Sports Podiatry

Sporting activity places greater stresses on the body's joints, bones, and soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments), eg a runner's foot, strikes the ground approx. 9500 times during a 10 km run, with a force 3-4 times their body rate! For this reason, injury is more likely to occur during sport than during everyday activity.

The best treatment for all injuries is prevention. This includes:

     General physical fitness - Research has shown that more injuries occur when an athlete is fatigued. In addition, fatigue promotes poor technique.

     Warm up & stretching before activity - A more effective stretch is achieved when the soft tissues have been warmed up. Therefore, a light jog should precede stretching. All major muscle groups must be stretched, with each stretch being held for at least 20 seconds.

      Appropriate footwear - eg: a running shoe should not be worn when playing tennis as it has poor 'side to side' stability, thus increasing the chance of an ankle sprain. Conversely, a tennis shoe does not provide a runner with enough cushioning and flexibility, making the runner more prone to overuse injuries such as shin splints and stress fractures.

     Correctly fitted footwear is essential to avoid blisters and black toenails.

     Correct training techniques.

     Correction of faulty foot function - Structural malalignment & muscular imbalances can lead to repetitive, excessive forces being placed on the structures of the feet, legs, knees, hips and lower back. Injuries which fall into this category cannot be prevented through the above steps alone.

Your podiatrist at Solace Podiatry Podiatry is qualified to detect biomechanical imbalances in the lower limb and prescribe precise, computer designed and manufactured custom made functional orthotics.

Orthotics, when worn in appropriate footwear help to restore optimal foot function.

Self Treatment of Injury

For the first 3 days following  soft tissue injury, remember RICE:
     Rest - limit activity of injured tissue.
     Ice - cover injured part with an ice pack (not frozen peas)for 15 mins, as often as possible/day
     Compression - apply with elastic bandage (or sock).
     Elevate - to promote fluid drainage.

During the following weeks restore function via a slow return to activity in conjunction with:
     Stretching
     Massage
     Padding & strapping
     Strengthening
     Anti-inflammatory therapy/medication
     Orthotics
     Heat therapy (including ultrasound therapy)

If you have any questions regarding the above information or if you would like
more information about sports podiatry, please do not hesitate to Contact
Solace Podiatry