the specialist at Dalhousie Station Foot Clinic can help. Our foot doctor regularly treats sports injuries for Calgary athletes of all sorts and will help you get back in the game in no time. Call us today to make an appointment.