Powerful Physical Therapy

5 Tips For Caring For Your Ankles And Feet As An Athlete

8 September 2019 by Clifford Ramos

From corns and athlete's foot to rolled ankles and Achilles tendinitis, as a physically active individual, you are potentially at risk for developing an assortment of ailments. Issues like these can cause you pain and discomfort as well as get in the way of your performance training. Luckily, you can take a few preventative measures to protect yourself. Here are five of them.

Wear Good Shoes

The shoes that you wear on your feet should fit well and be comfortable while leaving enough room that you can wiggle your toes, though you don't want your shoes to slip off your heels. In addition, according to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, you should replace your shoes every 300 to 500 miles of walking/running or every 45 to 60 hours of sports like tennis and basketball.

Watch Out for Excess Moisture

Fungi, like those that result in athlete's foot, tend to thrive in damp, moist environments. Therefore, it is important to change out of sweaty socks and shoes immediately after exercising. The best thing that you can do is invest in moisture-wicking socks. After bathing, make sure to thoroughly dry your feet, particularly between the toes.

Stretch Prior to and Following Physical Activities

Stretching is a very important part of warming up and cooling down during exercise sessions, but it is also important for proper ankle and foot care. For instance, Achilles tendinitis can occur as a result of calf muscles being improperly stretched.

Rest When Necessary

If you begin to notice signs of discomfort and fatigue in your feet, shins, or knees, don't keep going; take a break. Rest, apply some ice, and elevate the area that is hurting. If you try to push through the injuries, such as a strained tendon, you can rest assured that the condition is only going to get worse with time. Simply take a short break from your training, and if necessary and possible, see a doctor.

Attend to Calluses, Corns, and Blisters

To ensure that you don't end up with an infection, make sure that you take care of sores on a regular basis. You don't want to mess with blisters, but you should cover them with a bandage. In the event the blister pops, wash it thoroughly, apply an antiseptic ointment, and then cover it with a bandage. You should never try to remove corns or calluses yourself; instead, make an appointment with a podiatrist.

For more information, check out websites like http://www.elmhurstpodiatry.com.

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