Your feet are the foundation of everything you do, especially in sports. Whether you play team sports such as soccer or football, or participate in solo sports such as track, the health of your feet is key to playing the best game or giving your best performance possible. A podiatrist specializes in injuries or disorders of the feet, and consulting with a podiatrist regarding any problems or pain can only improve your game and keep you in the game instead of sidelined with acute or chronic injuries-such as ankle sprains and fracture-that may require surgery.

Understanding Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries and require prompt evaluation and treatment from your physician or podiatrist. A sprained ankle means you've torn tissue- a muscle, tendon or ligament. A sprain usually occurs following a sudden twisting movement of the foot or an awkward step on uneven surface. Pain and swelling are the best indicators that you've sprained an ankle. The severity of sprains varies, and to ensure full recovery, it's best to see an Austin podiatrist for a thorough examination.

What appears to be a sprain could actually be an ankle fracture, which requires a much different treatment than sprains. An injured ankle that doesn't heal properly or a return to activity too quickly is more likely to suffer repeated injury, like sprains and fractures. This can potentially lead to chronic ankle instability and chronic injuries. The RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) procedure should be administered right away for ankle injuries.

Understanding Fractures

Stress fractures on the other hand are usually caused by overtraining and repeated stress on a hard surface over a period of time. Most stress fractures occur in the bones in the front of the foot that attach to the toes, the metatarsal bones. The best way to treat a stress fracture is rest. This usually means taking an extended time out-usually six to eight weeks-from your routine sport to allow the bone to heal. Failing to provide an adequate amount of time for the fracture to repair itself could result in more persistent fractures and other serious foot problems in the future. It is often difficult to differentiate between a sprained ankle and a stress fracture, and an x-ray is typically necessary.

Proper Prevention can Keep You in the Game

Overuse, improper footwear or poor training causes most sport-related injuries. In order to help prevent these injuries from occurring:

*Stretch. Warm up properly before you exercise, run or begin playing a sport.
*Use caution. Pay attention when walking or running on an uneven surface.
*Support your feet. Wear shoes that offer adequate support for your foot and are designed for your specific sport and foot type.
*Build strength. Maintain good muscle strength and flexibility with proper stretching and exercising
*Don't rush. Start any new exercise program slowly, and progress gradually. Don't exercise too hard or too long.
*Play it safe. If you experience pain, remember to rest. Never ignore symptoms and signs of an injury.

Don't allow recurrent or chronic pain keep you from enjoying your favorite sport. Visit your podiatrist in Austin for an evaluation of your foot and ankle structures to find out how you can minimize injuries for your maximum performance.