Your Feet And Sports-how A Podiatrist Can Improve Your Performance

Foot and ankle injuries are all too common in highstrength. By analyzing the mechanics of a patient's
impacts sports, such as basketball, running andstance, postural alignment, and flexibility of the hips
football. And without proper treatment and care,and back, your podiatrist can make recommendations
minor foot pain can turn into a serious problem,for orthotics or a course of physical therapy
landing you a spot on the bench- fast.designed to strengthen core muscles and improve
A sports podiatrist is a medical professional whoalignment of your joints.
specializes in treating such sports-related foot andTreatment for Sports Injuries
ankle injuries suffered while playing a sport, includingA biomechanical evaluation will help identify any
fractures, sprains, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, heelimbalances an athlete has in terms of alignment,
pain and plantar fasciitis. Focusing on diagnosing anflexibility and strength. Strengthening exercises and
athlete's condition through a careful biomechanicalstretches may be recommended to help minimize and
analysis to find the underlying cause, your podiatristcorrect these imbalances. By strengthening core
can recommend appropriate treatment, footwearmuscles in the ankle and calf along with ensuring
and exercises to get you back in the game for yourproper alignment and foot mechanics, injuries can be
best performance with as little down time as possible.minimized when on the field, keeping you in the
Analyzing Biomechanics for Improved Performancegame. Many times, with the right treatment, surgery
Today's research indicates that simply treating a footcan be avoided, thus diminishing the recovery time
or ankle injury alone isn't enough to treat andfrom a variety of injuries or disorders.
prevent further problems. In order to resolve anYour feet are one of the most overlooked body
injury or musculoskeletal condition and preventparts when it comes to exercise and sports. And
additional injury, you need to determine whichwhen it comes to rigorous sport activities, your feet
structures are involved and why they are hurting.and ankles often take the brunt of the stress. In
Through a careful biomechanical assessment of yourorder to maximize your performance, you'll want to
feet, legs and body position, a podiatrist can identifycare of your feet, which involves taking care of all
the underlying cause of your pain and recommendparts of your body, including your ankles, knee, leg
the best treatment for correcting the problem andand hips. Don't allow recurrent or chronic pain keep
preventing you from sustaining further injury.you from enjoying your favorite sport. Visit your
A thorough biomechanical assessment and motionpodiatrist for an evaluation of your foot and ankle
analysis from a podiatrist involves taking anstructures and find out how you can minimize injuries
integrated view through evaluation of several factors,for you maximum performance.
including overall postural alignment, flexibility, and